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Supplying warfighters critical to ALC

  • Published
  • By Micah Garbarino
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center mission is to "deliver and sustain air power ... anytime, anyplace." In order to accomplish this, officials say a team effort is required, with everyone working toward the same goals.

"A goal gives us a point on the horizon. We can look up from the work on our desk today and think about ways we're contributing to the enterprise and the future," said Col. Mark Beierle, 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing commander.

The ASW team is the "champion" of the air logistics center's first goal, which is to "meet customer aircraft availability requirements."

The required number of aircraft available to the warfighter is based upon the current needs of the warfighters who are in communication with Air Force Materiel Command and the ALC. In order to meet that requirement, Colonel Beierle says there are three important aspects of aircraft availability.

First, is to "keep 'em flying." This is quick, near-term maintenance or operational support that keeps aircraft viable.

"If B-1 maintainers at Dyess AFB, Texas, have a question about a part or process, they can call the B-1 program office engineers here and have their question answered. That may generate an aircraft that afternoon," Colonel Beierle said.

The second aspect is modernizing and sustaining today's aircraft. Modernizing systems not only provides enhanced capability, but also increased reliability and maintainability, which leads to more availability. Sustaining aircraft means managing programmed depot maintenance for fleets of aircraft.

"We work with the 76th Maintenance Wing and our suppliers to define the necessary tasks and put in place the manning and the tooling and the parts, so that when an aircraft arrives, the maintenance wing can be successful," Colonel Beierle said.

Finally, the wing is planning for tomorrow.

"Take the KC-135 for example," he says, "As we await the delivery of the new tanker, the KC-X, we're probably going to have to keep the KC-135 and the KC-10 fleets viable longer. If we're smart and strategic, we're looking out and asking what we need to do to extend the life of the existing tanker aircraft."

The goal to meet customer aircraft availability requirements has five objectives:

·Achieve aircraft availability projections for managed weapons systems. This objective applies to seven aircraft fleets managed by the 327th ASW, including the B-1, B-2 and B-52.

·Achieve mission capable goal for managed weapons systems. This objective applies to 12 additional aircraft fleets that are tracked here, including DV aircraft, such as Air Force One.

·Achieve war readiness engines allocation. This objective applies to the 22 engine types managed by the 327th -- almost every jet engine, powering fighters, bombers and tankers.

·Improve air traffic control and landing systems operational availability. This objective applies to the 24 fixed and deployable navigational aids, radar systems and terminal systems that are managed by the 327th.

·Achieve high frequency global communication operational availability. This objective applies to 13 world-wide radio stations providing a global communications network to the warfighter. "The objectives all represent the same thing to us. They all represent what the warfighter considers important in order for them to be mission-ready," Colonel Beierle said.

In order to fulfill these objectives and accomplish the overall goal, Colonel Beierle said it starts with the dedicated 327th team. Creative thinking, energy and leadership at all levels contribute to mission success. Because of the complex, integrated nature of these weapon systems, a total team effort is needed and appreciated.

The 327th works hand in hand with the 76th MXW to modernize and sustain aircraft. The 72nd Air Base Wing provides the infrastructure and hires the right people to do the job. Defense Logistics Agency and Air Force Global Logistics Support Center supply the right parts for field and depot work. The 552nd Air Control Wing is across the runway and interfaces directly with the 327th in support of the E-3.

"We work hand in hand. We have strategic ownership of the first goal, but we can't accomplish it in isolation," Colonel Beierle said. "Only together can we meet the needs of the warfighter and guarantee the Air Force's ability to fly, fight and win."

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles dedicated to the strategic goals of the OC-ALC. For more on the goals, visit Tinker's internal Web page.