Photo By Staff Sgt. Avery Cunningham | U.S. Army Pfc. Sean Welton, power-generation equipment repairer, D Company, 186th...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Behind every good combat company is a good support company. The support company behind the 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment (Mountain) is D Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion.
"We are the maintenance support for the cavalry," said Staff Sgt. Robert Green, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with D/186th BSB.
The unit's support role is imperative to keeping troops moving and their equipment functioning at full capacity. Annual training allows them to practice the skills required to do this.
The Delta Company dutifully fulfills its role and work their hardest to make sure the cavalry's equipment is always ready.
"We repair all their equipment," said Green. "It's more than just trucks, its trucks, generators, air conditioning, weapons, heaters."
It's important that the Army has the essential people for the task. The equipment requires Soldiers with the skills necessary to maintain it during operations when the units are mobilizing.
"They're a mobile cavalry, so they're always on the move, so their expensive, complicated equipment requires maintenance and repairs by qualified individuals," said Green.
Every company uses generators and vehicles to move and to power their systems. Companies like D company, 186th BSB keep vital systems and equipment working, so other Soldier can do their jobs.
We need power and lights, without power we don't have radios, computers or any of those systems said Pfc. Sean Welton, a power-generation equipment repairer with the unit.
The company needs annual training in order to keep their skills sharp and to practice their technical expertise.
"The mechanics and truck drivers get to actually do more of their MOS [Military Occupational Specialty], so they're actually able to work on the Humvees [HMMWVs], and the generators and other miscellaneous trucks, where they don't normally get that opportunity on many drill weekends," said Green.
Annual training allows the entire unit to get together to build camaraderie, practice their specialties, and use their tools and equipment.
"I actually get to learn about SAMSE [Standard Army Maintenance System Enhanced], at drill I use it once, maybe twice, not even, because they don't drive trucks often," said Pfc. Kassidy Caron, an automated logistical specialist with the company. "I'm attached down in Bennington, so I'm actually with my unit when I go to AT [annual training], actually with the people I'm supposed to be with."
This annual training affords the 186th BSB the opportunity to work out in the field, in a realistic environment. They get to do what they were trained to do.
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2015 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 168941 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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