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<\/a> According to Richard Babcock, Auto Skills Manager, with the completion of the expansion, he hopes to hire additional staff to support an additional mechanic and car detailing.<\/p>\n If all moves forward as planned, the center envisions providing car detailing services for customers who are preparing their POVs for shipment overseas. These detailing services would be done on site using contracted specialists, says Babcock.<\/p>\n Wiesbaden\u2019s auto skills center is staffed with mechanics that can provide advice, technical support, answer technical questions and help guide POV owners through their self-service projects.<\/p>\n However, for car owners who are not mechanically inclined, or who want someone else to handle their car repair needs, there are other options.<\/p>\n The center offers automotive repairs and services performed by their trained and certified automotive mechanics.<\/p>\n Offering this service is what makes the Wiesbaden Auto Skills Center an \u201cenhanced\u201d center, according to Babcock.<\/p>\n \u201cHere we offer skilled staff mechanics who can answer the tough questions and help guide the car owner through their service projects,\u201d he added. “As an enhanced car care center, we have mechanics doing full service.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The center\u2019s mechanics are always eager to assist and guide car owners who want to do the work themselves.<\/p>\n Babcock added, that he and his five certified mechanics are either National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or German trained and certified mechanics.<\/p>\n That base of knowledge and expertise is what keeps U.S. Army Europe and Africa Operations NCO Staff Sgt. Paul Jimenez coming back to the auto skills center.<\/p>\n Stationed on Clay Kaserne twice, Jimenez built a rapport with many of the mechanics he met during his first assignment to Wiesbaden \u2013 many who are still on staff.<\/p>\n Jimenez was in one of center\u2019s ten bays working on his BMW to replace light bulbs, brake lines and a seal, during his most recent visit to the automotive facility.<\/p>\n That legacy of expertise and willingness to lend a guiding hand, makes it his first stop when he needs to make repairs to his vehicles, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey [mechanics] are really good guys\u2026always helpful and willing to help guide me making my repairs (\u2026) they are on it,\u201d said Jimenez.<\/p>\n Being able to perform some of his own repairs is a huge benefit to Jimenez, while still having access to the center\u2019s facilities and extensive knowledge base, he explained. Using the center\u2019s bays and tools, also saves him money.<\/p>\n \u201cWe get people here working on their car every day, that will grab one of us [mechanics] for advice,\u201d added Babcock.<\/p>\n Babcock\u2019s journey towards becoming an expert auto mechanic dates to his time as a Soldier and light-wheeled vehicle mechanic in the U.S. Army.<\/p>\n After his time in the Army and additional training at Central Texas College\u2019s Europe campus, he earned his master certification and advanced engine performance certifications from the ASE.<\/p>\n He has been a fixture at the center since before the facility moved from Mainz Kastel to its current location on Clay North in 2012.<\/p>\n Enoch Jackson is a prime example of the legacy of expertise and proficiency in the center, that keeps customers, such as Jimenez, coming back.<\/p>\n A regular fixture at the center, Jackson \u2013 who goes by Jack \u2013 learned his trade while working at a nationally recognized U.S. dealership where he received his certification as a mechanic.<\/p>\n Jack, like Babcock, served in the Army as a vehicle mechanic before becoming a certified automotive mechanic in the private sector.<\/p>\n The Georgia native worked as a janitor and as certified bowling mechanic prior to coming to work for the garrison automotive facility in 1980.<\/p>\n Jack has now been at the center for more than 40 years and, according to Babcock, was instrumental in establishing the center at its current location, after moving from Mainz Kastel.<\/p>\n \u201cJack really helped me with the setup of equipment here, [while] running operations down at Mainz Kastel,\u201d added Babcock.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Saving money on service repairs, parts and labor is just one benefit to visiting the Wiesbaden Auto Skills Center.<\/p>\n Another key benefit is having the expertise and information about American-made cars that is often not available outside the front gate in the German automotive care system.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have better knowledge of American-manufactured cars here,\u201d Babcock stated.<\/p>\n The diagnostic system that allows automotive service agencies to connect to and talk to computer systems in American-made cars is not readily available in German car care facilities. Lack of this system makes it more challenging to identify faults and service needed for these cars.<\/p>\n \u201cThey come back to us and say they [German automotive repairs shops] do not have the needed software to access computers in some American car brands.\u201d<\/p>\n Babcock thinks it\u2019s important to stay on top of the newest technology, especially in the ever-changing auto industry, however he admitted that they cannot do it all.<\/p>\n \u201cMany newer cars have cameras and anti-collision radar technology that has to be calibrated, and that stuff we leave to the dealer side,\u201d added Babcock.<\/p>\n Labor-cost savings is another benefit for customers that decide to have their POVs serviced at the center.<\/p>\n Did you know that the center also offers car sales of refurbished, donated cars?<\/p>\n According to Babcock the auto skills center processes 30 to 40 cars per month that are donated and inspected for possible resale. After inspection, some of these cars can be resold, with some work.<\/p>\n \u201cOn average we identify only about two or three previously donated cars for resale,\u201d said Babcock.<\/p>\n
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\n Amongst the many services offered to customers, the Wiesbaden Auto Skills Center offers limited towing and lockout services to the military community. POV owners who want a nearby location to wash their cars can purchase tokens at the auto skills center and use their onsite washing booths at the auto skills center located on Clay North. For more information about available towing options and a list of other services to include a price list visit: https:\/\/wiesbaden.armymwr.com\/programs\/automotive-skills
\n (Photo Credit: Michael Kenfield)<\/span>
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Army mechanics to auto mechanics<\/h5>\n
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\n Recently, U.S. Army Europe and Africa Operations NCO Staff Sgt. Paul Jimenez visited the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Auto Skills Center to perform his own services on his POV. The mechanic\u2019s expertise and their willingness to guide him through making repairs coupled with the cost savings he gets doing his own repairs are key reasons Jimenez keeps coming back to the Wiesbaden Auto Skills Center.
\n (Photo Credit: Michael Kenfield)<\/span>
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nLegacy-leading expertise<\/h5>\n
Code to customer success<\/h5>\n
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\n The U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Auto Skill Center offers many of the same amenities and services that car owners would find in comparable car care amenities at automotive service centers in the U.S or on the local German economy. The auto skills center located on North Clay offers much more than a location for those seeking to turn wrenches on their own vehicles.
\n (Photo Credit: Michael Kenfield)<\/span>
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nCar donations find second life<\/h5>\n