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Maintainers showcase new equipment capabilities, mission to contracting Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Airmen from the 92nd Maintenance Group showcased new equipment and capabilities to members of the 92nd Contracting Squadron during a two-part tour Dec. 2 and 5 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. 

The 92nd CONS toured various parts of the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 92nd Maintenance Squadron.  Just a few highlights of the tour were the new laser etcher and water jet cutter. 

According to Lt. Col. Jim Dorn, 92nd AMXS commander, these new equipment items not only will save thousands of man hours but also bring additional capabilities necessary to maintain the Wing's fleet of venerable KC-135s, which are more than 50 years old.

The goal of the tour was to increase the understanding of the maintenance mission and show contracting personnel firsthand the important role they play by purchasing equipment that saves time, money and manpower for the entire 92nd Maintenance Group.

We don't do enough these days to try and understand the different roles each squadron plays in putting aircraft in the air, said Dorn. Maj. Len Shores, 92nd MXS commander, and I saw this as an opportunity to do just that.  By not only demonstrating the much-needed new equipment the 92nd CONS bought for us, but also showing them the bearing it has on our job, we've given them a better understanding of how they've directly impacted the mission.

In return, several members of the 92nd CONS provided insight to key maintenance personnel on how to improve their contracting process. 

"It was great for us to get together and share the information we did," said Capt. Kate Hinds, 92nd CONS commander.  "My contracting specialists got to see the direct impact they have on the aircraft mission and the maintenance folks are better prepared to help us execute the purchases they need."