WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Boasting more than 30 years of automotive service experience, Senior Master Sgt. Gregory L. Rose, 445th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance superintendent, now holds the distinct title of Air Force Reserve Command’s 2016 Automotive Service Excellence Technician.
The Automotive Service Excellence technician certification, a nationally-recognized certification, is a series of eight tests which demonstrate total proficiency in all areas of automotive service.
The certification awarded by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, a nonprofit organization which aims to “improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.” Nearly 300,000 individuals currently hold the endorsement, yet one out of every three people who attempts the tests does not pass.
“The ASE certification expires after five years, and you have to take all eight tests again,” Sergeant Rose said. “I’ve been certified five times.”
Rose joined the Air Force in 1979 right after graduating high school. He spent seven years as a vehicle maintenance technician on active duty, then separated, but continued performing vehicle maintenance in his civilian career. Upon rejoining the military, this time as a reservist, Rose took over the vehicle maintenance section in the 445th LRS, using the opportunity to pass along his skills to newer Airmen in his squadron.
Beginning next month, Rose hopes to finally begin picking apart the individual mechanics of two vehicles recovered from the defense reutilization and marketing office (DRMO). The new addition will provide hands-on training the vehicle maintenance section hasn’t seen since prior to Rose’s arrival.
“I’m heavy into the training aspect,” he said. “I’ll be able to go through each function with the maintenance crew and they can actually practice working with hydraulics, transmissions, and all the other inner workings of the vehicle. When we’ve fixed everything we can fix, we’ll trade it out for a different vehicle…we can’t wait to get started.”