Troopers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, work to fix a track vehicle during Decisive Action Rotation 13-02 at the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Calif. The Troopers were part of a forward maintenance team designed to keep vehicles in the fight.
Troopers from Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, conducted a Unit Maintenance Control Point at the National Training Center, Nov. 6.
The UMCP is a forward base where Troopers conduct higher level maintenance and mechanics to get the vehicle back into the fight in the training area of the NTC and Fort Irwin.
“We try to replicate the downrange environment as close as we can that way we get real training value added to our work,” said Chief Warrant Officer Kabir Jimoh, a Trooper with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. “I am always amazed at the sense of purpose our Troopers demonstrate every day. From the team that goes to recover the vehicles, to the mechanics that get the vehicle back in the fight, there is no delay. We have an excellent team.”
The Troopers stay in the box during Decisive Action training rotations. This allows forward maintenance to occur in the field better and provided for faster service to the fleet.
“We get to play with the big toys,” joked Sgt. Adam Donaldson, a Trooper with HHT, 2/11 ACR. “From M-88s to M-984s, we have to be flexible to recover not only military vehicles but also the vehicles of the replicated civilians on the battlefield. It’s a unique mission that offers different challenges every time we go out. Bottom line is, we keep Troopers in the fight and it’s an essential job.”
The Troopers mission is split into recovery teams and maintenance. Recovery goes out to the site where the vehicle breaks down or gets stuck, and tries to fix it on scene. If the vehicle cannot be recovered this way, it is taken back to the UMCP where maintenance aims to fix the vehicle within 24 hours.
“It’s definitely a challenge working out here in the desert,” said Spc. Jon Bonquin, a Trooper with HHT, 2/11 ACR. “But, we make do with whatever we have to get the job done.”
Troopers from HHT, 2/11 ACR, are keeping the DA Rotations running by ensuring that vehicles get back into the fight. Without their hard work and dedication vehicle recovery would be a lot more difficult.
