Photo By Sgt. Anthony Hooker | Sgt. Anthony Kosco inspects a spectrum analyzer at the Test Measurement Diagnostic...... read more read more
By Spc. Anthony Hooker
215th Mobile Public Affair Detachment
JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ – The Test Measurement Diagnostic Equipment section of the 602nd Maintenance Company put out an "Open for Business" proclamation to all units stationed on Joint Base Balad and surrounding forward operating bases. The 602nd supports the civilian TMDE operations, but also offers the opportunity to visit their shop.
Working out of a 40-foot by 8-foot trailer, the seven–person team from Fort Hood, Texas has been calibrating parts on Balad since April 2007. Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Shelborne, the section's senior non-commissioned officer, said armored units, as well as aviation, signal and tanker battalions benefited from the TMDE section's services.
Shelborne, a native of Harker Heights, Texas, said the section supported over 200 units back at Hood and has built a solid reputation.
"The [3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment] regularly has folks from different FOBs use us because of our work in the past."
Shelborne said units will be treated to a 'one-stop shop.'
"Unless there is a part that needs to be sent off or ordered, we can fix [an item] and get it back to you the same day," said Shelborne.
Shelborne said the unit's primary mission is to make sure any instrument they receive operates within the limits of its capabilities.
"When a unit gets that piece of equipment back, they know we've tested it and it is well within standard[s]," Shelborne said.
One of only six military TMDE shops in Iraq, the 602nd received an 'outstanding' rating from the Army after their last inspection. Shelborne said his team has successfully repaired or calibrated between 8,000 and 10,000 pieces of equipment since arriving in theater. He speculated that normal TMDE units usually take 10 days for instrument calibration and up to 30 days for instrument repair; the 602nd, according to Shelborne, normally takes no more than six days to calibrate parts and just 10 days to fix an item.
Most orders are done at the site but technicians will go to outlying areas if the items – such as scales and trucks - cannot be brought in. Shelborne said the services are based on the order of submitted requests, but that exceptions are made to get items calibrated for convoys or logistical patrols that are traveling from other FOBs.
Once the piece is submitted, customers receive a receipt that they must present upon picking up the material. The receipt comes in handy if there is a delay with the return of a part. "As long as they have a receipt," said Shelborne, "they will get their equipment back."
Sgt. Joseph Dendy, the shop's assistant NCOIC, said the group often finds a lot of operator faults. Dendy, a Woodland, Mississippi native, said all operators must know their equipment capabilities and how the environment may affect it.
"Extreme weather, like heat, affects equipment," Dendy said. "Humidity and temperature are big factors of things that can affect electronic equipment. You have to use operator 'common sense' . . . going back to the operator's manual, looking at how to use the equipment and what [it is] capable of."
Dendy added certain types of equipment require more attention because of their tolerances or how they operate. Torque wrenches, calipers, and micrometers are physical tools that can handle environmental stress; in contrast, devices that use oscillators, which put out a steady frequency, can become internally unbalanced. If the frequency drifts too far, the oscillator will be out of tolerance.
"Maybe [people] don't have a chance to keep equipment within its operating parameters," said Dendy, "but if soldiers go outside of those parameters, there's no guarantee that their signal will be operating where we calibrate it at."
Ultimately, Dendy said it is his responsibility to set an operator or a mechanic up for success.
"When someone uses their test equipment, they need to know the equipment is accurate and reliable," he said. "It should be good unless the equipment is damaged."
As one of only six military TMDEs in the Iraqi theater, Shelborne said the unit will remain proactive during their time in country. Whether it is keeping up relations with their TMDE counterparts or creating word of mouth buzz through a reliable contact at the Convoy Support Center, the 602nd wants all members of the Coalition Forces to know they are open for business.
"It doesn't matter what branch a unit is from . . . British, Australian," said Shelborne, "as long as they're on the side of the Coalition, we will service them."
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2008 09:03 |
| Story ID: | 22809 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 1,071 |
| Downloads: | 394 |
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