Auto Skills Center Hires Mechanic, Expands Service

Courtesy Photo | Antonio Rodriguez is a new mechanic at the Auto Skills Center where services offered have increased with his arrival. (U.S. Army Photo/Leah Romero)  

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, UNITED STATES

06.21.2018

Courtesy Story

White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs

By Leah Romero
White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs

The Auto Skills Center at White Sands Missile Range recently hired a new mechanic and expanded services offered to customers after having been closed for a few months.

Antonio Rodriguez, a mechanic at the Auto Skills Center, recently started working at WSMR after working at an auto shop in Las Cruces. But he is no newcomer to WSMR. Rodriguez had previously worked at the WSMR golf course until it closed about two years ago.

“It was enjoyable when I was out here, so whenever I left it was kind of heartbreaking,” Rodriguez said. “But now that I’m back, everything’s alright again.”

Rodriguez will be one of the two mechanics on staff at the auto center. According to Phill Greene, the manager of the auto center for almost 13 years, the auto center was previously closed because both of the mechanics employed left. A second mechanic is currently being sought out to join Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said he was especially glad to be working at the WSMR auto center because it is run differently from its civilian counterparts.

“We operate this shop a lot different compared to other auto shops that allow for you to use any materials and kind of equipment,” Rodriguez said. “The other benefit is we get the more expensive equipment so that we can get the job done right the first time.”

The auto center offers services tailored to the needs of the customers as well as catering to vehicle hobbyists. Customers can bring their cars in and work on them themselves with a specialist on hand if they run into problems.

Access to this service can be obtained by completing an online certification and receiving a shop card. If people are not comfortable doing the work themselves, they can drop off their cars and have the mechanics service the vehicles and pick them up later in the day.

The center offers services including installing external pieces, diagnostics, alignments, oil changes, batteries and tires. Greene said they also acquired a new radiator flush machine to add to their equipment, as well as tire machines that help the process of removing tires from vehicles.

“We’ve got the two high-tech tire machines over there,” Greene said. “That’ll have a wide variety of different tires and sizes versus the old stuff.”

The Auto Skills Center is open to both civilians and military on base Tuesdays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The local community seems to be responding well to the reopening of the auto center.

“So far I’ve seen more of the civilians dropping off vehicles and the retirees working on their own vehicles,” Rodriguez said.

If you are interested in applying for a mechanic position, call Greene at [phone].

• Date Taken: 06.21.2018
• Date Posted: 06.21.2018 17:34
• Story ID: 281865
• Location: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, US