SAIC and AMSEC Support Operation Iraqi Freedom
Summer 2003
Just prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom, a vital air compressor on the coastal minehunter USS Raven failed. Without quick work on the air compressor, which helps start the Raven's two 880-horsepower diesel engines, the Bahrain-based ship would miss the first part of the war, possibly boosting the odds of a coalition ship hitting a mine.
However, Jerry Rahm, an SAIC AMSEC professional stationed overseas (under a Navy fleet support contract), repaired the compressor four days before the war started. This enabled the Raven to commence its mission to locate, classify, and destroy undersea mines.
"Without his outstanding support, Raven would not have participated in the opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom," according to Lieutenant Commander K.S. Long, the Commanding Officer of the Raven. "[Rahm] played a crucial role in repairing Raven in time to fully participate in this historic operation of liberating a country. I am eternally grateful for his support and service."
Rahm not only helped the Raven participate in the opening phase of the war, he supported the Raven and another coastal minehunter - the USS Cardinal - during the war. This included Rahm rushing to Iraq's port city of Umm Qasr for a critical repair to Raven's main propulsion diesel engine. In addition, he transferred to the Cardinal to troubleshoot and repair equipment.
Due in part to Rahm's efforts, the Raven and the Cardinal helped clear the waterways in southern Iraq, which allowed ships carrying humanitarian aid to safely reach the Iraqi people.
Other War Support
In addition to Rahm's work on the coastal minehunters, AMSEC professionals deployed with two aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Harry S. Truman, during Operation Iraqi Freedom under an onboard maintenance support program.
This included AMSEC's Craig Walls who, during the war, was available every hour of every day aboard the Theodore Roosevelt. Some of Walls's responsibilities (as a member of the Navy's maintenance support center [MSC] onboard representative program) included identifying items - such as repair parts, test equipment, specifications and drawings - needed to support the ship. However, Captain Richard J. O'Hanlon, who commanded the Roosevelt during Operation Iraqi Freedom, singled out Walls's efforts on a system that enabled more efficient repairs for the entire Roosevelt Battle Group.
"Mr. Walls has done wonders with the computer-based BFIMA Advanced Technical Information System, which allows us to research parts and conduct repairs on every ship in the Battle Group," O'Hanlon said in an e-mail at the war's end. "TR will return home in less than three weeks after a very successful combat deployment. Mr. Walls contributed to the success we enjoyed."
In addition, AMSEC professionals continue to staff six shore-based maintenance support centers that track problems that cannot be solved onboard. In fact, AMSEC's onboard and shore-based employees solved problems during the war that involved power distribution, aircraft weapons handling equipment, and hydraulic power plants.
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