Best advice for a Maintenance Officer in a Signal Battalion?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 12:46:42 -0400

I was recently told that I will fill in the Maintenance Officer slot in my Signal BN. I was wondering if there was anyone out there that has any specific piece(s) of advice that I could put in my tool kit. I appreciate your time in advance.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2015 9:35 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 21:35:33 -0500

* Establish working relationships with as many people as you can, especially your 'customers' and 'suppliers'. Understand what their needs are. Talk to them one on one, take them to lunch. Building trust makes everything ten times easier.

* Inspect, inspect, inspect. Know the equipment you are responsible for inside and out, because it will build credibility with the people in bullet #1. If you have good NCOs they will help you do that, because they know that they will build trust with YOU by doing it.

* Be able to recite exactly why a given piece of equipment is non-mission-capable or why its functionality is degraded at any given time. Always be able to explain what is being done to bring it to full functionality. The gold bar gives you authority, but credibility has to be earned.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 9 at 2015 9:53 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 21:53:29 -0500

Trust you shop NCOIC much like a platoon sergeant he can make your time much more pleasant and he will educate you.

Response by COL Michael Freeman made Feb 9 at 2015 10:04 PM

COL Michael Freeman — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:04:07 -0500

Remember that your Maintenance operation exists to support the users, not the other way around. Keep standards high. Know your stuff and take care of your soldiers. Your NCOIC knows what he/she is doing. Help them succeed. Never blame. Take responsibility for the team's actions. Your enthusiasm to learn and dedication to your team will show in the readiness metrics. Good luck.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Feb 9 at 2015 10:07 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 22:07:41 -0500

2 good answers so far, also spend some time learning your parts supply system and what the delivery and status codes mean. Learn how to correct incorrect statuses & expedite deliveries for those mission critical deadlined items. Trust your Maintenance Chief and apply your bars when he says you need to. Not everything is Mission Critical, use but don't waste your influence.

Response by MAJ Michele Bretz made Aug 9 at 2015 10:10 PM

MAJ Michele Bretz — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 22:10:53 -0400

I was in your position as a 2LT at Ft. Huachuca. Listen to your NCO's, they have a lot of knowledge. Don't be afraid to ask questions and have them show you different aspects of their job. I was told that you can't fully rate them if you don't know how to do their job, so my 1SG took me out to the orchard and I learned how to climb a telephone pole and my Maintenance NCOIC showed me how to take apart an engine, went through the parts and put it back together. Years later, I may not climb a telephone pole but I can tell you basic items to look at when trying to repair an engine!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 10:04 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 10:04:56 -0400

Take your FOREMAN to lunch, your PBUSE operator, your HAZMAT and CBRNE NCO. Enroll yourself in the 80Hr HAZMAT Handlers course, armorer course, get all the licenses to every type of vehicle you have and all your generators. Learn inside out the dispatching process, this is a big thing when doing maintenance. Identify who are your best mechanics.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 16 at 2016 10:42 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:42:18 -0500

To add to what others have said, A lot of what you will see and do is going to be on a computer, get familiar with GCSS Army, it is going to be the wave of the future, learn what all those codes mean. Keep your briefings brief (sounds stupid, but I can't tell you how many people I have heard turn their maintenance briefing into "War and Peace"). Spot check your units, and your shops.

Response by LTC Maureen Barthen made Feb 16 at 2016 11:17 AM

LTC Maureen Barthen — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 11:17:58 -0500

Learn, in detail, your equipment.
There are many that know the general maintenance of their equipment and rely to heavily on their SGTs. But, few have the opportunity you do, especially when it comes to learning the logistical aspect (supply and demand stackable, timeliness of turnover, etc). Your maintenance SGT or CHF can provide that knowledge and enable you to have a leg up on that Rating Pyramid. It will most certainly come in handy for future assignments and promotions.