PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-681
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 681
AUGUST 2009
56
PS 681
AUG 09
57
PS 681
AUG 09
Dear Editor,
I’m a Reserve Soldier with the 14th Psychological Operations Battalion
in California. I’ve come up with a really good system for dispatching that
can shave at least 30 to 40 minutes from the time it takes to dispatch
vehicles
-and get Soldiers to training on time. When doing the dispatches
either the day before or the day of your mission, make sure that either the
motor sergeant or the TAMMS clerk follows these steps:
1.
Enter the key number and fuel card number on the dispatch under the
REMARKS column.
2.
Hand the driver a DA Form 5988-E,
Equipment Maintenance and
Inspection Worksheet,
and have him do PMCS.
3.
When the driver finishes PMCS and returns the keys and PMCS sheet,
have him sign the dispatch before handing him the keys again.
When done for the weekend, run a dispatch control log. With that, you
can hold the Soldier responsible for the keys and the vehicle. Plus, you’ll
have double proof of who had the keys if they get lost. It keeps your
inventory straight.
SSG William Chapman
304th Psychological Operations Company
Sacramento, CA
Dear Editor,
We at the National Guard Bureau Maintenance Branch read your article in
PS 673 (Dec 08) on the Army’s COMET (command maintenance evaluation
and training team) program.
The article accurately described the Active Army COMET program, but
failed to mention that the National Guard has its own version of COMET,
which is somewhat different than the Active Army’s.
The Army’s COMETs are made up of contract personnel who help units
solve their logistical problems through both assistance and training. Their
focus is on readiness.
With the National Guard, each state has its own COMET, whose focus
is evaluating unit maintenance and equipment readiness. The National Guard
COMETs, which are composed of Soldiers, evaluate but don’t instruct. They
evaluate maintenance management, AMSS (Army materiel status system)
data, maintenance sustainability, and the condition of equipment. Each
state’s COMET evaluates each of that state’s Guard units at least every
24 months.
If a unit needs help correcting any problems that surface during a COMET
evaluation, they can turn to a maintenance assistance and instruction team
(MAIT), which is described in AR 750-1. Each state has a National Guard
version of MAIT ready to help units through assistance and instruction.
If you have questions about the National Guard COMET program, email:
geoffrey.k.seals@us.army.mil
or call DSN 327-7468, (703) 607-7468.
Geoffrey K. Seals
National Guard Maintenance Branch
Editor’s note:
Thanks, Sergeant. Readers, DA PAM 750-8,
The Army
Maintenance Management System (TAMMS) Users Manual,
gives guidance for
dispatching equipment. Also, your unit’s SOP should outline dispatch procedures.
Talk to your CO about adding this suggestion to the unit SOP.
Editor’s note:
Thanks for updating us on the National Guard COMET,
Sir
.
The POC for the Active Army COMET program
can be reached at
DSN 367-7114,
(404) 464-7114, or email
al.rounds
@us.army.mil
Active Army COMETs are located at Forts McPherson, Bragg, Stewart, Drum,
Campbell, Carson, Hood, Riley and Lewis. You can contact them through your
division or brigade’s G-4 or S-4 or through
the contact above
.
Guard
Has
COMET,
Too
Logistics Management…
Dispatch Assistance
Maintenance
Management…
Guard
Has
COMET,
Too
we’re the national
guard comet and we’re
here to evaluate your
maintenance program.
let’s start with
the condition of
your equipment.
WOW!
Motor
Sergeant, you got
those vehicles
dispatched in
record time!
That’s because we
followed a 3-step
plan I found in PS!
681.56-57.indd
1-2
7/7/09
3:10:37 PM
Mr. G.K.S.
SSG W.C.
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