Mechanics keep the fleet rolling through dust, mud

Courtesy Photo | Senior Airman Jorge Chavez, 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance Flight mechanic, removes a roller on a K-loader here recently.  

SATHER AIR BASE, IRAQ

05.11.2006

Courtesy Story

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SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq -- Working on vehicles in the desert presents challenges. Mechanics sometimes have to scrape off layers of dirt and mud just to get to the broken part. Then there's the parts issue"it's not like they can simply call an automotive supply store in Baghdad to deliver a part.

"Back home, you could look in a book and order a part. Not here," said Master Sgt. John Henderson, 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance Flight fleet manager. It might take a month to get a part through the military supply system, he said.

But you wouldn't know the flight faced these challenges with their vehicle in-commission rate of 96 percent, which is the percentage of more than 300 fleet vehicles that are operational. The VIC rate for
critical vehicles including refuelers and fire trucks was even better " 98 percent. This exceeded the Air Force standard of 90 percent.

With a team of mechanics whose rank is staff sergeant and below, their average experience level is about six years, said Master Sergeant Thomas Lytle, the flight's superintendent. Couple this with the fact more than 40 percent of the mechanics are on their first deployment, the team's success boils down to one
thing, he said.

"Enthusiasm and effort overcomes expertise 99 percent of the time. The (mechanics) constantly ask questions."

The fleet includes rental cars, aircraft K-loaders, armored HUMVEES, fire trucks and refueling vehicles. Although the Air Force fleet comprises a variety of vehicles and the mechanics have general mechanical
experience, "You can't imagine the diversity of the fleet here," said Sergeant Lytle.

"(Most) of them are not experienced with such a diversified fleet," he said.

But they don't let that stop them. If one mechanic has experience on a piece of equipment that others don't,
they teach the other mechanics. However, one mechanic said they sometimes must rely on their basic experience, common sense and step-by-step technical orders.

"I know the concepts of how an engine works. If I know what (kind of vehicle) I'm working with, I can open the T.O. and fix it," said Staff Sgt. Oscar Figueroa, who's deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall,
England.

"We will go and find a way to fix it."

The deployed environment also takes its toll on vehicles with unpaved roads and thick, deep mud during the rainy winter. Besides having to sometimes scrape inches of dried mud to reach the part of the vehicle they suspect is the problem, they also respond to pull vehicles out of the mud.

"We own a farm tractor. We have to rescue vehicles every time it rains because the mud is like clay," Sergeant Lytle said. "We pull out "old" Betsy."

The summer can be equally challenging. When the temperature outside is 100-degrees Fahrenheit plus, the
mechanics face temperatures of up to 200 degrees when they diagnose engine faults.

"A lot of times the engine has to be on if we are diagnosing the problem," Sergeant Henderson said. "We have to watch the heat-rest cycle."

Although the flight maintains a bench stock of basic items for preventative maintenance such as oil and filters, getting parts to replace major problems is not as easy as going to local store.

"We do not have ready access to base supply here," said Larry Southworth, a Department of Defense civilian who is the flight's material control specialist.

When engines or transmissions break, he has to order through the Air Force supply system. This can mean a wait of up to 30 days for a part. But Mr. Southworth uses his 15 years of prior Army service in vehicle maintenance to work with the Army here to obtain parts. This is especially critical for obtaining HUMVEE parts.

"I can go to Army units and say, "Hey. Can I get this," he said.

Over the 14 months he's been assigned here, Mr. Southworth also took the initiative to cultivate relationships with individual Army vehicle maintenance material control offices on Victory Base Complex.
He said this is helpful when he needs to find a part.

"Different units have different types of vehicles and parts. I know where to go look."

Although the flight is excited with the progress of their vehicle in-commission rates, they also take pride because they eliminated 67 excess vehicles that were here when they arrived in January.

"We sent them where they were needed in the AOR," Sergeant Lytle said.

Regardless of the unfamiliarity with some vehicles, reduced parts access and the young workforce, Sergeant Henderson described the team's work during AEF 9/10: "Awesome!"

• Date Taken: 05.11.2006
• Date Posted: 05.11.2006 11:11
• Story ID: 6349
• Location: SATHER AIR BASE, IQ