Integration training program improves interagency working relationships

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Adawn Kelsey
  • 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada --  In an effort to help foster a stronger working relationship between the operations and maintenance work centers, select members from various units participated in a training integration program on Oct. 22 and 24, 2014, at Creech Air Force Base.

During the first day of training, members from the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron helped members from the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assemble an MQ-9 Reaper.

Lt. Col. Scott, 11th RS director of operations, Senior Master Sgt. Roderick, 11th RS squadron superintendent, and Master Sgt. Marco, 11th RS operations superintendent, were guided in helping maintainers assemble the satellite, the Multi-spectral Targeting System ball, the skirt for the MTS-B, and several other parts of the aircraft.

"The idea is to have people from each side of the mission help with unpacking, inspections or projects the others are working on," Scott said. "For example, maintenance will be able to visit the simulators or observe flights, and the operations side will be able to go over and help with [maintenance] projects. The commander of the 11th RS created the program to help build a bridge between the ops and maintenance squadrons."

The training for operations members didn't end inside the hangar, however.

"I was able to go out on the flightline and see the crew chiefs launch aircraft," he said. "These are the same people [I've been] deployed with, and it is good to see them doing the same quality work back here at Creech."

This program is an extension of what the members would experience in deployed locations working together.

"Operations and maintenance are usually co-located when they deploy together," Roderick said. "But here, we are on separate sides of the base and the only time we really get to work together is during the systems checks. This is an opportunity for us to see what they go through when they are putting an aircraft together."

Being able to have hands-on experience and interaction with the maintainers also builds personal relationships.

"Being here, we get to connect a voice to a face," Marco said. "When I flew with tankers, we saw maintenance consistently and were able to establish a relationship with them and see what they do. Here we don't have that."

The maintenance crew also found the experience helpful in making the mission requirements more transparent.

"Having this opportunity to work together helps with stressors that each side experiences," said Staff Sgt. Jose Ortiz, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics technician. "When you get to see the whole mission, instead of just seeing someone push a button, we now understand why they are pushing the button and what they are doing."

During the maintainers' visit, Airman 1st Class Andy Borrino, 432nd AMXS Reaper weapons, and Senior Airman Zachary Heffner, 432nd AMXS Reaper avionics specialist, were able to view checklists, fly a simulated mission, and were given a consolidated version of what their flight mission would be.

Heffner said the training was an especially good idea. To get even a basic understanding of what the operations side of the mission does was more than enough.

"This is a really cool experience," Heffner said. "It's definitely educating [coming] from maintenance and seeing how the aircraft is actually being operated. It's an especially good idea this training basic and introduction to what they do was more than enough."

The program will continue weekly, providing different members an opportunity to visit the other units and work with them. 

Editor's note: Some names have been withheld for security purposes.