Photo By Maj. A. Sean Taylor | Sgt. Kein Malecek (bottom left), a power production and distribution specialist with...... read more read more
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CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Twenty students graduated from a five-day U.S./Iraqi combined generator maintenance course held on Camp Taji, Iraq, April 12-16, 2015. The purpose of the course was to train Iraqi Security Forces on basic maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of power generation equipment.
The course was a direct result of coordinated efforts between the 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Forward Logistics Advise and Assist Team and the ISF Taji Labor Manager, Col. Abbas Hussin.
Service members from the U.S. Army Reserves 310th ESC, based in Indianapolis, combined forces with Soldiers from the 82nd Sustainment Brigade from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to deploy as a specialized logistics unit to advise and assist ISF logisticians in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.
During their very first key leader engagement the A&A team conducted upon arriving in theater, Col. Michael Midkiff, A&A officer-in-charge, was introduced to Abbas. Abbas explained that one of the biggest challenges facing the area was generator maintenance and he hoped the team brought generator mechanics with them.
Under the direction of Capt. Edward Gerlach, A&A maintenance chief with the 82nd Sus. Bde., weekly meetings were held with Abbas and a decision was made to develop a generator maintenance course for ISF soldiers on base. The team worked together to create the course that would be taught by both U.S. and Iraqi instructors.
The U.S. portion of the course focused on teaching preventative maintenance, basic troubleshooting, the ordering of parts and identifying specific generator systems.
Sgt. Kein Malecek, a power production and distribution specialist with the 249th Engineer Battalion, also based out of Fort Bragg, assisted with the instruction.
“It was a good experience. I have never done anything like this before,” Malecek explained. “It was different having someone translate for you while you teach.”
“There was a lot of interaction with the students who were eager to voice their own experiences,” Malecek continued. “It was fun teaching people who were interested in what you were saying.”
Several of the students spoke English, having worked with U.S. military in the past. They shared their insights and frustrations with the instructors and helped other students in the class serving as additional interpreters.
“They seemed to enjoy coming to class, and they were eager to share their experiences,” Sgt Stacy Minder said, a generator mechanic with the 82nd Sus. Bde. “We learned from them as much as they learned from us.”
According to Abbas, the course served an even higher purpose than just teaching generator maintenance. It was an opportunity for U.S. and Iraqi forces to develop a stronger working relationship.
”We need to re-establish a trust bond between U.S. and Iraqi forces,” Abbas explained. “That was my big and main goal of this class.”
Many students expressed their appreciation for the instruction and were excited to show one another the graduation certificate they received upon completion.
“We do appreciate the American military for teaching all of us,” said Sgt. Hosham Yisseen, Camp Taji water treatment plant noncommissioned officer-in-charge and class graduate. “We hope in the future that this class can keep going to help others in our army.”
Gerlach and Abbas are moving forward with plans for a second course to be co-taught on base. The focus of the next course will target generator mechanics within the combat line units to help enhance preventative maintenance, which is vital in the ISF fight to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
“Working with the U.S. Army was fruitful and we hope to have many training events in the future,” Abbas said. “Sergeant Minder made great efforts with this training and we highly appreciate that because it is going to be a great help to the Iraqi army.”
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2015 14:31 |
| Story ID: | 164098 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LIBERTY, NC, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Supporting OIR through generator repair, maintenance, by MAJ A. Sean Taylor, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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