MIDDLETOWN, Penn. -- 
Airmen assigned to the 184th Vehicle Management team, 184th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Kansas Air National Guard, completed a deployment for training with the 201st Rapid Engineer Deployment Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE), 193rd Special Operations Warfare Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, at Harrisburg International Airport, Middletown, Penn., July 20 – Aug. 1, 2025. The training provided valuable hands-on experience and fostered collaboration between the two units that will directly improve mission capabilities.
The 184th VM members, Master Sgt. Dan Stiner, Tech. Sgt. Gary Valdez, Staff Sgt. David Reavis, and Staff Sgt. Carlos Batres, returned with enhanced skills, refined procedures, and a renewed focus on maintaining peak fleet readiness.
The primary objective of the training was to provide robust vehicle maintenance support, comparing processes and sustaining base vehicles to ensure minimum essential levels were maintained for ongoing garrison operations.
The team's contributions proved instrumental in supporting the 201st RED HORSE’s training objectives.
The deployment wasn't just about providing support; it was about learning, adapting, and bringing back best practices to improve 184th LRS operations at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The experience allowed the team to refine their processes and identify areas where they can further enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
One of the key highlights was the heavy equipment training received by Valdez, Batres, and Reavis. The trio gained hands-on experience on six critical assets not available at their home station, including an excavator, a heavy-duty skid steer, a link belt crane, a grader, loader, and a grove crane. These expanded skillsets significantly broadened the team's capabilities and increased their ability to support diverse operational requirements.
The training also provided an opportunity to address a backlog of Preventive Maintenance Inspections (PMIs). The 184th VM mechanics completed a total of nine PMIs and Pennsylvania annual state inspections, ensuring the continued reliability and safety of the 201st RED HORSE’s vehicle fleet.
To further develop their skills, Valdez trained Reavis and Batres on a challenging maintenance project involving the replacement of rear brake backing plates and body mounts on a 2006 Ford F-350 that were severely impacted by rust. This experience emphasized the critical importance of understanding how different environments can affect vehicle integrity and the need for specialized maintenance techniques in harsh conditions.
In the realm of material control, Stiner and Valdez collaborated with the 201st RED HORSE’s Materiel Control section to identify and implement best practices. As a result, two new procedures for parts control and part documentation have been adopted by the 201st RED HORSE, improving accountability and streamlining the parts management process.
Finally, Stiner collaborated with the 201st RED HORSE’s Vehicle Management superintendent and shop lead to review programs and policies where he assisted in the implementation of technical order changes within Defense Property and Accountability System (DPAS) Scheduled Maintenance Plans and shared best practices for tool room setup and accountability.
The lessons learned and best practices acquired during the training will undoubtedly contribute to increased vehicle readiness and improved mission capabilities for years to come.
The team is now back at McConnell Air Force Base, ready to implement these improvements and continue their dedication to ensuring the fleet is prepared for any challenge.