103rd CRF commemorates 50 engines shipped

BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, East Granby, Conn. -- The 50th engine departed Bradley's Centralized Repair Facility aboard an air-ride flatbed trailer June 2, 2010, bound for Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Harrison Township, Michigan.

A combined value of over 65 million dollars of Air National Guard and active-duty Air Force equipment has been overhauled and shipped through the gates of the 103rd Airlift Wing since the creation of the CRF.

"This overwhelming accomplishment is even more satisfying to the CRF personnel with zero returns since the first engine shipped to Fort Smith Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on November 1st, 2007," said Staff Sgt. Steve Sevigny, work production lead, 103rd Maintenance Squadron.

Aside from the physical milestone of the 50th engine shipped, Sevigny said the accomplishment of the overhauls is even more satisfying due to more than half of the CRF workforce is in training.

"One of our missions is to overhaul TF-34s at the intermediate maintenance level. The 103rd MXG inducts engines from a base, to include the AOR [area of responsibility], with troubleshooting issues or out-of-time conditions, where one or more time tracked components have run out of life. The purpose of our CRF operation is ensuring each engine is serviceable with optimum performance, as we contribute to the mission of keeping A-10s a viable and lethal platform for many more years," said Maj. Wayne B. Ferris, commander, 103rd Maintenance Squadron.

With the loss of the A-10 fighter, former weapons, munitions, phase section, flightline, Repair and Reclamation, and parachute shop personnel have cross-trained to create a "melting pot," continuing to show the can-do and "get the job done" attitude the Flying Yankees are known for, said Sevigny.

The new camaraderie and various backgrounds have created engine overhaul crews who learn from each other, receive a sound foundation and understanding of their new jobs and further help make the CRF section reputation exceptional.

The current temporary situation at the CRF shop, working out of a smaller building, has created new challenges for the CRF overhauling TF-34 engines. With smaller work space, minimal storage, and having to adapt to the loss of equipment permanently installed in the old building, production has increased. Every month since the creation of the CRF in 2007, the CRF has increased production to a current average of 2.2 engines per month.

"The establishment of the CRF was an excellent strategic move for the Connecticut Air National Guard. We're providing an invaluable service to Air Force active duty, the Guard and the Air Force Reserve. This mission allows us to continue to be a major contributor to worldwide airpower objectives for the foreseeable future," said Lt. Col. Jerry McDonald, 103rd Maintenance Group commander. "This not only aids in securing a mission here at Bradley Air National Guard Base but continues the concept of; one team, one fight, with the Air National Guard and active-duty Air Force; as well as, the overwhelming professionalism the world has come to expect from the 103rd.

"Concrete is being poured both at the new CRF section and the hush house and steel has started to arrive to erect a new skeleton of the CRF section. The new CRF section includes a 17,000 square foot expansion that will add more workspace and training areas for the repair and maintenance of the TF-34 engine.

Completion of these facilities is in sight making the job of each and every CRF member more productive, said Sevigny.

"With more room to work, a second test cell to run more engines, and a greater ability to streamline the overhaul process, future engines should be able to find their way into the A-10 community in less time, maintaining the expected quality of CRF engines and supporting bases that require these engines better than the outstanding job the CRF has already done," said Sevigny.