Cavalry mechanics serve as Soldier statesmen

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Keith Anderson | Staff Sgt. Christopher Nemier, Bradley Fighting Vehicle maintenance supervisor, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discusses the role of the mechanic in the overall supply system and how maintenance and equipment is tracked, during an Oct. 10 site visit from senior Lithuanian logisticians.  

RUKLA, LITHUANIA

10.10.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Keith Anderson 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

RUKLA, Lithuania – To build a more robust supply and maintenance program, senior Lithuanian military logisticians visited the U.S. Army motor pool in Rukla Oct. 10 to get a comprehensive look at the U.S. Army maintenance program from the ground up.

Lithuanian logisticians discussed the U.S. Army’s maintenance program from operator-level preventative maintenance checks and services, to depot maintenance, to parts ordering systems and processes, to the Army Oil Analysis Program and many other facets of maintenance.

“We’re here on the ground to see the company and battalion-level performance of maintenance,” said Lt. Col. Valdas Dambrauskas, director, material resources, Lithuanian Ministry of Defense. “[To see] who is doing what, and the amount of maintenance being performed.”

Staff Sgt. Christopher Nemier, Bradley Fighting Vehicle maintenance supervisor, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, briefed maintenance processes on the Bradley to the small delegation of Lithuanian logisticians.

“We are here to train with the Lithuanian combat arms units here, but we are also here to help our NATO allies, and to reassure them we are here to help in any way we can,” said Nemier. “Proper use of logistics can be the difference between victory and failure on many levels.”

Nemier said that there is sometimes a language gap, but that working with the Lithuanian mechanics has been rewarding and motivating.

“I have been working with them, and they are eager to learn and to improve their current logistical programs,” he said. “They are working steadily to be a better, stronger military.”

Dambrauskas said the Lithuanian logistical system was similar to the U.S. Army’s system.

“The concept is the same, but when it comes to equipment levels, it’s not so robust,” said Dambrauskas.

The delegation was also interested in the training that Army mechanics receive.

“This is actually to get to know how long to train Soldiers to maintain equipment and how much equipment to maintain,” said Capt. Vitalisjus Anisimenko, Training Branch analysis officer, Lithuanian Land Forces.

• Date Taken: 10.10.2014
• Date Posted: 10.13.2014 03:28
• Story ID: 144947
• Location: RUKLA, LT