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Sister service units integrate workforces to keep the mission rolling

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Two teams here at ‘The Rock’ are truly embracing the ‘combined’ part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, by recently forming an Army and Air Force maintenance partnership.

The 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron teamed with the U.S. Army’s Fox Company 227, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division – or Fox 227 for short – to support vehicle maintenance operations.

According to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Dillon Aiken, Fox 227 executive officer, the partnership includes training Fox 227 Soldiers for maintenance of both combat and non-combat vehicles, ensuring their capabilities remain sharp in a deployed environment, where even one mistake can negatively affect the mission. Aiken said the goal of this partnership includes three parts.

“First, we want to be good neighbors and teammates,” said Aiken, who is deployed from Fort Hood, Texas. “It is important to us that we contribute to the success of this base by providing our expertise and perspective in the accomplishment of daily tasks on base.”

The Fox 227 team has contributed to this objective by lending their experience to the 386th ELRS in their respective specialties in addition to accomplishing their own mission. They have also managed to identify and eliminate potential issues recently, including creating contingency backups to their power supply, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

The second objective of the partnership is to provide the Fox 227 maintainers an opportunity to maintain proficiency and even grow in their occupational specialties. Aiken added that partnering with the 386th ELRS gives his team the opportunity to conduct daily repairs on equipment and vehicles uncommon to the Army mission set.

One of the Soldiers who has been a beneficiary of this partnership is U.S. Army Private Christian Suarez, a Fox 227 wheeled-vehicle mechanic, who is also deployed from Fort Hood.

“The Air Force has a much different culture than the Army,” said Suarez. “We have different equipment and different ways of working. However, when it comes to vehicles, we speak the same language. It’s nice to get my hands dirty and get a chance to do what I joined the Army for.”

Aiken said the final goal of their maintenance partnership is to facilitate joint interaction and strengthen the relationship between the services.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Denmark Castrence, 386th ELRS vehicle mechanic, has been working with Suarez and his fellow Soldiers to service a few older trucks, but have taken the opportunity to mentor some of the younger Soldiers who have joined their workplace.

“Just as much as they are learning from our team, we are learning some new things from the Fox 227 team as well,” said Castrence. “It’s nice having this diversity in the workshop.”

According to Aiken, the integration began as a trial period. However, the partnership of Fox 227 and the 386th ELRS appears to be potentially long-term – at least while the mission allows.

“I want to thank the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing leadership for their continued support,” said Aiken. “It is teams like these who are the ones making this joint-service partnership and the mission happen.”