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By Spc. John Crosby
115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
MOSUL, Iraq – Coalition forces and Iraqi army soldiers are working side by side across northern Iraq to increase the productivity of vehicle maintenance shops.
In a war fought almost entirely from forward operating bases and combat outposts, transportation is key to achieve success. Troop transport, medical evacuation, logistical support and combat operations are dependent on mobility. Without a reliable system in place to fix and maintain the military's vehicles, mission failure would be inevitable.
Keeping an entire army's vehicle fleet in good working order requires a smooth system to be in place. Proper channels need to be created for logistical support, individual soldier training and standards of procedure at the soldier level for operating on the variety of vehicles the Army boasts.
The Iraqi army, the military transition teams (MiTT) and the Regiment Support Squadron (RSS), 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Mosul, are working together to create these building blocks to ensure a functional, self-reliant transportation corps in the Iraqi army.
"When we started, the 2nd (Motor Transport Regiment) operational readiness level was at 42 percent," said 2nd MTR MiTT Executive Officer Capt. Michael Kaye. "Within six months we got these guys up to an 82 percent operational readiness level, using the Iraqi system of doing things and Iraqi names for parts. Basically figuring out how to work their own system."
Coalition forces are trying to get the Iraqi army to utilize their three levels of maintenance shops set in place for IA vehicles, said Chief Warrant Officer James Rathburn, 3rd ACR regimental maintenance officer. When a vehicle breaks down or requires maintenance, the unit level, or level one, assesses the problem. If needed, the unit can utilize their division's MTR, level two, to fix problems the individual units aren't equipped to fix. Finally, if further expertise and parts are needed to make the vehicle serviceable, the level three shop at corps is the answer.
The standard of procedure was easier said than done. It required trust and communication between the Iraqi army units, and coalition forces as well. Training and planning was required on all levels, from mechanic and soldier level, up the ranks to the commanders, in order to expedite the process.
"We're starting to get the whole division online with bringing their vehicles in to the 2nd MTR and we're making this place a heck of a lot better," said Kaye. "I am proud to be a part of this. We're making history."
The progress required coalition forces mechanics to work and train side by side with the IA in the level two maintenance shops.
"They don't have (Military Occupational Specialty) schools in the Iraqi army yet so we are trying to train their soldiers to become proficient in their jobs," said RSS Commander Lt. Col. Steven Cook.
The idea is that training one Iraqi mechanic, making him proficient in his trade, is a combat multiplier in that this allows the trained soldier to pass his knowledge on to his whole squad.
Since November, 2007, two RSS mechanics work with the MiTT and Iraqi mechanics for two weeks of every month in al-Kindi, home to the 2nd MTR, just north of Mosul.
"We give them on-the-job training, working on five-tons, humvees, wreckers, Iraqi vehicles and MiTT vehicles," said Sgt. Rodney Crom of Maintenance Troop, RSS, 3d ACR. "A lot of them are knowledgeable but some don't know that much. We work to develop them. Our issue right now is getting them to train each other."
As well as an opportunity for the mechanics to learn their trade from one another, the time they spend together helps them gain a better understanding of their counterpart's cultures.
"We learn some of their language, their greetings and their manners," said Spc. Douglas Cranford, Maintenance Troop, RSS, 3rd ACR. "These guys are out here on their own. We help them do their job and step in when necessary to train them. These guys work really hard. They care about what they do."
Still it can be difficult to accomplish everyone's goals in a joint culture work environment when there is a language barrier. To combat this, soldiers are creating ways to identify vehicle parts so there is no confusion between the Iraqis and Americans. Parts are given names and translated using interpreters who work with the mechanics on a daily basis. Keeping these names for parts eliminates confusion created by slang in both languages and different understandings of how an engine works.
"Sometimes we disagree on how to fix certain problems," said Cranford. "For example, many times the Iraqis will think engine problems require a whole new engine. But we show them that maybe it only needs oil, or a new part. It's a learning process. For the most part we get along."
Both Iraqi and CF mechanics working together in al-Kindi realize that despite disagreements among professionals of different cultures, there is a bigger mission to be accomplished.
"I think stabilizing their motor transport regiment is by far the best thing that could happen to the country," said Crom. "The technology is already here. Everyone just needs to learn how to use it."
The Iraqis work to gain the knowledge their counterparts have to offer.
"Whenever we need help, or if there is something we don't understand, the Americans help us," Sgt. Kahs al-Mustaf, a mechanic with the 2nd MTR, 2nd IA Division, said through an interpreter. "We learn from each other, we are brothers."
Working together began to show results.
"We went from being the worst MTR in Iraq to setting the standard for others to follow," said Kaye.
"Coalition forces have increased our effectiveness 80% to get to this level of maintenance," said Col. Fareed Ibraheem Fatah, 2nd Motor Transportation Regiment commander, 2nd IA Division, operating in northeastern Iraq. "Fixing broken vehicles, ordering parts and organizing the warehouse, it all comes back to the Americans. They help us make our jobs easier."
Still there is always room for improvement.
"We need more vehicle parts," said Freed. "Not having needed parts on hand makes the process of fixing our vehicles slower. The Americans help us with this."
In the last few years of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a slow transition of power has taken place. The IA has control over all levels of supply for itself except spare parts.
"Hopefully in the next couple of months that will change," said Cook. "The MiTT is on the ground every single day trying to find answers to these problems."
With the progress made with the 2nd MTR in al-Kindi, 3d ACR expands its focus to the 3rd MTR, 3rd Iraqi army division, and the level three corps shop in al-Kisik, in northeastern Iraq.
"We are trying to improve upon our systems," said Capt. Todd Daniels, MiTT 3rd MTR executive officer and security advisor. "We are doing a lot of training. We're synchronizing the Iraqi army divisions here in MND-North, getting everyone on the same page of music as far as having a process or a system in place. We need to work together to figure out what processes need to be in place for us to all achieve our goal."
More improvements are expected as coalition forces soldiers, mechanics, MiTTs and commanders work with the Iraqi army transportation corps.
"The heavy lifters of the whole operation with the MTR are the MiTT team here," said Cook. "They are identifying the problems and we are trying to provide solutions everyday."
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2008 14:08 |
| Story ID: | 17336 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 293 |
| Downloads: | 193 |
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