ITAM-Air advisors stand up metals technology, sheet metal shops

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Marcus Smith
  • 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
CAMP TAJI, Iraq --  Advisors from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron held an inauguration ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of a metals technology and sheet metal shop in Iraq's newest and largest maintenance hangar.

The ceremony was held to honor the effort and dedication it took to stand up two fully functional maintenance shops to U.S. safety standards after four years of hard work and patience.

"This accomplishment significantly advances the Iraqi Army Aviation Command's organic structural-repair capability to enhance overall fleet readiness," explained Maj. Claudio Covacci, the 721st AEAS's maintenance officer who leads a team of maintenance advisors.

The back shops provide both first and second-level repair capability for Mi-171E, UH-1, T-407 and EC-635 aircraft.

"Over the last several years, the IqAAC sheet metal and machine shop technicians have been incrementally growing to maturity. The newly acquired repair facilities provide a state-of-the-art capability that builds trust and confidence in Iraqi flying operations," said Major Covacci, who is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and calls New York City his hometown.

Currently, all periodic inspection and maintenance actions are accomplished by IqAAC personnel supervised by civilian contractor personnel. However, the goal is to enable Iraqi technicians to complete all tasks independently within the near future to allow for a smooth U.S. drawdown.

Although contractors are primarily responsible for all shop functions, Major Covacci and Tech. Sgt. Derrick Hatcher, an ITAM-Air sheet metal expert and advisor, brought the project to fruition. Sergeant Hatcher, deployed from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., was pivotal to completing the project just three months after taking on the task.

As an Airman assigned to the 721st AEAS, Sergeant Hatcher trains his IqAAC partners to perform inspections, manufacturing, and repairs of sheet metal and machined components for Russian Mi-171E and American T-407 helicopters.

The Iraqi wing commander here praised his American advisors for preparing his troops to continue the mission as U.S. forces hand over responsibilities to their Iraqi partners.

"We have been training the Iraqis on back-shop maintenance and general safety practices," said Sergeant Hatcher, a Central Islip, N.Y., native who has been coined three times by senior commanders throughout Iraq for his efforts outside of his core specialty. "As a result, we have given the Iraqis the tools and training needed to fully function as a professional maintenance organization capable of intermediate-level repair."