890th Eng. Bn., 926th Eng. Bde., MND-B
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 890th Engineer Battalion’s Forward Support Company has a diverse mission in supporting the battalion’s mission with transportation, supply, fuel, food, recovery and maintenance.
While accomplishing its myriad missions, it has exceeded expectations and demands by also improving the battalion’s work environment.
In addition to maintaining operations, the FSC has upgraded the facilities for its eventual replacements by adding two new stationary work bays for the Soldiers to work from instead of tents. The company also reorganized and centralized its operations and workflow to operate more efficiently by constructing a new headquarters building, which is located next to the work bays.
As a preemptive measure to stop operational deficiencies, the FSC plans to build and incorporate a new recovery training area in the 890th Eng. Bn. motor pool.
An extremely damaged vehicle can be difficult to remove in an expedient manner, which can ultimately result in the Soldiers on the mission being subject to danger longer than necessary.
To overcome this potential dangerous situation, the company designed the recovery training area to re-enforce each Soldier’s training to mitigate any unnecessary potential injury.
“The intention is to institute a combat mechanic’s course that will be required for any of our operators who leave the forward operating base,” said Capt. Michael Bryant, commander of the FSC, 890th Eng. Bn.. “The recovery skills taught during mobilization are a perishable skill. This course will give the operators the opportunity to sharpen their skills with real, battle-damaged equipment.”
The training will focus on a multitude of vehicles, which will help the Soldiers prepare for any unexpected surprises.
“The new environment will allow for training on recovery of different levels of damaged equipment,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy Lott, recovery section noncommissioned officer in charge. “This will give a full spectrum of knowledge of what to expect when dispatched to recover a damaged piece of equipment outside the wire.”
Staff Sgt. John McKean, FSC’s senior mechanic, obtained a support vehicle and three pieces of route-clearance equipment for training purposes with help from the local Defense Reutilization Marketing Office.
“We save the government and the tax payers money by recycling equipment that is damaged but repairable by offering it back into the Military Supply System at no charge to the receiving unit,” said Prince Johnson, site manager at the Victory Base Complex DRMO.
It is significant in that the FSC has saved the government approximately $1.7 million to date by utilizing the DRMO facility to outfit its objectives.
Although the recovery training area is still under construction, it is projected to be completed within a month and ready for use by the new battalion projected to replace the 890th Eng. Bn., as it nears the end of its deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
By Sgt. Catherine Graham
