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By 1st Lt. Lieutenant Amanda Fonk
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
FORT HOOD, Texas – Rear detachment soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, “Red Dragons,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, helped lead the way as part of the Army pilot for the Unit Maintained Equipment program here as the majority of their unit deployed to Iraq.
The UME program is designed to maintain 100 percent accountability of property left behind by deployed units while also maintaining that equipment.
“The UME program saved thousands of dollars by maintaining itself as opposed to hiring civilian contractors to maintain the equipment,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hunter, a Jena, La., native and the UME maintenance non-commissioned officer in charge.
Soldiers conducted regular checks and maintenances on the vehicles to ensure they were sustained to the highest possible standard.
The UME personnel maintained 185 total pieces of tactical equipment, averaging eight vehicles per day. The service schedule was drafted to encompass all combat equipment by priority.
The M109A6 Paladins and M992 ammunition transporters were the highest priority for the artillery battalion followed by logistical enablers and service support vehicles.
“100 percent of our annual services were conducted on 45 tactical tracked vehicles in six months with only four working mechanics,” stated Capt. Stephen Lewis, a Long Island, N.Y., native and the UME officer in-charge.
Upon the battalion’s return from deployment, arrangements were made to transfer the equipment back from the UME personnel to the different battery commanders.
“We were able to conduct all inventories and accountability of over 57 million dollars worth of readily deployable equipment in a short matter of time to return the property back to the battery commanders,” stated Lewis.
UME personnel conducted weekly update briefs and after action reviews to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the UME program. During the six month time frame, there were several important visits from Forces Command, III Corps and Department of the Army personnel to verify the property on site, accountability procedures, and service scheduling for all pieces of equipment inducted into the program.
“They praised the work of keeping up the maintenance of equipment and
vehicles,” stated Lewis. “100 percent of all combat vehicles were kept up to date on maintenance in 7 months when it was expected to take the full 12 months to ensure all services were complete.”
Lewis said the Army is working to implement this program with deploying units in the future.
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2012 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 84400 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 915 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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