Photo By Staff Sgt. April Mota | Ensuring the crane is operated safely, Sgt. Zachary Caudill of Willard, Ohio, 1192nd...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. April Mota
101st Eng. Bn., USD-C
BAGHDAD — Six Soldiers from 11th Iraqi Army Field Engineer Regiment attended a class Jan. 14 taught by Soldiers from 101st Engineer Battalion at Joint Security Station Constitution on how to operate and maintain their 30-ton crane.
Iraqi operators typically use a 30-ton crane to emplace T-walls and barriers along the streets and sidewalks of Baghdad to ensure greater security for Iraqi citizens. Leaders from 11th recognized the critical need for the operators to keep the cranes operational, so they established the course.
As the training began, the instructors realized that the Iraqi army crane had a frayed cable and broken sensor, making it inoperable. This discovery provided the first lesson for the Iraqis.
"We repaired the sensor together and helped them replace and re-spool the cable onto the main drum, making it operational again," said Sgt. Zachary Caudill of Willard, Ohio.
Caudill, an experienced crane operator with 1192nd Engineer Company, helped instruct the course.
The next lesson that the training addressed was the importance of preventive maintenance checks and service. This portion of the course was taught by Sgt. Steve Cyr, Uxbridge, Mass., of the 101st Engineer Battalion Forward Support Company.
Cyr not only addressed the steps involved in preventive maintenance checks and service but also how it will ensure equipment remains in working order and reliable.
Once the crane was working properly and maintenance had been sufficiently emphasized, the Soldiers of 1192nd provided a basic understanding and significance of a load chart.
According to Caudill, the load chart helps ensure that the crane operator does not attemp to move something too heavy or too far away; doing so could result in damage to the equipment or injury to the operator.
Sgt. Kenny Mummfrey of Cinninati, Ohio, 1192nd Eng. Company, a six-year veteran crane operator, worked with Caudill to teach the proper use of the controls as well as hand and arm signals. Hand and arm signals are used by Soldiers on the ground outside of the crane to help the operator maneuver the crane safely and effectively.
This was Pfc. Kadhim Ali's first time training with 101st Engineers. Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to train, he stressed that the information will result in more effective use of the equipment going forward.
The training culminated with a graduation ceremony, signifying the Iraqi soldiers' newly acquired capacity to maintain and operate their cranes. The soldiers received certificates of training from Col. Tris Cooper of Marion, Ohio, the deputy commander of 16th Engineer Brigade.
"Our instructors have trained many Iraqi and American Soldiers; they have done great work," said Cooper. "We love the opportunity to work with our Iraqi partners. We are very proud."
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2010 10:05 |
| Story ID: | 44110 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 262 |
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