Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 7/8/2004

Question
Cynthia, Can you tell me about the command structure in a typical army maintenance company. Is it significantly different from that of a combat unit? If so, in what ways? What is the level of combat experience for the both commanding officer and his troops? What is the daily routine of an army maintenance unit (trucks repair, etc.) in a combat zone? Please be detailed. Thank you.

Answer
Dear Jane --

All companies in the Army are made up of squads, platoons, and a headquarters section.

There are generally 4 squads of 9 to 11 Soldiers per platoon and 3 or 4 platoons per company.  The headquarters section has the supply, personnel and administrative specialists assigned to it.

As far as a maintenance company goes, they will be configured similarly to that described above, but the details will vary.  The details vary because there are aircraft maintenance companies, light vehicle maintenance companies and armor vehicle maintenance companies.  There can also be composite companies that have a few platoons of one specialty and a few of another.  There are also generator repair specialists and radio repair specialists that may or may not be part of a maintenance company.

There is no standing requirement for any company commander to have combat time prior to command.  Today's reality is that some will have experience in a security support force, such as Kosovo, or combat, such as Iraq or Afghanistan, and many will not.  Many will gain their first combat experience while in command.  The same holds true for the Soldiers, a few will have prior combat experience and many won't.

In a combat zone, operations generally go 24 hours a day, so the maintenance area will be manned constantly.  Platoons will probably take 12 hour shifts, and Soldiers will get about 6-8 hours off a day.  They will probably get one day off about every 10 days, but that depends on the level of the mission, the level of manning, and the condition of the equipment.  The recovery teams are most vulnerable because they must leave a secure post to recover broken down or damaged equipment.

In today's mission in Iraq, maintenance Soldiers not needed for equipment repair often man guard towers for post security, as do all Soldiers of any specialty, when needed.  All units will provide Soldiers for special missions when higher headquarters needs additional Soldiers.

I hope this helps to answer your question.