Page 5 - Nellis Creech NTTR Bullseye 5-13-16

BULLSEYE
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QUALITY, from page 3 _________
difficulties,” Bryan said. “People may
think they could cut corners and not
follow the technical data, and if steps get
skipped it could be disastrous.”
Creech maintainers yield an average
QA inspection success rate of 96 per-
cent. is rate exceeds both Air Combat
Commands standard rate of 80 percent
and the 432nd Maintenance Group’s 85
percent standard.
To become a QA inspector, Airmen
must meet speci c requirements.
“A QA inspector should be the best of
the best and the subject matter expert in
their assigned Air Force Specialty Code,”
Perry said. “ ey know everything and
have experience on the aircra . ey also
can’t have bad performance reports or
physical training test failures. We only
take the best of the best.”
ere’s a good reason why inspectors
have to be the ‘cream of the crop.’
“When moving to QA, you have to
take your work quality to inspect other
people’s work and you take the unbiased
look because now your boss is the main-
Sta Sgt. Ron, 432nd Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector, left, and Tech.
Sgt. Bryan, 432nd Maintenance Group technical order distribution o ce, right, inspect a
torque wrench and laptop May 3. QA inspects every aspect of maintenance performed
on MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers including the support shops to ensure Airmen
have the right tools to complete the mission.
EOD, from page 1______________
or not the actions you took would have
defeated them. Vehicle-borne IEDs are
a very feasible threat and they have been
used in the U.S. more than once; for in-
stance, the World Trade Center bombing
in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing
in 1995.”
The training entailed a number of
di erent techniques that EOD techni-
cians commonly employ, including the
use of a mechanically controlled robot
and EOD suit.
“Arriving on scene we ensured that the
area was evacuated of all civilians,” said
Senior Airman Kyle Osgood. “Once that
was accomplished, we sent our robotics
platform down to the suspect vehicle
in order to determine firstly, if there
was a hazardous device, and secondly,
Feature 5May 13, 2016
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tenance group commander, and you U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Clausen
also have to ensure the quality of all the
maintenance on base,” Bryan said. Tech. Sgt. Remington, 432nd Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector, watches as
a 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Tiger Aircraft Maintenance Unit team checks the
Even though inspecting all mainte- weight and balance of an MQ-1 Predator May 3. QA plays an essential role in completing
nance, as well as being responsible for the maintenance mission by ensuring maintainers follow technical orders and complete
knowing all technical orders and regu- maintenance right. Missing minor mistakes or making maintenance errors can result in
lations can be di cult, it is still a great serious damage to aircraft and personnel.
assignment.
“ e best part of the job is knowing
that you’ve been identi ed as the best of
the best,” Perry said. “We’re the last de-
fense between perfect maintenance and
a mistake that could take a plane down.”
Bryan explained his favorite part of
the job is nding things he can x to
make the ‘maintenance world’ better,
while also training Airmen on the correct
way to complete a task.
“My QA shop is made up of some of
the best individuals who perform es-
sential responsibility within the main-
tenance group and making sure the
maintenance is the best it can be,” Perry
said. “As far as the Airmen go, I think
these are some of the best Airmen in the
Air Force not only in their performance,
but the professionalism and dedication to
the job they show.”
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Clausen U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Clausen
Tech. Sgt. Bryan, 432nd Maintenance Group technical order distribution o ce, gets
maintenance identi cation numbers from a 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Tiger
Aircraft Maintenance Unit team May 3. The crew completed a brake adjustment while
Bryan inspected the process.
what that device was. is enabled us to not want to cooperate and that certainly IED operations in a warzone however,
come up with a plan of attack to counter complicated things,” said Glover. “With- the techniques we would utilize could
the identi ed IED without ever having out being able to use the robot to recon change drastically due to the unpredict-
stepped foot near it.” the vehicle I essentially had to make a able nature of operating in a hostile
blind approach. Not knowing what to environment, which places a greater
“With the hands-on expertise of an expect obviously makes it di cult to plan emphasis on staying as far away from
EOD technician necessary, the team ahead. e overall length of an operation the device as possible and returning the
leader, Sta Sgt. Je rey Glover, walked can really wear on you as well, mentally scene to normal in the most expedited
down to the vehicle, encased in the EOD and physically.” manner.”
9 bomb suit. When he arrived, Glover
utilized the Percussion Actuated Neu- While the obstacles presented to the With the valuable training opportuni-
tralizer, a tool that shoots water at high technician were simulated for a stateside ties available, EOD technicians gain the
speed out of a barrel similar to a shotgun, scenario, they also serve as a valuable re- ability to become prepared for anything
and took aim at the device. A er return- source to gain experience for a deployed that may be thrown at them in the future,
ing to the EOD safe area, the PAN was situation. stateside or deployed.
remotely red, and the IED neutralized.”
“This training is for a scenario we “ is job is fun, it’s dangerous, and it’s
Even though EOD technicians are would encounter in the U.S., but it can rewarding,” said Osgood. “By conducting
highly trained, obstacles arise in every be directly applied to many foreign na- training such as today’s, we are able to
scenario, because every situation faced tions in which we have bases that are ensure that we can approach and defeat
is unique. not in a con icted area,” said Osgood. anyone and anything that poses a threat
“When we are conducting these counter to our nation.”
“Right from the start our robot did