NORTH CAMP, SINAI - Two Soldiers from the 1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group Task Force 17, based out of Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, took on a mission at North Camp, Sinai, Egypt, to assist with a preventative maintenance inspection cycle-1 on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from July 10 - Aug. 9.
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Douglas Krol and Staff Sgt. Amber Simpkins provided structure, purpose and direction as augmented members of the phase team for the PMI-1 by reducing waste, enforcing time management and minimizing time-between-tasks, ultimately helping to reduce PMI-1 downtime by almost 75% at Aviation Company, Task Force Sinai.
The 1108th TASMG, of the Mississippi Army National Guard, provides theater-level aviation depot repair for Army helicopters. Col. Anthony Couture, the Senior National Guard Advisor at U.S. Army Central, said the aviation maintenance unit’s mission is critical for mobility and firepower. Couture said one of the four TASMG located in the United States has deployed to support operations since the conflicts began more than a decade ago.
“To really understand what the TASMG does, you simply have to look at your own car. There are some things you can get handled at the local oil change company, and when the work is too much, you usually have to go to the dealer,” Couture said. “When a helicopter makes it to the TASMG, it’s like taking your car to the manufacturer. So, the TASMG is the last stop; the work is beyond the capabilities of everyone else.”
The maintenance team on the ground consisted of junior Soldiers with limited experience in this type of maintenance. TASMG Soldiers were able to bring in their experience and help implement lessons learned. Wait times were decreased by being proactive in preparing for the PMI-1 rather than being reactive. The team preplanned for potential parts needs by identifying and ordering them early on in the process, decreasing aircraft down time. Utilizing their skills as the subject matter experts, the TASMG Soldiers were able to assist and train the junior enlisted Soldiers of Task Force Sinai.
“I was intimidated at first,” said Spc. Hunter Martin, a Black Hawk mechanic. “It turns out they (Krol and Simpkins) were very down to earth, super experienced and treated us like equals. It’s inspirational to see a first sergeant so proficient in his military occupational specialty.”
The process to obtain parts can, at times, take a couple of weeks. Parts are ordered and shipped, and then must clear customs for entry into Egypt. The security situation can also add time to parts acquisition. Soldiers work diligently to keep up the operational readiness rate of the fleet, but at times, operational considerations can slow progress.
“With the previous phases ... I honestly doubted the mere thought of a two-week phase,” said Spc. Michael DeGan. “My doubts were gone, though, once we got started. It was definitely refreshing to know we could accomplish so much with everything going on.”
Krol attributes the successful completion of the PMI-1 in the specified timeline to flawless communication between the team lead, its team members and production control. Through it all, the Soldiers remained motivated and confident in their abilities to complete the task at hand.
Aviation Company, with assistance from the TASMG, overcame the challenge of change in environment and defeated all odds. The TASMG’s mission to the Sinai proves that with the proper training and oversight that any mission can be accomplished by the book and in a safe, efficient and expedient manner. Guidance was the key throughout the entire mission. Aviation Company, Task Force Sinai is set up for success, and the TASMG will continue to provide the necessary support.