RSS Soldiers Get Certified

VILSECK, BY, GERMANY

07.26.2017

Story by 1st Lt. Clare Saxton 

2d Cavalry Regiment

The maintenance and training program gives Soldiers the chance to leave the course as maintenance professionals, where their skills will give an advantage to the mission when required.

For Soldiers, the confidence to know that their vehicles are operable from when they first fire up the engine and hear its roar lies in the maintenance and services given to their vehicles when they are not on mission.

“If the Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS) are not properly done on the vehicles they probably won’t make it out the gate”, said Justo Esquibel, the Logistics Management Specialist, for U.S. Army Europe, Weisbaden.

“And that hinders the Soldier and mission readiness”, said Esquibel.

From the front taillights and under the hood where the heart of the vehicle’s operation lies, to the rear tires, all aspects of vehicle repairs falls on the Soldier.

Each student in the class was provided a set of tools to assist their training. They gathered in a cement building with only the breeze from open windows to cool them as they referenced the technical field manual and used equipment that simulated real-mission situations. One important training area of training they received was working with night vision equipment to familiarize themselves with performing maintenance and service checks at night or with minimal visibility.

“I learned a lot in this class. I recently became an NCO and I learned what I can teach my Soldiers and I learned where important resources are, if necessary, to refer them on how to properly PMCS their equipment“, said Chrisanna Higginbotham, RSS fuel operations NCO. “When I came into this course, I did not think I would learn as much as I have but now I feel confident that I can teach other NCO’s”.

Because maintenance is an important part of a Soldier’s everyday life, the ULM certification helps the end state and that is for them to go back and train the operators of U.S. equipment to Army standard”, said Aaron Burr, the Logistics management specialist and instructor for U.S. Army Europe, Weisbaden.

The three-day course not only enhanced the Soldier’s knowledge-base, but it fulfilled Army Europe’s Regulation to certify 5-percent of USAREUR personnel, this train-the-trainer course enables units to develop Soldier’s skills on vital equipment and enhance readiness

“From this training Soldiers get to know their equipment; they get to know how it works, how to maintain it and how to document deficiencies so they may know what actions to take to solve problems and ensure the equipment is ready for combat; Tonight”, said Burr. (U.S. Army Article by Sgt. Sharmain Burch)

• Date Taken: 07.26.2017
• Date Posted: 08.02.2017 03:27
• Story ID: 242566
• Location: VILSECK, BY, DE