TMDE offers more support to Fort Drum

By Sgt. Jared CrainFebruary 10, 2010

TMDE offers more support to Fort Drum
Fort Drum officials cut the ribbon Feb. 2 for the newly renovated Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Support Lab, Bldg. 6050. From left are Ronald D. King, executive director of the TMDE Support Lab; Kenneth A. Gilman, chief of the TMDE Suppo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The U.S. Army Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Activity's newly renovated facility here opened its doors to units at Fort Drum after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 2.

"The new facility has doubled the capacity for the storage of customers and equipment and will allow the customer to bring all the equipment to one building, making it simpler," said William P. Freeman, chief of the Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Support Center - Tobyhanna, Tobyhanna, Pa.

The 514th Maintenance Company under 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion acted as the sole supporting TMDE on the installation. Upon notification of 514th Maintenance Company's deployment, a temporary civilian team was sent to support Fort Drum for the duration of the deployment.

The 10th Sustainment Brigade requested that the U.S. Army Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Activity provide a permanent, nondeployable and dedicated team. The USATA staff processed the request and realized that Fort Drum was the only major U.S. Army Forces Command installation without a permanent support team.

"The USATA will handle anything that the military team can't handle in terms of capacity or capability," said Don Ruth, director of U.S. Army TMDE Support Region 1 in Chambersburg, Pa.

"We will be able to provide training to the younger Soldiers out of advanced individual training," Freeman said.

The USATA provided funding for renovation of Bldg. 6050 in order to supply a dedicated location for services. To date, USATA has invested more than $500,000 in the facility. By having a dedicated team, Fort Drum will be able to handle 95 percent, or roughly 14,000 items of local equipment, versus 55 percent last year.

The team will work alongside Soldiers of 514th Maintenance Company when they return in the summer to ensure units' turned-in equipment will receive a quick turnaround time and that it is in good working condition. The new facility will save 10th Mountain Division the cost of shipping more than 10,000 items.

"We are glad to be here supporting the 10th Mountain Division," Ruth said.