Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Zach Stanley, a generator mechanic with Troop D, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry...... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - It takes all kinds of equipment to keep an Army brigade operational while deployed. With that much equipment in action, there are bound to be a few breakdowns, and that’s when Army mechanics shine.
For 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, “Dark Horse,” 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North, the majority of maintenance and repairs of the unit’s equipment is handled by a small group of mechanics with the squadron’s Troop D.
This one maintenance shop does automotive, electronic, communication, armament and generator repairs, explained the shop’s motor sergeant, Staff Sgt. Jason Cohrs, from Evansville, Ind.
Cohrs explained that whenever a unit within Dark Horse has equipment they cannot fix, they rely on his mechanics to do the repairs. The mechanics also help maintain working equipment by doing routine maintenance and upkeep.
Troop D mechanics are required to work on specific pieces of equipment that align with their various specialties.
Pfc. Zach Stanley, a Woodstock, Ga., native, works as a generator mechanic for Troop D.
“My job is to make sure that generators are running correctly by doing scheduled services, preventative maintenance checks and opening up and repairing broken generators,” he explained.
Stanley works on generators used to power small working and living areas.
“If we don’t have power, we can’t do our mission,” explained Stanley.
As civilians, who operate the larger generators on base, begin leaving, our unit will have to be prepared to power its own equipment, added Stanley.
Additionally, Dark Horse acquired generators in need of repair, performed maintenance on them, and used them to maintain power for several checkpoints within its area of operations, he said.
“Our generators ran the radios and equipment at the checkpoints,” explained Stanley.
The mechanics also play a big role in keeping their squadron’s vehicles operational.
“We fix track vehicles, wheeled vehicles and the armor on the vehicles; we do a little bit of everything,” said Sgt. Antonio Espino, a wheeled vehicle mechanic for 4th Sqdn. 9th Cav. Regt.
The majority of the operations our squadron conducts are vehicle-based, and those vehicles need to be maintained, explained Espino.
“Vehicle operators can only do so much; whatever the driver and crews can’t fix, it up to us to do the rest,” said Espino, from Phoenix.
No matter the type of equipment that needs fixing within the squadron, Troop D mechanics are usually the first to be called.
The mechanics in this troop enable our squadron to be fairly self-sufficient when it comes to repairing equipment, said Cohrs.
Whether it’s trucks, radios, weapons, generators, or just about any other piece of equipment in our squadron, our mechanics help make sure it stays up and running, Cohrs explained.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2011 09:37 |
| Story ID: | 77134 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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