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Sustainment Mechanics Learn ASV Maintenance

By Spc. Andrea Merritt

1st Sustainment Brigade PAO

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A large number of Sustainment Brigade Soldiers have transitioned within the past few months leading to familiarization training on one of the most vital pieces of equipment used in the brigade - the Armored Security Vehicle.

The ASV has accompanied many of the unit's combat logistics patrols on convoys because of its ability to provide security, fire power and protection from IEDs, During a six-day class, mechanics within the 1st Sust. Bde. learned how to maintain them.

"We have all these new units coming into theater and we needed to have them certified to work on and operate the ASVs," said Sgt. 1st Class Chesley Baird, a Idadbel, Okla., native, and battle noncommissioned officer for the 1st Sustainment Brigade. "We are doing this training on both Taji and (Victory Base Complex)."

Spc. Darnell Edmond, an Asbury Park, N.J., native, and all-wheel vehicle mechanic with the 536th Maintenance Company, a Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, unit attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, replaces the floor plates on an Armored Security Vehicle May 17. Edmonds was one of 12 Soldiers to go through the ASV maintenance training course, which the 1st Sust. Bde. put together in order to ensure they had Soldiers certified to work on the vehicles.

While in class, the maintenance training was equally divided between lectures and hands-on exercises in order to give the Soldiers a visual of what was presented to them in the slideshows.

The class was able to take a closer look at the components of the ASV and how they work when they pulled the engine out of the vehicle.

"We learned a lot of stuff about the ASV to keep the mission going," said Sgt. Bryan Galloway, an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with the 1038th Transportation Company, an Arkansas National Guard unit attached to the 1st Sust. Bde. "By pulling out the engine, we learned about the engine and its components, what they do and where they go,"

Mechanics of the 1st Sustainment Brigade work carefully to replace the engine of an Armored Security Vehicle that they disassembled as part of their training during the ASV maintenance course May 17. "We pulled the engine out one day and then we talked about it, so that it actually gives them a visual," said Maston Howze, one of the ASV instructors for the course.

Also, during the course, the mechanics discussed the vehicle's air conditioning, electrical, hydraulic, and fuel systems as well as emergency towing and recovery.

"This is the most detailed class I've taken in the Army," said Spc. Kelvin Morales, a Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, native, who serves as an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with the 536th Maintenance Company from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, unit attached to the 1st Sustainment Brigade.

Since the class was mostly made up of all-wheel vehicle mechanics, they were use to getting their hands dirty. It came as no surprise that the part of class most of them enjoyed was the hands-on portions.

"I like the hands-on that we did. We learned how to take the ASV apart and read schematics for it," said Spc. Richard Barngrove, an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sust. Bde.

Soldiers of the 1st Sustainment Brigade push an Armored Security Vehicle back into the motor pool after they finished replacing the engine May 17. "I like the hands-on that we did. We learned how to take the ASV apart and read schematics for it," said Spc. Richard Barngrove, an all-wheel vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sust. Bde.

"I think (the class) is real important because more and more ASVs are coming to Iraq and we're going to have to learn how to work on them," said Barngrove, a Wamego, Kan., native. "A lot of these vehicles, like the MRAPs and ASVs, weren't out when I was going through AIT."

On the last day of class, the mechanics had learned as much as they could about the ASV, and their final test was to reassemble the vehicle they had taken apart earlier that week. They completed the job successfully.

"We feel like what we're doing is actually doing them some good," said Kenneth Parchman, a Fayetteville, N.C., native, who was also an ASV instructor for the course. "The stuff we're giving to the students can actually be used in emergency situations."

"The more familiarization they have with the vehicle helps out tremendously. The more familiar you are with the vehicle, the less you have to think in an emergency because it just comes natural," Parchman said.