Three Air Force Mechanics Vital Link In Mission Readiness
Over the last several months’ conditions in Afghanistan have been steadily improving. Due to the efforts of three Air Force Mechanics the Gardez Provincial Reconstruction Team has been able to be Mission Ready with vehicles and equipment.
Air Force Tech Sgt Kendrick Ouzts and Staff Sgt’s Russell Achee and Andrew Hawley are the main vehicle maintainers at Forward Operating Base Gardez.
“The efforts of these three Sgt’s have kept our PRT team ready to go at a moments notice,†said Captain Mark Stevens. Stevens is the Air Force Civil Engineer for the PRT. Besides common repair and preventative maintenance, the three mechanics are part of every mission that leaves the base in one way or another.
“If you have something break down, a tire fail or a radiator blow, these men are the guys we know we can rely on to get us up and running,†said Captain Stevens. “If we have to get running immediately, these are the guys to get it done,†remarked Stevens.
The three man mechanical team performs tasks that are normally assigned to nine men. Their maintenance mission includes a explosive disposal unit, a tactical vehicle, and twenty-six humvees. Their equipment is involved in four or five convoys a day.  “When we first arrived we all had to come to grips with the equipment takes a heavy pounding,†said Ouzts.  Sgt Ouzts is the non commissioned officer in charge of the three-man team.
“Ouzts and his team are the go to guys, in all areas of vehicle maintenance and upkeep,†says Master Sgt. Ed Chamberlin. Chamberlin is the Services Superintendent for PRT. “It was an effort by Ouzts that caused our accelerated up armor of humvees here on base,†said Master Sgt Chamberlin.
