The Many Roles of Maintenance Personnel

Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Felix Cedano, HHC mechanic, from New York, N.Y., operates a forklift at the motor pool Dec. 19.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

12.31.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Sgt. Patricia Tso 101st Sustainment Brigade

Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - Monday is the typical day for Soldiers in garrison to conduct weekly primary maintenance checks and services, or PMCS, to ensure their vehicles and equipments are functioning properly. For mechanics of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade, their mission and daily routine gives them a challenge while deployed here.

"We have over 200 vehicles and [pieces of] equipment to include vehicles, forklifts, generators, air conditioning units and trailers," said Staff Sgt. Ronald Malone, motor pool supervisor, from Russellville, Ala.

Malone is in charge of more than 30 Soldiers, who are spread out to accommodate the work load the mechanics face everyday. Some mechanics are responsible for maintenance at the motor pool, and some ensure that the generators are operating to provide the power source needed.

A selected few play an important role on the convoy support team. The convoy support team provides security for the brigade commander and the 101st Brigade Troops Battalion commander when ground missions are scheduled.

"We are always tasked out, and not many people can do my job," said Spc. Alvaro Nino, an experienced mechanic from Miami, Fla. Nino is known by his peers to be one of the best mechanics in the shop.

Among the Soldiers at the motor pool, Nino is training on the electronic technical manual, a program designed to find parts which need to be ordered when a vehicle is found to have a deficiency.

"I'm always learning something," said Nino as his fingers hit the keyboard.

Soldiers at the motor pool are often seen with their uniforms covered in dirt or drenched in grease.

"This week I gather oil, I dump the old oil and supply new oil," said Pfc. Sean Donnelly, who is from Buffalo, N.Y. "Next week I will be ordering parts."

Donnelly separated fluids into four barrels as they sat side by side ready to be filled.

Other mechanics such as Spc. Cody Stafford, from Baton Rouge, La., and Pfc. Paul Molan from Chardon, Ohio, are utilities equipment repairers.

"I've been deployed before, and this is the first time I get to do my job," said Stafford. "I get to fix air conditioning units."

Stafford and Molan are responsible for ensuring the heating and air conditioning units in the brigade and battalion buildings are functional.

For generator mechanics at the motor pool, the primary job is to make certain the generators provide power for all communications within the 101st BTB. Pfc. Axel Arriaga, a generator mechanic from Los Angeles, Calif., is eager to become more efficient in his skills.

"You have to know the equipment," said Arriaga.

Pfc. Jeffrey Seymour, a Missouri native, assisted Arriaga in changing the thermostat on a five-kilowatt generator located behind the motor pool.

"I'm the recovery team," said Seymour, who is among the few mechanics tasked to assist with the convoy support team. "My job is to hook up the tow bar within 10 minutes when a vehicle breaks down."

"Our sole purpose is to provide security, and if I have to do another tour, I want to have experience," said Sgt. Cynthia Taylor, from Oak Grove, Ky., with enthusiasm. Soldiers on the convoy support team travel to areas across northern Iraq and have enjoyed the experience thus far.

Taylor and the rest of the convoy support team train Soldiers within the brigade who will serve as replacements to rotate individuals. Soldiers must attend two months of training to include classes and must be eagle first responder, or EFR, qualified before heading out on the missions.

"I'm not in it for the glory," said Taylor, "I just want to make sure our people are safe."

"The mechanics do an outstanding job," said Malone, as he gave all the credit to his Soldiers for their daily accomplishments.

• Date Taken: 12.31.2005
• Date Posted: 12.31.2005 12:31
• Story ID: 4245
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ