Photo By Spc. Jasmine Walthall | Sgt. Darryl K. Joseph, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion light...... read more read more
By Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall
Task Force 449
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – For the members of Company E, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, a National Guard unit out of Patchogue, N.Y., the job begins well before helicopters begin their flight.
Company E is made up of heavy and light equipment mechanics, refuelers, generator mechanics and suppliers. The mechanics faced quite a challenge upon arrival in country. They were tasked to completely rebuild and repair all of the vehicles in the motor pool.
"It was a big job," says Spc. Luis A. Lopez, 3-142nd AHB heavy construction equipment mechanic, "But we all pulled together and got the motor pool up and in working order."
The mechanics service all types of vehicles, from construction equipment to light equipment vehicles, such as humvees.
"In a typical month we service anywhere from 15 to 20 vehicles," says Spc. Bill A. Flaherty, 3-142 AHB heavy equipment mechanic. "We also conduct scheduled maintenance such as technical inspections, which are annual inspections that involve tearing down the entire vehicle, removing tires, draining old fluids and inspecting the brakes."
The mechanics also perform preventative maintenance checks and services on the vehicles to ensure they continue to work properly and maintain the mission.
The ground mechanics have the important task of working on the trucks necessary for refueling aircrafts. The refuelers perform hot fueling, which involves fueling the aircraft while the aircraft is still running, and cold fueling which is done when the aircraft is completely shut down.
"We are a crucial part of the refueling mission," says Sgt. Darryl K. Joseph, 3-142 AHB light equipment mechanic from Brooklyn, N.Y. "The vehicles that fuel the aircraft may need repair in the middle of the night, and if they are not fixed right away, the mission is impacted. It's our job to make sure that does not happen."
The mechanics also use their skills to assist them in their civilian careers.
Flaherty, who owns a trucking company in Long Island, N.Y., uses the skills he learned in Advanced Individual Training on a daily basis.
"AIT taught me about heavy trucks and equipment and how to fix them," says Flaherty. "My company uses trucks to deliver sand and equipment, and now when those trucks fail, I am able to cut down on time and costs because the Army taught me how to be a proficient mechanic."
Lopez has had similar experiences in his civilian career as an employee at a local construction company.
"I learned how to drive heavy equipment vehicles in AIT," says Lopez, a native of Long Island, N.Y. "So when I started at my job, I was already prepared to not only drive the vehicles, but fix them as well."
Be it in the military or the civilian world, the mechanics of the 3-142 AHB are an important part of the mission. It is because of them the mission continues.
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.27.2009 05:32 |
| Story ID: | 29314 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 324 |
| Downloads: | 120 |
This work, 3rd Battalion, 142 Assault Helicopter Battalion mechanics help continue missions, by SPC Jasmine Walthall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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