HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- There are many safety precautions in place for pilots who fly for the United States Air Force, their equipment must be inspected and double checked regularly to ensure maximum safety.
For the Airmen in charge of this gear, continuity between team members is key. There has to be a clear system in place to make sure nothing is overlooked, and with the merging of Aircrew Flight Equipment units into one flight in the 54th Operations Support Squadron here, this continuity has improved.
Senior Airman Dondrel Pedescleaux, a 54th OSS AFE technician, transitioned from working at the parachute shop, formerly in the 49th Operations Support Squadron to a life support shop with the 54th OSS, seeing the full effects of the merge.
“At my old shop we worked mainly on packing parachutes as well as survival kits,” said Pedescleaux. “For me it’s less nerve racking here because with parachutes you have to be very critical about what you’re inspecting because that’s what a pilot is going to default to, to save his life. For a survival kit you have to make sure everything is secure inside of it just in case the pilot goes down in a hostile area and needs those items for survival.”
Although some flight members went to a life support shop, there are now more people working in the parachute shop since the merger.
“I would say all of the shops have become more efficient because we’ve been able to spread more of our qualified personnel everywhere and that’s positively affected our training as well,” said Pedescleaux.
Those skilled team members that were originally a part of the 54th OSS have helped those from other units adjust to their new guidelines.
“They do have a few tips and tricks that they’ve figured out here especially since they fall under a different command,” said Pedescleaux. “Everyone is now under Air Education and Training Command guidelines instead of Air Combat Command, but here they were already accustomed to being AETC.”
The differences between the shops on base are not just what major command they were assigned to, but also the methods used for common objectives.
“We just combine our, as they say, ‘Hollomanisms’, into one big pot to try to figure out how to do the gear best,” said Pedescleaux.
As far as the parachute shop that used to be the 49th OSS, the adjustments have been more marginal.
Senior Airman Tyler Molitor, a 54th OSS AFE technician, said he always thought bringing the different AFE units together would be helpful.
“When I got here a little over two years ago I had to get used to working in separate organizations doing the same job, and I think it’s beneficial to all be under the same roof now,” said Molitor.
However, with all these additions to their staff it is understandable that there may still be some kinks to work out.
“As a whole, with the change of command, new commander and other personnel, everybody wants to establish how things should be done and it’s just about getting everyone on the same page because we’re a big flight,” said Molitor.
Pedescleaux, originally from the 49th OSS, worked with Molitor and was close with members of their previous shop.
“While I do miss the coworkers I was so close with, I know that they’re off making the entire unit better now,” said Pedescleaux.
Pedescleaux also said he already has seen an increase in efficiency and that the unit has benefitted from the balance of skilled team members throughout the many shops.
“It’s more of a relief knowing there are additional experienced people looking over your work to give extra assurance that pilots aren’t at risk,” said Pedescleaux.