Getting a lift: Auto skills center improves services

By Jeremy Henderson, Army Flier Staff WriterJune 11, 2015

Getting a lift: Auto skills center improves services
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (June 11, 2015) -- Recent enhancements to Fort Rucker's Automotive Skills Center aim to make the facility more useful and efficient for both staff and patrons.

Tina Barber, ASC program manager, said the recent installation of seven new lifts allows the facility to better meet the needs of the community.

"The new lifts replaced older equipment that was still functional, but did not have the lifting capacity to meet the needs of the community," she said. "We went from two-post lifts with a 9,000-pound lifting capacity to two-post lifts with a 12,000-pound lifting capacity. We also have three four-post lifts with a 14,000-pound capacity. This upgrade has really enabled us to support more Soldiers and authorized personnel."

According to Barber, a second enhancement is currently in progress, and will aid in the clean-up of fluid spills during automotive repair and maintenance.

"The work began last week," she said. "The facility has been funded to have the facility floor resurfaced and resealed throughout the entire building. The way we and the patrons currently have to clean up petroleum-based spills is labor intensive. This enhancement will make it so much easier to clean up all spills.

ASC offers a variety of services for authorized personnel:

A self-help program -- patrons can sign into the facility and conduct repairs on their own vehicles. ASC has the tools and equipment needed to complete the repairs.

Instructional classes -- oil change, transmission service, front brake repair, rear brake repair, ignition system tune-up and how to use scan tools.

Mechanic-For-Hire program -- patrons can have their vehicles worked on by a trained professional.

Car wash facilities -- two manual and one automatic car wash bay. Two vacuum cleaners, one combination vacuum and shampooer, three vending machines and a fragrance machine. The automated carwash is now also a 24-hour operation, as are the manual wash bays. There is also a free standing dryer system that has been installed at the end of the automatic wash bay. It is activated when either the $8 or $10 selections are chosen.

Auto detail program -- ASC offers various packages to patrons, from partial to full detailing.

Propane resale operation -- ASC fills propane tanks of various sizes, including recreation vehicles.

Paint booth and areas for restoring vehicles -- The center does not offer instruction in this area. Patrons must have all the working knowledge necessary to restore and paint a vehicle.

According to Barber, the center is an invaluable resource for Soldiers and families living on a tight budget.

"In most people's lives, the two biggest expenses are homes first and, secondly, vehicles," she said. "The biggest advantage to Soldiers and authorized personnel is monetary savings. Patrons can literally save hundreds of dollars through the self-help program because they are doing the work themselves instead of hiring a repair shop.

"Patrons can also save hundreds of dollars through the Mechanic-For-Hire program," she added. "Our labor rate is presently $45 per hour. Our patrons express their appreciation time and time again over the savings."

Barber said many patrons are intimidated by the growing complexity of today's vehicles, but ASC offers several weekly instructional classes to bridge the knowledge gap.

"ASC offers instructional classes on a weekly basis, but instruction is available on a daily basis through the employees on duty," she said. "We insist to our patrons that many repairs are well within their ability to learn and we encourage them to do so. Safety is always the first concern, and we stress this to our patrons on a daily basis.

"It is awesome to witness the sense of accomplishment in our patrons after they have repaired their own vehicles," she added. "It is knowledge that they can take wherever they go."

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 255-9725.

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Fort Rucker, Ala.

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