Tobyhanna Army Depot takes on mission for US Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

When it comes to making a world-class business operate efficiently, good teamwork is essential. Never has this been truer than when talking about one of Tobyhanna Army Depot’s newest workloads — installation kits for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, or SBCT. Justin Kucharski, Public Affairs Specialist, and Danielle E. Weinschenk, Lead Public Affairs Specialist, report.
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A Stryker Dragoon stands ready for issue to a military unit after being upgraded with kits fabricated at Tobyhanna Army Depot (Picture source: US Army)

The SBCT is a mechanized infantry force structured around the Stryker, a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles equipped with both four and all-wheel drive. SBCTs serve as a stopgap measure between the U.S. Army’s light mobile infantry units and heavier armored units.

Tobyhanna’s support of the SBCT installation kits is the epitome of a cross-functional effort. The work spans multiple different teams across the depot to ensure its completion.

Hands-on work is expertly handled by artisans in the Systems Integration and Support Directorate, who fabricate cables and bracketry. Logistics support for the kitting effort and project management skills are provided by the Production Management Directorate, while engineering support comes from the Production Engineering Directorate.

A short turnaround window makes the diverse mission even more complex. While the dynamic mission was certainly a challenge, Team Tobyhanna was ready, willing, and able to take it on.

Before even beginning to work on certain components to Stryker, depot artisans were required to obtain numerous unique certifications. There were also challenges working with new metals and crafting cables compatible with the Stryker system. Depending on the vehicle type and the role it is serving, there are up to 18 different Stryker installation kits that can be configured. Despite these many hurdles, the team behind the project has managed to reduce turnaround time by approximately 50%.

Electronics Technician Blake Small is one piece of this large puzzle. He said that even though the team knew it was a challenge, he was confident in their ability to complete whatever was thrown at them.

“The workload presented to us at Tobyhanna to support the Second Cavalry Regiment Stryker integration effort was no easy task. Thankfully, we have a diverse and knowledgeable workforce willing to accept the challenge and execute beyond our customer’s expectations,” said Small. “The SBCT was tremendously impressed with the quality and workmanship of the products Tobyhanna delivered. They even commented on the preservation of the product and how components were packaged to mitigate damage through shipping.” Small works in the Production Engineering Directorate’s Communications Engineering Branch.

Small added that the quality of Team Tobyhanna’s effort plays a big part in the successful completion of the work.

“This was truly a great team effort. Starting with leadership addressing concerns and adjusting focus where needed which, in turn, conveyed down to the skilled laborers taking each task head-on,” said Small. “It goes to show, Team Tobyhanna can achieve great tasks when challenged.”

Jesse Tutino, chief of the Systems Integration and Support Directorate’s Preproduction & Development Branch agreed.

“We all collaborated and cooperated to overcome a monumental challenge to deliver quality cables for the SBCT kits on time. We pooled our resources to work through some difficult situations, showing our resilience and ability to adapt in the face of adversity. I am proud to be a part of this team.”

Support for the SBCT installation kits is directly aligned with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035 — specifically the C5ISR Readiness line of effort. Additional focus areas for the plan include investing in our people, shaping the future and strategic communications. TOBY2035 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense's premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated workforce and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post-production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.