Fairchild ANG and active duty Airmen combine forces

Published Aug. 15, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Joshua Chapman
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - -- For the second time within a month, the 141st Air Refueling Wing and the 92nd Air Refueling Wing (both located at Fairchild) are working together during a periodic aircraft inspection that began Aug. 12, proving once more their ability to forge a growing relationship since the first ever Air National Guard / active duty Air Force classic association began Oct. 1 2007.

The standard periodic inspection process is essentially a thorough examination of an aircraft. During the inspections, aircraft maintainers look for and repair problems in every system, from nose to boom and everything in between.

This ISO inspection, however, carries much more weight than most others encountered at Fairchild, delivering much needed input on collaboration between the maintenance units in the ANG and AD forces as similar Total Force initiatives continue to spread throughout the Air Force.

In the 2008 Air Force Posture Statement, the importance of the Total Force was carefully iterated. "[The Total Force] will be critical to meeting the challenges of competing resource demands, an aging aircraft inventory, and organizing, training and equipping for emerging missions. We are leveraging our Total Force to the greatest extent ever."

As part of the TF push, the combined forces here will concentrate on "best practices" between the two units and, in doing so, faithfully commit to the challenges expressed in the Air Force Posture Statement.

"Integrating maintenance manning and facilities has the potential to increase our manning in critical [jobs], combine logistics resources and allow experienced maintainers to train and develop Airmen from both Active Duty and Guard components," described Maj. Laura Goodman, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron operations office.

During the inspection, members from both the 92nd and the 141st Maintenance Squadrons will work diligently to improve the synergy between the once entirely distinctive Air Force bodies. By combining forces in inspecting and maintaining Fairchild's mutually flown KC-135 refueling aircraft, the inspection can aid in mining out Best Practices in the inspection.

"Increasing the efficiency of the inspection flow is the key to a successful, long-term partnership in the inspection dock," said Maj. Goodman. "Proposals to upgrade aircraft fall restraints, maintenance stands, computer access, and tool accountability have been identified as significant steps to enhance joint inspection capability and to combine both the maintainers and the processes."

The combined manpower, resources, experience and best practices will greatly enhance the quality of the inspection process, said Tech. Sgt Mark Stenzel, 92nd Maintenance Squadron senior periodic inspection section controller, commenting on the benefits of the association. "In the long run it enables our troops to complete the job more effectively."

The 141st ARW, commanded by Col. Gregory A. Bulkley, has experienced a huge increase in operations tempo since beginning the association. Many 141st ARW Airmen are now working on active duty orders to help accomplish the inspection's tasks at hand.
The periodic inspection's overall potential to cut costs is of critical importance in the midst of the budget-crunched Air Force that is experienced today.

As is usually the case, the key to the success in an association such as this one, is the input from the Airmen working on the ground and in the air. Without the critical information about how to improve processes, it's difficult to make positive changes.

"Maintainers are working hard to learn the best way to complete these periodic inspections - we'll continue to use [Air Force Smart Operations methods] and process improvement initiatives to develop our joint inspection capability," said Major Goodman.