Unsung Heroes: Landlocked Sailors keep Coalition wheels rolling

By Navy Lt. Neil Myers,
Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (July 31, 2008) – The landlocked Sailors of Provincial Reconstruction Team Konar keep the wheels of Coalition force’s vehicles rolling to accomplish the mission of security, reconstruction and development in the most eastern province of Afghanistan.

They are shipmates, mechanics and the unsung heroes of the counterinsurgent effort.

The task of keeping the engines running for the Coalition forces in Konar falls on the shoulders of three Sailors: Petty Officer 1st Class Lee Chandler, a reservist from Naval Reserve Center Minneapolis, Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward Jimenez, a reserve Construction Mechanic from Naval Amphibious Base San Diego, and Seaman Daniel Elliot, an active duty Aviation Mechanic stationed at Mayport, Fla. The Navy mechanics work for long hours every day in a shop that is never closed. They service vehicles for every organization within 50 miles of Camp Wright.

“We currently have over 95 percent of all the vehicles running, which is a tall order under these conditions,” said Chandler. It has taken a lot of work for these mechanics to reach that high level of readiness. When the team arrived in Asadabad in March the motor pool was a small two-bay facility.
“In the old shop we had to rack and stack vehicles,” said Chandler. “We worked on two vehicles in the shop and others outside in the hot sun. It was like musical trucks. The mechanics recently moved to a new indoor motor pool which allows them to service nine vehicles simultaneously. We have more space so safety has improved. The new shop is also air conditioned so the danger from heat injury is minimized.”

The three Navy mechanics are augmented by six contractors who provide shop-level support for the more complex work. Both Jimenez and Elliot agree that the contracted mechanics are a big help and the motor pool could hardly function without them. Three soldiers from the HHC 1-26 Infantry Battalion also assist with the demanding work load.

The mechanics have improved their troubleshooting and diagnostic skills during their short time on the ground. Most vehicles are returned to ‘go’ status within 24 hours.

A major challenge for the mechanics is the harsh terrain and climate, which ranges from rugged mountains to sweltering desert valleys with extreme summertime heat. Conducting operations in this kind of environment can take its toll on these vehicles.

“The rough terrain keeps us busy,” said Elliot. “We are always working on ball joints, brakes and A/C units. There is a lot of work going on here.”

Being Navy in an Army environment, the Sailors had something to prove, they said.

“When we first got here we got no respect,” said Elliot. “By working shoulder to shoulder and being willing to help any unit in need, we’ve earned some respect.”

The Sailors reported that the best part of their day is seeing a vehicle roll out the shop with a happy driver.

“I want people to have confidence in the work we do,” Elliot said. “There is nothing that you can give us that we can’t fix.”

The Soldiers and Sailors of PRT Konar and Task Force Spader are grateful for the work that the mechanics are doing and agree that the mechanics are essential to mission success. The mechanics know the importance of their work.

“My biggest fear is that someone will get hurt because I didn’t do my job properly,” Jimenez said.
“The mechanics of PRT Konar are just one of the many vital parts of the team,” said Navy Cmdr. Daniel Dwyer, Konar PRT commander.

Without their commitment and hard work the PRT could not connect with the population, said Dwyer. “When we make contact with the enemy I know our vehicles are up for the fight,” he explained.