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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Dec 3, 2008 - 11:51:18 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Piercetown, Ark. native; Staff Sgt. Randall Roberson, a mechanic with Company G, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery is pictured hard at work on a special project. Company G is currently assigned to the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, and is currently serving a 270-day combat tour in Iraq. (U.S. Army Photo by: 1st Lt. Patricia Wakefield) |
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - When Company G, 1st Battalion, of the 206th Field Artillery, currently assigned to the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade arrived here in April, the unit maintenance shop was very disorganized. Parts were either lying around haphazardly, or on one of three metal shelves with individual sliding boxes.
With each box containing parts with up to 20 different national stock numbers, mechanics and prescribed load list (PLL) clerks had to hunt to find needed parts, detracting from the overall efficiency of the unit's maintenance apparatus. According to Chief Warrant Officer Jerry McCoy, of Plumerville, Ark., upon Company G's arrival at Camp Taji, "The maintenance shop was disorganized with a cluttered appearance and there was a lack of accountability of high dollar repair parts."
Fortunately for McCoy, help wasn't far away. Company G's Staff Sgt. Randall Robertson, a mechanic and tool room attendant from Piercetown, Ark., stepped up to help McCoy bring organization to the maintenance shop.
Robertson, a 29-year member of the Arkansas National Guard has always had a passion for carpentry, and has completed on-the-job training as an Army carpentry and masonry specialist, honing his wood working skills.
Since tackling the project, Robertson has completed shelving of several different sizes for the maintenance shop, introducing some much-needed organization. "Since the shelving has been put up, the supply system has been streamlined. There is more shop space. Man hours have been saved because Soldiers don't have to look nearly as long for a part." McCoy said.
Sgt. Beau Gumm, a PLL clerk with Company G, from Green Forest, Ark., recalls how disorganized the maintenance shop was when Company G arrived. Because of Robertson's contributions, Gumm said that, "There is improved PLL efficiency; once parts have been put in their new locations, the information is updated in the standard Army Maintenance system. We now have an extraordinary system of organization."
Robertson's carpentry skills have been put to use not only in the maintenance shop, but around the company area as well, making a direct impact on the safety and welfare of Company G Soldiers.
In July, a safety walk-through was conducted by the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion safety officer, Maj. Lida Eichenauer. It was noted by Eichenauer that fire extinguishers around the area were sitting on the ground, in violation of Camp Taji fire safety standards. After the unfortunate denial of a work order, Robertson stepped in and built 60 fire extinguisher boxes in three days, helping to bring the unit in line with Camp Taji fire safety standards.
These special projects are just a few of the successfully completed jobs that Robertson has handled. In all, it is estimated that he has put in close to 350 man hours on construction projects alone. McCoy and Gumm were in agreement when they both stated that, "The maintenance shop will be a lot better for the company that relieves us."
Commenting on all of the work he has completed thus far, Robertson, who is currently in the process of building shelving for the unit's maintenance connexes simply said that he enjoys helping the unit and his fellow Soldiers. "It has been a good experience. I will keep doing it as long as they need me to build stuff," he said.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Piercetown, Ark. native, Staff Sgt. Randall Roberson, a mechanic with Company G, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery stands proudly in front of two nut and bolt bins he built. There are a total of 320 bins in the two shelves. Company G is currently assigned to the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, and is currently serving a 270-day combat tour in Iraq. (U.S. Army Photo by: 1st Lt. Patricia Wakefield) |
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