Army Sgt. Justin Covert mans an M1A2 .50-caliber machine gun on a Stryker vehicle during training at Fort Irwin, Calif., as the Milky Way galactic center is visible overhead, May 24, 2022.
Tag Archives: Maintenance
PS Magazine Roll-up
April 2022
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Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, conducts table six tank crew qualification Feb. 4, 2019, Orchard Combat Training Center. The Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers are preparation for the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s upcoming rotation at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.
Maintaining at Pace
An NTC Update Series of Articles
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In February 2020, the NTC Operations Group published an article entitled “Winning the Maintenance Fight At Pace.” The article highlighted some common shortcomings with regards to creating a culture of maintenance in our formations as well as tips for building a solid maintenance program capable of performing in any environment. In March, the Officers and NCOs of Operations Group at the National Training Center built upon that article in an effort to help us all understand specific tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that can allow the Army to maintain combat power while simultaneously conducting large scale combat operations against a near peer threat.
Spc. Michelle Metzger, a motor transport operator with 1487th Transportation Company, Ohio Army National Guard, applies grease to her vehicle at Multinational Base – Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, Aug. 12, 2013. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jessi Ann McCormick
Cavalry Squadron Maintenance
NTC Lessons on Maintaining at Pace
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One of the biggest challenges facing a cavalry squadron at NTC is demand of maintaining their equipment in a tactical environment. Units often provide maintenance support from their motor pool while training at home-station, lending themselves to brick and mortar infrastructure and easy access to their brigade supply support activity (SSA) and other SSAs on the same installation. These unrealistic work conditions create complacency in our ability to conduct maintenance in a tactical environment. Under this construct, units do not stress their equipment, develop analog systems of record, test the strength of their shop stock listing (SSL), practice their 5988-E flow, or fine-tune hasty maintenance meetings at Logistical Release Points (LRPs).
A Soldier from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, unloads his Stryker armored fighting vehicle after a long day of conducting fire missions at the National Training Center Aug. 12. Photo by Army Spc. Ryan Hallock.
Combined Arms Battalion Maintenance
NTC Lessons on Maintaining at Pace
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Operations in a Decisive Action environment against a near-peer threat stress maintenance systems at all levels. The units that go through the NTC carry in training level and competency. The following discussion is based on combined arms battalion maintenance observations over the last eight rotations.
An M1A2SEP Abrams Tank from Company C, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment ‘Desert Rogues’, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, sits ready while others complete the night portion of the Gunnery Table VI in the background at Red Cloud Range, Dec. 12. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard Wrigley, 2nd ABCT, 3rd ID, Public Affairs NCO).
Sustaining Aviation Combat Power
NTC Lessons on Maintaining at Pace
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The Aviation Task Force (AVTF) provides a lethal mixture of firepower and maneuverability. Depending on task force configuration, the AVTF consists of a varying quantity of AH-64, CH-47, UH-60, RQ-7B’s and MQ-1C. They all enable the ground force commander to find, fix, and destroy the enemy though fires and maneuver. However, this also presents the AVTF Commander with many unique maintenance challenges not typically found in any other unit. Here are some best practices to help with sustaining aviation combat power in the decisive action environment.
A prolonged exposure shows streaks of light from the headlamps of a 10th Combat Aviation Brigade UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crew while performing a preflight inspection on an aircraft prior to launching on a personnel movement mission Dec. 8, at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo by Capt. Peter Smedberg/Released)
Field Artillery Battalion & Below Maintenance
NTC Lessons on Maintaining at Pace
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In the decisive action training environment (DATE), field artillery (FA) units must conduct maintenance at a faster pace. Fires must enable the maneuver commander to have readily available combat power. This is challenged by the reality of conducting operations during prolonged periods in harsh environmental conditions. Moreover, units must conduct maintenance actions themselves in these demanding conditions. They rarely have the luxury of utilizing hardened bays or paved motor pools. Field artillery leaders must operationalize all maintenance actions. This will ensure proper utilization of manpower and resources to consistently provide maximum available indirect firepower to the maneuver commander.
Spartans from 1st Platoon, Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division fire their M777 howitzer to calibrate on Forward Operating Base Lightning, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2014. The 4th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment are currently deployed to Regional Command East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo courtesy of Regional Command-East)
Brigade Maintenance at Pace
NTC Lessons on Maintaining at Pace
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The brigade maintenance program at home station sets the climate for maintenance management during the fast-paced decisive action fight. Brigade Combat Team can overcome the challenges they will face at the National Training Center by implementing best maintenance practices. The maintenance system will never be effective or efficient in a tactical scenario if it is not practiced at home station.
Soldiers with the 32nd Composite Truck Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and the Army Reserve’s 257th Transportation Company standby for communications checks prior to a recovery mission in support of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 31, 2016. (Photo by 1st Lt. Trevor Kinkade).
Winning the Maintenance Fight at Pace
Operations Group, The National Training Center
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When preparing for a major operation such as a deployment or a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation, the volume of tasks that need to be accomplished to standard in a short amount of time can amaze the best commanders. Prior to, during and after deployment, many commanders find that maintenance consumes a disproportionately large amount of time. Even as the Commander of Operations Group, I often find myself more focused on maintenance and sustainment more than many other areas. Why? The answer is simple: An insufficient maintenance program can grind any brigade combat team (BCT) to a halt, even more so than an opposing force. You can’t fix it after first contact. Once you’re in the middle of a fight, it’s too late.
2-16 Armor Basic Officer Leader Course conducts Platoon STX training at Good Hope Maneuver Training Area. Photo retrieved from 2-16 Armor Facebook Page.
NTC Update (NOV 19)
BSB Maintenance Company Observations & Best Practices
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This paper outlines observations and describes best practices of Field Maintenance Company (FMCs) while deployed as rotational training units (RTUs) to the National Training Center (NTC) during FY19. Identifying lessons learned and best practices allows FMC commanders and Leaders to better assess, plan, and prepare units for Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). Successful FMCs come to the NTC prepared and proficient in several key areas, which include but not limited to utilization of the commodity shops, synchronization with BN staff, and battalion maintenance meeting. The Army’s two-level maintenance system (field and sustainment levels) generates and regenerates combat power, which is critical for fight and win during LSCO. The Brigade Support Battalion (BSB) can maximize its FMCs potentials to enhance the Forward Support Company (FSC) capabilities to sustain supported unit’s combat operations.
Although the number of Army accidental fatalities has steadily declined over the past several years, Soldiers are still injuring themselves in preventable accidents. Courtesy photo. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)