Soldiers help contractors fix Iraqi army vehicles

Photo By Sgt. Spencer Case | Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bouslaugh, an advisor with the 1116th Transportation Company, helps an Iraqi contractor identify a malfunction with the help of an interpreter at Camp Ur, Iraq, May 2.  

CAMP UR, IRAQ

06.03.2006

Courtesy Story

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CAMP UR, Iraq - Two Soldiers under the command of 3rd Corps Support Command are supervising local contractors at an Iraqi base to make sure the vehicles used by the Iraqi troops are safe.

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Bouslaugh of the 1116th Transportation Company and Staff Sgt. Reginald Mace of the 588th Maintenance Co. have spent the last two months at Camp Ur overseeing about 50 local workers who are repairing vehicles for the Iraqi army.

Since the Iraqi army does not yet have enough mechanics to repair their own vehicles, the work is outsourced to civilian contractors. Camp Ur is one of ten places throughout Iraq where contractors fix vehicles from the ten divisions of the Iraqi army. Located a few miles away from Camp Adder, it is also one of the most important training
installations in southeast Iraq.

As Contractor Officer Technician Representatives, Bouslaugh and Mace have a number of responsibilities on the base. These include making sure each unit has filled out the maintenance request and double checking a percentage of the work to make sure the maintenance is being done correctly.

If they find something wrong with a vehicle, they will bring it back to the head mechanic for further adjustments. They have the final say as to whether or not a vehicle can be driven off base.

"The idea is to make sure they're doing the right thing, but at the same time we kind of make sure that they are strong enough to do it themselves," said Mace, who is normally stationed at Fort Sill, Okla.

For the most part, the two Soldiers have been impressed with the skill of the Iraqi mechanics. Bouslaugh said the most interesting thing he has seen is the way the Iraqis have several different mechanics working on one vehicle at the same time and take apart other vehicles without confusing the parts. They can discern, with a glance, parts that most American mechanics would have to take time to figure out.

"They can sit there and figure out what part goes to what vehicle just by looking at it."
"It's amazing how they can keep track of what parts go on what vehicle and where at exactly," said Bouslaugh.

Even though the Iraqis are generally very skilled, Bouslaugh, a truck driver in the civilian world, is able to bestow some of his knowledge.

Bouslaugh showed the workers how to read test the pressure of the pistons in jet-fueled engines and a few other tricks of the trade. Lessons like this lead to what Bouslaugh said is the most rewarding part of the job " seeing the refurbished vehicles roll out, ready to be used by their units.

"Now that they've seen it in action, they can go in and utilize it," Bouslaugh said.

• Date Taken: 06.03.2006
• Date Posted: 06.03.2006 02:34
• Story ID: 6649
• Location: CAMP UR, IQ