Delaware National Guard - DNG News 2002

Tech Sgt. Mike Pierson (seated), C-130 Loadmaster, and Maj. Dave Rice, Navigator, check load procedures.
There was much activity and attention to detail on base and in the surrounding airspace above Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia in the eight days from June 3-10, 2002. Why? A special team from the 21st Air Force, Air Mobility Command (AMC) came calling on the 166th Airlift Wing to examine how we conduct our flying business. The result? – a rating of "Excellent" for the unit’s overall flying performance. The visiting Aircrew Standard and Evaluation Visit (ASEV) Team gave special accolades to a dozen individual aircrew members. And, the ASEV Team said the Wing’s flying aircrews were "awesome."

The goal of the ASEV was to put our aircrews to the test to check our 142nd Airlift Squadron and 142nd Aeromedical Squadron aircrew performance and systems against the Air Force standards to fly an aircraft. While separate from the Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) held once every four years and meant to test our wartime tasking capabilities, the Stan/Eval Visit focuses aircrew attention on mandatory aspects of the flying mission, which makes for a more successful transition to the next ORI," said Lt. Col Jim Stewart.

Tech. Sgt. Mike Ceselesky, Flight Engineer, reviews manual with flight engineer’s panel photographs
The Stan/Eval Visit forces all 166^th aircrew to train and operate by the letter of the law. In areas compatible between functions performed on aircraft, such as C-17, C-5, C-130 and C-141, certain skills are applicable across the board. There is uniform AMC compliance for certain overlapping activities. As for the uniqueness of each individual aircraft, you can create those things you need to know for each aircraft. This visit determined if the flying units were in compliance with regulations for flying our aircraft, with every possible category reviewed and evaluated explained Stewart.

Lt. Col. James Kohler, the 142 Airlift Squadron Commander, commended the hard work each member contributed toward this very stressful inspection. "This is not something that we look forward to, but is a very good tool for the Air Force to determine the level of performance for each of its flying squadrons at the unit level. The Evaluation Team viewed our unit as ‘Awesome.’ When you get a rating of ‘Excellent’ and an additional comment of ‘Awesome’ it makes all of the hard work by so many people worthwhile. We now know where we fit as compared with other units."

Maj. Chris Toensing, C-130 Pilot and Flight Commander, checks weather before an evening flight.

The work of our aircrews was examined both on the ground, and in our local flying area over the skies of the New Castle County Airbase, south to Martinsburg WV and Dover DE, and north to Atlantic City, NJ and Wilkes Barre, PA. Also, one special trip towards Pittsburgh, PA and back was made to meet a requirement for a three and a half hour long straight and level Aeromedical Squadron evaluation in flight. The three squadrons involved, the 142 Airlift Squadron, the 142 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and the 166 Operations Support Flight, had all eyes (and ears!) on them.

How comprehensive was the ASEV Visit regarding our unit people? Each and every 166 Airlift Wing pilot, navigator, flight engineer, loadmaster, flight nurse, and aeromedical technician took a closed-book written test. Emergency procedures were required to be written out by the aircrews exactly as they are in the manuals. Aircrew knowledge was given high accolades, with an overall average test score of 97%. They were also subject to a check ride in the aircraft, on a random basis. A total of 42 check rides were administered. All of the 166^th aircrew that received a check ride received a "Q-1" rating (scale of Q-1, Q-2, and Q-3, with Q-1 the highest), of which 16% (7 evaluations) were deemed "Exceptionally Qualified."

Chief Master Sgt. Ray Holder, Flight Engineer Examiner, and Senior Master Sgt. Allen Scheel, Loadmaster, crosscheck publications.
The ASEV inspector team lauded several people for special recognition, including seven individuals for In-Flight Performance and eight individuals for Programs, with one person also pointed out for a "Special Thanks."

Capt. Kimberly A. Short and Chief Master Sgt. Raymond L. Holder III, both from the 166 OGV, were recognized for their outstanding program work in the Flight Manuals Program.

In the area of Training Administration, four members of the 142 Airlift Squadron were recognized for their teamwork managing office responsibilities. They are Maj. David Rice, Maj. James Hornbeck, Master Sgt. Thomas Rutt, and Tech. Sgt. Michael Pierson.

In the 142 AES, two members of the training office, Maj. Carolyn J. Wood and Senior Master Sgt. Eileen Maher, were aplpauded for their "energetic, knowledgeable and dedicated" work. Wood in the area of Qualification Training for developing a comprehensive C-130 certification program and Maher for her "continuation training" tracking program.

The area of Aeromedical Equipment was noted as being "staffed and well-managed by knowledgeable and motivated OIC and NCOIC." The OIC is Capt. Karen Kline and, while not mentioned by name in the ASEV report, the NCOIC is Staff Sgt. Charles Williston.

Seven people were lauded for In-Flight Performance: from the 166 OGV, Maj. Chris E. Toensing, Chief Master Sgt. Raymond L. Holder III, and Senior Master Sgt. Allen L. Scheel; from the 142 AS, Capt. Craig M. Conrad, 1^st Lt Daniel S. Hesselius, and Master Sgt. James D. Scott; and from the 142 AES, Capt. Karen K. Kline.

Lauded for "Special Thanks" was Senior Master Sgt. Allen L. Scheel from the 166 OGV for ASEV Team Support.

Vice Wing Commander of the 166^th, Col. Ernie Talbert, noted, "I want people to know who the traditional members are who received some of these positive comments." Those five members are Kline, Hesselius, Short, Hornbeck, and Wood.

Maj. Dave Rice, Navigator, sits at the "Nav Table" on Aircraft #209, calibrates APN-59 Radar for terrain mapping and weather avoidance
Chief Holder and Senior Master Sgt. Scheel credited much of the underlying success of the ASEV team visit to unit members who support the aircraft and flying mission, but who were not tested or part of the formal ASEV process. "We are kind of the credit-takers in a way," says Holder. "But like I tell Col. Mehan (Wing Commander), those aircraft out there do not fly without people. It takes everyone to put that aircraft on the end of the runway." Discussing the positive overall ASEV experience, Holder said, "It was the attitude of the whole base. It starts at the front gate, with Security Forces. It only takes one or two people to destroy an excellent attitude, but everyone did well."

Maj. Dave Rice checks Functional Check Information Files, a routine followed daily by all aircrew.
Pointing out those who work on the aircraft out of public sight, Holder said, "Our foundation for the C-130 aircraft is the people in the hanger." Holder pointed out examples of excellent work by maintenance people, the ISO Dock, and other shops that contribute mightily to putting iron on the ramp while ensuring safe flying operations. "People have saved us more times than I can count, ORI or ASEV."

To Holder, teamwork and mission pride is paramount. "This base wants to do well. When an ASEV Team member might call out for assistance, saying ‘we need help with this,’ three of our people jump up to offer help. Scheel also gave credit to units such as supply, saying "It takes people in supply to get the right part delivered to us quickly to maintenance, and for them to get that part installed on an aircraft, for it to be able to fly."

The 166 AW has several people in unique roles helping the unit. One is Lt. Col. Mike Feeley, who is a navigator and also the Maintenance Officer. "If there is a problem in maintenance with any aircraft, he (Feeley) can jump into the seat, and get a real, hands-on feel for fixing a problem," said Holder.

The ASEV visits have a measure of unpredictability built into them, in that the examining team can start testing the capabilities of aircrew at any time from 90 days out, and pick any aircrew at random, on any day, to examine. The 166 AW started getting ready after the normal Staff Assistance Visit, which occurred in November 2001. The aircrews put extra energy and effort into making several improvements recommended by the 21^st Air Force in that visit. There are numerous detailed and mandatory changes that the ASEV Team marked up, and they will come back to our base to check the 166 AW 90 days down the road from June 10. "Complying with these changes, and going through the experience of the June visit, gives 166 AW aircrew the opportunity to adjust future training, so we can take even greater steps to improve our Air Force flying mission," says Lt. Col. Jim Stewart.