Arrowhead mechanics keep trucks rolling, cannons firing

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | U.S. Army Spc. Darius Key, a Memphis, Tenn., native, and wheeled vehicle mechanic with 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, works on an engine at Yakima Training Center, Wash., Oct. 22, 2014. Key has spent nearly a month at YTC supporting training there. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Naylor, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs)  

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, UNITED STATES

11.14.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Justin A. Naylor 

1-2 SBCT, 7th Infantry Division

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Anyone who has had their car break down on the side of the road can attest to how important mechanics are.

The same is true in the military; only the equipment that those mechanics are tasked with fixing can mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield.

Mechanics with 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, have spent nearly a month in the field at Yakima Training Center, Wash., ensuring the drivability of vehicles and readiness of equipment as their unit conducts training there.

“My job as a wheeled vehicle mechanic is maintaining vehicles so they are fully mission capable,” said Spc. Darius Key, a Memphis, Tenn., native, with 1st Bn., 37 FA Regt. “Anything that breaks, we fix it.”

Key and his team take special pride in what they do and are an important part in keeping the howitzer cannons firing in the artillery battalion they support.

“When the gun guys go out pulling the howitzers, if we don’t fix the vehicles properly then it will shut down the mission of them firing,” Key said.

For Chief Warrant Officer 3 Howard Flynn, who is tasked with leading the team of mechanics, this training exercise has been an opportunity to learn together.

“These guys have made a lot of headway the last three and half weeks they’ve been out here,” said Flynn, a Jacksonville, S.C., native.

“Their skill level has definitely increased,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of unscheduled maintenance and repairs that aren’t your normal run-of-the-mill stuff, so we’ve given opportunity classes on that.”

Flynn and his crew recognize the importance of what they do to the overall the success of their battalion.

“Basically, we’re keeping their equipment fully mission capable, whether it be trucks or guns so they can complete their mission,” Flynn said.

“What we provide is hopefully a peace of mind,” he continued. “They know that when they get in their equipment it is going to work, it’s going to be dependable while they’re doing their training piece. In the event that something does break down and needs repairs, we’re trying to build some confidence within the battalion in our (team) to ensure that these guys know that they can come to the maintenance section and get the job done right the first time and get back out there as efficiently as possible.”

Since arriving at YTC, the mechanic section has replaced four engines and numerous other parts.

“I’ve learned that our job really is important and that something so simple on a vehicle can break down and cause a delay in the training events,” Key said.

Key and Flynn along with their team will continue to keep vehicles moving and equipment working while they are YTC, but the job doesn’t stop there. Their mission continues on even as they return to their home station of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where they will ensure that their unit’s equipment is still fully functional and mission ready after nearly a month of tough training in the field.

• Date Taken: 11.14.2014
• Date Posted: 11.14.2014 11:57
• Story ID: 147872
• Location: YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, US
• Hometown: MEMPHIS, TN, US