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Show Local community shows support for military on the north ramp to park aircraft. other time in my career," said Senior Airman William Tumulty, also "It's sometimes a balancing act, deployed from Hill Air Force Base, especially when an aircraft breaks and requires maintenance," SerUtah. Airman Tumulty is an F-16 crew geant Hopton said. "All of a sudden we are down to four, sometimes chief back at Hill, here he works BY SENIOR AIRMAN JAMES CRQXON with heavies (C-130, C-17 or C-5), fewer spots to work with." 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs A parking shortage can have farfighters (F-16, F-15) and even hereaching ramifications for a team BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq —The licopters (HH-60). He also works that recovered 1,281 aircraft last second busiest single-runway oper- with commercial aircraft from all month alone. So if a plane breaks, ation in the world, Balad Air Base, over the world. It's not just the assortment of air- the transient alert team rushes to Iraq has hundreds of sorties flown get it fixed in a hurry. When an craft that makes the job unique. each month by the three flying aircraft does require maintenance, Sometimes it's the cargo, which squadrons, but aircraft assigned TA is the point of contact to get the from other locations land here more can sometimes make the TA secneeded personnel and supplies. ' tion an interesting and sobering than a thousand times a month. "Sometimes we can rely on wing place to work. Unlike the aircraft assigned to assets to repair aircraft such as "The most memorable thing I've the base, transient aircraft do not the 777th (Expeditionary Maintedone here is a patriot detail," said have dedicated recovery and supnance Unit) helping to fix transient Senior Airnian Michael Vittorio, port crews. Instead they rely on C-130s," Sergeant 12 Airmen assigned Hopton said. "If it's a to the 332nd Expedimajor fix we request w tionary Maintenance teams from the states Squadron transient or area bases to repair alert flight to recover the aircraft. We meet the aircraft and coorthem when they get dinate support funchere and take care of tions. whatever they need "We're like a gas sta— Master Sgt Michael Hopton so they can get to tion and warehouse work and get the jet for most aircraft," said airborne again." Master Sgt. Michael Hopton, transient alert flight chief, deployed from Little Rock AFB, Working the phones and building deployed from Hill AFB, Utah. Ark. "You know you are at war all relationships is a huge part of what TA does. It can make the difference The team launches, parks, and the time but when you are salutworks with other units to support ing a flag-draped casket of a fallen between having a plane that may be low on fuel circle the base until a all commercial and military aircraft servicememeber, it brings it all spot opens up or recovering it, refuflying into Balad. They coordinate home." eling it and sending off again. everything from maintenance to According to Sergeant Hopton, fuel. "In this job, keeping a constant the usual aircraft are commercial flow of communication is absolutely All the Airmen are crew chiefs but and military airlift. The ramp is as transient alert they have the rare also a temporary home to aeromed- critical," Sergeant Hopton said. "If we don't keep in touch with airfield opportunity to work with an assort- ical evacuation, transient fighters operations, fuels, the tower and othment of airframes. and distinguished visitor aircraft. "I get to experience aircraft I Sergeant Hopton said the six-man er units, we run out of parking and probably never would have at any day and night teams have five spots can't complete the mission." Transient alert lead the way with coordination, control e're like a gas station and warehouse for most aircraft." "W Photo by Airman 1st Class Clay Murray Children scale the rock climbing tower, one of the many activities available during the "Salute to Our Nation's Defenders Picnic." The event was hosted by the Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee and food was provided free of charge by Gastronomy Inc. The picnic was held by the local community In order to show support and recognize military members and their families. Command, Union Partnership Council assesses initiatives licit input and approval to implement them. WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Five subjects were briefed: The Ohio (AFMCNS)— Leading AFMC Orientation Course, the his first annual Joint National La- command's Wellness and Safety bor-Management Meeting, Gen. Campaign, the Voluntary ProtecBruce Carlson, commander, Air tion Program, alternative dispute Force Materiel Command, made resolution and program budget clear in his opening remarks the decisions. value he places on the command's Orientation Course relationship with the American Federation of Government EmThe AFMC Orientation Course ployees Council 214. is a computer-based training pro"This is a command of nearly gram created a year ago to get 80,000 people," he said. "Seven- command civilians on par with ty percent of them are civilians. their military colleagues as to Many of them are members of knowledge of the command and your organization. You are the the Air Force. heart and soul of what we do in "We realized when we were this command - to develop, acdeveloping command strategy quire, test and sustain the sysbased on command goals that one tems we use to fight and win of the areas we had to focus on America's wars." was competency development," General Carlson, along with said Leif Peterson, AFMC ManJohn Gage, AFGE AFL-CIO na- power Personnel and Services tional president, met with AFMC director. "Unlike their military headquarters directors, senior counterparts, when civilians berepresentatives of command gin their Air Force careers, many centers and wings, AFGE local have little if any understanding presidents and'AFGE Council 214 of the command's or Air Force's officers July 26 at AFMC headmission, structure, heritage, core quarters. values, customs, courtesies, etc." Co-chaired by Barbara A. West- Spiral one of the course degate, AFMC executive director, ployed March 3. It is composed and Scott Blanch, AFGE Council of five modules. To date, there, 214 president, the Partnership have been 3,000 course compleCouncil includes four additional tions, Mr. Peterson said. The curmembers of both management riculum is in the process of being and labor, respectively. adopted Air Force-wide. Spiral The purpose for the annual two of the course is expected to meeting is two-fold, Mr. Blanch deploy this fall. said. First, is to provide a status Wellness and Safety Campaign report on the council's activities Brig. Gen. (Dr.) William Gerand initiatives. Second, is to somann, AFMC command surgeon, BY KATHLEEN A. K.LOPEZ Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Maintenance Continued from 1 with integrated fire suppression, lighting, electricity and compressed air utilities for tools. Three elevators provide a lift for larger tools and equipment. Mechanics working on the upper level also have an added comfort — a fresh-air heating and cooling system, supplied from an elevated system located away from the aircraft with two large flexible tubes extending down from ceiling mounted duct work. The old method required positioning a large portable air conditioning system adjacent to the aircraft and draping hoses from ground level up to the wings. The new system reduces setup time and eliminates ground clutter around the aircraft. labor and OSHA," Mr. Pyron said. "It's not a safety program, but rather a change in mindset where management, labor and employees actively take ownership of their work processes. "We're in the process of assessing gap analyses, which measure where we are versus where we need to be in terms of improving workplace efficiency." AFMC's involvement in the Secretary of Defense-directed participation in VPP was initiated in March. Of the 43 Defense Department installations selected, nine of them are Air Force. Five of the nine are AFMC installations. exceeded the Air Force's goal of 45 days. "The average process time for EEO complaints has dropped to 35 days; non-EEO complaints 26 days," he said. "Customer satisfaction surveys from people who have completed the dispute process have reported 94 percent 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the ADR process, exceeding the Air Force goal of 80 percent." Program Budget Decisions Col. Dan Badger, AFMC Manpower and Personnel Directorate, gave updates and perspectives on PBDs.. Colonel Badger discussed the Defense Department's budget shortfall, and the need to modAlternative Dispute ernize and recapitalize assets, to Resolution include both Air Force programs and people. Cuts and reductions The continuing success of the Command ADR Program has al- in systems, active-duty and Relowed parties involved in a work- serve members, government ciplace dispute to voluntarily come vilians and contractors are necestogether with a neutral third par- sary to compensate for the budget ty, such as a mediator, to work to shortfall. a mutually agreeable resolution, "Things are still pre-decisional Mr. Peterson said. The process at this point," he said. has proven effective in reducing Emphasizing respect and trust Voluntary Protection the time associated with processDuring the meeting, Mrs. WestProgram ing disputes. gate and Mr. Bfcnch presented The VPP is the Occupational "For example, the average time the AFMC-AFGE Local Partnership Council Best Practice Safety and Health Administrait takes to seek resolution of a tion's official recognition of orformal EEO (Equal Employment Award. The award, which emganizations that promote more Opportunity) complaint had been phasizes teamwork, respect and effective workplaces by making 391 days," he said. "It can be dis- trust, recognizes achievements them safer and healthier, thereruptive and demoralizing to both of labor-management partnership councils at the local level within by reducing lost work time and the complainant and the organiincreasing quality of life. Chuck zation when you have to wait that the command and covered by AFGE Council 214. Robins Air Pyron, AFMC Safety Directorate, long." Force Base (Ga.)-Local AFGE updated the council. Mr. Peterson shared how the "It's a working, cooperative re- command has reduced resolution 987 Partnership Council was this year's winner. lationship between management, time for all complaints and has briefed attendees on the status of the WASC, which debuted May 8. Specifically, he addressed results of the campaign's initial wellness survey, introduced during the command's second-quarter Wingman Week in May. While the percentage of respondents was low (10 percent), the average wellness score on a scale of 1 to 25 was 20, he said. In addition to increasing that percentage to better represent the command, Dr. Germann hopes to increase civilian awareness of services available to them, as well as increase use of the AFMC Wellness home page, http://ww\v.afmcwellness. com . The survey will next be made available during the command's fourth-quarter Wingman Week in November. "The only asset in the Air Force that appreciates over time is people," General Carlson said. "When someone walks out the door unscheduled, I can't replace or find a substitute with the same level of experience." "The heating and cooling system is especially helpful for those working with fuels," Mr. Versemann said. "It was a good team effort from management down to the workers on the floor — we've worked out the bugs and talked things through so they could be fixed quickly. It was a hard sell for those who had done the work on a lift since the beginning, but once they adapted to the stands, it has gained steam. 'it adds miles to the workers' attitudes when they can do their job in a clean environment with everything in its place." The area has two work stands comprising a single work cell on the north end of Bldg. 22I>, and an additional cell with two aircraft work stands is planned for the south end. The work stands are made from steel and for about three months before being sent aluminum and with the wing sections on for flight test and other external work. Towheels that can be locked in place. "The tal program depot maintenance for the Crear potion of the stand, for the tail section, 130 takes about 140 days. is steel and is floor mounted," said Tom Whitney, 309 AMXG industrial engineer. "The forward areas for the wings, made from aluminum, are repositionable. The stands are designed to leave the aircraft's wings and horizontal stab on the stands instead -of lowering them to the floor as before. Photo by Bill Orndorlf A dedicated crane in the The work stands allow 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group employwork area services the two ees to perform maintenance on the C-130 in more than one area at aircraft cell." a time. The stands eliminate most of the need for scissor lifts, left, Aircraft stay on the stands which were previously used for upper area work. \ |