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Culture of compliance apparent in 379 EMXG

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group leadership and dedicated Airmen have established a culture within the group that ensures compliance in everything they do.

Recently, EMXG leadership hand-picked 15 Airmen from across the group to form a Compliance Focus Team. This team was charged to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each work-center's practices in order to improve compliance with maintenance procedures and processes across the EMXG.

"A disciplined force performing by-the-book maintenance is essential to producing combat airpower - compliance must be at the forefront each and every day," said Col. Chase McCown, 379th EMXG commander.

During this initial look, which ran from the beginning of August through mid-September, the Focus Team conducted more than 4,700 inspections. These inspections covered areas such as tools and equipment, adherence to technical data, facilities, proper use of personal protective equipment, servicing and documentation.

"Our team was incredibly thorough during this whole process and brought to light many fixable issues that were addressed within the group," said Senior Master Sgt. Dan Potter, 379 EMXG Compliance Focus Team chief. "It gave us a great foundation and showed us what processes or practices needed to be improved."

After the initial inspection was concluded, the team dispersed back to their work-centers for a few weeks before starting the second phase. Phase two was designed to re-inspect the units to see what improvements had been made and ensure the culture of compliance remained a priority in each maintainer's mission.

The success was evident based on the maintainer's accomplishments and results achieved. When the inspectors went back during phase two, the Compliance Focus Team found a significant reduction in discrepancies from their initial inspection.

"The Maintenance Group as a whole went from meeting mission requirements to meeting mission requirements in a safer and more compliant fashion," said Potter. "The group is definitely on the right track. Everyone is continuing to strive to improve processes, which is evident in their attitude. When a group has positive attitudes, everything else starts to fall into place."

One of the benefits of having maintainers from different squadrons working together is they see and experience different practices and procedures of the various different work environments.

"It was a great opportunity to see how other shops function," said Master Sgt. Mark Harrington, 379 EMXG Compliance Focus Team inspector out of the 37th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit. "There are many things I learned from the other units that I can take with me and apply in my own AMU here at the 379 AEW. I think everyone on the team benefited from this experience."

With the installation slowly transitioning from an expeditionary base to an enduring base, the 379 EMXG leadership is adamant about ensuring maintenance Airmen don't become complacent and continue to strive for perfection in everything they do.

"This effort has unquestionably made our group better and increased our sortie production and repair capabilities," said McCown. "I am extremely proud of what these great maintainers have done."