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Better Than It Used to Be

Sep- 6-2006 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

Written by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone, 138th MPAD

Mosul, Iraq (30 August, 2006) - - When military vehicles breakdown, need maintenance or an engine overhaul, who does the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team turn to? The Brigade Support Battalion motor pool.

Thirty-seven wheeled vehicle mechanics from Fort Lewis, Wash. stationed at Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq, put in long days to keep more than 1200 pieces of equipment up and running for the 3rd SBCT and various other units.

“We do it all in support of the 3rd SBCT,” said Staff Sgt. Jesse Garcia, motor sergeant, Company B, 296th BSB. “We provide mechanical support for everybody.”

According to Garcia, after deploying to Iraq last July, Co. B was able to bring the overall operational rate of brigade assigned equipment from 64 percent to a current operational rate of 92 percent.

“This reflects on the hard work and dedication of the Soldiers that work here,” said Garcia who is a resident of Chicago, Ill. “What’s more amazing is that the unit is currently at 45 percent strength.”

Having an under-manned unit does not seem to deter Garcia and his crew. In addition to working six and one-half days a week, they also perform guard duty at FOB Marez’s front gate, instruct Iraqi Soldiers on vehicle maintenance, and will go as far as Fort Tal Afar to retrieve broken-down military vehicles.

“One of the biggest obstacles is going out to do recovery of vehicles and other equipment because it takes at least four or five Soldiers from the motor pool,” said Garcia.

A note of importance that helps the 296th run like a well oiled motor pool is the fact that Garcia and four non-commissioned officers and six lower enlisted Soldiers have been deployed to FOB Marez before.

“This gives the unit an advantage by having more control when reacting to situations,” said Garcia. “It also helps us reach our goal of making it a little bit better when we leave here.”

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