Increases F-16 Capability In Iraq

Desire and motivation drove 14 Reserve Airmen to turn a barely functional back shop into one of two fully functional avionic intermediate shops at Balad Air Base in Iraq.

The revamped work center allowed the staff to double the improved avionic intermediate repair capabilities. The reservists deployed here from Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL.

"When we first arrived, the alternate shop was dirty, dark and it smelled bad," said Senior Master Sgt. Huey Hill, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics team chief. "This place was a dungeon. The walls were black. It was so filthy it took three days to pressure wash them clean."

The IAIS staff tests, align, troubleshoot and repair mission critical F-16 aircraft line replacement units. That includes any avionic parts that come off the aircraft.

"The shop was so ill-equipped that to test any equipment here we had to use flashlights," Sergeant Hill said. "This situation was unacceptable. So our team spent 10 days turning this office around."

To overhaul the shop, the reservist cleaned and painted the floors, walls, doors and ceiling of the shop. They removed old items -- from old toilets to an air purifier -- that cluttered the area. It was a self-help project and the team only sought outside help from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron to fix the lighting.

To add the finishing touches the team hand-built shelves from salvaged wood and painted a mural was on the office door.

Squadron commander Maj. David Nicholson said the unit can now fully test line replacement units. Then they can return them to the supply system to fill mission critical needs for broken aircraft in half the time, he said.

"We have been able to double the avionics repair capability for the F-16 operations being preformed," the major said.

The team provides another tool to accomplish the mission here.

"If the other work center goes down now, we can continue to support the operations," Sergeant Hill said.

(ANN salutes Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore, 332nd AEW Public Affairs)

FMI: www.af.mil