Text Box: “Fix Forward Fast” by: Captain Anne Marie Peacock, Bde PAO   Do you know what “MST” stands for? It doesn’t stand for “Mountain Standard Time.” I’ll give you a hint – every Battalion has one. Still don’t know? When you’re out in the field performing tactical maneuvers and a piece of equipment breaks down – who’s there to fix it?   Quietly serving in the background, standing guard, and ready to perform BDAR (battle damage assessment and repair) on a moment’s notice are “Maintenance Support Teams.”  Bravo Company 181st Support Battalion is home to the MSTs, and each Battalion in the Brigade has an MST that is dedicated to providing Direct Support Maintenance.   “Fix Forward Fast” is their motto, and when a piece of equipment breaks down, they immediately start to fight the “maintenance” battle, and their enemy is TIME. The ultimate goal – repair as much as possible, as fast as possible, on the battlefield.   The MST is there to support tactical, operational, and strategic maintenance support. In order to accomplish this successfully, each MST member must have an in-depth coverage of a wide range of functional areas. They must understand the mission, function, and equipment of all the Brigades combat branches. Fundamentally, the MST NCOIC is responsible for thinking of better ways to accomplish requirements; acquisition management; production; fielding; maintenance procedures; battlefield recovery and evacuation; battle damage assessment and repair; and tactical organization design. This is accomplished by getting integrated with the battalion it supports so they can provide "hands-on" service.   MSTs have recovery vehicles, mobile electric power generation, electronic test equipment, and environmental control systems. They are broken out into specialized teams that focus on maintaining missiles, radars, computers-based fire control systems, tanks, tracked vehicles, artillery, ground support, and automotive equipment. These soldiers have above-average competence with tools, equipment and machinery. They possess physical strength and manual dexterity, skills in math, plus the ability to work well with others and function successfully as team members. Put simply – just all around nice people. Sometimes known as “grease monkeys,” they quietly serve in the background, waiting for the opportunity to help when they can. Once a MST is in receipt of a job, they work until it gets fixed; which most often means working around the clock until the tank, for example, is up and operational – period.   Their goal is to provide the warfighter with valuable logistics and materiel readiness support, and is dedicated to providing the best possible tools, techniques, and logistics products and services that will enhance readiness posture. The next time you come across a MST soldier, thank him or her for a job well done, and be thankful that your equipment is up and operational.

Text Box: Washington Rifles

Text Box: June 21, 2003  

Text Box: THE 81ST BRIGADE SOLDIER’S NEWSPAPER  

Text Box: Volume I, Issue 4  

Text Box: From the Ft. Hunter Liggett historical record…   The Ballad of Tiburcio Vasquez – Bandit   There are tales of ghosts at the mission, a headless horsewoman, and even buried treasure. The story of Tiburcio Vasquez, although it focuses on a real person, also is surrounded by the mystique of the isolated, mountainous terrain.   In the mid-nineteenth century, when Vasquez was 17, a fight started in a Monterey dance hall when “Americanos” invaded the dance of some young local “Californios” and their senoritas. The intruders shoved and snatched the girls from their escorts’ arms. In the ensuing free-for-all, lamps were shot out. In the moonlight, a knife flashed and one of the uninvited lay dead.   Vasquez fled and hid in the hills. He was captured but no evidence could be produced and he went free. From that time, however, he was suspect- when a horse or cow was missing, he would be hauled into court and had to produce an alibi.   His hatred for the “Americanos” grew and, finally, he decided he might as well become the desperado he was accused.   Some of his exploits took place on what is now Fort Hunter Liggett. One of his favorite spots for a stage holdup was the steep slope the stagecoach had to travel between King City and Jolon. With a mask covering his face, Vasquez robbed the stagecoach. Then, he would hurry to Dutton’s Inn ahead of the stagecoach, casually enter the bar, and order a drink. When the stagecoach arrived at Dutton’s Hotel, he even bought drinks for the angry, penniless people he had recently robbed.  He expressed surprise and anger at news of the holdup, and joined the posse that went after the bandits.   He rustled cattle and sheep and gave them to the Indians for food. In turn, the Indians often hid him from his pursuers.   He gathered men around him and became the leader of a gang. They robbed so many stagecoaches he couldn’t remember the number.   Women were attracted to him because he had plenty of money (stolen) to buy earrings and bracelets, and to buy himself fancy clothes and silver-trimmed saddles.   While at a mistress’ house in San Jose, law officers drove up to the house. He tried to escape through a window, was fired upon and captured. He was sentenced to die by the court and hanged.    The man who became a Robin Hood for some, a rustler to the rest, was hanged in San Jose in 1875.

 
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