Operations contribute to maintenance mission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  While the 18th Maintenance Group performs aircraft and aircraft support equipment maintenance, the 18th Maintenance Operations Squadron is responsible for administration, analysis, training management, and programs and resources necessary to support the 18th MXG production efforts.

"The 18th MOS sustains and enhances the 18th Wing's ability to consistently have quality aircraft available for operational requirements by providing effective utilization of available resources," said Senior Airman Kaitlyn Kauth, 18th MOS 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit fighter scheduler.

Kadena's 18th MOS is broken down into three flights to effectively utilize these resources.

Each squadron under the 18th MXG has its own training personnel. The maintenance training flight provides initial, recurring, and advanced proficiency skills needed by technicians to perform their duties.

"This job is crucial to the success of maintenance of the aircraft and the flying mission," said Staff Sgt. Cassaundra Preston, 18th MOS training manager. "Training is essential to proper performance and to guaranteeing all personnel are up to date of changes regarding maintenance, regulations and safety. Not only do we coordinate needs at home station, but also when personnel are [on temporary duty] to another station or from another station to here. Training is a never ending aspect of improvement that is very important to all aspects of the Air Force."

The training flight teaches over 320 classes a year for more than 2,300 personnel along with over 1,300 events and training updates made in the Integrated Maintenance Data System.

Next, the programs and resources flight manages manning, facilities, support agreements and deployment functions for the 18th MXG. The flight also develops, maintains and coordinates all Air Force Instruction-directed programs affecting the 18th MXG.

Lastly, the maintenance operations flight is the central agency for monitoring and developing long-range strategies to sustain the health of the fleet. The MOF consists of five separate sections: the maintenance operations center; engine management; maintenance data system analysis; plans, scheduling, and documentation; and the maintenance supply liaison.

In the month of August alone, the PS&D section validated over 300 time-change frequencies, completed 72 emergency action checklists and published 16 weekly schedules between F-15 Eagles, KC-135 Stratotankers, E-3 Sentries and HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft.

"I really enjoy certain aspects of my job and feel as if I am constantly being challenged on a daily basis," Kauth said. "I feel as if my work at Kadena is better preparing me to handle any situation because of the high operations tempo that we are exposed to here. Building the flying and maintenance schedule is my primary duty; I very much enjoy this aspect of my job and feel as if putting together the schedule is like solving a logic problem with multiple variables. I feel a great sense of fulfillment when I am able to compile an executable schedule."

With the 18th MXG managing more than $6 billion in resources, including over 80 F-15s, KC-135s, E-3s and HH-60s, the 18th MOS assists with the scheduling, administration, analysis, training management, and programs and resources, helping make the group an overall success.