First and foremost, it is important to understand the purpose of the Army Maintenance Program. The objective of AMP is to ensure that Army materials are in the best working conditions for effective performance purposes. Keeping up to date with AMP keeps the Army ready for missions with a higher probability of successfully completing missions assigned. In my current unit, I have encountered a deficiency of inoperable equipment.  Every Monday in my unit a motor pool is conducted to ensure LMTVs is operable and ready for operations but recently they discovered not all LMTVs are in operation despite the motor pool sessions. The shortcoming was a result of a lack of proper training for all soldiers tasked to perform the assigned tasks. It was elaborate that Army Training Manual (TM) was not followed to the letter leading to inoperable LMTVs something that may lead to mission delays and unproductive and failed missions. It is thereby very critical to establish an effective unit maintenance culture to ensure shortcomings will not reoccur again. It is very important to create an environment where leaders and soldiers have common goals with certainty that everyone’s opinion is taken into consideration without fear or favor. Creating an effective culture starts with the leader being a good role model and encouraging the soldiers to follow suit. One study was conducted about Army equipment (1997), “equipment modification program needs improvement”, and I believe that creating a unit maintenance culture will facilitate equipment readiness.

References

Army equipment [microform]: management of weapon system and equipment modification

program needs improvement: report to congressional committees / United States General Accounting Office. (1997). Washington, D.C. (P.O. Box 37050, Washington, D.C. 20013): The Office, 1997.