U.S. mechanics help IA keep vehicles running

Photo By Sgt. Joshua Risner | "I'm learning things I didn't know about fixing Humvees," said 1st Sgt. Mohammed Hamza (right), assigned to 2nd Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, as he and Spc. Matthew Wines from Parkersburg, W.V., perform annual maintenance checks on the hub of a Humvee in Baghdad Sept. 23. Wines and his fellow mechanics assigned to D Troop, 1st Battalion, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, teach Iraqi mechanics the ins and outs of Humvee maintenance.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.23.2009

Story by Sgt. Joshua Risner 

Multi-National Division Baghdad

BAGHDAD — Iraqi mechanics are getting the chance to work and train alongside their U.S. counterparts during a Humvee maintenance course at Camp Stryker, Baghdad, Sept. 23.

The course is run by Soldiers of D Troop, 1st Battalion, 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and has thus far trained five Iraqi army units, according to Sgt. Frank Smith, assigned to D Troop.

"They usually only work on their vehicles when they break down," said Smith, a native of St. Augustine, Fla. "We're teaching them scheduled maintenance which will hopefully further the life of their vehicles."

The two-week course teaches the Iraqi mechanics the ins and outs of maintenance for the Humvee, which includes primary maintenance and service checks, wiring schematics and troubleshooting problems, said Smith.

"We set up faults in our vehicles and have them find and repair them," he said. "We also go through service checks on their own vehicles and we'll help them repair any safety issues that we find."

For the Iraqis, a chance to work with the American mechanics is a valuable educational experience, according to 1st Sgt. Mohammed Hamza of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division.

"I'm learning things I didn't know about fixing Humvees," he said. "These new things I am learning I will teach to my crew when I get back to them so when we encounter problems, we can fix them."

In addition to training, the Iraqi mechanics are given copies of the U.S. Humvee maintenance manuals, written in Arabic for them to distribute back at their units.

"Now, the American Soldiers can show me something in their manual, and I can find it in mine," said Mohammed.

All in all, the Iraqi mechanics received a new way of looking at maintenance and repair for their vehicles. The Americans may not speak Arabic, the Iraqis may not speak English, but they both know how to speak machine.

• Date Taken: 09.23.2009
• Date Posted: 09.25.2009 01:27
• Story ID: 39230
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ