National Guard soldiers learn mechanic skills at ANAD

By Mrs. Jennifer Bacchus (AMC)April 21, 2016

National Guard soldiers learn mechanic skills at ANAD
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
National Guard soldiers learn mechanic skills at ANAD
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From right: Spc. Jonathan Gill, Spc. James Jackson Jr., Spc. Christopher Brennan and Spc. Michael Pytleski of the 1072nd Maintenance Company in the Michigan National Guard work on the M1 Abrams turret assembly line during annual training at Anniston ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
National Guard soldiers learn mechanic skills at ANAD
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Material Expediter Erica Murphy assists Spc. Chris Underwood of the 1072nd Maintenance Company in the Michigan National Guard in building a kit of parts in one of Anniston Army Depot's component repair shops. The 1072nd visited ANAD for annual traini... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
National Guard soldiers learn mechanic skills at ANAD
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- This month, 67 soldiers from the 1072nd Maintenance Company in the Michigan National Guard have been training alongside the civilians of Anniston Army Depot.

The first two weeks of training were held primarily in the Stryker shops where 31 soldiers were taught to disassemble, troubleshoot and repair Stryker components, including the vehicle's diesel engine.

"It's like cross-training," said Pfc. Wyatt Harnack. "We were told at AIT [Advanced Individual Training] that, since we're mechanics, we're expected to fix everything."

For many of the soldiers, the vehicles here were the first Strykers they had been able to work on. So, they were eager to learn all they could.

"It's been a very good experience," said Spc. Demetrius Spencer.

"We're getting familiar with unfamiliar equipment and expanding our knowledge of unscheduled repair and maintenance," said Staff Sgt. Derrick Copeland.

Copeland said the unit is based in Detroit, Mich., and is one of three maintenance units in the state, but they have the potential to be asked to respond with maintenance for any of the National Guard units in the state.

The second round of soldiers arrived earlier this week.

These 36 men and women will train in the depot's Small Arms Repair Facility and learn material management in several of the shops throughout the Nichols Industrial Complex.

Spc. Donovan Collins recently returned from a training class and said some of the processes the soldiers are performing in the Small Arms Repair Facility mirror those he has learned, so he feels confident performing tasks.

He looks forward to viewing some of the depot's more in-depth overhaul processes, however, and is eager to see how weapons are stress-tested following overhaul and prior to being returned to service.

Sgt. LaShondia Willis is assisting depot employees with pulling and inventorying parts in the Powertrain Flexible Maintenance Facility.

She said she is learning what happens with equipment behind the scenes throughout the maintenance processes at the depot.

"I'm used to seeing the finished engine. Here, they're showing us all the parts that go into building it."