Photo By Staff Sgt. Matthew Ramelb | California State Guard Staff Sgt. David Steinback, noncommissioned officer in charge...... read more read more
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LONG BEACH, Calif. – California State Guard (CSG) Soldiers are currently augmenting California Army National Guard Soldiers in vehicle maintenance operations at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop (CSMS) in Long Beach, where they have been since April 26, 2020. The CSMS, which is mainly staffed by Soldiers who work as full-time technicians, provides maintenance support to Army National Guard units across Southern California. When many of the full-time technicians were activated by their military units to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CSG responded to fill in.
“They’re self-sufficient and have exceeded expectations," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Vasquez, a motor sergeant with Headquarters Support Company, 40th Infantry Division, located in nearby Los Alamitos. "They have been critical in doing preventative maintenance checks (PMCS) on vehicles and verifying faults, and now they’ve stepped up to performing annual services on generators and light medium tactical vehicles (LMTV).”
Vasquez, who is supporting the CSMS for his annual training, said that two of his Soldiers have been working with four State Guardsmen, and together they have completed the PMCS on over 60 pieces of equipment. Since his arrival April 27, they have serviced Humvees, trailers, LMTVs, power generators and a water buffalo.
The CSG is primarily comprised of nonpaid service members who train once a month and serve the state directly in a military capacity. They are subject to be called for emergency state active duty (ESAD) by the Governor, and they bring unique areas of expertise to meet emergency operational needs. A factor that makes the CSG versatile is the diversity of its members, as they vary in background experience and civilian occupations.
California State Guard Staff Sgt. David Steinback, a noncommissioned officer in charge of maintenance with the state guard's 224th Support Detachment said, “I wanted to join the National Guard, but I was too old, so I joined the CSG eight years ago because I wanted to do something for my country.”
Steinback is 65 years old and an automotive instructor at Victor Valley College in Victorville. He has been an automotive instructor for 25 years, and his experience has translated well at the CSMS.
“I’ve got some CSG Soldiers with limited maintenance experience, so I’ve got to watch their work and give them hands-on training,” said Steinback. “Plus, some of the National Guardsmen, if they need help doing something, it’s part of my job to show them.”
Steinback and three other state guard Soldiers at the shop are currently on orders until mid-May, but they could be extended to meet mission needs if National Guard Soldiers continue to support COVID-19 response missions.
“Someone’s got to do it," Steinback said about the work. "I like it."
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2020 18:02 |
| Story ID: | 369288 |
| Location: | LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | HESPERIA, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 318 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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