As part of the Military build up in Afghanistan an Urgent Operational Requirement was issued to deploy the new MAN military vehicles just being delivered to UK forces at the time. This was new equipment and the commensurate support details for maintenance and repair had not been fully delivered. Training of Military technicians was also limited leaving a gap between actual and required support capability. As an expeditious resolution it was decided that 6 specialist Technicians, called Field Service Engineers (FSE), would be deployed to Afghanistan with full access to MAN manufacturing information and having received commercial specialist training. These FSE’s have the full time task of advising Military Staff on maintaining the vehicle fleet acting as a link between the technical details of the equipment and the capability of the maintenance staff. Additionally they would offer a level of continuity which would normally be lost with the roulement of deployed units. G3 Systems having the infrastructure in Afghanistan to establish support and operate the FSE’s entered into a contract with MAN in 2008 to supply this service.

Spring 2011, the service is still being maintained and has proven successful in maintaining the Deployed vehicle fleet in a serviceable condition.