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    No ordinary tire change

    No ordinary tire change

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Luisito Brooks | Spc. Jordan Smith, from Jacksonville, Fla., grits his teeth as he gives a large wrench...... read more read more

    BAGHDAD — Just imagine that while driving, you get a flat tire; only the tire that needs changing is nearly half the size of some cars.

    For Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, tackling the task of changing a few larger than normal tires on a Stryker vehicle, Dec. 18, is no run of the mill task, here, on Joint Security Station Justice.

    Whatever the reason— nails, sharp rocks, shrapnel or just the wear and tear of driving on harsh terrain that causes a tire to go flat— it needs to be changed quickly to maintain the unit's combat effectiveness.

    "Not being able to change a tire on Stryker quickly can greatly affect a mission," said Spc. Jordan Smith, from Jacksonville, Fla. "It can leave a unit short a vehicle that could have been sent in support of a mission"

    For the Soldiers that change these nearly 400 pound, $2,000 tires, it is no simple task.

    "It is a two man job and even with two guys it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to change just one tire," said Spc. Robert Riddle, from Dallas, Texas. "We used the basic issued items that came with vehicles in order to change the flat."

    Most Strykers can remain combat effective if just one tire is flat, thanks to its seven other tires, but there are some situations where that one tire matters.

    "The tire needs to be changed if the weather is bad or if the vehicle needs to travel for long periods of time," said Riddle. "If it can't be changed on-site, depending on how many tires are flat or how bad the flat is, the vehicle may need to be towed by another Stryker or a wrecker vehicle to an area where it can be serviced."

    Having a flat tire on a Stryker can be a headache, but the Soldiers in the unit use it as an opportunity to perfect skills and contribute to the fight.

    "By working on issues like these we are helping the guys on the line," said Smith. "If we can get their vehicles back to them faster, we are actually adding to the fight."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.22.2009
    Date Posted: 12.22.2009 00:47
    Story ID: 43019
    Location: BAGHDAD, IQ

    Web Views: 349
    Downloads: 307

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