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    ‘Pit crew’ protects soldiers on roads

    ‘Pit crew’ protects soldiers on roads

    Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Shawn Beazley, a senior mechanic with Task Force 183, 2nd Squadron, 183rd...... read more read more

    JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

    09.06.2011

    Courtesy Story

    4th Sustainment Brigade

    CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Mechanics of Task Force 183, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, from Portsmouth, Va., have been setting the standard for installing upgrades to Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles in theater.

    The mechanics were given the job of installing additional armor to the Caiman MRAPs and were told that the standard was six hours of installation time per MRAP. The squadron’s maintenance leaders, Warrant Officer 1 Robert Thompson from South Hill, Va., and 1st Sgt. Donnie Hodge of Courtland, Va., thought they could do a little better.

    After the first upgrade kit, the mechanics were averaging two hours of installation time utilizing a pit crew style of maintenance.

    Thompson said that every mechanic learned a specific function of this installation and learned how to do it faster and better. More importantly, they did it safely and quickly, he said.

    The key was letting the mechanics learn how to do the task using a hands-on approach.

    “I gave them the requirements, and they figured out the rest of it. They provided the input and the how-to,” Thompson said.

    The mechanics are now instructing other units how to utilize their method of installing the armor and have installed six other upgrade kits for other units.

    “I think it's amazing how the EFP armor can protect the crew from blasts," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Beazley, a senior mechanic from Blackstone, Va.

    This time saved resulted in safer vehicles and limited downtime so the soldiers could accomplish their mission.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.06.2011
    Date Posted: 09.11.2011 04:45
    Story ID: 76820
    Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ

    Web Views: 54
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN