CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Just like doctors use their skills to keep Soldiers working at their peak condition in order to accomplish their mission, the mechanics of Headquarters Support Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division's motor pool use their skills to keep DSTB vehicles operating at peak performance.
These Soldiers are vital to the mission of the Military Transition Teams and the National Police Training Teams that patrol the streets of Iraq. They are skilled mechanics who perform periodic maintenance checks on light-weight and heavy-weight vehicles. The vehicles range from humvees to mine resistant ambush protected vehicles.
Because of their hard work, Soldiers using vehicles from the DSTB motor pool can leave the base with the comfort of knowing their vehicles are in good condition.
"I don't worry about my vehicle breaking down while I am out on missions because I know it is well maintained," said Pfc. Alexander Ziomkowski, native of Grand Rapids, Mich., who is a driver and supply specialist for DSTB, 1st Cav. Div. "The Quality Control shop will not release my vehicle unless everything is well with it."
Like scientists trying to find cures for diseases, the mechanics try to find ways to repair their vehicles.
"The QC shop thoroughly inspects every vehicle after it returns from mission," said Sgt. 1st Class Deighton Little, the Headquarters Support Company, DSTB motor sergeant. "After the vehicles are run through diagnostics, they are sent to the maintenance section for repairs."
The QC shop and maintenance crew of the HSC, DSTB work hand in glove to keep vehicles mission ready.
"Because of the teamwork between the practitioners of the QC shop and the surgeons of the motor pool, the unit maintains a readiness of 98.5 percent," the Bloomfield, Conn. native said.
"The motor pool is very efficient, they repair things very quickly," said Spc. Stephen Robb, a native of Mesquite, Texas, an MRAP driver for D Troop, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div.
According to Little, mechanics are available to repair vehicles 24-hours a day, seven days a week because the mission here is an essential part of a greater mission.
"For example, we support Delta Troop, who is responsible for a majority of the escort missions for the division," said Little. "If we don't keep the vehicles in good operating condition, the escort missions would not leave base."
"We understand we are a small part of a greater team and it means a great deal to my Soldiers when we receive recognition for the hard work that we do to support the mission," continued Little.
Much like the composition of a hospital, the HSC DSTB motor pool is composed of the inspectors of the QC shop which are practitioners who diagnose problems and mechanics who make repairs or replace vital parts in the vehicles. "Each and every section contributes to the success of this unit," said Little.
"Our unit just received the United States Armed Forces Command Army Award for Maintenance Excellence," Little said with pride. "This is the second year that we have won the award."
The AAME program is designed to identify units that do maintenance above the normal standard. The program recognizes units for sustaining field maintenance readiness and improving efficiency and reducing waste. It also recognizes outstanding maintenance accomplishments and initiatives.
The vehicle doctors of HSC, DSTB, 1st Cav. Div. practice preventive maintenance as opposed to preventive medicine and they can't tell the sound of an ailing heart but they know the rattle of a failing engine. With their surgeon-like skills, these DSTB mechanics will help keep Cav Soldiers "Living the Legend" as they patrol the streets of Iraq in their 'fit' vehicles.