What have you done to improve services at your motor pool? Have they worked? Are there lessons learned?

Breaking services down to the team, squad or platoon level seems to work for me. I have done platoon services at the combined arms battalion I was station with. It seemed to work really well with tanks and bradleys. However, I am in an expeditionary signal battalion that does not have the same mentality that combat arms does about maintenance. I am convinced that quality services will prevent future maintenance issues. The problem is that the only grade officers often times care about the numbers and not the quality of the service.

Ensure that your service schedule isn't overloaded throughout the year. Spread them out over 12 months. Might cause more work up front but in the long run, the schedule and your mechanics will thank you for it. Plan to incorporate slow down periods during the block leave periods, usually during July and Dec. Don't forget to ensure services are on the unit training calendar by platoon. No operators, no services. Use the low usage program is applicable, it's your friend. Ensure service work orders are loaded into your SAMSE/GCSS-A, more work up front, but cuts down the need for pre-filled 2404's and hand jamming service checks. Proper SSL management is vital to ensure all service kits and related POL are on-hand ready to go. Don't forget your low density equipment. Develop 5-8 week maintenance strategy for NBC, Commo, weapons, tents and equipment like that. I could on and on, but I'm sure you are tracking most of this already.

For me working on a 90 period by identifying Services within 90 days and creating work orders for them ahead of time so you can make sure you have kits for those vehicles and prioritizing which services need to be evacuated and which will be done by the unit. Of course, this should be pre-determined on the 18r if you are USAR.