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Vehicle Maintenance keeps 376th AEW fleet in motion

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyz Republic --  With 28 vehicle mechanics deployed from far flung places such as Charleston S.C. and Misawa Air Base, Japan, the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance flight relies on its global expertise to maintain more than 300 government and 70 leased vehicles.

The flight is divided into two separate maintenance areas; small vehicles and special purpose ones. The small general vehicles section is responsible for small people haulers, commonly referred to in the military as 4-packs, panel-vans or bread trucks. The other section is devoted to maintaining special purpose vehicles like fire trucks, refuelers and deicers. Special purpose vehicles are mission critical items, especially during the upcoming winter conditions.

Together the two shops provide logistics support for over 1,000 assigned personnel here and the issuance of millions gallons of JP-8 aviation fuel to the wing's assigned KC-135 aircraft as well as transient aircraft. They have also been integral over the past six months to the processing of more than 14,000 personnel and 6,200 cargo tons on over 1,400 airlift missions that ensure war fighter support downrange.

The sheer value of the Manas AB vehicle fleet can be staggering. The fire truck and refueling maintenance section alone is responsible for the maintenance and care of more than six million dollars of equipment.

The Vehicle Maintenance flight and its respective sections perform a wide range of maintenance from in-depth engine and transmission work to the simple day-to-day maintenance required on general purpose vehicles like rotating tires, changing flats and tune ups.

The hard work of the wing's vehicle maintainers at this small expeditionary unit has a direct impact on the success of military operations in Afghanistan. Vehicle maintenance technicians here routinely perform suspension upgrades to High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, more commonly known as Humvees, transiting through or assigned to the wing. The kits help the Humvee support the extra weight added as a result of armored panels and other modifications. The installation of these suspension kids has been described as essential to keeping these vehicles in the fight downrange.

"If it became a necessity, we could transfer some of our logistics assets like Humvees from here to the frontlines," said Master Sgt. Ernesto Delapaz, 376th ELRS Vehicle Maintenance flight production assistant non-commissioned officer in charge.

"Humvess tend to take a real beating because of the rough terrain around the base and because they are in constant use 24-hours-a-day," said Staff Sgt. Mario Wienckowsk, 376th ELRS Vehicle Maintenance flight production control non-commissioned officer. "Our guys work as hard as they can to ensure that the mission isn't hindered because of parts or vehicle shortages."

"Although the majority of the time we are running at full blast, come winter one of the biggest concerns for us is the deicers," said Sergeant Delapaz. "These are absolutely critical to the mission along with the snow removal equipment and aircraft towing vehicles."

Deicers are one of the main concerns for the flight because of the role they play in keeping the wing's KC-135s and other transient aircraft clear of snow and ice.

The Vehicle Maintenance flight is also responsible for taking care of K-loaders used to load and unload pallets and cargo from airlift aircraft, general forklifts for use around the base, and the wing's own Humvees used by security forces.

While vehicle maintenance and its wrench-turning Airmen are key to maintaining the vehicle fleet, they routinely point out that Airmen throughout the wing that operate the wing's ten-year-old vehicle fleet are just as important to ensuring they remain in top working condition.

"The extreme weather conditions here and rough roads take their toll on our vehicles," said Staff Sgt. Russell Southerland, a special purpose vehicle maintainer. "It keeps us busy, but we have a great team of professional mechanics busting our tails everyday to keep the fleet up and running."