First PMCS, then the training

By 2nd Lt. Aaron Whyte, 632nd Maintenance CompanyMay 25, 2012

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FORT STEWART, Ga. - In preparation for their upcoming M16 qualification, Soldiers assigned to the 632nd Maintenance Company, 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division take Preventive Maintenance Check and Services seriously.

Included in this process are the small arms artillery repairers. Staff Sgt. Brian Redding, an armament repairer assigned to the 632nd Maint. Co. oversaw sight alignment for the M16A2 and the M68 reflex sight.

"This process is important, as it allows the Soldiers to have pinpoint accuracy when engaging a target, and also ensures that the first shot group hits the 25-meter zero target when zeroing the weapon on the range," he explained.

PMCS is important because it prevents loss of lives in battle. Mission can fail due to improper PMCS, which can inadvertently endanger Soldiers' lives on the battlefield.

The 632nd Maint. Co. commander relies on the Command Maintenance Discipline Program to prevent such catastrophes. Soldiers perform weekly maintenance to ensure the readiness of all equipment, including vehicles, weapons, communications equipment, night-vision devices, and nuclear, biological, and chemical equipment.

Commanders on all levels are involved in this process; they recognize this as a force multiplier.

"Conducting proper PMCS is of paramount importance to our combat readiness," said Capt. Kimberly Hale, the 632nd Maint. Co. commander. "Checks are conducted every time equipment is used to reduce the number of failures. It is for this reason that all Soldiers must be heavily involved in the process."

Commanders rely on Soldiers' perseverance and adherence to the standard along with leaders' guidance to ensure that PMCS is done correctly. The Army Regulation 750-1 (Army Materiel Maintenance) states, "preventive maintenance checks and services are the foundation of the Army's maintenance program."

The Soldiers perform PMCS routinely to ensure this doctrine is followed, using Technical Manuals and the DA Form 5988E.