“nervous” air defense box of British Rapier and Army Patriot batteries, with no moon and haze creating a “no horizon” night, our lead crew flew a full profile check, on night vision goggles, following instrument rules. It was an “autorotation check” to remember. Over the ensuing months ARINC’s “gray beard” crews flew hundreds of hours, allowing combat crews to rest for “on call” SOF missions. All the while, Tom and his troops were in MOPP4 and “bunker diving” during SCUD attacks, just like the active force. From the successful Fah Oil Field raid, to PAVE LOW setting historic high MC and availability rates for combat operations, ARINC crews were a ARINC “Graybeards” in action. seamless part of the combat support of AFSOC. At the pre-redeployment “hot wash,” SOF deployed commanders declared ARINC Flight Ops “MVP” among deployed contractors at their fighting location.
BOEING
2003. Engineers and technical representatives, already deployed into Europe, were further augmented at Ramstein AB and Rhein-Main AB. In addition to normal AMC en route locations, spares were provided to such places as Seeb and Shaikh Isa. On going, on-site troubleshooting assistance and engineering dispositions were provided that helped ensure rapid aircraft discrepancy resolution and return to mission capable status. SSIPT people provided on-site repair support at Bagram, Incirlik, Delhi, Baghdad, and other locations. Work was performed on engines, landing gear, avionics, and aircraft general systems. The extra efforts by everyone in the supply chain contributed to a TNMCS rate of 3.1%. The combined efforts of everyone in SSIPT contributed to the C-17 worldwide logistics departure rate consistently exceeding 93%. The men and women in SSIPT are proud to have made these and other outstanding contributions to our nation in support of OIF.
ANYWHERE – ANYTIME... “That is our sloB U R L I N G T O N gan; that sums it up,” said NORTHERN AND Gustavo “Gus” Urzua, S A N TA F E R A I LWAY General Manager of Military Harnesses Iron Boeing’s C-17 Support Horse….. A new railhead Systems Integrated Product at Fort Hood helped the Team (SSIPT). “We are Burlington Northern and poised to support our cusSanta Fe Railway rapidly tomer, no matter the locaexpedite equipment from tion, no matter the time, no America’s largest military matter the task,” he conbase in conjunction with tinued. Indeed, the SSIPT Fred Bahmani, Boeing C-17 Field Services, en-route from repair of P-32 Operation Iron Horse. Lt. professionals, consisting of in Bagram, Afghanistan. Col. Bob Bricone, III maintainers, engineers, Corps’ G3 Chief of Operations, said the new railhead gave supply technicians, and others, have performed magnificentFort Hood tremendous additional capability to push out a ly during all crises involving the aircraft, especially OIF. division. By some estimates it tripled the speed, enabling SSIPT people went where C-17 aircraft went—people from Fort Hood to load and launch 200 to 240 railcars per day. the McChord AFB site went to Charleston AFB where a continued on following page... 24/7 support operation was set up from January to June EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE
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