Photo By Master Sgt. Kap Kim | FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq – Spc. Loren Hayes, a track mechanic, does...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim
2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq – The 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division's team of mechanics took over operations from the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), almost immediately after arriving to Forward Operating Base Prosperity in Baghdad.
According to Phoenix native Sgt. 1st Class John P. Schulz, the 2nd BSTB's motor sergeant assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, he decided to start their operations as early as possible because that was the way he has always known it to be successful through his other deployments.
"I told them (4th BSTB's mechanics) we wanted to take over with their guidance," Schulz said. "Those guys need time to get out of here. So, everyone sat back and let us do it."
Schulz credits their smooth transition to his mechanics' eagerness to start their mission.
"They have been outstanding," he said of his team. "Since we were at Camp Buehring [in Kuwait], they have been chopping at the bit to get over here and finally start working. I've run out of things for them to do; they are all over it."
Yet, Schulz credits the 4th BSTB mechanics for leaving their motor pool a lot better than they found it to be and attributes this as the single, biggest reason why his team has been working to put deadlined vehicles back on the road, quickly installing humvee upgrades, and working on improving their working areas.
"This place is set up better than at Fort Hood [Texas]," he said.
Spc. John M. Zubek, a track vehicle mechanic assigned to HHC, 4th BSTB, and a native of Los Angeles, said his team tried to provide as much help to the "new guys" as possible during the transition period.
"It's been working out great," he said. "They have more mechanics than we could have imagined, and we are more than willing to show them how to do things here."
Zubek said during his time in Iraq, he and his team developed their way of doing things. In most cases, it was new tools or new ways of using old tools.
"There are some small shortcuts to make stuff easier out here, and they [2nd BSTB mechanics) have been very insightful and asking questions when they have to," he said. "They are going to do really well. I'm sure by the time 1st Cav. will have their replacements, they will have developed their own methods of doing things quicker."
For 2nd BSTB mechanics like Sgt. Juan Santibanez, an HHC, 2nd BSTB light-wheeled mechanic and the recovery noncommissioned officer-in-charge, many of his guys were not familiar with the M1114 up-armored humvee's transmission and air conditioning system.
"These guys, from the 4th STB, hooked it up for us," he said. "They came up with a plan, and that plan worked. So, we've been following their SOPs (standing operating procedures)."
The 2nd BSTB mechanics were left with a maintenance shop capable of doing almost everything they need to perform their mission while in Iraq, according to Santibanez of Michoacan, Mexico. Yet, they have been using their talents and know-how to start small projects such as putting in working tables, pressure wash stations, and setting up communications satellites so they can stop sending curriers to send up manual reports.
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2006 08:03 |
| Story ID: | 8356 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 147 |
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