FORT BENNING, Ga. - Arizona Guard Soldiers help prepare our nation's military for future conflicts by providing maintenance support to the U.S. Army during their annual training here March 11-25.
Soldiers with 3666th Support Maintenance Company from Phoenix, trained at the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command, Fleet Management Expansion, which supports the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command by maintaining equipment such as combat systems, tactical vehicles and weapons used to train Soldiers at TRADOC schools.
"These unique training opportunities improve the readiness of our mechanics while forging a relationship with the Active Army that will pay dividends for years to come," said Capt. Adam Marvin, commander of the 3666th Maintenance Support Company.
Thirty-nine Soldiers from the 3666th SMC worked and trained with Benning mechanics who shared their knowledge with the Arizona Guardsmen on a variety of equipment such as M1A1/A2 Abrams tanks, Humvees, light medium tactical vehicles, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and Stryker armored vehicles, which are used by students in the TRADOC Infantry and Armor schools.
The 3666th's executive officer, 1st Lt. Nathan Elizalde said Soldiers in the unit had the opportunity to work outside their military occupational specialties and had access to vehicles, equipment and combat systems not present in Arizona.
For the Soldiers working on vehicles, their experience wasn't the typical training they receive on a monthly basis in Arizona.
James Shaddox, director of TACOM FMX Fort Benning said this is a lot of great experience the Soldiers are gaining because vehicles come to the unscheduled service shops with faults and mechanics need to trace those faults to the source.
"It's not a school house environment where faults are embedded, and someone knows what the faults are," said Shaddox.
The 3666th also brought skilled Soldiers trained in electronics and optics to assist in maintenance during its annual training.
Three computer/detections systems repairers from the Arizona unit worked on nearly 100 night vision devices and thermal sites for the 4th Ranger Training Battalion, said Elizalde.
Arizona Soldiers serviced and repaired small arms at the Mata Weapons and Electronics Sustainment Facility servicing crew served weapons for TRADOC schools.
Elizalde said the company brought a crew of six small arms repairers who provided support to units falling under the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, servicing more than 210 crew served weapons to include the M240 B/C machine guns, M249 light machine guns, M2/M2A1 machine guns and M19 40mm grenade machine guns.
During past years the 3666th SMC has traveled to Iowa and Alaska to train as well as provide skilled Soldiers to units in need of maintenance support.
Having Arizona Guard units such as the 3666th train outside the state can help build partnerships and create a new learning experience for Soldiers.
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