402d EMXG witnesses firsthand the purpose for their work

By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs



U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Joel Murphy, 23d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, shows the 402d Electronics Maintenance Group out of Robins Air Force Base, Ga., the wing of an A-10C Thunderbolt II at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 27, 2012. The 402d EMXG is the largest avionics group in the Air Force. They provide combat-ready avionics parts, services and equipment repair for aircraft such as the A-10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier) Hi-res

1/31/2012 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- It's not every day members of the 402d Electronics Maintenance Group out of Robins Air Force Base, Ga. visit Moody, in fact for most it was their first time to the base Jan. 27.

Their tour was not like most though, instead of visiting different areas around base the group centered on just one thing, the A-10C Thunderbolt II and its capabilities. Which for some may not seem important but these members hold a special tie with the A-10.

"We really wanted to come to Moody to give our technicians a chance to see an A-10 and know where all their hard work goes towards," said Col. Theresa Humphrey, 402d EMXG commander. "You really get a different take on things when you see the plane firsthand and what its capabilities are."

The group which is one of the largest avionics groups in the Air Force works to provide combat-ready avionics parts and services, supports equipment repair and many other things.

Approximately 30, 402d EMXG members spent their afternoon with A-10 pilots and maintenance members experiencing different aspects of the plane through their eyes.

The group received a brief from a pilot with the 74th Fighter Squadron during the day that included a variety of different systems as well as a video of the A-10 using a system that they work on.

"This group of people are the ones that work with the heads up display and the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod system that are used day to day on the A-10," said Humphrey. "These guys dig into these things and spend hours working on just one part, checking to make sure everything is in working order.

"For them to see that video was perfect, it really showed where all their hard work has been going towards," she added. "We are very interested in coming back with some different groups because this adds so much realism to what they do.

Col. Neal Robinson, 23d Maintenance Group commander accompanied the group of technicians during their visit of the base and talked with Humphrey about future visits from the group and possibly even sending some of their own people to Robins.

"This visit turned out really well and I think was a good opportunity for both our people and theirs," said Robinson. "We would love to send some of our people in the future to Robins to get a behind the scenes look of what happens."

Even though the visit only lasted a day, those members of the 402d EMXG have seen firsthand the purpose for what they do and how it helps to accomplish the mission.

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