445 MXG performs AT in Japan

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Patrick O'Reilly
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Members of the 445h Aircraft Maintenance and 445th Maintenance Squadron spent July 20, Aug. 3, 2014 sharing their knowledge of C-17 Globemaster IIIs with the 733rd Mobility Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

The reservists provided assistance with manning needs for the 733rd AMS by covering training requirements, troubleshooting, and supplying aircraft knowledge.

"The purpose of this trip was to relieve active duty of constraints of manning issues as well as training purposes for qualification issues the active duty has, specifically on my career field in the guidance and control section," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Emberton, 445 AMXS avionics guidance and control technician.

445th MXG worked the shift operations that provided 24-hour coverage for operations on C-17, 747, C-5 Galaxy, and KC-10 Extender aircraft. They supported 16 launch and recoveries that consisted of the movement of 443 passengers and 48,354 tons of cargo. The Airman also conducted 70 man hours of training and trained a total of 23 personnel from the 733rd Mobility Squadron.

"The 733rd has three different airframes that work here and with my specialized experience I can help them where they're not able to able to get trained up on C-17s," Emberton added.

Emberton trained 733rd reservists on electronic flight control systems, standby engine indication, as well as integrated global positioning system.

Staff Sgt. Ramon Ahrman, 445 AMXS aircraft electro-environmental systems technician, conducted training on a C-17 Globemaster III that landed for a few days. The maintainers took advantage of the time to conduct maintenance checks and Ahrman reviewed the processes with several of the 733rd maintainers. They returned the favor by sharing their experiences with him.

"We went over a battery search for an auxiliary power unit, something we don't really get to do at our home station. Here at Kadena, they do it on a common basis so it was a real learning experience for me," Ahrman said.

Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Miller, 445 MXS aerospace propulsion craftsman, contributed to the 733rd by offering his expertise on the C-17. He took his 733rd counterpart around and gave him a rundown on what it is like to maintain C-17 engines. They looked at components, replaceable units, and got a feel for what it's like to maintain the C-17 engines.

"It's a great opportunity to be able to get out and view other work centers and see how the other units operate. We were able to see what their priorities are and see what different things they do that may be implemented at our home station," Miller said.

"The experience of coming to a different place, in a different station, in a different country, was eye-opening," agreed Ahrman. "There are always different ways to do things, and a great pleasure to work with Active duty, to get back to my roots since I was prior."

Maj. Scott Murphy, 733rd Mobility Squadron commander, appreciated the training experience the 445 AMXS Airmen provided.

"Because of the nature of our mobility squadron's mission, we don't often see the same challenges that a home operating base would have," said Murphy. "Our focus is to get every aircraft that comes in turned around and back in the air."

In calendar year 2013 alone, the 733rd turned 77,511 (flying) personnel and completed 3,685 missions.

"Normally when reservists come here, they receive the training but when the 445th came in we received the training--thank you!" said Master Sgt. Shayn Powers, 733rd aircraft maintenance unit section chief.