Quick return: Reservists help speed up C-5 maintenance process

Citizen Airman, August, 2004 by Chance C. Babin

"As a unit, we were skeptical about the additional work load and the Reserve providing us with properly trained folks to help with that work load," Sergeant Ellis said, "But the Reserve did its job of hiring the right folks and getting them here. It's been a team effort from day one."

One of the right folks the Reserve brought in was Tech. Sgt. Emonie Lewis, a crew chief. Sergeant Lewis not only works on C-5s but also serves as a training manager and teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation and fitness.

"It's perfect," he said. "They are using my abilities to the max. Being a maintainer and being in training filled the squares for both the active duty and Reserve."

For Sergeant Lewis, being training manager for both active-duty and AGR troops isn't a problem.

"There are a few quirks to getting training, but it all works out," he said.

The sergeant said he believes his experience of being a former active-duty Airman, an air reserve technician, a traditional Reservist and now an AGR has prepared him well for this opportunity. It also gives him insight on how the active-duty perceives the Reservists and their role as part of the 19th's family.

"The active duty has a better respect for the Reserve," he said, "They see the expertise we bring from our past experiences with other organizations and how that can help us improve our processes."

One improvement the Reservists have already brought to the 19th MXS is the introduction of laptop computers on the flight line.

"We're in the process of implementing the paperless ISO concept," said Tech. Sgt. James Gulley, 19th MXS crew chief. "The wireless laptops will provide us all the TOs (technical orders) and allow us to do write-ups and order parts. Normally you would have to go back to the office and to supply, but now you can do it all in one spot on the job."

Once the Reserve C-5s begin arriving this month, the 19th MXS commander said his unit's approach to doing its job will not change.

"Our focus for this year is training to do things one way, making the process seamless and working the aircraft together, regardless of the (command) patch you're wearing or the color of the aircraft tail," he said.

(Sergeant Babin is assigned to the 926th Fighter Wing public affairs office, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La. He wrote this story while on a temporary duty assignment to Robins AFB with Citizen Airman magazine.)