Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | U.S. Army Spc. Christian Caviness, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Engines are humming, wrenches are turning and the 3rd Sustainment Brigade mechanics continue to keep the war fighters rolling in Southern Afghanistan. For the ‘Provider’ maintenance team serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom every day is different, but one thing remains the same—the family like atmosphere.
“This is a family environment here,” said Pfc. Brandon Hunter, an automated logistical specialist and Darlington, S.C., native. “We do everything together, both on and off the clock.”
Hunter and his fellow maintenance team assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, consider themselves like a band of brothers. Although they troubleshoot different aspects of their military occupational specialties, they work together to fix any maintenance or personal concern that arises.
“If I have a problem, I can go to any of my fellow soldiers,” said Spc. Michael Vickers, an all-wheeled vehicle mechanic serving on his first combat-tour. “They have deployment experience, so they’re very helpful.
“I can go to any of my battle buddies with a question and not feel ashamed,” the Florence, Ky., native continued. “We’re all cohesive (and) don’t look down on anyone; we all just take care of each other.”
Spc. Jordan Suggs a Wilson, N.C., native who has been married for three years with one child and another on the way, said it is his section’s camaraderie that helps him deal with the difficulties of deployment.
“It is stressful at times being away from my family, but I get to talk to them fairly often and my maintenance family helps me (cope) through it,” he said.
Sgt. Stephen Valentine, a Philadelphia, Penn., native, said fostering a family-like atmosphere for his Soldiers benefits his team’s overall job performance.
“I communicate with my family every day, and I’m in a happy place,” he said. “If I am in a happy place, then I can serve as a good role model for my soldiers. The better they are, the better they perform.”
Valentine added that a strong work performance is critical as his Soldiers help service the war fighters throughout three regional commands in Afghanistan.
“We have a big mission to accomplish here, and comprehensive soldier fitness is key to mission success,” he said. “We’re still a work in progress; we’ve only been here for a month. In the coming months we’ll be a well-oiled machine.”
| Date Taken: | 01.03.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2013 06:30 |
| Story ID: | 99868 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Hometown: | DARLINGTON, SC, US |
| Hometown: | FLORENCE, KY, US |
| Hometown: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | HINESVILLE, GA, US |
| Hometown: | PHILADELPHIA, PA, US |
| Hometown: | SUMTER, SC, US |
| Hometown: | WILSON, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army mechanics’ tool to mission-success is unity, by SPC Rochelle Prince-Krueger, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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