Photo By Staff Sgt. Andrea Merritt | Mechanics of the 1st Sustainment Brigade work carefully to replace the engine of an...... read more read more
By Spc. Andrea Merritt
1st Sustainment Brigade PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A large number of Sustainment Brigade Soldiers have transitioned within the past few months leading to familiarization training on one of the most vital pieces of equipment used in the brigade – the Armored Security Vehicle.
The ASV has accompanied many of the unit's combat logistics patrols on convoys because of its ability to provide security, fire power and protection from improvised explosive devices. During a six-day class, mechanics within the 1st Sust. Bde. learned how to maintain them.
"We have all these new units coming into theater and we needed to have them certified to work on and operate the ASVs," said Sgt. 1st Class Chesley Baird, a Idadbel, Okla., native, and battle non-commissioned officer for the 1st Sustainment Brigade. "We are doing this training on both Taji and (Victory Base Complex)."
While in class, the maintenance training was equally divided between lectures and hands-on exercises in order to give the Soldiers a visual of what was presented to them in the slideshows.
The class was able to take a closer look at the components of the ASV and how they work when they pulled the engine out of the vehicle.
"We learned a lot of stuff about the ASV to keep the mission going," said Sgt. Bryan Galloway, an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with the 1038th Transportation Company, an Arkansas National Guard unit attached to the 1st Sust. Bde. "By pulling out the engine, we learned about the engine and its components, what they do and where they go,"
Also, during the course, the mechanics discussed the vehicle's air conditioning, electrical, hydraulic, and fuel systems as well as emergency towing and recovery.
"This is the most detailed class I've taken in the Army," said Spc. Kelvin Morales, a Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, native, who serves as an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with the 536th Maintenance Company from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, unit attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade.
Since the class was mostly made up of all-wheel vehicle mechanics, they were use to getting their hands dirty. It came as no surprise that the part of class most of them enjoyed was the hands-on portions.
"I like the hands-on that we did. We learned how to take the ASV apart and read schematics for it," said Spc. Richard Barngrove, an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sust. Bde.
"I think (the class) is real important because more and more ASVs are coming to Iraq and we're going to have to learn how to work on them," said Barngrove, a Wamego, Kan., native. "A lot of these vehicles, like the MRAPs and ASVs, weren't out when I was going through AIT."
On the last day of class, the mechanics had learned as much as they could about the ASV, and their final test was to reassemble the vehicle they had taken apart earlier that week. They completed the job successfully.
"We feel like what we're doing is actually doing them some good," said Kenneth Parchman, a Fayetteville, N.C., native, who was also an ASV instructor for the course. "The stuff we're giving to the students can actually be used in emergency situations."
"The more familiarization they have with the vehicle helps out tremendously. The more familiar you are with the vehicle, the less you have to think in an emergency because it just comes natural," Parchman said.
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2008 11:43 |
| Story ID: | 19736 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 339 |
| Downloads: | 259 |
This work, Sustainment mechanics learn ASV maintenance, by SSG Andrea Merritt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
