MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 17, 2009) -- Soldiers and Iraqi police officers conducted Humvee maintenance training Aug. 12, that will help provide a sustainable, Iraqi-driven support system after U.S. forces have been completely withdrawn from the country.
The police, who operate non-military vehicles at their units, attended the training to improve their maintenance techniques and procedures, said Staff Sgt. Dolly Mast of Bravo Field Maintenance Company, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. She added that the 4th Emergency Response Battalion, Ninewa Provincial Police were eager to get started on the training as soon as they arrived.
"We wanted to do a walk-around with them at the beginning of the class and they wanted to jump right in and start tearing stuff apart right away, so they were definitely motivated," Mast said.
The sounds of an auto mechanic's garage filled the air as Iraqis learned to use impact wrenches to tighten Humvee lug nuts via instructions through interpreters who were on their toes with the mechanical jargon.
"We taught them how to troubleshoot generators, drop transmissions and differentials," Mast said. "These humvees are a lot different than the vehicles that they're used to working on, so it's a great learning experience for them."
Brig. Gen. Kha'dar Ahmead Salow, the provincial police chief of maintenance, visited the site to observe the training.
"Soon, the Coalition will not be here, so this training will allow my staff to fix the humvees without relying on Coalition help," he said.
(Spc. Sharla Perrin serves with 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)
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