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Full days for the mechanics
by Sgt. Charles Mangin
First published in Sfor Informer #15, July 23rd, 1997
Nevesinje
- In the Multinational Engineering Battalion at Multinational Division
South East (MND-SE) is the French road vehicle maintenance team of six
mechanics,: a staff sergeant, two sergeants, and three privates. They
are specialised in French machinery and normally they only service their
own equipment, although sometimes they are able to provide some aid to
the Spanish crew in the same camp if needed. "We may be able to give
them a very specific part they don't have in stock, a special screw for
example. But essentially, everybody looks after their own job," says
Sgt. Fabrice Ruinet, of the French team.
Maintenance includes lubrication, changing oil filters, changing the oil itself. These
tasks represent roughly 30% of their workload. Breakdowns are not rare, and the team
spends the rest of their time repairing them. "The most frequent breakdown is
hydraulic leakage because machines are really worked hard on the road projects," said
Ruinet, adding, "for major breakdowns, we have to bring the machine down to
Mostar."
The mechanics do not only work in the Mostar area. "Half of the team is in
Sarajevo right now. They move according to the Divisions needs. "That's why our
days are pretty full," said Ruinet.
For Spanish mechanics, the organisation is different. Maintenance is handled by machine
operators near the road repair operations in Luka. They too perform basic maintenance,
such as oils and filters. But theres more. "If we go through a breakdown, we
call our mechanics in Mostar. If we call them in the afternoon they are here, in Luka, the
following morning," says Capt. Jose Sebastian. He added, "We have 11 mechanics
in Mostar, including a second lieutenant, a staff sergeant, a sergeant, and eight
privates."
[French soldier]
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