LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit maintains the oldest F-16s in the Air Force inventory while safely generating sorties to produce the greatest fighter pilots in the world. It's an incredible feat and the maintenance professionals in the unit do it with pride and distinction each and every day. 

The past year characterized  adversity for the 195 men and women of the 62nd AMU. Three Class A  incidents highlight the challenges faced by the Spikes; but in the past months, the Spike maintainers have risen to meet and overcome those challenges. 

Each technician's unique strengths and talents make the 62nd AMU a superstar, and strong complement  to the elite team found in the 56th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In 2006, the Spikes' weapons section boasted a 99.83 percent weapons release rate, expending 7,600 bombs, and a 99.3 percent gunfire rate for 83,600 rounds fired. Rising to the top, weapons maintainer Staff Sgt. Steven Guynn was recognized for his outstanding maintenance skills as AETC's NCO Leo Marquez Award winner. Not to be outdone, the specialist section was applauded by HQ AETC with an honorable mention for outstanding foreign object damage awareness. Airman 1st Class Clyde Vickery was selected as the 2006 Maintenance Professional of the Year  in the Airman/specialist category, and was also selected for offcer training school. Senior Airman Ntungwe Sobe, another avionics superstar, was recognized as the 56th Fighter Wing Airman of the Year. The crew chiefs represented the best tactical aircraft  maintenance section on the flightline, earning an honorable mention from the 2006 Maintenance Standardization Evaluation Team. TAMS showcased two 2006 Maintenance Professionals of the Year: Senior Airman Richard Chase as the Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief of the Year, and Staff Sgt. David Theis as the 56th FW and AETC Dedicated Crew Chief of the Year.
 
Now, Tom Brady would still be hot without his surrounding cast of All-American football players, but he wouldn't have been named most valuable player on more than one occasion, nor would he have won three Superbowl championships. The 2006 Spike superstars have earned recognition due to their own merit and volition, but it wouldn't have been possible without the superlative Airmen, NCOs and senior NCOs
comprising the team of champions in  he 62nd AMU.
 
In 1934, Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg said, "Great achievements in war and peace can only result if offcers and men form an indissoluble band of brothers."  Field Marshall von Hindenburg would be impressed watching the teamwork and performance of the world-class maintainers in the 56th Maintenance Group. We are a "band of brothers;" the adversity overcome by the 62nd AMU in the past year showcases the character and tenacity of true maintenance professionals.  Our successes have only been possible through the dedicated maintenance and quintessential teamwork within the AMU, squadron and across the group.