KIRKUK, Iraq - More than 80 soldiers in the Kurdish Regional Guard Brigade began training to perform preventive maintenance checks and services on the Iraqi International Troop Carrier Truck, with “Ready First” Soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, at the KRGB headquarters in Qara Anjir, near Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 3.
The course was developed by “Ready First” Soldiers after the KRGB received more than 170 new trucks, said Capt. Justin Herbe, commander of Company B, 501st Brigade Support Battalion, “Ready First.”
During the three-month course, KRGB soldiers will learn basic operator PMCS procedures from “Ready First” mechanics, then progress into advanced engine maintenance and recovery operations.
The purpose of the training is to ensure the KRGB soldiers know how to prevent major mechanical issues before they happen, according to Staff Sgt. Luis Beltran, an El Paso, Texas, native and senior mechanic for Company B.
“Almost all of the mechanics out here are very good at what they do. We are not trying to change their techniques, just assist them in preventing damage,” he continued.
According to Herbe, the officer in charge of the training, the soldiers’ desire to learn has surprised him the most.
“The response to the training has been outstanding,” he said. “It was quite a surprise to see so many soldiers come out to the training willing and ready to learn.”
After the training is complete the trainers have high expectations from the KRGB mechanics.
“When the training is complete we expect the soldiers to be the best trained and most prepared mechanics in the KRGB,” said Herbe. “Then take what they learned and pass it on to fellow soldiers.”