Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army strengthen Stryker maintenance

CHON BURI PROVINCE, Thailand - Mechanics and logisticians with the Washington National Guard wrapped up a three-week maintenance and logistics exchange with the Royal Thai Army in Ko Chan District on May 30. The bilateral exchange sought to improve the performance and longevity of Thailand's armored vehicle fleet.

National Guard instructors teamed up with their Royal Thai Army counterparts to develop and deliver the dual-track curriculum. The training program included a two-week Stryker and wheeled vehicle maintenance course, followed by a one-week sustainment and logistics management seminar in Ko Chan District. The training produced 19 graduates from the 11th Maintenance Support Battalion and Forward Support Companies 1 and 2.

The exchange separated participants into maintenance and management courses to address the host nation's priority sustainment gaps. During the initial two-week technical block, Thai mechanics conducted intensive, hands-on troubleshooting on operational vehicles. Training focused on safety procedures, power pack removals, C7 valve calibration, engine diagnostics, suspension arm replacement and overhaul.

To support the Royal Thai Army's ongoing modernization, instructors added instruction on operating, maintaining and calibrating Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations, or CROWS, and integrated vehicle sensor systems.

While mechanics turned wrenches during the first two weeks, the final week focused on logistics management, sustainment systems and processes. Classroom discussions and practical exercises helped Royal Thai Army leaders learn to identify, document and track vehicle faults; refine internal maintenance work order flow; forecast requirements for Class III petroleum and Class IX repair parts; manage battery charging and lifecycle programs; and coordinate parts and state-of-the-fleet maintenance reviews.

"During my first iteration of leading the execution of a Stryker Leader Course in July 2023, I had many questions about how the relatively new 112th Stryker Regiment Combat Team conducted maintenance operations of the Stryker fleet," said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky Thomas, Combined Support Maintenance Shop superintendent with the Washington National Guard. "I discovered that the RTA performed PMCS differently than we did in the U.S. Army."

The decision to send specialized maintenance teams to Thailand grew out of observations during a July 2023 training rotation. While supporting a separate leadership course, Washington Guard subject-matter experts noted that the newly formed 112th Stryker Regiment Combat Team relied heavily on civilian contractors and managed fleet maintenance differently from standard U.S. Army formations.

A follow-on assessment in September 2024 by Washington Guardsmen identified a shortage of school-trained maintainers across the regiment's organic support units. At the time, one forward support company was responsible for maintaining the regiment's vehicles with only 15 mechanics. Just one, a company-grade officer, held formal maintenance school training.

Royal Thai Army leaders requested focused maintenance and logistics training to close those gaps. Working through the State Partnership Program and the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Thailand, the Washington National Guard mobilized surface maintenance experts to help establish a locally run training pipeline.

The May graduating class represents the fourth iteration of the technical maintenance course and the third run of the logistics management seminar held in Thailand.

Backed by decades of cooperation under the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Thailand, the latest course iteration strengthens an enduring alliance and helps keep both forces ready to respond to regional security requirements.

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