Photo By Col. Wayne Marotto | Iraqi army jundi Nemir troubleshoots the electrical switches on a Humvee transmission...... read more read more
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By Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
BAGHDAD – The 17th Iraqi army division continues on its path to a self-sufficient logistics and maintenance program with a little help from a team of MND-B Soldiers from the 47th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Hagen, who is assigned to Company B, 47th FSB, is a maintenance vehicle supervisor who taught the 17th Iraqi army division Motorized Transportation Regiment a class Dec. 31, 2008, on Humvee maintenance at Patrol Base Deason in Mahmudiyah Qada.
"I am trying to teach the Iraqi soldiers a preventive maintenance checks and services program," said Hagen. "I want to teach them the proper procedure to troubleshoot and figure out the problem. I also want them to be able to order the part and fix it themselves."
Hagen, a native of Stafford, N.Y., who is on his third OIF tour, has taught the "jundis" – Iraqi Army privates – nine classes on maintenance since the 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., assumed the Mahmudiyah Qada battle space in November.
The logistics and maintenance program has long been a weak area for the Iraqi army. Ordering parts is still a problem for the IA, which can take weeks to get parts through their system. At times, this leads units to relying on the local economy to purchase parts.
"When we first arrived here, they [the IA] were reluctant to submit an Iraqi army request form," said Warrant Officer Julian Prince, a native of Melbourne, Fla. "The local economy was their first choice for parts. We have gotten them to put trust in the supply system."
Hagen, a 24-year Army veteran who also served in Desert Storm, led the Iraqi army soldiers through a series of hands-on classes on troubleshooting a humvee transmission. Each soldier, including 1st. Lt. Qusai Ahmed, their maintenance platoon leader, gathered around the transmission to disable it and check the electronic switches to ensure the transmission was shifting properly and smoothly. The training was peppered by Hagen's questions to the jundis as they checked the transmission.
"They like to learn by doing," said Hagen. He has taught the soldiers to conduct a PMCS using an Arabic -10 manual and an inspection form similar to the Army's 2404 form.
"The training from Sgt. 1st Class Hagen is a benefit for my soldiers. It helps my soldiers understand maintenance," said Ahmed. "The humvee is new for us and the system is different, so there is a need for this training."
Both the MND-B and Iraqi soldiers said they felt that as a result of the training, there has been an improvement in maintenance and supply with the MTR soldiers.
"There has been a definite improvement in maintenance and training," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lashanda Hill, who serves with the logistics training advisory team embedded with the 17th IA MTR.
Hill, a native of Long Beach, Calif., is partnered with the unit and has advised the unit on the importance of utilizing and trusting the Iraqi supply system.
Hill has established a positive working relationship with Iraqi army Capt. Sadoon, the operations officer for the 17th IA MTR, which helps the communication process as the combined forces work together.
"Chief Hill is very good," said Sadoon. "Any problem we have, she gives us a solution. She helps and supports with training."
The 17th IA Div. MTR, with the assistance of its partner, 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., is learning how to conduct maintenance and supply procedures in order to become a more professional Army and increasingly capable of protecting the Iraqi people.
"This is good training because before when a Humvee was broken, we had no idea how to fix it," said Nemir, an Iraqi jundi. "Now, with this training, we can fix it."
| Date Taken: | 01.02.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.02.2009 20:20 |
| Story ID: | 28392 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 309 |
| Downloads: | 224 |
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