By Sgt. Jonathan Haugen,
116th Public Affairs Detachment
Camp Dodge, Iowa – The most overlooked specialties in the military are Soldiers behind the scenes making the N.D. Army National Guard function. The cooks, administration, supply support staff and the maintenance personnel are the Soldiers who make operations continue to work seamlessly.
The 3662nd General Support Maintenance Company is comprised of Soldiers who are needed to help the Army conduct its mission. If you need an engine repaired in your truck, tank, loader or any other military vehicle, the 3662nd, better known as "The Deuce," can keep it operating. That is just what the company was doing at Camp Dodge, Iowa and Anniston Army Depot for their annual training in April and May.
"We can repair anything from the M1 tank transmission to the engine on a HMMWV," said Master Sgt. Brian Kilzer. "The Deuce is very capable at handling any of the maintenance for the Army."
The Deuce is a regular Mr. Goodwrench for the N.D. Army National Guard. It has everything Soldiers would need, from the capability to order parts and supplies to shipping the engines and other parts to the theater of operation. The unit will tear down the engine or transmission, rebuild it, test it on the Dynamometer and then pack it back up and ship it to where it is needed.
"We are a complete operation from beginning to end," said Capt. Mike Lowe, commander of the 3662nd. "We will ensure the job is done and done right."
Although the unit is split between two locations, the Soldiers are doing the same job. Rebuilding engines and transmissions for the Army at both the National Maintenance Training Center and Anniston Army Depot ensures the Army has vehicles mission-ready.
"It's a good thing for the Soldiers to be at Camp Dodge and learn the proper procedures for the rebuilds," said Staff Sgt. Tim Scherr, platoon sergeant for Construction Repair platoon. "Learning how to do things step-by-step according to the technical manuals is always good."
This hard work has proven its worth. The NMTC voted the 3662nd as the most war ready maintenance company to rotate through. This recognition means the unit is the most trained, professional and technically proficient Component Repair Company in the nation, according to the NMTC.
The rebuilding of the engines and transmissions starts with the tear down. During tear down the mechanics inspect the parts for cracks or damage that will need to be fixed or replaced. The unit then orders those parts. The next step is to put it back together. This process can take a couple of days or a couple of weeks depending on the job.
When the engine or transmission is back together it is tested by the Dynamometer. The Dynamometer is a "tool" the Deuce Soldiers use for testing the part to ensure everything is in peak performance. When testing is completed the repaired part is prepped for shipping to the Army depot for distribution.
This is the second year in a row for the 3662nd at Camp Dodge and the National Maintenance Training Center. The unit has cultured a great relationship with the center.
The unit has been working on components for the NMTC at Camp Grafton and Bismarck for a couple of years. The unit transports the parts to Camp Grafton and sends them to Camp Dodge and then the unit travels to Camp Dodge to test them.
"These components the 3662nd rebuilds on drill weekends and during annual training are not training aids," said Lowe. "These components are sent back to the Army Supply System for fielding to units all over the world as needed."
"The National Maintenance Training Center is the best component repair training center for the 3662nd to train on their wartime mission," Lowe said. "The Soldiers always enjoy coming to the NMTC. They practice their skills and become more efficient at their jobs."