U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Florante Tababa, 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support section technician, inspects a one-step loading adapter at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2012. Tababa inspected the adapter for damaged pins, corrosion, free-moving parts, identification numbers and markings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Bennett, 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support section NCO in charge, uses a hand-held, high-speed tool to cut out foam used for AMU aircraft tool boxes at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2012. The foam keeps tools organized and easily seperated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Kenna Jackson/Released)
by Airman Kenna Jackson
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
3/8/2012 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- This is part five in a six-part series highlighting the 13th and 14th Aircraft Maintenance Units.
When a maintainer is up to his elbows in grease, oil and sweat, having the right parts and tools to fix an aircraft is vital. The 13th and 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support and supply sections are what make that happen, so every wrench keeps turning and every drill bit keeps twisting.
The two sections share a common goal to prevent delayed maintenance on the flightline.
"The support section is the backbone of flightline maintenance," said Master Sgt. Michael David, 14 AMU support section chief. "By providing the maintainers with the necessary tools and equipment, we help them do their job."
While Airmen in the support section may not repair aircraft on a daily basis, they all have flightline experience. All support section workers are seasoned maintainers who have either earned their journeyman badge or completed their supervisor level upgrade training. Their proficiency in inspecting equipment and foreseeing the needs of aircraft maintainers helps them become a key player in the flightline environment.
"Support personnel understand the demands of the job and strive to keep the tools and equipment ready," said David. "This [knowledge] makes sure maintainers can, quite literally, continue to turn wrenches."
Not only are support Airmen in charge of having the right tools available for the right type of work, they are also responsible for a multi-million dollar equipment inventory. Some equipment in stock includes more than 100 composite tool kits, 66 land mobile radios, 22 vehicles and 90 new, sturdy E-tool laptops that give maintainers fingertip access to a library of F-16 Fighting Falcon technical orders.
However, what good is having tools when a maintainer doesn't have the parts needed to fix something?
Airmen in supply are proficient in providing rapid inquiries, ordering parts, identifying delivery delays and updating supervision on the status of priority orders. They also keep stock of consumable on-hand aircraft parts, store and track parts temporarily removed from aircraft, as well as make sure items due for maintenance are turned in.
"Our mission is to make sure we get the right part to the maintainers at the right time," said Tech. Sgt. Quintin Galus, 14 AMU supply section NCO in charge.
This section handles approximately $20 million of equipment per year. Between the two squadrons, the sections track, order and store roughly $8 million each quarter.
It takes a highly motivated individual to do the job, Galus added, as the work can become tedious and mentally taxing. Airmen also need to be able to work independently without supervision, as they often find themselves working shifts alone.
"I believe the support and supply personnel are extremely versatile and do a phenomenal job," said David. "Despite manning shortages, monthly generation exercises and frequent weekend duties, they remain focused on doing their job right."
