25th Transportation Company tests new CBM+

By Sgt. 1st Class Heather A. Denby, 25th Sustainment BrigadeJuly 11, 2018

25th Transportation Company tests new CBM+
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Spc. Zakry Hames, wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the 25th Composite Truck Company, 25th Sustainment Brigade, addresses a radiator hose leak on a Medium Tactical Vehicle May 30, 2018. The 25th CTC is the first compa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
25th Transportation Company tests new CBM+
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Sgt. Guadalupe TorresSalazar, Sgt. Derek Lucas, and Spc. Zakry Hames of 25th Composite Truck Company, 25th Sustainment Brigade, pose for a photo as they prepare to replace their first engine in more than 30 months May 26... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army runs an efficient operation.

The Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) reviews maintenance across the formation.

As a result of Army Sustainment doctrinal updates, the maintenance process is about to get better by implementing the extended services program and Conditions-based Maintenance Program (also known as CBM+).

The 25th Transportation Company from the 25th Infantry Division's Sustainment Brigade out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii is the first to implement the new Army program.

"The 25th Transportation Company was selected to be the initial test of the program because they are a stable force with a constant mission and organic maintenance assets," said Joe Wurm, contract officer representative for the Army Sample Data Collection and Analysis Program.

Wurm said that the 25th TC was one of the very few chosen after an Army-wide search for the right unit.

The CBM+ program is designed to collect data down to the line item number in order to provide feedback and identify ways to refine maintenance and logistical operations.

"I've been doing this for 25 years and the 25th Transportation Soldiers are the best that I've seen," said Jim Anderson, U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Logistics Assistance Representative. "They've been trained by AMSAA and been given the opportunity to build their skillset to be maintenance subject-matter-experts for the region."

In the past, Anderson says, maintenance Soldiers were trained to troubleshoot for replacement instead of identifying the core issue. With their new training, mechanics are enhancing their abilities and ultimately saving the Army money.

The implementation of the program has saved the unit approximately $69,000 over the past 12 months as well as freeing an additional 6,100 man-hours that are now available for unscheduled, deferred and preventive maintenance on array of equipment.

For example, a transmission replacement often requires services from an external maintenance provider which can lead to longer repair time for a vehicle. However, the company recently completed its first transmission replacement using Soldiers that are assigned to the unit.

An internal unit Diagnostics Team was created to evaluate equipment and identify exactly what services are necessary thereby enabling the company to handle most repairs in house.

"This team's sole purpose is to work on the control modules or "electronic brains" of the equipment," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dejesus, 25th TC automotive maintenance officer. "A report generates all active and inactive faults on the equipment giving the maintainer and operator a better understanding of the true equipment condition."

"And by creating a clearer understanding of the issue, we are able to diagnose with confidence that our solutions are saving both time and money," said Dejesus.

The CBM+ program will be implemented Army-wide over the next two years.