1109th TASMG Lends Experience and Skills to Supporting Units

Photo By Sgt. Jeanne Bujalski | Staff Sgt. Charles Borden, a helicopter repairer, who is working at the Camp Beuhring base in Kuwait, focuses on completing his day to day operations. Borden is working with the 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group as part of a nine month tour to provide facilitators and assets to supporting units that are in need of tooling, parts and mechanic ability. (Photo by Sgt. Jeanne Bujalski, 1109th TASMG Unit Public Affairs Representative)  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

04.06.2016

Story by Sgt. Jeanne Bujalski 

1109th TASMG

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Working as liaison officers and maintenance support has been the primary focus for members of the 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group. Since the beginning of their nine month deployment in December 2015, Soldiers with the 1109th TASMG, based out of Groton, Connecticut, have been putting their skills and expertise in aircraft maintenance to use working with supporting units.

The 1109th TASMG has four automated logistical specialists, four helicopter repairers, two phase maintenance and three armament system repairers who lend their services and widespread experience as aircraft mechanics to accompanying units, specifically the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, 640th Aviation Support Battalion and the 140th Aviation Regiment.

“We support the units with personnel and with day to day operations, such as maintainers and tech supply,” said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Christensen, operations noncommissioned officer in charge. “Our communication has been a challenge because our Soldiers here work different shifts and we’ve been trying to let as many supporting units know about our skills and abilities while getting the answers we need.”

During previous deployments the 1109th TASMG was focused on future operations and did not task Soldiers out to supporting units. However, the need for more Soldiers at contact sites has been evident during this current deployment.
Christensen added that because the 1109th TASMG operates at a depot level of maintenance, the Soldiers are able to act as facilitators and provide complex assets that other units are in need of, such as tooling, parts and mechanic ability. The 1109th TASMG has previously deployed to Camp Buehring, but the current mission has been different in terms of operating phases and communication.

By gaining experience with other units, Soldiers have not only been contributing their own set of skills but progressively learning new operating systems and valuable competencies to bring back with them.
Spc. Justin Wolkowsky, automated logistical specialist, 140th GSAB, has described his experience as beneficial by learning how other units operate and gaining experience with a new operating system that he can put to use after deployment.

By supporting the units with personnel for day to day operations, the 1109th TASMG has been able to provide maintenance ranging from Robertson tanks to Chinook aircraft and extended fuel modification. The 1109th TASMG continues to concentrate on the needs of the ever changing mission at hand, which includes lending their services to where they are needed most in order to support outlying units.

• Date Taken: 04.06.2016
• Date Posted: 04.05.2016 22:10
• Story ID: 194477
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW