No air power without ground power Published April 16, 2008 By Senior Airman Carl Berry 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Hidden between Hanger 592 and base operations Building 600 is the small but not minuscule 434th Aerospace Ground Equipment. The shop is part of the 434th Maintenance Squadron, and have adopted the slogan, "There is no air power without ground power," said Senior Airman Zachary Miles, 434th AGE technician. Their slogan holds true with deployments as well. "Wherever Grissom's KC-135R Stratotanker's go, we go," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Holley, 434th AGE supervisor. "[AGE] personnel, will be deploying to Turkey over the next couple of months," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Johnting, a 434th AGE technician. "Along with the Airmen deploying will be the equipment necessary to keep the Grissom mission afloat." "Our main function's here are to troubleshoot, test, repair, modify and overhaul equipment and components," Sergeant Holley said. AGE does not only supply equipment for both flying squadrons and transient aircraft, but provide equipment for the 434th Aerial Port Flight, 434th Civil Engineers Squadron and many other units on Grissom. "Recently we placed portable heaters, at the front gate for the 434th Security Forces Squadron and provided air-conditioning for the flight simulator," said Sergeant Holley. With equipment that ranges from a $150,000 gas turbine compressor to $500 lform an equipment stand, it is important that the mechanics are well trained. To learn all of the functions of the 300 pieces of powered and nonpowered support equipment, Airmen must attend a six month technical training school located at Sheppard AFB, Texas. "All personnel are trained in pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic, air-conditioning, heating, diesel engines, gasoline engines, gas turbine engines, test equipment and computers," said Sergeant Holley. Airmen also learn to "analyze and interpret technical orders, blueprints, writing schematics, technical manuals and manufacturer's manuals," he added. Although their building and office may be small in stature their importance to the Grissom mission is a vital one. So the next time you happen to see one of the AGE personnel, who include 11 full-time air reserve technician and 21 Reservists, take time to say thank you because odds are they have helped you somehow already or soon will.
