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332nd ELRS vehicle maintainers wheel in locals

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Donning blue jumpsuits, vehicle maintainers clustered around the engine bay of a truck.

A flurry of dialogue requesting tools and discussing procedures filled the shop like others around base, except in Arabic.

In August 2008, an Air Force Contractor Augmentation Programs was established to hire unskilled local labor. The goal was to train and certify the local nationals into a professional capacity for the Government of Iraq and eventually fully qualified mechanics for the benefit of the Iraqi economy.

According to URS Berger Sallyport Contractors Timothy Gilpin and 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron project manager, there currently are 17 local nationals in training status. Last month three apprentice workers were upgraded to a master certification and four more will be upgraded in May.

A master mechanic has a vast knowledge of every section of a vehicle and can troubleshoot electrical issues to transmission and engine repairs.

Trained by contractors, these LNs work side by side with 332nd ELRS vehicle maintainers. With a fleet of 1,050 light, medium and heavy duty vehicles, there are many opportunities for the LNs to get hands-on training.

"They are not just oil changers," Mr. Gilpin a native of Wasilla, Alaska, and a master mechanic, said.

Mr. Gilpin is astonished at how fast the LNs picked up the trade.

"Most of these guys came off the street with no mechanical skills and now they are doing master level maintenance and are far above their peers in the local area," he said. "Not only did we train them up to the Iraqi Government's Minister of Labor and Social Affairs certification standards, but to our Automotive Service Excellence standards as well."

According to Saif Muhammad, an interpreter, the LNs enjoy doing their job.

"Everyone here is related, and we all live in the same area right outside the base," he said. "We are very appreciative of the U.S. Forces giving us the opportunity to work on base, allowing us to better care for our families.

"Everything is available here, great tools and benefits," he said. "Before, we didn't know how to use computers, but the GIs gave use that opportunity. They taught us how to use computers to troubleshoot vehicles."

Saif, who has been working on base for a year and a half, said many of them receive threats from local insurgents, but choose to continue working.

"Back in 2006 and 2007 when the insurgency was very bad, a lot of them received threats, but they didn't care about them. They came to work every day," he said.

In the 10 months Mr. Gilpin has been supervising the program, he is happy to see the progress the LNs have made.

"With their knowledge and training, they can walk out these gates and work for anybody and not have a problem, which makes me feel good," he said. "They are very well versed in what they do and love coming to work."