New Maintenance Shop to Provide Enhanced Support for Camp Eggers
02 August 2010 » Public Affairs Office, Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan
Senior leaders from Camp Eggers prepare to cut a ceremonial ribbon with members of the 1136th Transportation Company, Maine Army National Guard, during the Pine Tree Maintenance Shop dedication July 31,2010, at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Donally Kranz)
Soldiers from the 1136th Transportation Company’s Maintenance Section, Maine Army National Guard, hold the sign to their new facility the Pine Tree Maintenance Shop, during the ribbon cutting ceremony July 31, 2010, at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. The shop name, which was picked by a vote among the Camp Eggers Base Support Group and 1136th personnel, links both Maine and South Dakota Soldiers together with pine trees indigenous to both states. (From left to right) Sgt. 1st Class Gilman Thibeault, Spc. Johnathon Dionne, Sgt. Earl Davis, Sgt. Frank Harriman, Sgt. Michelle Michaud and Spc. Bradley Randall. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Donally Kranz)
Col. Michael Wehr (far right), director of CJ Engineering, poses for a photo with Soldiers from the 1136th Transportation Company, Maine Army National Guard, during the Pine Tree Maintenance Shop ribbon cutting ceremony July 31, 2010 at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by of Sgt. Donally Kranz)
A new maintenance shop on Camp Eggers will provide enhanced vehicle maintenance and repair services for U.S. and coalition forces stationed here. The new Pine Tree Maintenance Shop, dedicated by senior camp leadership and members of the 1136th Transportation Company, Maine Army National Guard, was unveiled in a ribbon cutting ceremony July 31.
"This brand new facility will expand our operational capabilities," said Capt. Peter Carter, commander of the 1136th.
The 1136th provides force protection for Camp Eggers, while their maintenance section provides tactical vehicle maintenance support. The new facility will provide the mechanics with the space they need to provide better maintenance support.
"This project has provided us with an area exclusive to maintenance and motor pool operations," said 1st Sgt. Craig Bailey, senior noncommissioned officer for the 1136th. "This will make our work flow smoother and more conducive to maintenance."
"This is a great project," said Lt. Col. Todd Goldammer, Camp Eggers Base Support Group (BSG) officer in charge. "Now the Soldiers have a better environment to work in."
The 1136th’s motor sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Gilman Thibeault, will lead the first maintenance section in the new shop. The maintenance crew consists of two clerk and seven mechanics, who currently work an average of 600 hours a week repairing tactical vehicles.
"The new facility should increase efficiencies in the shop." said Thibeault.
Although the shop is not fully operational, only minor electrical work needs to be completed before the Soldiers can move in and begin operations.
"This facility was started before all of us arrived on Camp Eggers," said Col. Michael Wehr, director of CJ Engineering. "Yet we are here today, and those in the future will get to reap the benefits of someone else’s vision."
The Pine Tree Maintenance Shop is just one of many base improvement projects on Camp Eggers. The Camp Eggers BSG, part of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Dakota Army National Guard, continues to upgrade the base’s infrastructure to enhance operations as it continues to grow. The camp has 29 building construction and remodeling projects in the works. Seven of those are currently underway with another 22 projects in the preplanning phase and ready to begin.
