FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - More than 100 Soldiers and families from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade discovered what those odd-looking cords dangling out of Alaskan vehicles are when they took advantage of a 1-25th SBCT vehicle winterization program at Fort Wainwright's Auto Skills Center Oct. 4 to 29.
The 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1-25th SBCT spearheaded the program that used volunteer 25th BSB mechanics to install necessary winterization equipment or walk Soldiers and family members through the process, whichever they preferred. Saving Soldiers and families more than $26,000 throughout the month on the costs of preparing their vehicles for an Alaskan winter, the program also allowed Soldiers to help Soldiers which was one of the chief perks for program volunteer Sgt. David Dicus, Forward Maintenance Company, 25th BSB.
"I paid a lot of money last year to get this done and I didn't know what it all entailed," he said. "I found out what it all was and was pretty mad that they charged that much so I volunteered to help other Soldiers out."
While the concept of winterizing a vehicle and plugging it in to an electrical outlet during the winter is foreign to many Soldiers and family members moving here from the Lower 48, the 25th BSB volunteers sought to make the process less intimidating for them.
"We're here to support Soldiers and their family members," said Master Sgt. Leslie Thames, 25th BSB vehicle winterization project noncommissioned officer in charge. "So any way we can assist Soldiers and better their stay in Alaska as well as part of(their time) in the Stryker brigade, that's what we're here for." (This is an awkward sentence)
The Auto Skills Center provided the tools, Soldiers and family members bought the parts and rented the bays at Auto Skills and nine 25th BSB mechanics provided the labor. It was a win for all involved, Thames said.
"Everyone has loved the program," he said. "We've had awesome feedback and they wish the program would have been around two or three years ago."
The Soldier-mechanics installed battery pads, engine-block heaters, oil-pan heating pads, transmission heater pads and extension cords. They also verified antifreeze levels, which should be at 60 below zero, and checked for any basic maintenance issues that might need attention.
"We've been doing the winterizations and we'll walk up under the vehicle and if something is messed up we'll let the Soldiers know," Dicus said. "If we can fix it real quick while it's up we (help them)."
Participants in the program were able to save an estimated $250 per vehicle compared to what they would have spent on winterizing their vehicles elsewhere, Thames said.
"The normal process of going off post can cost anywhere from $450 to $600," he said. "The only thing the Soldier and family member is (doing) is buying the parts (and renting the bay) and the mechanics put everything on for free."
Soldiers who participated in the program like Staff Sgt. Keith Hutchinson and Staff Sgt.Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Stewart, both from A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1-25th SBCT said they are grateful for the 25th BSB volunteers who came out to help them.
"I really appreciate that they would do this for us," Hutchinson said.
Stewart, who moved here from Ft. Bliss, Texas, said he left temperatures topping out at more than 100 degrees, so the idea of doing all of this to a vehicle was a new concept for him.
"I think this is a very good program," he said. "Especially for young Soldiers who have families and have just moved here. All the expenses start to add up - utilities and all the deposits it takes to get into a home. It will definitely save a lot of money."
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