Photo By Senior Airman Steele Britton | Master Sgt. Edward Hood, 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron productions...... read more read more
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- While members of C-17 maintenance unit here from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., think they are simply doing their job, keen observers and some customers feel they are doing above and beyond the norm.
Consequently, the team of eight Airmen was recently recognized during a staff meeting at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing headquarters building by the Director of the Transit Center at Manas, Col. Blaine Holt.
The team's job is to service all C-17s transiting here by cleaning the aircraft, changing blades and tires, and accomplishing numerous inspections.
They perform a 24-hour operation. Whenever there is an issue that keeps the mission from continuing, this team of maintainers are called on to get the job done.
"Our job is critical to the mission," said Tech. Sgt. Jay Voytek, avionic specialist, 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "The validation for us being here is that any time there's a grounded C-17s due to an issue, the Air Force would have to spend so many amounts of dollars to send a team out here."
"Not only do we save thousands, and overtime millions of dollars, in operational cost, we also help mission reliability rate close to 100 percent by keeping aircraft from getting grounded ... We make the mission happen by putting the troops downrange and help them come home."
The team doesn't stop at providing squeaky clean and well inspected aircraft; they are responsible for ensuring all the parts needed to repair aircraft are available.
"We fill orders and request mission-capable assets, when they are not available here," said Staff Sgt. Truman Reither, non-commissioned-officer in charge C-17 Readiness Spares Package.
"We sometimes source from other bases in the area of responsibility, as well as stateside, to expedite the parts here as quickly as possible, in order to get Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and equipment downrange where they need to be to fight the war," added Reither, the Allentown, Pa., native.
Team members said it is an honor to be recognized at the wing staff meeting. It shows that leadership cares about them and what they (maintainers) are doing here at the Transit Center at Manas.
"With this job, we get to see the end product of our labor after we get the job done," Voytek said. "Though it can be hard work, it can be very rewarding too."
According to Capt, Justin VonHofe, 816th EAS, the team performs their duties on a level of excellence that he has not seen during his six years in the C-17 unit.
"They keep the jets turning and still find time to provide a level of service not commonly seen in the area of responsibility," the captain said. "Without fail, the aircraft is always ready for the mission and in a better condition than a home-station departure."
VonHofe described the team's leadership, headed by Master Sgt. Ed Hood, as an impeccable one.
"Hood's leadership skills are a direct reflection of his subordinates' ability," VanHofe described in a recognition package he submitted for the team. "They are always jumping at every opportunity to provide superior service to the crew, whether it's helping to loading bags or passing out ear plugs to the passengers."
"I probably have the best job in the world right now," said Hood. "With these maintenance and supply folks, we do what needs to be done without being told; they get the job done...If there's anything in the world we can do to help the mission go on, then that's what we'll do."
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2009 02:56 |
| Story ID: | 37395 |
| Location: | MANAS AIR BASE, KG |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 84 |
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