KHOWST Province, Afghanistan – Among his garage are the scattered tools you’d expect in a mechanic’s shop. Wrenches, bolt cutters and welding equipment all postured in different stages of function on or near the beige appendages of dismantled vehicles.
Except in his shop, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Johnston from Newark, Del., a University of Delaware graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and the construction mechanic for Provincial Reconstruction Team Khowst, doesn’t repair cars. He repairs the massive Mine Resistant Ambush Proof vehicles that the PRT drives on their missions to help the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan establish stability, security and governance in the country.
“When it comes down to it, these are just like working on a big, armored Chevy,” said Johnston, grinning.
MRAPs are the huge vehicles designed to operate throughout the challenging terrain of Afghanistan and be able to withstand attack from insurgents while keeping their passengers safe. Their proper maintenance requires specialized mechanical skills and ingenuity to repair.
“Normally we service, repair and fabricate anything that runs on diesel or gasoline,” said Johnston, who has worked on everything from weed whackers to construction cranes for the Navy.
The various versions of the MRAP require just as much mechanical flexibility and a wide breadth of technical expertise.
Johnston’s counterpart, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kacey Blackmon from Lockwood Calif., a master at arms, assists him in daily repairs. Working to repair farm equipment while growing up, Blackmon brings a unique set of skills to the machine shop as well.
Blackmon admits his background has helped him in repairing suspension systems, building weapons and ammo racks as well as attaching various mounts to the vehicles which make up the lion’s share of the maintenance he performs.
Before beginning combat training at the Joint Military Training Center at Camp Atterbury, Ind., Johnston attended the MRAP repair school which is held at the Red River Army training depot outside Texarkana, Texas.
The five week course teaches its students how to do basic repairs and maintenance on these unique vehicles.
Many times problems can be quickly resolved simply by knowing the layout of the vehicle and its many capabilities, Johnston explained.
“These things take lots of abuse, we do a lot of general maintenance here,” said U.S. Army 1Lt. Adam Gettelfinger of Indianapolis, Ind., PRT Khowst head of logistics.
Johnston and Blackmon do plenty of custom fabrication as well, said Gettelfinger, pointing to a new rear-view mirror mount the mechanics recently installed.
MRAPs, which weigh anywhere from seven to 22 tons, were adapted and designed as a U.S. Marine Corps initiative in response to casualties sustained in un-armored or “up-armored” vehicles during the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The vehicle is currently used by all services including PRT Khowst, which has personnel from the U.S Navy, Air Force, Army, Army Reserve and Mass. Army National Guard.
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