PS Magazine currently has two recognition programs designed to put a spotlight on Soldiers, Warfighters and civilians who exemplify the highest standards while caring for their assigned vehicles and equipment and contribute in meaningful ways to maintenance and supply readiness. The first is “I Own This,” which recognizes Soldiers (and Warfighters of other services) for their personal commitment to readiness excellence. The second is “I Sustain This,” which recognizes civilian maintainers and supply professionals for the same thing.
When Mr. Jeffrey Blankenship asked if he could nominate an entire unit, we gladly accepted. Using the “I Own This” template, we’re shining a spotlight on the 919th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, US Army Reserve.
Maintenance platoon, 919th Inland Cargo Transfer Company (ICTC)
406th Combat Sustainment Support BN (CSSB)
US Army Reserve, Saginaw, MI.
Nominated by: Mr. Jeffrey J. Blankenship, Maintenance Division, Directorate of Logistics, 88
th Regional Support Command.
I observed this unit when I was assigned to it, going back to 2014. I’ve since retired, but I continue to hear great things about the 919th in my civilian position. Its commitment to excellence is especially noteworthy during annual training at various locations to which it deploys.
Why does this unit deserve recognition?
Over the past decade, the 919
th gained a reputation for helping other units stay mission-ready and capable. While it has its own mission to accomplish, it realized its mission is only enhanced by supporting other units in need.
For example, in 2014, while conducting centralized receiving and shipping point (CRSP) operations at Ft McCoy’s equipment concentration site (ESC) #67, another unit came in just before redeploying home with a non-mission capable HMMWV. It turned out the engine needed to be replaced. “How am I going to get this home?” the unit’s platoon sergeant asked. The 919th’s chief maintenance warrant recommended getting an engine from the local cannibalization point and swapping it out. Thirty-six hours later, the HMMWV was headed home.
919th ICTC clerks
That engine swap was the spark that started a fire! Wherever it went, the 919th soon became known as a friendly unit to all operators in need.
In 2014, the unit coordinated with ESC #67 to bring vehicles and equipment to its centralized receiving and shipping point (CRSP) motor pool. The unit performed services on that equipment, in addition to running the CRSP yard and maintaining its own vehicles and equipment.
At Camp Atterbury in 2016, the 919th ran into another ICTC from Las Vegas that had an inexperienced group of young Soldiers. It buddied up with that unit and trained its new mechanics on their own equipment. When asked if it could help retrieve a 10K ATLAS forklift, the 919th’s NCOIC jumped at the chance to introduce asset recovery to the lineup of skills that the mechanics could learn.
919th ICTC mechanics
These examples demonstrate the 919th's commitment to making readiness a “team sport.” By helping other units with their maintenance needs, the unit’s own mechanics have honed their skills and advanced mission accomplishment.
Additional comments: The unit’s “Wicked Wrench” program is particularly noteworthy. During AT’s where the unit has no specified mission and conducts AT locally (such as during the Covid-19 pandemic), the chief warrant and NCOIC tasked the maintainers to work on overdue services from other units of the 645th Regional Support Group of which it’s a part. Each time, the mechanics surpassed expectations in the number of work orders completed and vehicles brought back to FMC.
919 ICTC Maintenance comes early, stays late