(3 minutes read)
In a war zone every type of resource becomes scarce.
This is equally true for the military maintainer. His skills, knowledge and ability become his mainstay. Each one of these is something which becomes critical because backup becomes almost impossible.
At the crucial point when everything must work, the one resource which totally disappears is the luxury of time.
And now, whatever is available to the maintainer at that point of time is all he has to get the equipment going.
How does this happen? How is it that this person is available there? At that crucial time. He is there, because he has been trained.
The training of these maintainers becomes absolutely crucial and critical for keeping the equipment in a war zone going.
The nature of things is that young soldiers have to be trained and kept ready always. Getting pre-trained people to join as soldiers is not a practical option in many scenarios.
The main focus of training must be to empower the military maintainer to carry out his job at that critical point of time. Because if he does not do that, then the equipment will not function and the day may be lost.
And so again and again and again, the training has to carry on. And not only technical but also training as a soldier so that he knows how to respond in a war zone.
The variety and complexity of equipment in a war zone and the criticality of the skill at the point of decision compel the creation of many specialized trades. This makes the task of training and deploying even more challenging.
In addition to his skills the maintainer must have the correct tools and spares.
While ensuring correct tools is doable, ensuring the availability of a particular spare, needed at that crucial time, is difficult.
We must answer the question: how many spares are available nearby so that critical spares are delivered in the crucially little time available?
This question needs very close scrutiny. And if I may say over here, it is better to err on the positive side.
A sufficient inventory of spares must be available nearby for immediate access. When deciding this always keep in mind that it is a war zone and peace time luxuries are non-existent. There is no market nearby and there is no online ordering!
Either the gun is firing or it is not firing. Even though that could be for a very small list of items.
Having a basic mobile-manufacturing capability nearby is also crucial. Even if the metallurgy of the raw material may be substandard, a spare of the correct shape which functions can be produced in numbers and replaced frequently to keep the equipment working.
Again here the luxuries of peace time manufacturing are totally absent in a war zone.
To conclude; remember that in a war zone time is not available, very limited spares are available and one has to do with basic tools. So everything rests on the military maintainer, so train him well during peace and he will deliver when the hour arrives.
Thank you for reading.
Please feel free to post your comments below.
Ashok Kumar
Its really a novel idea. It gives lot of hope if we adopt the concept of even low standard item which can be committed with higher frequency. It will be a leg up for the domestic industry. We should not waste our sparse finances for import based approach. Once the indigenous industry steps in, quality surge can be also fused.
Sachu
PBL concept has been brought about in almost all the new aircraft inventory. Consumption patterns are studied. Online inventory visibility is generated.
Inventory management is automated.
But you are so right that in a battle field all this could just collapse coz you don’t have a knowledgeable human behind.
So what is the solution with this new entry system – is the food for thought.
Ashok Kumar
Call it jugaad or innovation, Indian fertile mind can generate multiple options. The problem lies in not having it institutionalised .If we collate all such problem solving acumen, these can be building blocks for resolving even the major problems.
Ashok Kumar
Manufacturing units in Ludhiana, Rajkot and many other cities can make components of even guns and tanks. Identification of their potential and enabling can do a lot of good in the MRO infrastructure
hariz
Absolutely, the military maintenance specialist is critical, specially in combat groupings which have a very large mix of specialist vehicles and the scaling precludes a specialist maintenance staff with each detachment. it’s been our experience that in certain category of vehicles/ specialist equipment groups it important to invest in raising the skill level of the USER in their ability to carry out repair in the fields. Indeed availability of special tools/ and spares will continue to be issues .. then the user is quite adept at ensuring that fast moving critical spares are carried onboard … nothing matters most that having your eqpt totally functional when one requires them the most.
Jastej Matharu
Thank you very much for your insightful comment. Regards. Jastej
Lt Gen Vinod Vashisht ((Retd)
No point having machines and weapons if they do not deliver in time of critical need…..Sub efficacious spares can not be endorsed ….how will it be implemented on ground …all acquisitions however insignificant are inducted post Maintainers endorsement….can’t imagine EME ever stamp the idea…but availability of spares and qualitative upgrades of skills is an imperative for equal attention of the GS…..enough experiences in foreign armies to be ditched by the trade for over reliance….
MJS Syali
The author, based on his rich personal experience, has very succinctly explained the critical role played by the maintainers in regenerating the combat potential in the small window of time available in operations. You cannot expect reasonably to get any trained manpower, spares etc and whatever maintenance resources you have created in peacetime at forward locations will come handy. The situation on our borders is quite different and therefore western concepts are not applicable ‘as it is’ to our situation.
Anurag Saksena
This article highlights a very important aspect of maintaining battleworthiness. The basic skills imparted to soldiers during training is just adequate to learn operation of equipment. Skilled operation and Maintenance comes in later. In the current scenario where high technology and use of composites as well as sophisticated metallurgy is the norm, the repair inventory will never match the requirements. 3D printing locally after downloading designs from a central database as well as access to CNC, VNC machines can be resorted to. Civil industry in our immediate hinterland has adequate expertise but Military requirements need to be mapped beforehand rather than at the last moment. An efficient inventory control as well as responsive shipping can further mitigate this live problem. A thought in the right direction.
Col Sudhir Singh Rathore
Had the privilege of serving with the author and his passion for enabling the maintainers is a foolproof and implementable proposal. Hopefully aspirant and essential enablers for maintainers are factored, while taking a call on new policy.
Jastej Matharu
Thank your dear Sudhir. Best regards. Jastej
Rajiv Gandotra
Very nice articulation on criticality of maintenance of Weapon Platforms in a battlefield.
As aptly explained, one may or may not carry a spare/ part/ component required during typical preventive or breakdown maintenance. While the standard spares’ lists are base on OEM recommendations/ consumption patterns, the battle damage maintenance support requirement could be still different.
There are concepts of Mobile Workshops and Test Labs which need to be factored in for realistic maintenance support for weapon platforms.
The professional knowledge, involvement and passion for mission accomplishment, of the maintenance team, would always remain a vital aspect to keep Weapon Platforms Up and Operational.
Jastej Matharu
Thank you dear Rajiv, you make very valuable points. Best regards. Jastej
Narendra Singh
The criticality of staying power of a fighting force has been reinforced in the current conflict in East Europe. An essential component of this staying power is force regeneration – men and machines. The author’s suggestions will increase the tempo of force regeneration enabling desired force ratios in combat zones . Very relevant for the current deployments in high altitudes.
Jastej Matharu
Thank you Sir, for your valuable insight. Regards. Jastej
Lt Gen Vinod Vashisht ((Retd)
Glad to see continuity of professional pursuits…..Thank you for the insight
Jastej Matharu
Thanks dear Vinod. Regards. Jastej
G S Bisht
Nice concept. However, I foresee problem for maintainers regarding expertise. With Agniveers around, it will become challenging for maintainers to get the skill set for hi tech equipment. Skill set comes with experience, dedication and commitment. These guys unfortunately have very less time to gain that kind of expertise.
Ashish Chandra
Well thought out and perhaps implementable , if the bureaucracy agree to this.