Grease Monkey project trains IA mechanics

By Sgt. Daniel T. WestAugust 21, 2008

Humvee push
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Humvee
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 21, 2008) - Iraqi and U.S. Army mechanics worked in tandem on Iraqi Army vehicles as part of a three-day project here nicknamed Grease Monkey recently.

Coalition forces designed Grease Monkey to provide IA mechanics the advanced skills needed to keep their vehicles rolling.

"We're teaching them how to technically inspect vehicles; to look at them from top to bottom and find every little problem," said Staff Sgt. Stephen Berndt, of Company B 589th Brigade Support Battalion.

"They already do the basics," he said. "We're going to teach them higher level maintenance."

The IA mechanics look forward to working with the American mechanics for a variety of reasons.

"We already have experience," said Cpl. Adel Husien, a mechanic with the 1st Bn., 32nd IA Brigade. "We know stuff and wanted to fix the Humvees at our battalion but don't have the equipment to fix them."

Berndt looks forward to getting the Iraqi vehicles up to speed.

"This will be a great learning experience for Soldiers of both countries," he said. "We'll help them out and bring their trucks up to standard so by the time they leave here, all these trucks will be 100 percent mission capable."

(West serves with 41st Fires Bde. public affairs.)