Soldiers train Iraqi mechanics

Photo By Spc. Andrew Slovensky | Spc. Lawrence Green, 1st Cavalry Division, 215th Brigade Support Battalion mechanic, explains performing preventive maintenance checks and services on the undercarriage of an Iraqi army truck to IA mechanics on Contingency Operating Base Basra, July 20.  

BASRA, IRAQ

07.18.2011

Story by Pvt. Andrew Slovensky 

362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BASRAH, Iraq - Soldiers of U.S. Division-South taught a course on preventive maintenance checks and services to mechanics with the 14th Iraqi Army Division at Contingency Operating Base Basra, July 18.

The instruction is a 10-day course taught by Sgt. Shane Hesselbacher and Spc. Lawrence Green, mechanics with the 1st Cavalry Division, 215th Brigade Support Battalion. The focus of the class is to train Iraqi mechanics preventive maintenance checks and services on their vehicles - Ford F-350 trucks modified with a turret, extra seating, and armor siding.

Fourteen Iraqi mechanics attended the class, all from different units within the 14th IA Division.

Capt. Jose Juliaortiz, 1st Cavalry Division, 215th BSB, said that the mission of the training was to prepare the mechanics to be proficient at and understand the importance of doing PMCS on their vehicles.

“We’re preparing the Iraqis for whatever shortcomings they may have with their equipment,” said Juliaortiz. “We’re honing in on maintenance since it is one of their biggest issues.”

The training that the 215th has done in the past for the IA has included medical, supply, and logistics, and the 14th IA Division specifically requested more maintenance training from the U.S., said Juliaortiz

The instructors began training by popping open the hood and going over everything in the engine compartment of the vehicle. He covered the fuel system, how the motor works, and the truck’s turbo system, ensuring the Iraqi trainees get a good understanding of the engine.

The students followed the instructors as they covered the vehicle, from climbing onto the engine to crawling underneath the truck and checking for leaks or damage.

“It’s better familiarization,” said Hesselbacher. “It starts with preventive maintenance.”

The instructors put emphasis on changing out small, inexpensive parts to prevent replacing large, costly ones.

“We teach them the small stuff so they don’t have to deal with the big stuff,” said Hesselbacher. “A little five dollar filter is better than a motor down the road.”

The class was conducted entirely through a translator, who repeated everything said by the instructors into Arabic, and any question asked by the students into English.

An IA mechanic said that getting the instruction from the U.S. helped him to do better at his job, and to serve his country in a better way. The more he learned about the vehicles, the more motivated he was to learn as much as he could, he said.

With the U.S. eventual departure of troops, Hesselbacher said that the mechanics might not have the opportunity to get this training in detail later on.

“Our time here is kind of precious,” he said. “We’d like to make sure they get the best out of it.”

• Date Taken: 07.18.2011
• Date Posted: 07.26.2011 04:15
• Story ID: 74322
• Location: BASRA, IQ