Photo By Sgt. 1st Class True Thao | U.S. Army Pfc. Vincent R. Cobian, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle system maintainer with...... read more read more
NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Preventative maintenance checks and services are crucial when it comes to battlefield readiness. From checking the fluids under the hood to the tire pressure, one small mishap can lead to vehicle failure. Soldiers with India Forward Support Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are ensuring that their vehicles are ready to fight while deployed to Eastern Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve.
Soldiers with India Company are conducting services and maintenance on vehicles in preparation for joint training exercises with allied and NATO partners as part of the Atlantic Resolve mission.
“Maintaining the equipment is our top priority” said Sgt. Jorge Castellanos, field maintenance team chief of India FSC and HHC, 1-16. “That’s our main focus for this deployment.”
The field maintenance team accounts for over 200 pieces of equipment including generators, Humvees and M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction Systems. They work alongside line units to identify any deficiencies that may arise when operating the equipment.
“It all starts with the operators,” said Castellanos. “We get feedback from them and if a vehicle needs a part, we replace it.”
The 1-16 recently settled in bases at multiple European countries including Romania and Bulgaria. Since receiving their vehicles via line haul and rail, the Soldiers have been performing services on them to ensure they are ready to go at any moment.
“We work on the vehicles almost every day to ensure that the Soldiers are getting the proper training needed to service them,” said Pfc. Vincent R. Cobian, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle system maintainer with India Forward Support Company, 1-16. “For one full vehicle, a proper service will take up to three weeks.”
This opportunity also allows for the Soldiers to cross train on different vehicles that they are not accustomed to. It also allows new Soldiers to get a first-hand look at how services are conducted in a field environment.
“This is a teaching moment,” said Castellanos. “This has been a learning experience for all of us.”
With the Iron Rangers slated to participate in multi-national training exercises, it will be sure to keep the field maintenance team busy throughout their rotation as part of the Atlantic Resolve mission.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2019 03:32 |
| Story ID: | 315958 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Hometown: | PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SARASOTA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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