Iraqi army mechanics learn generator basics

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson | Mechanics of 8th Motor Transport Regiment listen as Spc. Patrick Armstrong generator mechanic, Company B, 589th Brigade Support Battalion, explains one of the parts to check during preventive maintenance checks and services on a generator during the six-day generator maintenance class at Forward Operating Base Delta recently.  

AL KUT, IRAQ

04.27.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson 

Multi-National Division-South East Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq — Mechanics from the Iraqi army's 8th Motor Transport Regiment attended a six-day generator maintenance course here recently to improve their self-sufficiency and sustainability.

The Iraqi army is not staffed with generator mechanics, even though a lot of their units rely on generators to supply their electricity demands. The Soldiers who attended the course are vehicle mechanics who can directly apply the skills learned in the course to help maintain generators in the 8th Iraqi Army Division.

"We want to learn as much information from the U.S. mechanics as we can and gain the experience to maintain the generators," said 1st. Sgt. Ali Mahdi Jassim, 8th MTR.

The mechanics who attended the course are part of the 8th MTR's maintenance company. The original responsibility of the company was service and maintenance of Humvees and trucks but now includes generators.

"We have a big generator at 8th MTR and each company has a small generator," said Jassim. "Everything we learn here, we will go back to 8th MTR to teach the other Soldiers how to fix and maintain the generators."

The course focused on correct startup and shutdown procedures, proper phase for the electrical current, preventive maintenance checks and services and changing main generator components.

"This class is going well," said Spc. Patrick Armstrong, generator mechanic, Company B, 589th Brigade Support Battalion. "This is actually the third set of Iraqis I trained, and they comprehend this stuff a lot easier than the other groups I've trained."

The Soldiers who attended the class have prior vehicle maintenance experience helping them to understand the basics of generator maintenance, according to Armstrong.

"I think coming from an MTR has a major effect on how easily they understand it because, one: they know they are going to use it and two: they have some basic knowledge of how maintenance goes," said Armstrong. "I'm just helping them to understand generator maintenance,"

The training 8th MTR Soldiers received gives them a skill that will make sure they can operate and maintain the generators they have for a long time, said Armstrong.

"I think this actually goes a lot towards helping them get on their feet and being able to take care of their own equipment, which helps them to be self-sufficient."

• Date Taken: 04.27.2009
• Date Posted: 04.27.2009 04:21
• Story ID: 32905
• Location: AL KUT, IQ