Selfridge Crew Chiefs Put To The Test

By TSgt. Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs

With technical manuals in hand, almost three dozen A-10 crew chiefs were put to the test during the 127th Wing's July Unit Training Assembly at Selfridge.

The crew chiefs, all members of the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS), were evaluated on six different skills that run the gamut of duties that the chiefs may be required to perform to keep the 127th's A-10 attack aircraft ready to fly.

"We're looking at number one, safety," said Technical Sgt. John Adams, one of the evaluators during the testing. "Then we're looking at technical proficiency and speed at getting the job done."

Adams was one of about a dozen or so crew chiefs who work as full-time technicians at Selfridge who developed the skills tests for the traditional Guardsmen.

"We work on the aircraft every day," Adams said. "Our traditional Guardsmen have fewer opportunities, but need to have the same level of ability."

Adams worked with Staff Sgt. Charles Diciuccio to develop a skills test for a team of four crew chiefs to hook up and tow an A-10 to an assigned parking space.

The team had to maneuver the aircraft around a couple of traffic cones on the parking ramp and then park the aircraft in a tight spot, also marked with cones.

The task was designed to simulate parking an A-10 inside the Selfridge hush house.

Adams said the towing project involved a task for an Airman with a three (apprentice) skill level in the 2A3X3, crew chief, Air Force Specialty Code, two others with at least a five (journeyman) level and one with a seven (craftsman) level. The seven-level Airman was working as the team supervi-sor and was graded on his or her ability to assign tasks and ensure that the team was working in harmony.

"The goal is to practice skills and to upgrade the skills of each Airman," said Chief Master Sgt. Henry Ryan, superintendent of the 127th AMXS. "Each person needs to be able to do the entire job to perfection."

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