Small arms shop offers tips for weapons upkeep in field

Photo By Capt. Monika Comeaux | Stephen D. Baringer, also known as 'Dr. Steve', a small arms maintenance technician at the Small Arms Maintenance Center at Logistical Support Area Anaconda works on the trigger housing of an M203 greanade launcher.  

11.12.2005

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

The Small Arms Support Center at Logistical Support Area Anaconda is the only one of its kind in theater.

"They are in the process of establishing one in Afghanistan, but if you want to turn in a weapon, you have to come here, even from there," said Traci K. Kammer, a document control officer at the SASC.

The center has been around since June of 2004. Department of Defense employees run the operations, spending four to six months in theater.

The center is part of the Tank, Automotive and Armaments Command at Rock Island, Ill., Kammer said. They provide a level of maintenance which falls somewhere between direct support and depot level. They also replace weapons that are rendered unserviceable and coded out. The center does not do initial issue of weapons.

"This is all founded by the Army Materiel Command and approved by the Department of the Army. The shop carries about 17,000 different parts for weapons from the 9mm to the 40mm," said William B. Jensen, SASC team leader. If they don't have a part in stock and they have to order it from the National Inventory Control Point, it normally arrives in theater within 10 days.

The center only exchanges weapons for the Army, however it does provide maintenance support to the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Even British troops stopped by for assistance, Jensen said proudly.

The amount of weapons they see varies. Wednesdays and Fridays seem to be the busiest days of the week, Kammer explained. Since some Soldiers have to ride convoys to get to the center with their weapons, the shop works around the clock.

"We are a 24-hour shop. Our gate is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. But if you send us an e-mail, give us a phone call, we will be open whenever you can get here," Kammer said.

Unfortunately some of the weapons that are brought to the shop have failures due to operator error, said Stephen D. Baringer, the small arms maintenance technician of SASC. Baringer is known as "Dr. Steve" among Soldiers.

"We found out, that about 50 percent of the .50-cals we are getting in here don't come in due to battle damage, but due to the operator not setting the headspace and timing properly," said Baringer.

A lot of them are saying that they cannot get the headspace and timing gauge, because the units are not giving them out. There should be one with each weapon, and the operator should constantly set it, he added.

The SASC makes sure that any time a .50-caliber machine gun comes in their shop, the operator and assistant operator know how to properly set the headspace and timing on the weapon. They cannot leave with the weapon until they have demonstrated their expertise.

"Some get it the first time, for some, it takes a couple of tries," said Baringer.

Other commonly seen mistakes are related to weapons cleaning.

"Soldiers will clean the weapon so hard, that they will loose a part," Jensen said smiling.

Baringer has a simple weapons maintenance suggestion for Soldiers: "Lube them every day and wipe them down every day that is the best thing you can do."

The center has a lot of returning customers.

"I come here at least every three weeks. I come here for weapons cleaning and weapons maintenance," said Sgt. Xander O'Connor-De Los Rios, operations NCO of the Reserve Support Center.

"It is great to have them over here, especially Dr. Steve. He really looks out for the Soldier and he helps to take care of them as much as he can," De Los Rios added. He called the customer service outstanding. "People come from all over. Too bad there are not more of these places."

The enthusiasm seems mutual. Baringer enjoys his interaction with the troops.

"I probably have the best job in the country," he said.

"For a lot of the Soldiers, this is like a candy store. They cannot believe it is here, especially here in Iraq. We are not here to hassle them, we are here to help them," Baringer continued.

William S. Burrus, supply and inventory management specialist of the SASC, did not know what to expect when he accepted the job over here. He said he is very impressed by the Soldiers coming in to their shop.

"I was really surprised how positive Soldiers are about our [U.S.] efforts over here. I don't think I have heard one Soldier say, "hey, we shouldn't be over here." That is pretty amazing," Burrus said.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2005
• Date Posted: 11.12.2005 06:37
• Story ID: 3722