Where the rubber meets the road at Fort Leonard Wood

By Staff Sgt. Kelly S Malone (Leonard Wood)September 3, 2015

Where the rubber meets the road at Fort Leonard Wood
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Sept. 3, 2015) -- Many may say an Army moves on its stomach.

For Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, or TACOM, Transport Support, now known as TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, the shop that maintains many of Fort Leonard Wood's military training vehicles, it moves on tires; lots of tires.

Tanisha Ellington, supply technician, said the supply operation has more than 4,262 tires, which fit 11 different models of military vehicles used for a variety of training courses.

With daily tire changes the mechanics see a lot of tires, in their shop and at training sites.

"We do field maintenance for 58th Transportation, a piece of the 3rd Chemical (Brigade)," said Bob Kienle, shop operation manager. "Besides that, we have (memorandums of agreement) with the Navy and Marine Corps to work on their vehicles."

With just one unit the shop supports, 3rd Chem. Bde., estimated driving more than 40,000 miles each month, a mobile emergency team under Kienle's supervision gets to the vehicles whose tires can't get back to the garage.

"We have a recovery section that is on call," Kienle said. "The recovery team does a 'snatch and grab,' which means to drag in the disabled vehicle from the training site."

One instructor is grateful for TACOM's emergency services.

"It is easier for me, because we don't have a lot of time to worry about broken trucks or blown tires on the road," said Sgt. 1st Class Justin Reed, instructor/writer for motor transport operator advanced individual training, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 58th Transportation Battalion.

"I can go get another truck and start training again," he said. "It saves a lot of time for me and doesn't take away a lot of training from the students."

Kienle, who served in the military, says his job is very important and is committed to the Soldiers' first experience with a military vehicle being a positive one.

"These are America's sons and daughters driving these trucks," Kienle said. "I want them to write home to mom and dad telling them about the great truck they drove."

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood FLICKR

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON newspaper

Fort Leonard Wood website