Maintainers make mends

What appears to be custom constructed shelves are actually old dormitory storage closets being used to store and organize maintenance equipment for Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Nov. 8, 2011. Airmen from the 332nd EAMXS had to get creative by finding used old lockers, shelves and other furniture found in scrap heaps to help enhance their facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Paul Mann)

Maintainers make mends

Senior Airman Steven Cortes and Senior Airman Jon Albertsen III, both 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron support technicians, check in an F-16 tool kit inside the maintenance control tent at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Nov. 8, 2011. The facility used by Cortes and Albertsen, who are both deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, N.C., uses discarded storage lockers and dormitory lockers to store tools and other maintenance equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Paul Mann)

Maintainers make mends

Published Nov. 11, 2011
By Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- When the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron arrived at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia they entered an empty tent.

With more than 29 short tons of equipment en route from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., the empty tent was not going to suffice.

This prompted the 332nd EAMXS to step out of their maintainer mode for a few days to make their job better.

"We recycled wood from old wall lockers to create shelves," said Master Sgt. Ken Schrader, 332nd EAMXS support section NCO in charge. "We had very little equipment, so we signed out drills and saws from the (332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron)."

With each aircraft requiring about 400 pieces of equipment, the shelves have made the 332nd EAMXS more efficient. Within 24 hours after the shelves were made, equipment was able to be signed out.

"There are so many uses for shelves like inventory, accountability and organization," said Schrader, who is deployed from Shaw AFB. "They help us keep accountability of tools so we know if something is missing or has not been turned in."

The daily inventory can now be performed quicker with everything visible on the shelves.

"When the maintainers come in they can inspect the toolbox and check it out," said Schrader, who is a native of Rome, Pa.

In addition to shelves, the maintainers took it upon themselves to also construct a satellite hazardous material site to properly dispose of used hazardous waste.