MMSAV comes to the Rock

Published Oct. 28, 2011
By Senior Airman Rachelle Elsea
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing recently underwent the Multi-MAJCOM Staff Assistance Visit involving both the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group and the 386th Mission Support Group at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

The inspection, lasting four days, was carried out by a team of 28 United States Air Force logistics experts from Headquarters Air Force Central Command, Air Mobility Command, and Air Combat Command.

The MMSAV, conducted once every two years, is an evaluation of logistics personnel and their ability to support the 386th AEW mission in accordance with Air Force policy and directives.

"The visit focused on reviewing the effectiveness of personnel and logistic processes," said Col. PJ McAneny, 386th EMXG commander. "Evaluators used applicable technical orders, manuals and directives to review personnel proficiency and processes."

In all, the MMSAV Team conducted nearly 400 total evaluations on the 386 AEW. These included over-the-shoulder personnel evaluations of maintenance/logistics actions and inspections; quality verification inspections of equipment condition and logistics processes; special inspections of aircraft and equipment forms, document files, composite tool kits, technical order files, vehicles, housekeeping, safety practices, and the wing's Foreign Object Damage program.

Additionally, negative safety findings comprised the tally of all observed Detected Safety Violations, Unsatisfactory Condition Reports, and Technical Data Violations.

"The wing's logisticians functions were 'found to be fully capable of supporting the mission,'" said Colonel McAneny.

Also in their findings were the wing's top eight outstanding performers as well as some programs and areas where the wing exceeded.

386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron - Senior Airman William Garcia
386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron - Senior Airman Jeff Mikulan, Senior Airman Jeremy Merrill, Staff Sgt. Stephen Trupiano
386th Expeditionary Logisitics Readiness Squadron - Airman 1st Class Rodolfo Terrazas, Senior Airman Sarah Sanchez, Staff Sgt. Mark Heitkamp, Staff Sgt. Jackie Reike

386th EMXG - Highly Competent Flightline Maintenance
386th EMXG - Highly Competent Sortie Support Section
386th EMXG - Solid Maintenance Standardization/Evaluation Program
386th EMSG - Benchmark Vehicle Maintenance Flight Continuity Book
386th EMSG - Benchmark knowledge and teamwork at Aircraft Parts Store
386th EMSG - Benchmark Container Management Program - USAFCENT Functional "Best Seen to Date"
386th EMSG - Benchmark Fuels Preventative Maintenance Team (EMSG)

"But what makes it even more extraordinary is they did all of this while safely and efficiently executing our 24/7 wartime mission supporting Iraq/Afghanistan operations and also preparing for the Iraq transition," said Colonel Richard Poore, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander. "That's incredible! I think the comments from the inspection team chief during the executive out brief to the Wing Commander say it all - 'I've been on 20 MMSAV and LCAP visits over the last 2-years and your unit is in the top 2.'"

Both groups had been rigorously getting ready for the visit and it seems to have paid off.

"We have been preparing for this evaluation for well over four months," said Colonel McAneny. "What ultimately resulted in such a positive evaluation were the professional and winning attitudes of all our Airmen on the flightline, in the backshops, in the aerial port, and the supply warehouses. I would also like to congratulate the leadership team at all levels because their focus on conspicuous compliance and process improvement ensured that the base would be ready for the MMSAV."

Special recognition must go to Lt. Col. John Franklin, 386th EMXG Deputy Commander and Senior Master Sgt. Rey Morales, 386th EMXS production superintendent, who were the base MMSAV Points of Contact, he added. The preparation for this MMSAV has certainly strengthened the entire logistics enterprise at the Rock.

"What the results of this MMSAV at the Rock clearly demonstrate is that a culture of conspicuous compliance is not just optional in the AOR but absolutely necessary for strong logistics practices to flourish," said Colonel McAneny. "Now we must sustain and improve our logistics processes as we meet the challenges associated with scheduled force rotations and the Iraq transition. Marauder Airmen are clearly up to this difficult task."