Soldier mechanic shares knowledge,
expertise during vast career

13th Sustainment
Cmd. PAO

	photo by 13th Sustainment Cmd. PAO Sgt. Joni Botchway of Fort Bragg, is inspecting one of his Soldiers weapons to insure it is clean and functional. Botchway is currently deployed with the 659th Maintenance Company, 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade.

SEITZ ANNEX, Iraq Ñ The 659th Maintenance Company, 620th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade is currently stationed at Seitz-Annex in Baghdad, Iraq. The 659th Maintenance Company is comprised of four platoons to include the entry control point platoon. Each platoon performs different tasks within the company that contributes to the success of the overall mission. The ECP platoon maintains the security for the camp to include the responsibility to identify and search all personnel and vehicles that enter the camp. They maintain a presence at the gate to prevent unauthorized entry, surveillance of the area and the control of possible threats to the camp. Every Soldier within the ECP contributes significantly to the mission of the platoon.

Sgt. Joni Botchway, of Fort Bragg, is currently assigned as a senior mechanic. Throughout his career he has held a variety of positions. Botchway is on his second tour with the 659th Maintenance Company. His tours would include three deployments to Iraq, two to Bosnia and one tour in Kosovo. He also decided to continue to serve his country and recently reenlisted in the United States Army.

Before being assigned to the 659th Maintenance Co., Botchway was stationed at Vilseck, Germany with Company B, 201st Maintenance Co. Botchway served in a few positions while attached to 201st Maintenance Co. to include wheel vehicle recovery noncommissioned officer in charge and team leader. His dedication and commitment at the Wheel Vehicle Recovery School not only earned him the additional skill identifier of H8 upon graduation, but also earned him a battalion coin.

While deployed to Bosnia, Botchway completed multiple missions with his recovery team. Two missions that stand out above the rest were the recovery of a base camp fire truck that skidded off the road and the recovery of an AH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Botchway has trained his junior enlisted Soldiers how to recover a vehicle that is trapped in water, all aspects of safety, rigging techniques, mechanical advantage and recovery methods.

Following his redeployment from Bosnia, Botchway returned to his home station where he took up the responsibility as the battalion Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program. While in charge of the BOSS program, he organized and planned tours to amusement parks, post cookouts, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation events until he changed duty stations.

BotchwayÕs other assignments include Co. B, 115th Maintenance Company, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and 632nd Maintenance Company, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. He has also held the titles of shop foreman and track vehicle mechanic.