Publications: Some Help on Ordering TMs and EMs
By | April 11, 2024
Mr. Chris Flegel with the TACOM Logistics Assistance Division offers some insights on how to order (1) physical TMs or (2) EMs on CD. It begins by establishing a unit publications account. Keep reading to learn more...
Maintenance Mgmt: Glass Cutting Kit Component List
By | Dec. 29, 2023
A Soldier tells MSG Half-Mast he's having difficulty getting the component listing for the vehicle glass repair glass cutting shop set. Keep reading to find out Half-Mast's reply...
Maintenance Mgmt: i2Log Extended
By | Oct. 23, 2023
Not sure how to look up item managers once the i2Log sunset date arrives? Keep reading for an important i2Log update...
Packaging: FY24 PACK 2 Course Schedule
By | Sept. 6, 2023
The PACK 2 Military Packaging Design Course is open for enrollment. Read on to find out more about the course and how to sign up!...
Corrosion: Training the Basics
By | July 7, 2023
Maintenance leaders, PS has an excellent PowerPoint presentation that you can download and use to train Soldiers on basic corrosion information or tailor to your equipment and vehicles. Read on...
Half-Mast Sends: Just Ask Already
By | May 23, 2023
This article initially appeared in PS 753, p. 1 (Sep 15). Got a burning question but reluctant to speak up? Here's something to think about...
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...
Half-Mast Sends: Readiness Starts with You
By | April 28, 2023
This article initially appeared in PS 780 (Nov 17), p. 1. The person best suited to determine your equipment’s readiness is you. Remember that the next time you pull PMCS. Fix what you can and report what you can’t. Keep...
Half-Mast Sends: Heed PMCS Cautions and Warnings
By | March 30, 2023
An article in Risk Management Magazine, written by MAJ Eric Tolska, gives a real-life example of why paying attention to PMCS warnings and cautions is so important. Read on to learn more about the article…...
Lead-Acid Batteries: WP Update for TM 9-6140-200-13
By | March 28, 2023
AR 750-1 was recently updated which caused a need for an update in work package (WP) 0020 of TM 9-6140-200-13, Operator and Field Maintenance for Automotive Lead-Acid Storage Batteries (May 11). Get the correct info here...
Packaging: Managing COSIS ESDS Items
By | Feb. 27, 2023
COSIS ESDS items require special care and handling. There are a number of important requirements to keep in mind to avoid damage to these high-value items. Read on to learn the details!...
Half-Mast Sends: Keep on Trucking
By | Jan. 26, 2023
The war in Ukraine is offering a lot of lessons. The question is: Are we learning them? An informative CNN article offers some insights on the importance of maintenance and logistics basics that are worth heeding. And we...
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...
PMCS: Good PM Takes More Than Just the TM
By | Nov. 22, 2022
This article initially appeared in PS 774 (May 17), p. 1. Use your eyes, ears, nose and hands to help you uncover problems that could deadline your vehicle. Read on for more info…...
PS Magazine Posters: Help Spread the Word
By | Oct. 28, 2022
The Nov 2019 PS Magazine was its last 64-page, cartoon-illustrated issue. Taking its place is this website, and we STILL need your help to promote it. Attached are two versions of a poster you can print out and put in day...
AUSA 2022 Interview with GEN Daly, AMC CG
By | Oct. 12, 2022
GEN Edward Daly, AMC Commanding General sits down with Jen Judson of Defense News to discuss logistics lessons learned arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Keep reading for the video link...
Ground Vehicles: Lead-Acid Battery Storage
By | Sept. 1, 2022
Flooded cell and absorbed glass material (AGM) batteries can be stored and charged in the same container as long as you follow the guidelines in TM 9-6140-200-13 (May 11). We’ve got the details here…...
Maintenance Management: Read IETMs with IADS
By | Aug. 24, 2022
IADS will make it easier to view IETMs. The program is available for download now and doesn’t require administrator rights to install on a government computer or laptop...
Log/Maint Management: 2022 Logistics Excellence Award Winners
By | Aug. 10, 2022
Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of 2022’s Chief of Staff of the Army Combined Logistics Excellence Awards (CLEA)! The CLEA consist of the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence (AAME), Deployment Excellence Award...
GCSS-Army: Help Desk Contact Info Changes
By | July 26, 2022
Take note! The phone number and email address for the GCSS-Army Enterprise Help Desk changed in April 2022. Keep reading to get the new contact info...
Safety: Motor Pool Pointers
By | July 26, 2022
Do you feel "Army safe" in the workplace? Read this article to check out our top safety tips on the job...
Publications: FAM Chart Update Info
By | July 21, 2022
Need a list of publications to update your familiarization or FAM chart? Wondering what format you should use to store your publications? MSG Half-Mast has answers to both questions in this article...
Publications: Where Have All the PTILs Gone?
By | July 6, 2022
The Publications Tailored Index Listing (PTIL) is a record of every Department of the Army technical and equipment publication an individual unit should have on hand to inventory, operate and maintain all equipment found in...
PMCS: Get SWF’s New PMCS App
By | June 14, 2022
The Army Software Factory (SWF) has released a new application aimed at helping Soldiers conduct PMCS by providing easier access to technical manuals (TMs) and an improved PMCS experience. Keep reading to learn more...
MSD-V4: How to Perform Initial Login
By | June 13, 2022
It’s finally time to use the newly fielded Maintenance Support Device Version 4 (MSD-V4) and you have questions. How do I log into the system? Where do I go for help if needed? We have the answers...
Maintenance Management: The Rise of IADS
By | June 9, 2022
Interactive Authoring and Display Software (IADS) is on the way to eliminate paper technical manuals (TMs) and the need to upload electronic technical manual (ETM) revisions from CDs to give Soldiers a digital, interactive TM...
IADS: Export and Import Function Enables Sharing of Notes
By | March 29, 2022
For Soldiers using IADS to view IETMS—which is primarily limited to aviation and missile units at present—there’s a relatively new feature to be aware of: the ability to export and import notes, particularly those relating to...
MSD: CM Tool Update Available
By | March 16, 2022
An update for the maintenance support device (MSD) V4 that protects the device from unauthorized Windows updates when it’s connected to a network is available on CM Tool. Here's more info on that update...
Logistics: Not Optional Says the Army Chief of Staff
By | March 16, 2022
In a recent article appearing in Breaking Defense, writer Valerie Insinna captured the observations of three top American generals about key lessons learned so far from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. One of the lessons...
AOAP: Temporary Gap in Service and Workarounds
By | March 1, 2022
Starting on Feb 20, 2022, the contract that supports the Army Oil Analysis Program (AOAP) will experience a gap in service. Read on to learn more about its impact...
Corrosion: New Documents Published
By | Feb. 25, 2022
Corrosion is an ongoing battle. To ensure this menace never wins the day, two new corrosion policy and procedures publications are available...
Publications: Are Paper TMs Still Available?
By | Feb. 15, 2022
We have multiple vehicles without a -10 TM available for the operators to perform PMCS. That means that a lot of equipment gets dispatched without maintenance or the knowledge of how to properly operate them. Is there any way...
Logistics & Maintenance Management: 2021 Year-In-Review
By | Jan. 26, 2022
From January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021, the Logistics/Maintenance Management section of the PS Magazine website welcomed 6,667 visitors who viewed 9,385 articles. As a part of the PS Magazine year-in-review, we took...
Log Mgmt: AR 750-1 Is Authority for Correct MEL Calculation
By | Dec. 13, 2021
Over the last several years, the guidance on calculating Maintenance Expenditure Limits (MELs) has been unclear. Here’s the bottom line: The governing guidance for MEL computations is AR 750-1. And here's the correct...
FedMall—Oct 12 Deadline to Keep Accounts Active
By | Oct. 7, 2021
There’s an Oct 12 deadline to ensure folks keep their FedMall accounts active. The FedMall website will be moving to a new platform and DLA needs to ensure users’ log-on info is up-to-date and activated before this migration...
Ground Vehicles: QR Codes for PMCS Not TACOM-Endorsed
By | Aug. 26, 2021
Dear MSG Half-Mast, I work on a Command Maintenance Evaluation/Maintenance Assistance Instruction (COMET/MAIT) team and keep seeing quick response (QR) codes used to access the PMCS tables of a vehicle’s TMs. Can they be...
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...
Maintaining it Means Using It
By | July 1, 2021
It’s common sense that equipment works “best” when operated daily, weekly and on a monthly basis, right? The cold reality is common sense flies out the window when a vehicle is allowed to sit idle for a long time...
Yellow Safety Paint
By | June 15, 2021
This article initially appeared in PS 766 (Sep 16), p. 61. Get a 5-gal container of yellow safety paint with NSN 8010-01-019-1776. This water-based latex is used to paint guide marks and warning lines inside your motor pool...
PS Magazine: Save Articles for Future Reference
By | May 26, 2021
Dear Editor, as an AMC TACOM LAR, I find PS articles useful. They address current problems not found in the TMs or in ARs. I print articles and give them to armorers and maintainers...
Modernization Displacement and Repair Sites: MDRS 101
By | Feb. 25, 2021
Soldiers, you may have heard that the Army has a new program being established to support modernization and equipment divestiture. Well, you’re correct. Modernization Displacement and Repair Sites (MDRSs) are being set up at...
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...
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...
GCSS-Army: New Cause Codes
By | Nov. 12, 2020
It’s important for leaders to be aware of emerging cyber threats and other vulnerabilities. To help them, the GCSS-Army development team has created the following new cause codes to identify faults and notifications related...
FRS: Diesel Engine Turn-in and Procurement Process
By | Aug. 14, 2020
Supply techs, before turning in or ordering the diesel engine, NSN 2815-01-558-2770 or NSN 2815-01-559-2661, be sure your maintenance techs contact the Forward Repair System (FRS) equipment specialist or item manager for...
Publications: Dive into the EIR Digest
By | July 1, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 765 (Aug 16). The Equipment Improvement Report (EIR) and Maintenance Digest is a quarterly publication and the information expires two years from its publication date. The EIR Digest, a...
PS Magazine: 2019 Index of Online Articles
By | June 12, 2020
Some of our readers have asked for an index of the latest articles. We listened and created a 2019 PS index. It has all the PS Magazine articles that appeared on our website starting in mid-2019...
Unauthorized Mods are a No-Go!
By | April 29, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 771 (Feb '17), Page 50. Soldiers, it might seem like a good idea to modify weapons, vehicles or other equipment to make them “better.” But before you think about modifying anything, think...
SMR Codes Give the Clues
By | March 9, 2020
This article initially appeared in PS 775, Pages 55-59.Having trouble finding or getting a part? You may be surprised to find the reason why is right at your fingertips. That’s because many TMs give clues about items in the...
Maintenance Terrain Walk: MTW Boosts Unit Readiness
By | Jan. 22, 2020
This article initially appeared in Issue PS 770, pages 40-41. No unit, no matter how well-trained, can fight and win on the battlefield with poorly maintained equipment. At the end of the day, all maintenance actions must...
NVGs: Purging Applies to All Units
By | Nov. 26, 2019
Dear Half-Mast, I have a question about purging AN/PVS-14 night vision goggles (NVGs). Are the Reserves required to purge semiannually? To see MSG Half-Mast's response, click MORE...
COMET: Nowhere to Turn? Turn to COMET
By | Aug. 27, 2019
If your new job requires you to set up an arms or CBRN room, manage your unit’s property accountability or figure out what TMs your unit needs, you may need COMET. Keep reading to learn more...