298th SMC builds 'monster truck'

Courtesy Photo | Using only spare parts, members of the Altoona, Pa., Army Reserve unit built a monster truck in just three months. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Pat Caldwell)  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

12.08.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

By Staff Sgt. Pat Caldwell

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - A little inspiration can go a long way. Just ask the soldiers with the 298th Support Maintenance Company, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

Using only spare parts, members of the Altoona, Pa., Army Reserve unit built a monster truck in just three months.

“Every piece of it was built out of scrap,” said Sgt. Andrew Collins, a mechanic with the 298th SMC, and an Altoona, Pa., native.

The monster truck stands in a shop bay at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The mechanics worked on the truck during their time off or on weekends, said Collins, and used a junked Ford F-150 as the foundation for the vehicle.

“It is a Ford frame and body,” said Collins.

Spc. Ben Arnold, also an Altoona native, said the monster truck is a testament to the 298th SMC’s expertise.

“It is uncanny, the ability these guys have,” said Arnold.

He said about 15 soldiers worked on the truck at various times with a core group of eight expending the most man-hours on the project.

The man behind the project, Staff Sgt. Charles Teeters, from Alexandria, Pa., said the project was all about teamwork.

“It is great team building,” he said.

Teeters said he is satisfied with the final product, but also pleased with the mechanics’ performance. He said the truck’s suspension was the most difficult part of the project, but now the vehicle is nearly ready to go.

“I’m more proud of what they are doing,” he said, adding that the project began as one way to pass the off time. Then it evolved into something else.

“Then it became a passion,” he said.

The project also offered plenty of learning opportunities.

Ingenuity and overcoming challenges proved to be a hallmark of the project. For example, as the truck began to take shape, the mechanics needed to paint it, but auto-body paint shops are obviously not accessible in Iraq. So the mechanics used Iraq house paint, mixing several colors to obtain green and yellow.

The mechanics already received positive feedback on the project, said Collins.

“I put a picture of it on Facebook, and I have not stopped getting comments,” he said. “We need to do some finishing touches.”

Once those “finishing touches” are completed, the truck will be ready for a test drive, said Teeters.

Teeters said the monster truck will make this deployment memorable.

“I plan on building one when I get back home,” he said.

• Date Taken: 12.08.2010
• Date Posted: 12.12.2010 15:44
• Story ID: 61812
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ