Maintainers win effectiveness award Published Jan. 6, 2006 By SrA Jonathan Jones 434th ARW Public Affairs Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind -- “It was truly a group and wing effort.” That’s what Lt. Col. Eric Brandes said about the 434th Maintenance Squadron receiving the Air Force Reserve Command’s Air Force Maintenance Effectiveness Award. Although the plaques will say “maintenance squadron” on them, the culmination of all of the different shops performing at the highest of standards made this award possible, said Colonel Brandes, the commander of the 434th MXS. The award period dated from Oct. 01, 2004 through Sept. 30, 2005. During that period, the MXS achieved an overall maintenance effectiveness rate of 97.7 percent while meeting multiple worldwide missions to include accomplishing an Air Mobility Command Operational Readiness Inspection. Other accomplishments included having the lowest KC-135 Stratotanker minor breaks in the AFRC with a rate of 4.7 percent and having the highest KC-135R fully mission capable and flight mission capable rates of 78 percent and 76.8 percent in the AFRC respectively. These results were a reflection of the quality of work completed by the individuals in the 434th MXS and other contributing persons. Everyone from young airmen and non-commissioned officers to commissioned officers played a significant role in the success of the 434th MXS and its mission, said Chief Master Sgt. David Sward, the superintendent for the 434th MXS. “We’re known far and wide for the quality of work that we perform and the condition of our airplanes. When our aircraft go elsewhere across country on a tour of duty people are delighted to see a Grissom jet arrive and the pilots, no matter where they came from, prefer to fly a Grissom tanker over any other airplane and that again is a reflection of the pride and caliber of the work that our people put forth,” the chief said. “We’ve got the best people preparing the best product,” Colonel Brandes added. The dedication of the people to provide a quality product and the ability to provide the best wartime support possible impacted the entire KC-135R fleet, the colonel said. With great responsibility, the 434th MXS renovated an interactive KC-135R boom pod and flight display, which was used as a recruiting and educational tool at air shows, schools, ROTC, VIP visits and other venues. These renovations included structural repair, fabrication and survival equipment. Receiving the maintenance effective award, the MXS has been recognized for its outstanding accomplishments and ability to face challenges successfully. However, no one organization or individual is solely responsible for success, but the consistent efforts by all personnel involved, said Chief Sward. “If it were not for what the 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron does, and what the 434th Mission Operations Flight does; and the quality assurance folks on the 434th Maintenance Group side and the support we get from supply, be it parts or gas; and everybody else from the civil engineers in the 434th Mission Support Group helping us get ice off of the ramp which helps the 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s guys launch the planes that perform our refueling mission, this culmination of effort is what is responsible for the data in the award,” Colonel Brandes said.
