718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron named best in PACAF

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  By focusing on readiness, mission accomplishment and efficiency, Kadena's 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron earned the 2008 Pacific Air Force Maintenance Effectiveness Award for medium sized squadrons. 

The award recognizes mission accomplishment, effective use of maintenance resources, innovative maintenance practices and personnel quality of life programs. 

"It is outstanding that we won this year," said Lt. Col. Kurt Kolch, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. 

Lt. Col. Kolch believes the award is the result of his team living up to his three command challenges: delivering safe, reliable and effective aircraft, maximizing readiness and being the best. 

According to the colonel, the squadron's mission is more challenging than many other maintenance squadrons because his unit works on three different aircraft. 

The Maintenance Effectiveness Award was the result of the work of the squadron's three units - the 33rd, 909th and 961st Aircraft Maintenance Units - maintaining E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and KC-135 Stratotankers valued at $1.4 billion. 

During this fiscal year, the squadron generated 3,000 missions and 10,000 flight hours working on these airframes while deployed and at home station. The 909th AMU won two performance categories, beating other tanker maintenance units in PACAF and USAFE by having the lowest "break rate" and the best 12-hour fix rate. Additionally, the AMU had the fewest pilot reported discrepancies of any tanker unit. The 909th maintained KC-135's that off-loaded more than 29 million gallons of fuel to every aircraft in the Pacific Command, including those of Japan and Republic of Korea. 

While the commander is proud of the accomplishments of the 718th AMXS, he says there is no time for complacency. 

"We need to strive for improvement at every angle of opportunity," said Colonel Kolch. "If we do this, we can win again next year."