| If you do
NOT see the Table of Contents frame to the left of this page, then
Click here to open 'USArmyGermany' frameset |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
51st
Maintenance Battalion |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51st Maint Bn History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1945 - Present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: 51st Maintenance Battalion History. Compiled by the 51st Maint Bn in the early 1980s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE:
The first part of the Battalion's history is posted as the 51st
Ordnance Group history on the 51st
Ord Gp Page. In August 1965, the 51st Ord Gp was reorganized and redesignated as the 51st Maintenance Battalion under the CO-STAR II concept. (Some information on the CO-STAR reorganizations will be posted in the near future on the Seventh Field Army Support Command (FASCOM) Page.) The Battalion was relocated to Coleman Barracks, Mannheim-Sandhofen, and attached to the 1st Support Brigade. The year 1975 brought about many changes to the 51st Maintenance Battalion structure. In February, the Equipment Support Center, Mannheim, was reassigned from the 81st Maint Bn to the 51st Maint Bn. In May, the 546th Maint Co was reassigned from the 51st Maint Bn to the 66th Maint Bn. And, in July, the 81st Maint Bn relinquished the 77th Maint Co to the 51st. At the end of this eventful year, Headquarters Company, Allied Mobile Force (Land Component) was assigned to the 51st Maint Bn. During June 1976, the 77th Maint Co was deactivated and reformed as the 8908th Civilian Support Group (General Support). In August 1976, the 1st Support Brigade was redesignated as the 21st Support Command. Currently, the 51st Maintenance Battalion is subordinate to the 21st Support Command headquartered at Panzer Kaserne, Kaiserslautern. The Battalion consists of the following units: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The colors of
the 51st Maintenance Battalion carry battle streamers inscribed: Normandy, Northern France, France, Ardennes and Alsace, Rhineland and Central Europe. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment Support Center, Mannheim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Source:
Maintenance Activity Mannheim Website)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Source: NATO Press Release Number (2002) 098 - 12 August 2002) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allied Command Europe Mobile Force Land Headquarters to be dissolved in Autumn 2002 The AMF(L) is an immediate reaction force available to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). It was created in 1960 as a small multinational force that could be sent on short notice to any part of Allied Command Europe under threat. AMF(L)'s mission was to demonstrate the solidarity of the Alliance and its ability and determination to resist all forms of aggression against any member of the Alliance. The AMF(L) is a multinational brigade-sized formation, consisting of a Headquarters at Heidelberg (Germany), combat, combat support and combat service support units assigned to it by 14 NATO nations. For over four decades AMF(L) has supported a wide variety of NATO exercises. Elements of the AMF(L) deployed to Albania in support of operation ALLIED HARBOR to assist in the relief of refugees from April 1999 till September 1999. Its aerial counterpart, ACE Mobile Force Air deployed some of its elements to Southeast Turkey during the Gulf War from January 1991 to March 1991. A dissolution ceremony is scheduled at the AMF(L) Headquarters in Heidelberg on 30 October 2002. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AMF(L) UNIT PATCHES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Source: Email from Bill Gazdagh) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I was assigned to Sullivan Barracks from Oct 1975 to Oct 1978; in particular, I was the company clerk, MOS 75B, to the Hq Co (US), AMF(L). I was at AMF(L) when it became a TO & E unit and assisted in ramping it up with appropriate staff levels, supplies, equipment, etc. i was involved in writing some of the narrative in the NATO SECRET OPLANs for the unit; the correct title was: Allied Command Europe (ACE) Mobile Forces (Land) or AMF(L) for short. Sometimes it was refered to as ACE Mobile Forces There was an air component; we were the field headquarters company for the general staff that was located in Heidelberg; we were strategically "attached" to 51st Maint Bn to get dedicated maintenance support for our equipment; by the time I left, we were not "assigned" to 51st Maint Bn I enjoyed reading your page; did not see anything about the 512th (Maint Co) though; I definitely remember a 512th Maint Co; the AMF(L) situation was an awkward one with the 51st (a nato infantry unit attached to a US maintenance battalion); once the funding was flowing, we were given new equipment, office equipment, field equipment, etc. of course. We went on 3 or 4 exercises a year and needed good stuff; I can remember a friend of mine who worked in the hq building saying he was jealous of us because we got to go out and play war games; frankly, we were tired of paying war games; LOL Anyhow, I could probably come up some recollections about the 3 years I was there; it was a pivotal part of AMF(L)'s history. I can remember the commander's names, even some of the battalion officers; of course I guess it was happier times, looking back at it, than what we realized then; LOL. Not sure exactly what happened to AMF(L) after I left, and I do believe it has since been disbanded; I recall they were involved in the Kosovo operation, but with the expansion of NATO, their legacy was incorporated into a larger rapid reaction force that's in use today. Each nato country that participated in the exercises were responsible for certain duties; in the 3 years I was with them, we had exercises in England twice, Italy twice, Denmark, and Norway twice; shortly before I arrived (and shortly after I left), Turkey was on the menu. Originally, the HQ Co (US) AMF(L) comprised of about 20 soldiers; primarily infantry; the CO and XO were infantry officers; the first sergeant was an infantry soldier, there were two clerks, a 75B & 71L, a Motor Pool Sgt, 3 or 4 mechanics, head cook, POL clerk, a supply sergeant and supply clerk, etc. About 2 weeks before a scheduled exercise; normally in one or two days, over 100 soldiers (augmentees) would show up at our door for orientation and preparation for exercises; it was pretty much a mass of confusion; almost all of the augmentees did not want to be there, including augmented officers; so getting them and the equipment prepared for the exercise and departure was a challenge. remember, because we had to have so many people that weren't normally there, we still had to maintain large enough living quarters for them as if they were. About a year or so before returned to the states, things got changed to where almost all the slots were converted to full-time instead of augmentees; mechanics, cooks, medics, infantry, etc. sometimes a slot would be double dutied, I remember a medic also worked as mail clerk. Normally AMF(L) would use as many transportation components as possible. I remember one exercise to Sardinia, we used every transportation mode possible; we convoyed to Turley Barracks where all the equipment was put on a really long train which took us to Vicenza, italy; from Vicenza, some of the equipment was airlifted to Sardinia and some went via a ferry; so they used ground, air, land, and sea components to arrive at the destination; most of the air was courtesy of MAC (Military Airlift Command), now AMC (Air Mobility Command); however, some of the airlift was provided by the Luftwaffe. The "host nation" would be resposible for supply logistics (provided food, fuel, etc.); so when we went to Norway, we had chances to eat whale meat (yuk). I heard Turkey offered camel (glad I never got to try that), etc. however, it was always interesting trying out different breads. I think I liked the norwegian bread best! England and Denmark were pretty good, too. Normally, there was a certain amount of camaraderie with soldiers of other nations; I remember I made friends in Norway and Italy; and we kept in touch for several years afterward. We were attached to the 51st Maint Battalion to get dedicated maintenance support; all of our trucks, jeeps, trailers, APCs, etc. had to have a different color scheme depending on the destination of the exercise; so the 51st was kept pretty busy painting camo on our equipment; different themes for England Denmark (mostly green), Italy (mostly sand or tan), Norway (white), etc. Some of our trucks were only a couple of years old and already had 8 coats of paint An interesting thing about those early days was our funding; we had "unlimited" funds and zero accountability; needless to say the supply sergeant used these powers aggressively; there was jealousy in the 51st Maint Battalion offices because I had color coordinated furniture and fancy chairs; I think my office chair was slotted for an O-5 or above, LOL. We had to put the best face of the U.S. for the NATO friends; the other AMF countries did not have the funding freedom that we did. I think the way things happened was by design; we would always get new field equipment, e.g., camo nets, tents, cots, field desks, sleeping bags, etc. we would take them to the field and use them; then before coming back to Sullivan Barracks, we would exchange the new stuff for the old World War II legacy stuff that the Brits, Germans, Norwegians, Italians, etc were using, then while we were in garrision, we would DX the old crap for new stuff again; after a couple of years, the US brought all the AMF equipment up to current status. Like I said, I don't think it was documented to happen that way, but I do believe it was designed to happen that way. Shortly before I left, accountability was becoming more of an issue, but those first couple of years, it was not. Nearly every NATO nation (including Canada) participated in these excercises, except for France; there was some political issue at the time; the only events I remember happening in Germany was a 3-day trip to the Black Forrest to do some winter survival training things; and we did a 3-day exercise near Viernheim to demonstrate things for Alexander Haig, who was the SHAPE guy at the time. A couple of times, AMF soldiers were sent to northern Canada for winter survival training. I went on one of these. After returning to Germany, we went to the Black Forrest to share some of our knowledge and skills with the guys who didn't go. This was in preparation for the Norway trip. I think our unit got to send 3 or 4 guys for this Canada trip. I remember our 1st sergeant went the first time, near Calgary. We would garrison at some canadian installation, get equipped, and a couple of days later, they took us way north in a helicopter, landed on a frozen over lake, and said get out; I think the primary lesson was to learn how to deal with the cold; first of all, how not to be afraid of it. I guess looking back at it, things with AMF(L) were a lot more complex than they seemed at the time; in retrospect, it probably was more fun that we thought it was then. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newspaper articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Mannheim Messenger (Mannheim MILCOM newspaper), May 13, 1988) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ESCM celebrates
40 years of Service By Capt Thomas D. Anderson, Commander, ESCM |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When the Equipment
Support Center, Mannheim, holds its Open House May 20, it will be
celebrating its 40th anniversary. ESCM's history began during January - June 1948 when two maintenance units, the 547th and 584th Ordnance MAM Companies, moved onto Taylor Barracks and united to form the 7589th Ordnance MAM Company, which operated the Heidelberg Military Post Ordnance. Several area headquarters changes, seven name redesignations and 21 years later, the unit received its current title of Equipment Support Center, Mannheim in March 1969. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shortly after
becoming a part of the 51st Maintenance Battalion in 1975, ESCM turned
its class II (tools and clothing), IV (construction material) and
VII (major end items) supplies over to the 574th Supply and Services
Com pany, leaving ESCM's supply stockage - as it is today - only class
IX repair parts. Currently, over 6,300 different types of repair parts,
worth more than $6 million, are on hand to support its 48 customers.
The maintenance mission has been, and still is, to maintain the commercial non-standard equipment of five military communities - Mannheim, Worms, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Germersheim - or "garrison duty," as it was called. ESCM also operated an extensive vehicle rebuild (technically called "repair") program, which includes the engines, transmissions, axles and other major components and commercial wheeled vehicles. Currently, this programm is called the Theater Army Intermediate General Support Repair Program. The audiovisual equipment of many DoDDs Germany schools is also maintained by ESCM. A unique aspect of ESCM is the Apprenticeship Program it operates for the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg for automotive mechanics. It is a two-year program that started in 1966 and enrolls between 25-30 youths who have chosen this field as their career starting point. When they've completed their training, the students must pass a stringent and rigorous five-day test to be certified as automotive mechanics. Not one student in the 22 years of the Apprenticeship Program has ever failed the certification test. The newly certified mechanics are then free to seek employment on the local economy or with the U.S. Forces. ESCM normally employs three to four apprentices each year. A number of employees have been with the ESCM for nearly its entire existence, and three employees have done just that - Heinz "Bubi" Kasten, Stefan Gogollok and Kurt Zuehlsdorf. All three were prisoners of war by the U.S. Army during World War II. Kasten was a POW in Italy and was released March 26, 1946, and was employed by this organization the very next day as a carpenter. Two years later he was promoted to the supply warehouse located on Taylor Barracks where he worked as a clerk. Kasten still works in that same warehouse, but since 1955 he has been the warehouse supervisor. Asked why and how he can work in the same place and same job for more than 40 years, Kasten simply replies, "I guess I like it and I know what I'm doing." Gogollok and Zuehlsdorf had similar beginnings but started as vehicle drivers then became mechanics. Zuehlsdorf is now an inspector, and Gogollok, as shop superintendent, holds the number two civilian position at ESCM. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Mannheim Messenger (Mannheim MILCOM newspaper), April 18, 1986) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ESCM's mission
-- providing support By Donald J. Burnett |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 51st Maintenance
Battalion is a non-divisional unit tasked with an area support mission
to provide a wide range of supply and maintenance services to a truly
diverse group of customers. One unit of the battalion, Equipment
Support Center, Mannheim (ESCM) located on Taylor Barracks,
has a very interesting and challenging role in fulfilling its part
of the battalion's mission. As a customer of ESCM you could have many identities. You might be a school teacher, an MP, a truck driver, a forklift operator, or a soldier in a maintenance company. You might even be part of the supply system itself as a unit which receives or cares for equipment which has been returned to a serviceable condition by way of ESCM's participation in the Theater Army Repair Program (TARP). Whoever you are, you can expect to get timely, quality and caring service from a team who is dedicated to being the best. As is the case with any outstanding unit, it is the people who make the difference. ESCM is staffed with over two-hundred local national employees and boasts a proud contingent four military members who fill the slots of Commander, SSA Accountable Officer, Operations Sergeant, and Computer Repairman respectively. ESCM is responsible for the organizational, direct and general support maintenance and supply requirements for commercial non-standard equipment generally associated with the tank-automotive, mobility equipment, and communications-electronics (commel) commodities. Specifically, the company provides support to 11 Department of Defense Dependent Schools and nine community education centers for repair services on commel and audio-visual equipment; four community Transportation Motor Pools and other associated support activities for the maintenance of all commercial design automotive, commel, material handling and special support equipment; a Theater Stockage Point for the exchange of major assemblies like engines and transmissions; and a significant role in repairing major assemblies and end items in the Theater Army Repair Program. This kind of mission calls for a special blend of experience and innovation. One of the real advantages to an organization staffed primarily with civilian employees is an accrual of first-hand knowledge over a period of years which has not been depleted by the personnel turbulence which is a fact of life in military units. Not solving the same problems over and over creates the opportunity for increased efficiency and cost effectiveness. The supervisors and employees at ESCM are on the look-out for areas where innovative ideas may be employed and discourage the "that's the way we've always done it" kind of thinking. One recent example of this philosophy was the approval of a suggestion award for over $1000.00 for an employee who suggested a better way to fabricate a device used extensively by USAREUR transportation units. Adjustments to digital electronic equipment for supply, automotive, and commel areas are quickly made by veteran employees seeking a better way to do their job. One interesting program which promotes a kind of "home-grown" talent for the organization is the apprentice program. This program has an authorized enrollment of thirty young mechanics who participate in a three-year program. The first year is all classroom and the final two years are a combination of hands-on maintenance tasks and schooling. Successful completion of this program culminates in the award of the German equivalent of journeyman mechanic's papers. About 65% of these individuals remain at ESCM or are employed by other U.S. government activities. The remainder finds jobs with German firms which helps improve the economy's unemployment statistics. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related
Links
Maintenance Activity Mannheim - ESCM was redesignated as MAM on 13 October 1998 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
