407th ELRS Vehicle Management keeps the mission rolling
By Staff Sgt. Joshua Edwards, 407th Air Expeditionary Group
/ Published January 18, 2018
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management section has a broad scope of responsibilities that help the 407th Air Expeditionary Group complete its mission.
“Our team supports the full spectrum of operations here at the 407th AEG by ensuring that the vehicles assigned are safe and serviceable, and that the vehicle fleet is right-sized to meet existing, emergent and surge mission requirements,” said Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Kelleher, 407th ELRS VM flight chief.
To complete their mission, vehicle management manages several vehicle programs.
“We provide maintenance on government owned vehicles, manage all government-owned vehicles and leased assets, and issue short-term leases for units coming in and out of the base or for large Civil Engineer projects happening,” said Tech. Sgt. Virginia Egley, 407th ELRS VM Fleet Management and Analysis NCO in charge.
Blanketing a range of responsibilities, vehicle management breaks down into smaller sections to complete its goal.
“Three main work centers ensure that the 432 vehicle, $55-million, fleet is in tip top shape and ready to handle whatever load the mission requires,” said Kelleher. “The maintenance of the fleet happens between three work centers; Fleet Management and Analysis, Materiel Control, and the Multi-purpose Vehicle Maintenance Shop.”
Working in the Multi-purpose Vehicle Maintenance Shop, Airman 1st Class Eric Schoonover, 407th ELRS VM technician, shared how he effects the bigger VM section.
“My individual role is to fix and troubleshoot vehicles which include pickups, skid loaders, Humvees, telephone maintenance trucks, along with some emergency response vehicles,” said Airman 1st Class Eric Schoonover, 407th ELRS VM technician. “All vehicle repairs are serviced by our technicians. We provide preventative maintenance, minor repairs and complex repairs to all vehicle systems. Furthermore, we assist contractors maintaining the fleet of perimeter security vehicles. We also ensure the vehicles assigned to the base are mission capable and safe for operation.”
Due to the work of the individuals in vehicle management, the base is able to keep the engine going in its mission to generate, execute and sustain combat airpower and combat search and rescue forces across the Levant.