317th SMC to support large scale mobile maintenance operations

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wyatt | A team of Soldiers from the 317th Support Maintenance Company work on completing a vehicle service for EAS. The 317th SMC is supporting EAS with maintenance operations to prepare equipment for incoming brigade combat team rotations in USAREUR. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Jeffery Lewis, 317th Support Maintenance Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command)  

GRAFENWOHR, BY, GERMANY

02.26.2015

Courtesy Story

16th Sustainment Brigade

By 1st Lt. Jeffery Lewis
317th Support Maintenance Company, 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – Soldiers from the 317th Support Maintenance Company set out for Grafenwoehr on a three-month rotation to complete scheduled and unscheduled services and repairs on more than 200 vehicles, generators, trailers, water buffaloes, shelters, and communications equipment for the European Activity Set and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

The EAS is a combined arms battalion-sized group of vehicles and equipment prepositioned in Europe to outfit U.S. Army units that rotate into theater for training or contingency operations. The 317th SMC directly provides maintenance support for the heavy brigade combat teams deploying to Germany on a rotational basis to train and assist NATO forces.

There is a limited amount of services that operators can identify and fix with weekly, “Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services,” annual services are required to ensure equipment is fully functional. While the 317th SMC is only completing roughly one-third of their equipment, this mission invites the possibility for the 317th SMC to service similar large-scale maintenance operations in the future.

“We’re going to stay busy, that’s for sure,” said Cpl. Saul Salazar, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 317th Support Maintenance Company. “It’s a lot of equipment in a short period of time. Having enough bay space for multiple services helps spread out the work load and allows us to accomplish more in a day."

The team will receive 15 different types of vehicles, equipment and associated trailers every two weeks and with two working shifts, will complete three pieces of equipment every day to remain on a glide path to meet the EAS timeline for the next incoming BCT: about three times more efficient than U.S. Army standards.

“The 317th SMC is currently the only unit under U.S. Army Europe, servicing multiple echelons above Brigade Support Maintenance Company,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas Likins, the automotive technician on ground. “Not only are we continuing our normal mission as a maintenance support team here in Grafenwoehr, we’re consistently keeping our bays full of EAS/2CR equipment in order to stay on track.”

“This is a new experience for me, and a bonus is that I get cross- training in the wheel vehicle mechanic specialty,” said Pfc. Brittany Burch, a utilities equipment repairer with 317th SMC and a native of California. “I’m able to learn from my peers, and I actually enjoy working on the vehicles.”

“It’s been a great experience being able to work with the 405th, EAS, 2CR and all components of 317th to accomplish this very important mission. Mission capable equipment is needed to accomplish our ultimate goal of fighting and winning the nation’s wars. To be a part of that and have such an influence on the day to day operations has given all of us a better appreciation of why we wear this uniform and do what we do.” said John Vega, the mission noncommissioned officer in charge. Accomplishing this maintenance mission will prove the 317th “Wolfpack” can complete all maintenance operations outside their normal scope of work within USAREUR and will be ready for any opportunity that lies ahead.

• Date Taken: 02.26.2015
• Date Posted: 02.26.2015 04:29
• Story ID: 155450
• Location: GRAFENWOHR, BY, DE