{"id":42787,"date":"2023-11-19T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=42787"},"modified":"2023-11-21T02:14:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T02:14:07","slug":"mechanics-help-dc-national-guard-maintain-readiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=42787","title":{"rendered":"Mechanics Help DC National Guard Maintain Readiness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Dozens of wheeled vehicle mechanics keep tactical vehicles operational at the District of Columbia National Guard\u2019s Combined Support Maintenance Shop at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Oct. 21, 2023. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Arthur Wright)
\n (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Arthur Wright)<\/span>
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WASHINGTON – Pfc. Marques Downing thrives on a good challenge, problem-solving and constant change. He spent most of the past two years working in information technology, studying the latest computer networks and systems courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can be a lucrative career that offers flexibility, but there\u2019s a lot of certificates and classes,\u201d Downing said. \u201cNew technology and software are constantly coming out and you have to learn it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, Downing realized he wanted a more hands-on job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m loving every second of my new job,\u201d he said. \u201cI like getting my hands dirty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Downing is one of dozens of wheeled vehicle mechanics who keep tactical vehicles operational at the District of Columbia National Guard\u2019s Combined Support Maintenance Shop at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re like the D.C. National Guard\u2019s own mechanic shop. We\u2019re here to make sure people can get from point A to point B,\u201d Downing said.<\/p>\n

On any given morning, there is a line of mission-critical vehicles to test, maintain or repair.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur mission is to provide readily, fully mission-capable vehicles to the D.C. National Guard,\u201d said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Courtney Britton, supervisory surface maintenance specialist, officer in charge for the DCARNG Surface Equipment Maintenance Facilities. \u201cWhatever mission is tasked to the D.C. National Guard, and no matter where it is, we have the vehicle to support it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Britton leads the operation of four maintenance shops, while Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Eldridge ensures mechanics are technically sound in maintenance and recovery to fulfill mission requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cMedium Tactical Vehicles, Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles \u2014 there\u2019s different types of vehicles for different operations,\u201d Eldridge said. \u201cThe vehicles belong to the units … and we are responsible for the maintenance. So, we\u2019re constantly coordinating with units and honing our skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eldridge stresses expertise and skill aren\u2019t the only traits that keep the operation thriving; he values people in the organization.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I likened it like a vehicle, bad parts create bad output, but good parts create good output,\u201d CW2 Eldridge said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got good people working in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Britton says preventative maintenance for the D.C. National Guard motor pool is not reserved for a particular season but lasts throughout the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe maintenance community doesn\u2019t have a slow period,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile requests for vehicles for annual training peak during the summer months, preventative maintenance checks and services are still done every month by individual units on every vehicle in stock.<\/p>\n

One of the mechanics helping to keep vehicles fully mission-capable for the past three months is Downing, one of the newest wheeled vehicle mechanics. He likes the responsibility of knowing he can support mission-ready personnel in training, war or national emergency.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery week, there\u2019s something new to learn or get my hands on to figure out,\u201d Downing said.<\/p>\n

For more National Guard news<\/a><\/p>\n

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National Guard Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dozens of wheeled vehicle mechanics keep tactical vehicles operational at the District of Columbia National Guard\u2019s Combined Support Maintenance Shop at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Oct. 21, 2023. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Arthur Wright) (Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Arthur Wright) VIEW ORIGINAL WASHINGTON – Pfc. Marques Downing thrives on a good challenge, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42789,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42787"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42790,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42787\/revisions\/42790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}