Fly-away teams travel so customers don't have to

Army Logistician, July-August, 2006

A "fly-away team" from the 503d Maintenance Company's automotive platoon recently demonstrated the ability of mobile maintainers to take service to customers in the field. The seven-member team deployed from the platoon's usual facilities at Logistics Base Seitz in Iraq to Forward Operating Base Falcon to add new combat locks and gunner restraints to high-mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicles (humvees) of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 4th Infantry Division. The fly-away team taught 4th BCT mechanics how to install the upgrades while helping to reduce their workload.

Customers usually have to travel to the location of their supporting maintenance personnel to obtain equipment enhancements, thereby putting their vehicles and crews at risk from attacks while in transit. The use of fly-away teams spares customers from the dangers that can be encountered in traveling on Iraqi roads. As the team's noncommissioned officer in charge, Staff Sergeant John Mickens, commented, "The benefit of fly-away teams is that the customer doesn't have to go into harm's way to get safety upgrades. We come to them and it's easier for them." Bringing the teams to customers also reduces the time that vehicles awaiting upgrades are idle.

Additional fly-away teams work on Forward Operating Bases Prosperity, Rustamiyah, and Iskan, with a team scheduled to work at Mahmudiyah in the future.