Recovery team strives for quick response time

Photo By Sgt. Mitch Armbruster | Spc. Wilfred Fernando, a gunner on the armored support vehicle for the 317th Maintenance Company recovery team, performs preventative maintenance on the vehicles weapon systems.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

06.19.2006

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - Downed vehicles outside the confines of a secure post present dangers to Soldiers and civilians supporting coalition forces in Iraq.

The 317th Maintenance Company working on the Q-West Base Complex recovers vehicles to help coalition forces spend as little time in harm's way as possible.

Recovering vehicles might sound easy, but these Soldiers put in 12-hour days cleaning weapons, maintaining vehicles, servicing radios and Soldier's skills training. The two recovery teams have to be ready for a call at any moment and don't have time to waste if someone isn't ready when the team receives a call.

"This team has to be ready for anything and everything," said 1st Lt. Edward Bouldin, the executive officer for the 317th.

Bouldin worked with the team at the beginning of the deployment and said the work they do is invaluable.

Staff Sgt. Millard Gibon, the recovery team NCOIC, said his Soldiers understand their job is important and they take pride in being the best team they can be. Getting to stranded Soldiers means the team needs to load their weapons, put on their gear and move outside the gate in a short time period. Even though they are always working, they look forward to helping anyone in need.

"Soldiers really appreciate what we do," Gibon explained. "They say thanks for coming out and thanks for the quick response time."

Gibon said the team works through the pressure of mission immediacy because lives are at stake. The longer combat logistics patrols wait, the more dangerous the situation becomes.

"We get out as quick as we can so we don't have to make the Soldiers on the road wait," Gibon said.

With more than 80 missions performed, the 317th recovery team has seen a number of different situations. The team even helped Army aviation Soldiers recover an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter. Gibon said the mission was challenging but they were able to help.

"The helicopter mission had never been done before," Gibon said.

Gibon's Soldiers put the helicopter on the back of truck and brought it to the base with no damage to the aircraft.

The team also recovered a tank and numerous vehicles, but they are happy to do the work. The recovery team helped mechanics pull vehicles out the mud, before the motor pool had gravel in place.

"Vehicles sunk into the mud during installs," said Staff Sgt. Kendall Scriven, a shop foreman with the 317th.

Missions for the 317th are intense but they know their job is important.

"These guys do a hard job," said Bouldin. "But they have done nothing but good work, as have all of our Soldiers, since we got here."

• Date Taken: 06.19.2006
• Date Posted: 06.19.2006 09:55
• Story ID: 6838
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ