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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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914th and 107th Maintenance Groups achieve unprecedented synergy through integration.

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Dan Lanphear
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. --  Ongoing efforts to integrate operations between the Air Force Reserve's 914th and the Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wings here are starting to bring a return on investment, according to Lt. Col. Kelvin McElroy, 914th Maintenance Group commander.

"It's a work in progress but also a win-win ..." said the commander. "... not only for the Air Force, but also for the unit; sharing resources presents a great opportunity and is the way of the future and a bridge to greater efficiency."

Lofty promises of abstract concepts like "synergy" were initially looked upon with skepticism by some for a variety of reasons. But, ultimately, it is actually coming to pass, as the sum of the units' effectiveness is approaching the point of being greater than its parts.

"It has evolved, no questions asked. We have seen the synergies," said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Goetze, 914th Maintenance Operations Flight superintendent.

Synergy, in this context, is measured in real numbers like mission-capable ratings, and dollar costs. The combined mission-capable rate for the jointly operated fleet of twelve C-130 H2 aircraft here has climbed from an average of 67.17 percent for all of 2009 to 80.4 percent for the first quarter of 2010.

During 2009, mission capable rates were relatively lower due to the learning curve of training requirements while 107th shops retooled and retrained from KC-135 fuel tankers to the C-130 cargo and troop aircraft, 914th shops shifted from H3 to H2 models, and both teams had to learn how to become one.

"When you are new to a unit, there is that tension while you are looking for your 'clique', your place with people," said Chief Master Sgt. Brent Irwin, 107th AW Maintenance Squadron. "You're looking for the different people in various roles; the go-to person, the funny guy, the supervisor who can tell you where to go," he said. "At the beginning, we had to take our attitudes and relationships and put them together to make that work. We have found those relationships and built the professionalism; it's a marriage now," said Chief Irwin.

Although the leadership acknowledges that there is still room for improvement as the new maintenance system matures. Col. Bob Kilgore, 107th AW, noted inter-unit cohesion has "gelled," and the association here represents "the wave of the future" for the Air Force. This became apparent following comments from Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr. Commander, Air Mobility Command, upon his inspection visit to Niagara Falls last year.

"This is a melting pot of cultural differences, but we are now all on the same sheet of music professionally," said Col. Kilgore. "The selection of our unit to support the relief mission in Haiti (from Homestead ARB) was a chance for us to show off and be recognized for that," he said. "I think it's a completely integrated unit," said Col. Kilgore.

"Gen. Johns noted our efficiencies when he was here for inspection. Integration and association are the wave of the future for the Air Force and I think we are definitely the finest example of success; I'm impressed."

(Tech. Sgt. Karl Vester contributed reporting to this story.)