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Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

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This program was successful and was soon expanded to<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude the other companies’ personnel as time and mission<br />

allowed. When tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g was completed, we coord<strong>in</strong>ated with<br />

CEGE to draw 48 PLS systems (to <strong>in</strong>clude pallets) on<br />

December 1. The equipment draw never occurred. Instead,<br />

on/around November 15, Colonel Kubiszewski <strong>in</strong>formed me<br />

that the 70th TC would deploy with its own organic M915<br />

tractors and M872 trailers. V Corps’ tactical 181st TB—<br />

specifically, the 51st TC—would perform the more tactical<br />

PLS mission. Traditional l<strong>in</strong>e-haul from the ISB to forward<br />

operat<strong>in</strong>g bases would rema<strong>in</strong> the 70th TC mission.<br />

This last-m<strong>in</strong>ute change <strong>in</strong> mission almost became a<br />

showstopper. When given the PLS mission, I directed<br />

Capta<strong>in</strong> Woody Willis to place his M915 tractors <strong>in</strong><br />

“ADMIN” storage. Essentially, this meant that the<br />

equipment would receive only the necessary ma<strong>in</strong>tenance to<br />

prepare it for long-term storage. The new order demanded<br />

detailed ma<strong>in</strong>tenance preparation and renewed emphasis<br />

to beef up our repair parts <strong>in</strong>ventory. For the first time s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

our mission analysis, time became our enemy. I was not sure<br />

when the unit would deploy.<br />

My BMO, Mike Dunn, had the solution. Under his<br />

direction, the battalion established a ma<strong>in</strong>tenance surge<br />

team, consist<strong>in</strong>g of critical key ma<strong>in</strong>tenance NCOs and<br />

mechanics from all the units. Its job was to conduct a<br />

thorough <strong>in</strong>spection of the units’ equipment and fix what<br />

they could while the equipment was over the pit. Repairs<br />

that required more time were the responsibility of the<br />

deploy<strong>in</strong>g units. This team concept worked great.<br />

Equipment <strong>in</strong>spections by both the V Corps Inspector<br />

General and the 21st Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics,<br />

elicited outstand<strong>in</strong>g comments.<br />

The units were ready to deploy when the actual<br />

deployment orders were received. As a matter of fact,<br />

soldiers had some time (although not as much as promised)<br />

to spend with their families prior to depart<strong>in</strong>g Mannheim.<br />

This was an important po<strong>in</strong>t, as I remembered how much<br />

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