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Best in a generation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Despite deployments, inspections exercises and temperatures exceeding more than 100 degrees, the 2nd Maintenance Group and its partnered organizations, persevered to achieve the highest B-52 mission capable rate in more than 16 years.

Through the combined effort of all Airmen who support the 2nd Maintenance Group, the 2 MXG was able to meet all nine of the maintenance metrics required by the 2nd Bomb Wing.

"This is a team sport," said Col. Stephen Petters, 2 MXG commander. "We could not have accomplished this without every Airman doing what they do best."

This is the first time since 1996 the 2 BW has had all its maintenance metrics in the green. The 2 MXG was able to continue flying the Barksdale mission, even while supporting Exercise Red Flag, Las Vegas, Nev., and meet more than 100 mission sorties and more than 600 flying hours for July.

Not only were 2 MXG and its partners able to meet all of the goals that were required, they surpassed the standards that were set by the wing and improved the 12 month average for all nine of the maintenance metrics sections as well. The maintenance metrics include; mission capable, total non-mission capable for maintenance, total non-mission capable for supply, repeat and recurring maintenance, flying schedule effectiveness, abort rate, break rate, 12-hour fix rate, cannibalization rate and operations and maintenance deviation rate.

"As far as we know, this is the first time that this has happened here," said Lt. Col. Thomas Kirkham, 2 MXG deputy commander. "We only have records dating back to 1996, but regardless this is no small feat for any base with planes as old as ours."

According to Kirkham, Barksdale maintainers are "truly the best." These B-52s are more than 60 years-old and the Airmen who maintain them are at least two to three decades younger.

"It takes a special group of individuals to come together and get these planes mission capable," said Kirkham. "They are the epitome of core values and we could not have accomplished this without them."

Barksdale maintainers are out on the flightline regardless of rain, cold or the blistering sun, these dedicated professionals of the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 2nd Maintenance Squadron, 2nd Maintenance Operations Squadron and 2nd Munitions Squadron get the job done to ensure the B-52 fulfills its mission to provide devastating B-52 combat capability anytime and anywhere.