Photo By Nathan Rivard | U.S. Army Pvt. Benjamin Bruner, armorer, removes dirt from his fighting position at...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The mechanics of D Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion were busy turning wrenches at Fort Drum during the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) Multi-Echelon Integrated Training (MIBT), but guarding those mechanics, were other mechanics hidden in foxholes.
“We want to make sure they can accomplish their mission,” said Spc. Benjamin Lambert, utilities equipment repair, D Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion. “We don’t want them to feel they can't accomplish what they need to accomplish in a timely manner under threat of enemy attack.”
Mechanics providing security is a change from their regular duties, but it is welcomed change.
“I’m used to working on vehicles, but coming out here isn't bad and I like making it [fighting position],” said Spc. Gerald Schartner, mechanic, D Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion. “It’s just fun to me, I like it, it’s something different.”
The MIBT is conducted concurrently with a combat support training exercise and linked with a scenario, so the 186th BSB receives their annual mechanic training while at the same time performing warfighter training.
“We are protecting our perimeter and in between shifts we are twisting wrenches,” said Spc. Seth Jewell, mechanic, D Company, 186th Brigade Support Battalion. “You need to protect while you twist wrenches or you might as well not twist them.”
The unit rotates Soldiers through the fighting positions every four hours. This keeps the mechanics fresh and attentive.
“It keeps us on our toes, so we don't get compliant, so we don't just sit around,” said Jewell. “It also helps, so it's not the same people in the hole all the time getting bored and it also gives everyone a chance to do training back at the maintenance tent.”
Further down the line on the bases perimeter was fighting position B. The Soldiers found inside did not originally create the fighting position, but they were improving.
“You can always see little things you can add. A little more cover here, you can make it a little more comfortable, sometimes you feel a little cramped, so you make more leg room,” said Pvt. Benjamin Bruner, armorer, D Company, 186th BSB.
He also said they need to make sure they provide enough cover and concealment in their position while still covering avenues of approach and crossfire between foxholes.
The Soldiers went back and forth from turning wrenches to moving dirt during their MIBT rotation. They key to success according to the mechanics was to enjoy the time and make sure they do the best job possible whether it was fixing an engine or making a fighting position.
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2015 18:31 |
| Story ID: | 169009 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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