Trejon Hill

Trainee Trejon Hill of the the 357th Training Flight, 322nd Training Squadron, will become the newest McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Airman when he graduates Basic Military Training, May 24. Hill will be assigned to the Fuels Section of the 931st Maintenance Squadron. (Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish)

tags

Staff Sgt. Ryan McPartland, a maintainer from the Repair and Reclamation section, 931st Maintenance Squadron pulls the maintenance tags from the yoke of a KC-135 Stratotanker during routine scheduled maintenance, April 22. The tags ensure maintainers who are working on multiple aircraft sections, are cognizant of each others' activities. (Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish)

Winging it

Tech. Sgt. Chad Marx, an aircraft structural maintenance craftsman assigned to the 931st Maintenance Squadron, 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., tightens a wingnut draw cleco in order to clamp together the sheet metal frame for an aircraft galley, June 26, 2012. The draw cleco will temporarily hold the frame together until the pieces are permanently fastened with rivets. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Zach Anderson)

Reserve speed

Master Sgt. John Fitzpatrick, an aircraft structural maintenance technician from the 931st Maintenance Squadron, speeds past the finish line at more than 170 miles per hour at Thunder Valley Raceway in Noble, Oklah., April 28. Fitzpatrick took first place in the Professional Motorcycle Racing Association's Pro E.T., recording a running time of 9.057 seconds and a reaction time of .014 seconds in the 9.02 dial. The Air Reserve Technician is one of a handful of Air Force Reservists sponsored by the Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service. He has represented the Air Force Reserve at motorcycle races throughout the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. (Courtesy photo)

Stop the bleeding

Senior Airman Adam Michel and Airman 1st Class Roland Cox, fuel system repair specialists from the 22nd Maintenance Squadron, remove a ram air scoop from a KC-135 Stratotanker wing in preparation for a wing tip-to-wing tip fuel leak inspection and repair. (Air Force photo by Brannen Parrish)

Aircraft structures section operate on metal

Staff Sgt. Andrew Tiehes, an aircraft structural maintainer with the 22nd MXS, uses a box-and-pan brake to bend a piece of sheet metal for a KC-135 Stratotanker. (Air Force photo by Brannen Parrish).

Make it spark and sizzle

Staff Sgt. Chase Splichal, a metals technologist from the 22nd Maintenance Squadron, welds a part. The integrated Metals Technology section of the 931st MXS and 22nd MXS includes 19 active and Reserve Airmen who provide round-the-clock support to the maintainers at McConnell Air Force Base. (Air Force photo by Brannen Parrish)

So shiny I can see myself

Tech. Sgt. Chad Marx, aircraft structural maintainer, 931st Maintenance Squadron, measures a sheet of metal prior to cutting. Marx is fabricating a galley for a KC-135 Stratotanker. The 931st MXS works with the 22nd MXS to repair a wide array of aircraft parts and equipment. The Total Force Initiative unit is comprised of 43 active duty Airmen from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, and two Air Reserve Technicians and four traditional Reservists from the 931st Air Refueling Group. (Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish)

NDI

Staff Sgt. Amanda Mitchell, 931st Maintenance Squadron, calibrates an eddy current probe prior to inspecting a KC-135 Stratotanker's bulkhead for cracks while Staff Sgt. Bryan Tyler, 22nd Maintenance Squadron, calibrates an ultrasonic transducer prior to testing for subsurface defects. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish)

Metal manipulation

Senior Airman Emilie Owen, aircraft structures specialist, 931st Maintenance Squadron, uses a cornice brake to bend a steel gusset for an aircraft galley. The gusset is a type of bracket that secures two aluminum sides of the galley. After the steel is bent to create the gusset, it will be cut and sanded into the proper shape. (Official photo by Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish)

Spotlight Mitchell

Staff Sergeant Amanda Mitchell

PT Success Story 931st

Master Sergeants John Grindstaff and Gregory Mitchell, Air Reserve Technicians with the 931st Maintenance Squadron jog at the indoor track at the Dole Center. With help from Sergeant Mitchell (left), Sergeant Grindstaff scored 92.7 points on his most recent physical fitness test. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish)