Practice makes perfect

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- During the Phase I operational readiness exercise Oct. 5 - 9, all of Team Holloman was called forth to demonstrate the ability to reposition it's assets.

For the maintainers of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, this meant 96 hours to prepare nine aircraft, all of the necessary maintenance equipment, and more than 100 personnel.

Whether it is day to day business, a real world deployment or an exercise, the maintainers of the 49th AMXS work diligently to keep Holloman's F-22A Raptors flying and doing what it takes to complete the mission. 

"Day to day we do this type of thing, but when an exercise kicks off, that 96 hours is absolutely critical," said Maj. Steven Collen, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander.

The maintainers of the 49th AMXS directly support the flying mission of the 7th Fighter Squadron by providing aircraft general systems, aircraft avionics and electrical system maintenance to the F-22A Raptor. While maintaining the aircraft is their main responsibility, it does not prove to be the challenging part of repositioning forces.

"Some of the bigger challenges you have is taking the aircraft, the people and the equipment and working all the coordination that is required to not only move the aircraft, but to get to combat status to be able to deploy," said Chief Master Sgt. James Callahan, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Unit maintenance superintendant. "We do it the same way whether it's real world or an exercise."

With every challenge, however, comes a learning opportunity. Chief Callahan said he's participated in many exercises in his Air Force career, but this one has been a true "character-builder" for Airmen, both the seasoned and the new.

"The key thing is that the folks out there are going to learn a lot today and through this week," he said. "They are going to learn what it means to grit your teeth when it's not going so well and trying to climb out and that's where the character kicks in. That's going to stick with them for a long time to come. "