Photo By Eric Harrison | Robert Reay, a civilian contractor with AECOM Global Services, works on a Humvee at...... read more read more
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By Navy Chief Petty Officer Eric Harrison
43rd Joint Logistics Command Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Members of the Army Material Command contingent work hard each day here to ensure that service members who go outside the wire in up-armored light vehicles are as safe as possible.
Army Maj. Dennis Dockery, executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, emphasized the importance of up-armored light vehicles in Afghanistan.
"It's an added force protection for the Soldiers when they are traveling in their vehicle to their objective," he said.
Contractors, third-country nationals and Afghans all work together at AECOM Global Services to properly outfit each light-wheeled vehicle in Afghanistan with armor protection.
Robert Reay, a civilian contractor mechanic with AECOM, replaces body mounts in Humvees because of the added weight of the armor and the arduous terrain in Afghanistan.
"The frame tended to crack with the extra weight on the old frame," Reay said. "The new frames are stronger and more stable."
Reay added this is important because the new mounts can withstand the shock better.
"It's safer and they're not going to have a crash," he said.
Reay said he's glad to be part of the team because it's helping to keep Soldiers safe.
"All I'm doing is changing bits of metal so that when they're out there I know it's going to be alright."
There are dozens of people here working through the up-armor process on the vehicles, ensuring each one is ready to go when it leaves their shop.
"We don't let it go out until it is mission-capable," said Reay, "which means there is no deadline on the vehicles."
According to Reay, the working environment can be a challenge at times.
"It's not exactly your workshop downtown," Reay said. "You've got to work with the tools you've got and the facilities you've got."
An important part of the process lies in the diversity of the team at AMC.
"You've got the language barriers with the different nationalities we've got here, including me," said the England native.
One of the major factors in turning the vehicles back to the Soldiers is the mission requirement.
"If they've got a mission on, every thing's got to drop so you can get theirs in priority."
Dockery said that the light-wheeled vehicle shop is especially important in the mission.
"It supports the war fighter directly," he said. "When we want to modify and enhance a vehicle, we bring them here or we can have a team to support out in the field."
Reay said he came to work at Bagram to be part of a challenging and different team and to make a difference.
"That's part of being here; that's why you want to get it right for them going out. So you know they're going to go out ... and come back."
Heyward McLendon, the deputy project manager of AECOM, said that up-armoring vehicles helps to save Soldiers' lives during improvised explosive device, rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire attacks.
"No vehicles go outside the secure [bases] unless they are [properly] armored," said McClendon. "Our job is to ensure that we apply those enhancements properly so it can protect the war fighter from IEDs."
McLendon has also seen first-hand the results of his team's work.
"It makes us feel good inside, because we've seen vehicles that we have up-armored and maintained go out and hit IEDs and come back and the total vehicle was destroyed, but no one got hurt."
| Date Taken: | 06.27.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2007 07:24 |
| Story ID: | 11000 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 448 |
| Downloads: | 426 |
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