Vehicle Management Flight breaks 20 year record

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kazimir Kostrubala
  • 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management Flight Commander
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Ten years ago, the collective efforts of a small vehicle maintenance flight broke the Little Rock Air Force Base vehicle maintenance record by keeping an astounding 95.4 percent of all base vehicles in service for a period of one month. Back in 1999, nobody had seen anything like it.

In the 10 years of data kept on hand, no one had even come close and it looked as if nobody would ever break the record. But on the evening of March 31, the men and women of 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management Flight realized they had broken this record. By sustaining a 96.2 percent mission capable rate for the month of March, the flight not only proved they were the best vehicle maintenance team seen in 20 years, but also the best in Air Mobility Command. Despite low manning and high deployment tempos, there was little time left to rest on their laurels and appreciate the true scope of their accomplishment.

The flight is made up of seven sections: vehicle management analysis, material handling and equipment shop, general purpose shop, special purpose shop, material control, fire truck maintenance and customer service.

Mr. Robert Anderson, Vehicle Management Flight Special Purpose Section work leader, credited the group's work ethic as a key ingredient to breaking the record, but doing all the little things right was integral to the record rate.

"We've got a good group of hardworking people who have stayed a lot of long nights trying to get our vehicles out. I don't think there's one real deal...it's a lot of things," Anderson said.

Walk one building over to the Vehicle Management and Analysis Section and you'll find similar sentiments from Senior Airman Channingmarie Mitchell about what makes her flight so successful.

"Getting the vehicles out and giving [the user] a good product."

Master Sgt. James Wilson, Vehicle Maintenance Flight fleet manager, is the man responsible for this extensive organization. He distributes the credit around to everyone equally.

"I'm proud of all our sections," he said at the flight's weekly flight call. "We've got good things going on and I'm proud to be a part this flight. Really, it's all about the people, and I throw a lot of our success to our civilian over-hires; the experience and knowledge they've brought to our Airmen has tremendously benefited our flight.

Sergeant Wilson also commended his flight's ability to change their parts acquisition process to adapt and adjust to the needs of the base.

"We're like a racecar. We don't just run around the track trying to get points, we adjust to make the car better every single race," Sergeant Wilson said.

One case in particular was seen with the complete overhaul of their tire procurement process for all base Government vehicles. After thoroughly researching their customer's tire needs, the team interviewed each tire vendor in the local area to find the best fit for the base. When negotiations concluded, not only did the section gain the ability to select tire composition and tread design, the new prices saved approximately $38,000 annually in replacement costs by providing higher quality tires for their customers.

Whether speaking to a mechanic turning a wrench on a deicer or an Airman managing $43 million worth of equipment behind a desk, you walk away with a consistent impression. You wouldn't know it by talking to them, but they know they are part of a great team and understand their vital importance to the Air Force family and Little Rock mission. You never get the feeling they want to talk about beating such a record but once you get past their humility, you find at the core deeply committed Airmen who are dedicated to the mission and proud of what they do.