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Reorganizing maintenance groups will not happen

Crew chiefs and other aircraft munitions troops and maintainers will not move into operations groups, senior Air Force leaders decided Wednesday.

“This will reduce organizational turmoil as we focus on winning today’s fight,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said in a press statement.

The movement of fighter, bomber and rescue maintenance units from maintenance groups to operations groups under flying squadron commanders was one of the primary changes former Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley wanted in place by the end of 2008. However, Moseley’s early departure put that effort on hold.

Moseley thought that because flying squadron commanders were held responsible for meeting their unit’s flying and fighting requirements, commanders must have direct control of the day-to-day maintenance of the squadron’s aircraft. The idea was also supported by many enlisted crew chiefs who thought the merger would improve relations between aviators and flight line maintainers.

Opponents said the change would dilute responsibility for aircraft repairs between operators and maintainers and disrupt leadership opportunities for maintenance officers.

Schwartz sided with the opponents.

“Independent maintenance groups produce professionals with the highest levels of maintenance and logistics competency and that translates to mission effectiveness,” the general said.