Photo By Sgt. Sang-cheol Lee | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Roger D. Pace, the 520th Maintenance Company engineer...... read more read more
DONGDUCHEON, South Korea – If something breaks down in the field during an exercise, depending on what it is, the whole unit can lose the capability to accomplish the mission. Especially when the broken equipment is indispensable in the field such as a generator, military vehicle, radio, heater and air conditioner, the mission disintegrates in the air.
The 520th Maintenance Company mechanics threw themselves into the mission with enthusiasm by conducting a culminating training exercise which the 194th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion executed to test the unit’s capability to provide support during war time from March 4-9 at a local training area near Dongducheon.
“Everybody has his or her part in a field exercise like this. We are sent out in order to keep everyone in the unit warm and with power,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Turlington, the 520th Maint. Company Ground Support Equipment platoon Generator Section noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
Since each mechanic has his or her specialty, the 520th Maint. Company is divided into four platoons by their characteristics.
“The 520th Maintenance Company supports Area III through four different platoons. We have Headquarters platoon, Ground Service Equipment [GSE] platoon, Electronics Maintenance [ELM] platoon and Automotives, Armament and Allied Trades [A&A] platoon,” said 2nd Lt. Davon E. Estelle, the 520th Maint. Company ELM platoon leader.
While GSE platoon mechanics handle the generators, air conditioners and heaters, the ELM platoon mechanics deal with communication equipment. A&A platoon mechanics take charge of military vehicles, fabrication and welding. Therefore, their daily missions are different from each other.
“I travel around the battalion and make sure everybody has heat and electronic power is on for all the installations including tents in the field,” Turlington said.
“I usually do preventive maintenance checks and services on the vehicles so every vehicle is ready to roll out,” said Pfc. Dane M. Neary, the 520th Maint. Company A&A platoon automotive mechanic.
Since a mechanic’s job is dealing with specialized machines such as military vehicles and generators, it has a few work hazards. Accordingly, they take the proper safety precautions before they start their jobs to prevent accidents.
“I have to be cautious because there is always potential to be run over by a vehicle or an engine getting extremely heated. In order to prevent accidents at work, I wear eye protection, gloves and the required uniform at all times for safety,” Neary said.
Due to the possibility of accidents and the specialization of the machines in the field, there are a lot of requirements to be a mechanic.
“You have to be really good with your hands and able to face new problems every single time. Also, since the advanced individual training only teaches you the basics, you have to get to your unit and be willing to learn so that you can know more,” Turlington said.
Although the work environment is hard and dangerous, mechanics from the 520th Maint. Company execute their jobs with affection and pride.
“When a convoy is rolling out, I know that we checked those vehicles. If anything goes wrong in anyway, I know how to fix it and that makes me proud,” Neary said.
“I feel proud of myself the most when I know everybody is able to lie down, be comfortable and get a good night’s rest at the end of the day after completing the mission,” Turlington said.
The CTE successfully ended March 9 with the remarkable activities of the 520th Maint. Company mechanics.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2013 21:47 |
| Story ID: | 104502 |
| Location: | DAEGU GWANG'YEOGSI [TAEGU-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 1,323 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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