When You Care Enough To Send The Very Best
Story by SPC Charles Ames, Additional Information Provided by CPT Beth Coffey;
Photos by LTC Rick Patterson & Courtesy 951st Maintenance Company - Posted Jan, 2001
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As part of a program that has been going on for several years, Army National Guard and Army Reserve Direct Support and General Support maintenance units conduct their annual training at the Equipment Maintenance Depot in Kaiserlautern, Germany.
Reserve component units take over various facilities, such as motor pools, allied trades shops, component rebuild shops, and engine rebuild shops. They repair and rebuild equipment that is then redistributed into the active army supply system.
The first day of the 951st while in country was spent determining what assets were available to them and what work was ahead of them. Some of the dozens of machinery crates were unlabeled and gave no indication of what service was needed. A backlog of 40 engines faced the unit.
Another issue to be worked around was shop allocation. By day, the diagnostic machine belonged to German nationals for NATO work. Once the shop was cleared out, only then could Guardsmen conduct diagnostic operations. For three weeks the Guardsmen conducted their diagnostics on the night shift.
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From the 1st through the 22nd of April, 2000, 126 Washington Army National Guardsmen worked at locations in Kaiserslautern and nearby Mannheim, plying their trade on active duty vehicles, such as "Hummers", all of which were subsequently returned to support US military efforts throughout Germany and the Balkans.
Before our Guardsmen returned to Washington they took stock of their accomplishments:
- 40 Engines repaired
- 40 Differentials rebuilt
- 40 Transfers rebuilt
- 33 Oil analysis completed
- 18 "Annual Services" completed
- 12 Fifth-wheel assemblies repaired
... in addition to miscellaneous repairs on canvas tarps and doors, and electronic components. The unit also conducted all of the necessary supply and support operations associated with their work. The 951st had received invaluable training experience during their 3 weeks in Germany, not to mention a chance to see Europe in the Spring!
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During their tour the unit was visited by LTG Russell Davis, Chief of National Guard Bureau. The General was impressed by the seamless integration between his Guardsmen and their active duty counterparts. He got the VIP tour, of course, but this was a working visit. Each mechanic, in turn, paused their tasks just long enough to explain what they were up to and answer a few questions.
As the beaming General and his staff moved on, the Guardsmen returned to work on the long row of transmissions, trailers, transfer cases and engines.
Although not currently scheduled to return until 2005, it speaks highly of their accomplishments that their host unit - the 2143rd Maintenance Battalion - has asked the Guardsmen to return as soon as next year!
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