ECU: Preventing Battery Discharge
By | March 27, 2024
Environmental control units (ECUs) can operate on partially charged or discharged batteries when connected to an AC power source; however, if the AC power is disconnected then the ECU shuts down and the onboard batteries...
AN/PVS-7 & AN/PVS-14 NVD: ACH Lever Bracket Supply Sub
By | Dec. 26, 2023
A shortage in AN/PVS-7 & AN/PVS-14 NVD ACH lever brackets, NSN 5340-01-509-1467, can be mitigated by ordering the next higher assembly, NSN 5855-01-610-8704, but there are some important things to know before you place your...
ENFIRE: New TM Released
By | Nov. 30, 2023
A new TM covers the ENFIRE 9.0 (AN/TYQ-X(V)X), NSN 6675-01-617-9193. Read on to learn more about the TM and where to download it...
JBC-P: Use Authorized Hard Drive
By | Aug. 29, 2023
Commercial off-the-shelf hard drives can’t be used with JBC-P. Read on to find out why and to learn how to get the right ones…...
SINCGARS: Searching for PMCS Tables
By | July 11, 2023
A Soldier is asking about where to locate the PMCS tables for SINCGARS. Half-Mast has the answer. It’s available in a TM covering over 20 models. To find out more, read on…...
OGS: TM Updated
By | July 6, 2023
An updated TM has been published for the operational intelligence ground station (OGS). Learn more here…...
VOSS: Recycle Old or Used Desiccators
By | July 6, 2023
Find out how to inspect or replace the desiccator in the VOSS gimbal, NSN 5855-01-626-6338. WP 0030 in TM 5-5895-1984-10 (Oct 16) shows you how…...
PQAS-E: Hard Drive Software Update
By | June 22, 2023
The PQAS-E laptop’s hard drive software needs to be updated on a short timeline and the deadline to comply is March 26, 2024. Make sure you're compliant. It’s also transitioning to a new update method using USB technology. To...
I Own This Campaign: Nominate a Deserving Warfighter
By | May 5, 2023
Taking ownership and pride in assigned vehicles and equipment is vital to ensuring personal, unit and fleet readiness. Without this personal investment and active involvement, Warfighters fail to ensure preventive and...
MEP-831A/832A TQGs: Return Correct Engines Only
By | April 21, 2023
The 3-kW tactical quiet generators (TQGs) MEP-831A/MEP-823A are powered by two versions of Yanmar L70 diesel engines. Each is disposed of differently. CECOM needs units to double-check which version they have before...
NOSC-L: Two New TMs Available
By | March 16, 2023
Two (2) new TMs cover the AN/TSC-234(V1) network management system network operations and security center-lite (NOSC-L). Read on to learn more about them and where to download...
TCN-L: Three New TMs Released
By | March 9, 2023
Three (3) TMs have been released for the Tactical Communications Node-Lite (TCN-L), NSN 5895-01-657-3979. Continue reading to learn more and get a video link about TCN-L...
Communications: JBC-P Fuse Proves Elusive
By | Feb. 23, 2023
A reader is looking for the NSN for the 8-amp, 250V glass fuse for the Joint Battle Command-Platform. Half-Mast helps them out. Read on for that NSN…...
Batteries: The ABCs of Battery Care
By | Jan. 30, 2023
This article initially appeared in PS 768 (Nov 16), pp. 36-37. There are several rules worth remembering when it comes to battery care that'll ensure they work when needed, as well as not cause damage to equipment. Read on to...
Lithium Batteries: Don’t Get Burned By Wrong Type
By | Jan. 20, 2023
This article initially appeared in PS 797 (Apr 19), pp.53-54. Pay close attention to the battery type used in sights and night vision equipment. Using the wrong kind can lead to disaster...
PS Magazine Year-In-Review: Top 10 Website Downloads
By | Jan. 13, 2023
The PS Magazine website features helpful documents, posters and charts that were downloaded over 80,000 times. You might be interested to learn what the most downloaded items were. Read on to find out...
Soldier Support: LAR Toolbox Revisited
By | Jan. 10, 2023
The LAR Toolbox offers resources covering power generation and environmental systems. To find out how to access the materials, read on…...
KG-175D: Battle Blackout! Mind TACLANE Checks
By | Jan. 5, 2023
This article initially appeared in PS 800, p.45 (Jul 19). It's important to know about the KG-175D inline encryptor's clock drift and battery life. Find out why...
AN/PVS-14 NVD: PM to Light Your Way
By | Dec. 21, 2022
This article initially appeared in PS 788, pp. 58-59 (Jul 18). AN/PVS-14 night vision devices need dedicated care and attention. Some subject-matter experts offer a few tips that will help. Read on to discover what they are.…...
Radars: Inspect Rear Leveling Leg Mounts
By | June 13, 2022
AN/TPQ-53(V) radar system operators and maintainers, you had more than 30 days since receipt of CECOM MA-22-03002, dated 4 Jan 2022, to inspect your systems for possible weld cracks. If that didn’t happen, do it NOW. Here's...
DVE: Change AN/VAS-5(5A) to AN/VAS-5B
By | April 22, 2022
Units need to update organizational property records and unit hand receipts to accurately reflect and report the correct version of the Driver Vision Enhancer (DVE) family of systems (FOS) on hand. Continue on to learn...
PQAS-E: B300 W10 Hard Drive Swap Requirement
By | March 25, 2022
The laboratory shelter, a component of the Petroleum Quality Analysis System-Enhanced (PQAS-E), NSN 6640-01-547-1760 (EIC-ZBX), LIN P25743, needs attention. Read on to learn more...
Commo/Electronics and Soldier Support: 2021 Year-in-Review
By | Jan. 20, 2022
If there’s one thing 2021 taught us, it’s to expect the unexpected. Some things stay the same, though...like the need for preventive maintenance, and solving perplexing problems, especially when it comes to commo and...
Power Supply: Solving PP-6224B Shortage
By | Dec. 17, 2021
Power supply PP-6224B/U is in sustainment and repairs have been limited by long lead times and low final recovery rate of repairable assets, due to obsolete parts. If unit readiness is affected by power supply shortages,...
ECU: Refrigerant Change Sparks Alert
By | Aug. 5, 2021
Here’s an important message for units: Refrigeration and maintenance services on Environmental Control Unit (ECU) systems that contain a refrigerant known as R22 are no longer authorized to be performed in OCONUS locations in...
PS Magazine: A Trusted Source for Readiness Information
By | July 20, 2021
For 70 years, Soldiers—as well as other service personnel—have relied on PS Magazine to get the late-breaking, correct information they need to keep their fleets combat ready. Still, a question continues to pop up in motor...
Communications: Equipment Codes Decoded
By | June 2, 2021
This article initially appeared in PS 775 (Jun 17), pp. 49-53. DOD communications nomenclature is a special kind of language. It identifies equipment at the system, subsystem, set, group or unit level. It tells you what kind...
AHD: Spotting Defective Vehicle Adapter Pin
By | May 7, 2021
A manufacturing problem caused misalignment of holes on the (AHD) vehicle adapter pin (the pin that holds the bracket arm together). This article provides guidance on what to do if you receive a defective vehicle adapter pin...
Don’t Spin Our Wheels!
By | Feb. 23, 2021
This article initially appeared in PS 759 (May 16), p. 1. PS Magazine gets lots of maintenance and supply questions each month. Sometimes we can send out an immediate answer. Other times, those answers take a couple days to a...
CECOM: Where to Send Equipment Returns
By | Feb. 11, 2021
This article originally appeared in PS 788 (Jul 18), pp. 60-61. Most CECOM-managed items can be returned to either of the Defense Logistic Agency’s (DLA) warehouses in Tobyhanna, PA, or New Cumberland, PA. Get the addresses...
Maintenance Training: Find Every Chance to Teach
By | Jan. 22, 2021
Listen up! The next time a vehicle comes into the shop with an apparent low tire psi, ask the operator if they have a tire gauge. Then ask them how to check the tire’s psi. You might be surprised to find out what they don't...
PS Magazine: Help Us Help You
By | Dec. 23, 2020
Each day, emails from Soldiers and DoD civilians all over the world come into PS Magazine seeking answers to challenges they're facing while maintaining their vehicles and equipment. And each day, Half-Mast or a member of his...
UTAP: You’re Just a Click Away!
By | Nov. 17, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 798 (May 19), p. 20-21. TACOM’s Unit Training Assistance Program, UTAP, provides approved training materials for a variety of TACOM-managed equipment...
Communications: Submitting PQDRs to CECOM
By | Oct. 2, 2020
Dear Editor, it happens sometimes. We work hard at CECOM to make sure it doesn’t but sometimes, we send out equipment that just doesn’t work as it should. If your readers have ever received such equipment, they may already be...
PDISE: M46 Electrical Utility Assembly Changes
By | July 28, 2020
Hardware changes have taken place with the Power Distribution Illumination Systems Electrical (PDISE) M46 Electrical Utility Assembly, LIN: U89185. These changes apply to the info in TM 9-6150-226-13 (Sep 17)...
AN/TIC-43: Training Now Online
By | June 5, 2020
PM Close Combat Systems is currently fielding the AN/TIC-43 Acoustic Hailing Device (AHD) to military police and transportation units across the Army...
Power Supply: Unpack PDISE Promptly to K.O. CORROSION!
By | April 6, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 784, Pages 52-53. An Army investigation determined that new PDISEs, stored in shipping crates that were exposed to weather, showed corrosion on the connectors and mounting hardware when...
Soldier Support: P&E LARs Share Wisdom
By | Feb. 11, 2020
Dear Editor, I’d like to let your readers know that AMC’s Power and Environmental (P&E) LARs’ information-sharing files have migrated to AKO 2.0.AKO classic was officially "sunset" in September...
AN/TPQ-50 Radar: New TM Available
By | Oct. 18, 2019
TM 11-5840-392-10 (Jun 19) is the new operator’s manual for the AN/TPQ-50 radar set, NSN 5840-01-578-4119. TM distribution is restricted, so you’ll need to log in with your CAC...