JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — The mission to sustain combat power reflects the professionalism and technical expertise of Army sustainment forces. The 35th Maintenance Support Team–Stryker (MST-S) demonstrates its ability to ensure the Army remains ready to fight and win anytime, anywhere.
Nearing the end of 2025, 35th MST-S, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 593rd Corps Sustainment Command, provided critical maintenance and recovery support to 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division during pre-deployment preparations for the upcoming Korea Rotational Force early in 2026 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Tasked with absorbing a portion of the brigade’s maintenance workload, the 35th MST-S, which falls under the 542nd Support Maintenance Company, 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 593rd Corps Sustainment Command, executed scheduled and unscheduled services to ensure Stryker vehicles were fully mission capable before deployment. The technical proficiency of sustainment Soldiers is critical to maintaining and repairing the complex systems used by Stryker units.
“Maintenance support is critical during the pre-deployment phase because it reduces risk and preserves training momentum for units preparing to deploy,” said Warrant Officer Rodney McDonald, 35th MST-S chief of maintenance. “It ensures the unit’s lethality is not compromised.”
The maintenance surge primarily focused on Stryker platforms; however, the team also supported recovery operations and repairs for other wheeled equipment as required.
According to McDonald, coordination with unit leadership enabled the maintenance team to identify priority requirements and allocate personnel and equipment where needed most.
Preventive maintenance plays a key role in identifying and correcting deficiencies before deployment, ensuring equipment reliability and sustained combat power upon arrival in theater.
“Our work allows units to focus on their mission,” McDonald said. “When they arrive in theater, their equipment is ready and fully mission capable.”
The 35th MST-S measures success by ensuring equipment arrives in theater ready to roll off ships and immediately support operational requirements without mechanical issues. As an expeditionary maintenance force, the 35th MST-S continues to support commander readiness and the projection of combat power across the installation.
“Our Stryker Systems Maintainer (91S) mechanics are highly trained and postured to provide responsive maintenance support,” McDonald said. “While one team supports 1st Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s Stryker fleet, another team provides maintenance support to the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, focusing on restoring non-mission capable equipment to operational status.”