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Show HeadsUp September 16, 2004 Tools of the trade: Units decision to revamp tool control program enhances safety, efficiency by Maj. James R. Wilson 419th FW Public Affairs Office In the world of aircraft maintenance, sometimes whether a problem can be fixed isn't so much about the nature of the repair as it is the tools that are available to the people doing the work. To ensure members of the unit had the right tools to do their jobs, the 419th Combat Logistics Support Squadron turned to Senior Master Sgt. Robert Madsen and his team of supply specialists. "When I was first asked to oversee this project, I noticed we had tool kits with incomplete inventories, tools inside of kits that weren't properly labeled...just a lot of problems," Sergeant Madsen said. "I talked to anybody who had anything to do with tools on the base to find out more information about the guidelines we were expected to follow to better manage our program." It became apparent soon after assessing the unit's supply system that squadron officials had two basic options to consider when addressing the issue of tool control. "We could have gone through and fixed the tools according to the process we were following or we could have essentially • started over," Sergeant Madsen said. Starting over meant scrapping hand receipts and traditional methods of tracking equipment in favor of hand scanners, bar codes and computer databases. The Air Force had recently introduced its new Tool Accountability System, or TAS, but a majority of units had not made the conversion. TAS offers a system for interactive tracking of standard arid special tools as well as other materials and spare parts. The system encompasses unit-wide inventory management and ordering functions as well as tool issuing and returning to the squadron's tool room. "It was obvious to us that TAS was g6ing to be a requirement in the near future," Sergeant Madsen said. "I felt if we were going to improve our process for tool accountability, we should do it right and take the steps necessary to implement TAS." TAS is the Air Force standard tool control system for aircraft maintenance at the base level. The program maintains permanent records of tools and where they were used. It can tell supervisors who has what tools and where they were used in a matter of seconds. "We went through over 200 tool kits etching new numbers on each item which translated into literally thousands of tools," Sergeant Madsen said. "This was an enormous undertaking. We solicited and acquired the TAS equipment—the bar code printer and scanners—bringing it online sooner than several active duty units. When Sergeant Madsen and his team of supply specialists worked during drill weekends, evenings and occasional mandays for more than 12 months before declaring the computerbased inventory system ready for use. "TAS has significantly shortened the turnover time for sign- ing out A hand scanner allows members of the CLSS tool room to electronically sign out and track the status of kits used to perform repairs on F-16 and A-10 aircraft. U.S. Air Force pholos by Maj. James R. Wilson The "war wagon" is the Combat Logistics Support Squadron's mobile tool kit. It provides all of the equipment and resources necessary to conduct Aircraft Battle Damage Repair operations in a deployed environment. The trailer was recently renovated to enhance the overall training value for squadron members. tools and getting to the job and returning them afterwards." said Tech. Sgt. Walden Wilson, noncommissioned officer in charge of the tool room. "It's also given us almost 100 percent accountability for tools which cuts down on FOD." FOD is the Air Force's acronym for Foreign Object Damage. Tools inadvertently left in engines and airframes following maintenance or manufacture are a significant contributor to FOD, costing the Air Force millions. "The amount of information we can load into TAS has allowed us to streamline our [maintenance] operations," Sergeant Walden said. When members began to inventory the old wagon, they found several problems to include duplicate items, tools that needed to be replaced, and many that needed to be renumbered. The root of the problem squadron members discovered was the fact that the wagon didn't offer enough room to properly organize and store the items that were required for the trailer. Master Sgt. Curtis Cottrell went to work obtaining a trailer from another unit in the 419th Fighter Wing and modified it to meet the unit's needs, while keeping it within requirements as outlined in the regulation. Sergeant Madsen located a condemned trailer at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, QQQ or "Boneyard", at Davis-Monthan Air In fact, squadron Force Base. The unit members did such a contained many sergood job implementviceable items and ing TAS, managebrought them back to ment decided to have the unit to ensure the them address another war wagon had all of vital, yet outdated, the required materials. asset in the unit. "We're working on The "war wagon" getting TAS loaded on as it is affectionately the trailer so members known to CLSS can check out tools members, is a 15-foot much like they would olive-drab trailer from the tool room," used to perform comsaid Capt. Travis posite repairs on airHansen, Chief of craft in a combat Maintenance in the environment. Air Tool kits line the shelves in the 419th CLSS. The kits were consolidated and bar 419th CLSS. "The Force officials have codes affixed to make them compatable with the Air Force's Tool Accountability system really is bringfluctuated between System. ing us into the 21st classifing it as a Century as far as airtraining and War craft repair and [Aircraft Battle Damage Repair] goes." Reserve Materiel asset. WRM assets are deployment equipment and mission-essential materiel required in addition to primary operating stocks for accomplishing objectives in a combat environment. Currently, the trailer is used for local training and not a WRM asset. ' "In other words, when we received deployment taskings, the war wagon'had to be ready," Sergeant Madsen said. "Other units have come to Hill to benchmark from our war wagon," Captain Hansen said. "The truth is this entire project was all self help. We had the welding done where it was needed, canopies put on, sheet metal added and then painted giving it an almost new look." "Our members are extremely resourceful," said Captain Hansen. "They truly never cease to amaze me." Pentagon: Reserve component VICE, readiness levels highest ever WASHINGTON — The state of readiness among today's reserve-component forces is higher than it has been in the nation's history, the official responsible for equipping and training those forces said today. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas Hall said he believes the high state of readiness among National Guard and Reserve troops is indicative of the goodness in the American people. "I believe the thing that has been said about America and oTir goodness is (that it) is not at all in the science and not at all in the equipment, but in all the people," he said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service. Hall said the Guard and Reserve are representative of the American people because they are truly citizen-soldiers. He added that he believes today's generation of young people has the potential to be the next "greatest generation." "Sometimes we say the younger generation is this or that. I think what the younger generation is today is patriotic," the secretary said. "And they are answering the call to colors just like their fathers, grandfathers (and) grandmothers did throughout the past." Today *s National Guard and Reserve troops are deployed to virtually every loca- tion and every mission that requires activeduty servicemembers. "So when you look in the Sinai, you look in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Korea, Europe, Iraq — almost anywhere in the world — you'll find guardsmen and reservists alongside their active-duty brethren," Hall said. "And in a totally integrated force, that's what you need." Hall, a, retired two-star Navy admiral, said he believes recruiting and retention will be among the greatest challenges facing the reserve components in the immediate future. With 400,000 guardsmen and reservists mobilized since Sept. 11, 2001, and 157,000 still activated today, he said the war on terrorism has led to the largest mobilization of reserve-component troops since the Korean War. Historically, Hall explained, there has been a dip in retention rates following major conflicts. And, he added, there is no reason to believe this one should be any different. "It's a natural thing," he said. "When you've been in a war or a combat situation and you come back from that, you're not always enthusiastic about immediately going back to that. You need a decompression period. "So during that period of time, some people will say this is just not for me," he added. * So far, all the reserve components have met their retention goals for fiscal 2004, which ends Sept. BO. And all but one, the Army National Guard, have met their recruiting goals. Hall said the ArrrM'Guard will end the fiscal year 2 percent below its end:strength goal due to a slight recruiting shortfall, specifically a shortage in recruiting prior-service troops. "Not as many people have come out of the active Army to join" the National Guard, he said. The secretary noted recruiting is always challenging, and it's vital "to ensure that we make service in the Guard and Reserve just as attractive as it always has been." Policymakers need to consider what Hall called the "three-legged stool" — the individual, the family members and the employer. If all three are not happy, chances are an individual won't re-enlist. "We have to make sure that those three legs are equal, (that) each one of them agree or the stool will tumble over," he said. In a message directly to the reserve-component troops, Hall urged them to thank their employers, their families and their communities. He said he's touched by how supportive Americans are of their troops, which is evident in heartfelt displays of support in towns and cities across the country. "Once again," he said, "it's a symbol (that) the strength and the goodness of this country is in our people and the way pur people respond." continued from Page A selected for the vice commander position," said Teri Lynn Hawley, wife of Colonel Hawley. "He never thought he'd make it this far up the chain in command." Commander and vice commander positions are known to require a lot more time* from the individual and their spouse. "I'm looking forward to ...I've never being more involved with been in an orgathe wing members and wing functions," Mrs. nization as close Hawley said. "I've never .,,•• knit as the been in an organization as f£ 419th..." close knit as the 419th. They're like an extended family." %:fTfTeri Lynn Hawley, There's little about the ,-v^}^ wife of Col. Al 419th Fighter Wing Hawley, ill, 419th FW Colonel Hawley doesn't vice commander know. He's held many positions in the wing ranging from a scheduling officer to 419th Operations Group commander. Colonel Hawley has over 4,400 flying hours in various military aircraft. When asked what he will do in his free time to relax. Colonel Hawley said, "I find my relaxation by being with my family, doing things around the house." As an afterthought he added, "... and golfing." Worth Repeating "In matters of st^>, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock." — President Thomgs Jefferson (1743-1826) |