Disciplined Airmen earn chance to shave commander’s head

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. BRANDON O'NEIL
  • 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE --  To recognize an accomplishment a commander agreed to have his head shaved by a maintainer.

To motivate and add a little fun to the day-to-day operations within the squadron, Lt. Col. Jim Upchurch, 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, issued a challenge to the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit to go 45 days without a Big 3 write-up. They accepted.

We have a vision in the 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ... "Disciplined Airmen Executing Disciplined Maintenance." Simply put this means performing aircraft maintenance by the book and doing it right the first time, even when no one is looking.

Quality assurance is the maintenance watchdog and is constantly on the lookout for the Big 3 - unfavorable condition reports, technical data violations and detected safety violations. Big 3 write-ups are an indication of the culture within a maintenance unit and a clear indicator of safe and reliable maintenance. Disciplined maintenance is a fundamental principle and an expectation for Airmen on the flightline.

Of the many Webster definitions for discipline, one that parallels maintenance the most is "having the ability to do what is hard when it is the hardest to do."

Maintenance supervision at all levels uses a number of metrics to measure performance, but the Big 3 are the best indicators of maintenance discipline within an organization. The value of a structured and formalized maintenance road map is indispensable to maintainers. A systematic approach provides order and accountability for technicians. Maintenance leadership must set the tone for the culture of their respective organization and clearly communicate standards and expectations to meet unit goals and mission requirements.

Discipline is required in all aspects of life and, unfortunately, it's a skill that is too often learned the hard way. Maintenance discipline requires the efforts of the entire team. Airmen must learn to take care of each other and hold each other accountable. After all, the flightline is a dangerous place to work; maintenance on a single engine aircraft leaves no room for excuses or noncompliance. When technicians are held accountable for their performance an important lesson is shared.

The 62nd AMU completed the 45 days and more without a Big 3 discrepancy and recently took their commander up on his offer.