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A/230th Mechanics - 28 August 2005

As Company A, 230th Engineer Battalion's soldiers and equipment are pushed to the limits daily while conducting various missions in Iraq. The harsh Iraqi environment, rough roads and long missions can take their toll on tactical vehicles and equipment. The mechanics assigned to Company A are the unit's insurance to keep everything safe and fully operational.

At a convoy support center south of Baghdad, three soldiers are on call 24/7 taking care of any mechanical problem the unit may face. Staff Sergeant Troy D. Curry, Sergeant Phillip Hicks, and Specialist Kenny Barber may be seen any time, day or night in the unit's maintenance shop performing their magic and protecting our Soldiers by ensuring that our equipment and vehicles are mission capable.

With over 50 combined years of experience, the trio brings skills in general engine & transmission repair, tires, brakes, electrical wiring, welding and fabrication. "It's a big challenge," says SSG Troy Curry. "You can't wait on something to break then try to fix it; you have to make sure its not going to break, period. Soldiers may have to depend on their equipment to get them out of immediate danger, and if something should fail, it could cost them their lives."

When the unit first arrived, vehicles were upgraded with more armored protection, gun mounts, and shielding. When a vehicle rolled out of company A's maintenance shop, it looked as if it had rolled off the assembly line. Each one looked identical and hit the road fully mission capable. Facing obstacles such as long work schedules and intense heat has not stopped this crew from getting the job done.

As well as repairing equipment in the unit's shop, the soldiers are frequently required to ride along on missions and provide maintenance support in case an essential vehicle or piece of equipment should fail. Should a vehicle become damaged or break down on a mission, it is their responsibility to ensure that the vehicle or equipment is safely recovered. Because some missions require the use of equipment not normally assigned to a corps wheeled engineer company the Soldiers have also completed specialized training to repair high-tech equipment the unit utilizes on its route clearance missions.

Company A has soldier mechanics at each of its locations in Iraq. Each one is a highly trained and valuable asset to the units overall mission. Although spread throughout different locations, each team works with the other to ensure that each mission commander knows he can depend on his equipment when it is needed most.

Company A, 230th Engineer Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard, was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06 in January of this year. They are attached to the 891st Engineer Battalion, Kansas Army National Guard. Company A soldiers are from units in Milan and McKenzie Tennessee.

SSG Curry and SPC Barber discuss options for repairing a broken machine gun mount.

SPC Kenny Barber prepares to repair a broken machine gun mount.

Story and photos by Sgt. Johnny C. Sexton
Unit public affairs representative
A Co, 230th Engineer Battalion
APO AE 09331