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Structural maintainers facilitate joint-service environment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  Joint operations between the Army and Air Force are happening in many facets of the military --including some you might not expect. 

Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance shop and metals tech shop have pitched in to help the Army with maintenance projects on some of its helicopters. 

The EMXS shops both use materials also used in the Army's helicopters.
"First, there were personnel from the Army's structural shop coming over here to borrow some of our materials," said Tech. Sgt. John Deegan, 455th EMXS aircraft structural maintenance craftsman. "Then it came up in conversation that they could use some extra man power." 

Normal wear and tear and some mishaps with the Chinook CH-47s have created a manpower shortage for the Army's structural maintenance crew.
One example was when a CH-47's rear cargo door was severely damaged. 

"They got something caught in the rear door while it was closing and the entire structure of the door had to be cut away and replaced," said Sergeant Deegan. "We had to fabricate new parts." 

Army Staff Sgt. Gary Milton, a structural technical inspector, said he was glad to get the help from the Air Force. 

"Air structure is air structure," said Sergeant Miller. "We work out of the same book."
Sergeant Miller said the Army also needed help when a few of their helicopters required inspection. "We had two Blackhawks, one Apache and a Chinook all in a phase inspection at the same time," he said. 

Sergeant Miller said the Air Force was instrumental in assisting the Army's structural shop with the completion of the increased workload. 

In addition to the Army, the aircraft structural maintenance shop is also helping the Navy. Sergeant Deegan said his shop bends all the tubing for the Navy's aircraft.
 
"The Navy currently has no capability to bend its hydraulic tubing lines, so we take care of it for them," he said. "Our shop has become kind of a fix-it-all for everybody. We even repaired a shoulder brace for a violin for a Tops in Blue band member." 

Keeping aircraft, whether it is fixed-wing or rotary, in the air is the top priority of the EMXS shops, regardless of the branch of service.