Preventive Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services or as we all know it, PMCS, is defined as the checks, service and maintenance performed before, during, and after any type of movement or before the use of all types of military equipment. These checks are done on regular intervals such as weekly, monthly or annually. Knowing that the equipment you will be using is properly functioning greatly increases the success and effectiveness of your training or mission. It also reduces the number of failures or injuries that may occur.
It makes sense to check for properly functioning equipment, but how do we go about checking for a properly functioning group or unit? Well, the Army uses our Metrics to measure our performance and activities. We are perceived to be a successful unit if we meet our goals based on performance indicators such as medical readiness, APFT scores or completion of required training. In simple terms, our PMCS of the unit is “fully mission capable” if soldier readiness is “fully mission capable”.
My challenge to you is to do a self-PMCS using the following questions as your checklist.
1. What is the goal and mission of your unit?
2. What needs to happen during this month’s Battle Assembly?
3. What do I need to do so that I am mission ready?
4. What is my role and purpose in this unit?
5. What are some ways that I can help make our training more productive?
We should all realize that maintaining Soldiers to standard is just as important as maintaining equipment to standard. Both are vital to mission success!