CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. — Soldiers of the 776th and 771st Maintenance Companies loaded up for one more mission today, but this time the destination is home to Elizabethton, Tenn. Soldiers from the 776th and the 771st provided direct support maintenance during their year-long deployment at Camp Taji, Iraq.
Capt. Stacey Kunz, commander of the 776th, said the unit completed approximately 3,300 job orders and supported 72 customer units with about 25,000 labor man hours, which played a vital role in the upkeep of the units conducting missions outside the wire.
"We also improved the overall combat rating in safety for thousands of troops that were engaged in combat missions," Kunz said.
Kunz said within 45 days of being on ground at Camp Taji, Iraq, other units knew who to come to when they needed help and received great praise for their excellent standards in work habits.
"I am very proud of the men and women who conducted our mission," Kunz said.
The 776th was also responsible for training Iraqi soldiers in part of the Logistical Training Advisory Team.
Sgt. Brian Aikins said the team trained Iraqi soldiers on ordering supplies, safety procedures, and how to conduct proper quality assurance quality control, a key factor to help sustain operations in transportation.
Aikins said he enjoyed getting to share and use his skills with the Iraqi soldiers.
"We interacted with them on a daily basis and enjoyed drinking chai with the soldiers which allowed us to take part in their traditions as well," Aikens said.
Aikins, who lives in New York, intends to stay with the 776th and make the monthly drive from to Tennessee for battle assembly. He doesn't want to give up that bond that comes with deploying together. For him, it's worth it.
"I felt proud of my leadership and I could always count on them if needed" said Aikins. "We always knew we would be taken care of."
| Date Taken: |
10.06.2009 |
| Date Posted: |
10.06.2009 18:29 |
| Story ID: |
39751 |
| Location: |
CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: |
489 |
| Downloads: |
217 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
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