All it takes is a little elbow grease

Photo By Sgt. Sarah Scully | CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Lt. Cmdr. Michael Mason, Navy Customs Battalion, cleans the undercarriage of a humvee with a high-pressure hose at the washrack.  

ARJIFAN, KUWAIT

11.30.2006

Courtesy Story

40th Public Affairs Detachment

By Sgt. Sarah Scully
40th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - With thousands of military vehicles headed back to America to get re-built and fielded again to units, about 30 Soldiers, Sailors and civilians left their offices and headed out into the sun to do their part in getting some vehicles cleaned up for shipment.

Several generals and other high-ranking Soldiers and Sailors got wet and dirty cleaning humvees at Camp Arifjan Nov. 19 in Kuwait while supporting Third Army/U.S. Army Central.

Normally a job for civilian contractors, they worked in three-person teams because it typically takes six hours of cleaning for each humvee, said Lt. Cmdr.
Michael Mason, Navy Custom Battalion.

"There's a lot of dirt on these vehicles," said Brig. Gen. Pat McQuistion, Army Materiel Command commanding general (forward). "We're trying to ensure that we're not sending any dirty stuff back to the states."

Most of the humvees were originally brought to the Middle East for the initial invasion of Iraq and do not have the highest level of armor. Once the vehicles reach America, depots across the country will rebuild and redistribute them to units throughout the Army, said McQuistion. Each vehicle must go through customs and agricultural inspections before entering the United States to make sure there are no spores, insects and eggs, and plant seeds indigenous to the area.

"If we allow dirt to get back home, we can have an infestation in the states," said Mason. "We will stick our fingers in every nook and cranny – there isn't one part that won't go unchecked," he said to the gathered service members before they started cleaning the humvees. Firing up the water pumps, they pointed the high-pressure hoses at the humvees raised up on cement ramps. Rivulets of water mixed with mud and debris ran down the concrete blocks.

The Sailors normally focused on inspecting the humvees decided to take part in the cleaning so they could have a better appreciation of the process needed to get the vehicles back to Soldiers.

"We're here to support the Army and see how it's done - see what a cold, wet job it is," said Cdr. Jeff Johnson, commanding officer of the Navy Customs Battalion. It didn't take long to find out. Soon drenched with cold water and smudged with mud, the volunteers crawled beneath the humvees and gave extra attention to each part of the vehicles.

"This is great," said McQuistion, who didn't hesitate about working alongside her service members. "We're really just trying to build esprit de corps." One Soldier decided to do a little extra. Wearing a walking billboard made out of cardboard, C4 Sgt. Maj. Eric Pelletier gave a festive touch to the event by advertising the humvee wash.

Pelletier walked back and forth in front of the service members wearing the sign proclaiming "Will wash truck for hot dog."

"It's just a little bit to add more spirit," said Pelletier. "This will get the units back in the states a chance to get their equipment back to rebuild their unit and get them ready for the next mission.

• Date Taken: 11.30.2006
• Date Posted: 11.30.2006 10:14
• Story ID: 8441
• Location: ARJIFAN, KW