The course, which began Aug. 17, lasted three days.
The humvees are fairly new to the Iraqi Security Forces, and some have become inoperable due to problems beyond their mechanics' scope of expertise, explained Sgt. John Modock, a mechanic with Company G.
In order to strengthen the 17th IA Brigade's vehicle fleet and allow them to continue with their force protection mission, the unit's maintenance section required some additional training on specific components and systems within the vehicles, Modock added. Modock and Pfc. Matthew Castillo, also a mechanic with Company G, and San Antonio native, spearheaded the classroom instruction and hands-on training.
"You could see it in their eyes each morning they arrived that they were excited about learning something more about their equipment," said Sgt. Miguel Colon, from Brooklyn, N.Y., who escorted the IA personnel around for the training.
Class participants consisted of mechanics from the 17th IA Brigade, which sent two mechanics from each of its battalions to the training course.
The classroom instruction included training on humvee transmissions, engines, and fuel systems.
"These systems are quite complex and difficult to provide instruction on within a three-day span, so we focused on troubleshooting procedures and the use of training manuals to resolve issues," explained Modock.
Instruction also consisted of lessons on the wiring schematic of humvees. IA personnel walked through the electrical system on paper. The instructors then showed the process of visually locating certain wires within the vehicles.
Iraqi Captain Saddiq, head of the 17th IA Brigade Maintenance Section, had many questions on the U.S. Army's maintenance structure, such as how they managed to maintain their vehicles so thoroughly.
The instructors explained that the vehicle operators and drivers help the mechanics by conducting preventive maintenance checks and services daily to help mitigate vehicle faults.
Saddiq said it made sense to use these personnel to do routine fixes, as they were the ones using the vehicles most often, and that doing this would help take some of the work off of his mechanics.
During the course, the IA mechanics were given technical manuals to keep and use at their battalions. Despite the language barrier, they were instructed on how to maneuver through the manual, which will greatly assist them in dissecting any issues or problems with their humvees, said Castillo.
The hands-on portion of the training allowed the trainees to see the actual problems and ask any questions related to their own vehicles.
Using vehicle parts as visual aids, the mechanics were able to break through the language barrier and realize the similarities between the mechanics, even if they were from different armies and different parts of the world.
"I'm grateful to have had a part in teaching them the right thing to do and set them up for future success," said Castillo. As a mechanic, Castillo was able to use his technical expertise to provide solutions to common issues and problems within the humvees.
"Despite the language barrier, it is really interesting to work with the IA personnel and it is rewarding knowing that at the end of the day we learned from one another and built a lasting partnership," said Colon.
As the training came to a close, the IA mechanics left with more expertise to deal with the various problems and issues they face with their humvees, which will increase the 17th IA's combat readiness and lead to a higher number of ISF patrols and missions.
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