Home > News > Features > Display

Focus on the Force: Missile maintenance at its finest

By Valerie Mullett, 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office / Published April 28, 2011

PRINT | E-MAIL
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron's periodic maintenance program has a find-and fix philosophy, according to its commander, Lt. Col. Suzanne Sauls. They are tasked to inspect, troubleshoot, repair and service the missile alert facilities and launch facilities environmental control systems, waste water disposal system and primary, secondary and emergency power systems.

One PM team, Papa 02, has risen to this challenge admirably and was selected for this week's Focus on the Force spotlight.

"Our job is extremely important to the mission because it ensures our system maintains the highest percent of on-alert status that is possible," said Staff Sgt. Kyle Babbert in September 2010, prior to competing in the first ever Global Strike Challenge. "Without our missiles on alert, our deterrent mission would fail."

He now serves as the Papa 02 team chief supervising and mentoring his team of technicians: Senior Airmen Wayne Reid, Jeffrey Estes, Ray Deleon Guerrero, Alejandro Cedillos, Eric Menger and Jonathan Hudock. Airmen Menger and Reid are also certified drivers for the periodic maintenance van.

On average, they deploy in a group of four to six and dispatch to the missile complex more than 140 times a year visiting more than 215 missile sites to clear more than 2,700 work orders. A typical duty day when deployed can last upwards of 13 hours.

"We report to work at 7 a.m. each day," said Sergeant Babbert. "When we deploy, we are gone for awhile, but I would say on average, 13 to 16 hours would be a normal shift."

These long hours are one of the things other team members don't like about their jobs, but they don't outweigh the things they do like.

"What I like most about this job is the people I've met and the friends I've made," said Airman Deleon Guerrero. "I've learned a lot, as well, just doing my job."

For Airman Estes, job satisfaction is something he likes about his duties.

"I like feeling that I have actually accomplished something when I am fixing a problem," he said.

Airman Cedillos joined the Air Force two-and-a-half years ago because he wanted a positive challenge that could drive him to succeed.

"I love knowing that simply by doing my job I have helped keep my family and country safe," he said. "It is great coming to work and knowing that no matter how long I have been doing this job, I learn new things."

Meshing as a cohesive unit, this team faces the challenges Montana's weather brings combined with the long hours and many schedule changes and hold their heads high - leaning forward and pressing forward as the wing commander would want them to.
USAF Comments Policy
If you wish to comment, use the text box below. AF reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.

This is a moderated forum. That means all comments will be reviewed before posting. In addition, we expect that participants will treat each other, as well as our agency and our employees, with respect. We will not post comments that contain abusive or vulgar language, spam, hate speech, personal attacks, violate EEO policy, are offensive to other or similar content. We will not post comments that are spam, are clearly "off topic", promote services or products, infringe copyright protected material, or contain any links that don't contribute to the discussion. Comments that make unsupported accusations will also not be posted. The AF and the AF alone will make a determination as to which comments will be posted. Any references to commercial entities, products, services, or other non-governmental organizations or individuals that remain on the site are provided solely for the information of individuals using this page. These references are not intended to reflect the opinion of the AF, DoD, the United States, or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization. Such references are not an official or personal endorsement of any product, person, or service, and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying AF endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service.

Any comments that report criminal activity including: suicidal behaviour or sexual assault will be reported to appropriate authorities including OSI. This forum is not:

  • This forum is not to be used to report criminal activity. If you have information for law enforcement, please contact OSI or your local police agency.
  • Do not submit unsolicited proposals, or other business ideas or inquiries to this forum. This site is not to be used for contracting or commercial business.
  • This forum may not be used for the submission of any claim, demand, informal or formal complaint, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notice or process, or for the exhaustion of any legal and/or administrative remedy.

AF does not guarantee or warrant that any information posted by individuals on this forum is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. AF may not be able to verify, does not warrant or guarantee, and assumes no liability for anything posted on this website by any other person. AF does not endorse, support or otherwise promote any private or commercial entity or the information, products or services contained on those websites that may be reached through links on our website.

Members of the media are asked to send questions to the public affairs through their normal channels and to refrain from submitting questions here as comments. Reporter questions will not be posted. We recognize that the Web is a 24/7 medium, and your comments are welcome at any time. However, given the need to manage federal resources, moderating and posting of comments will occur during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Comments submitted after hours or on weekends will be read and posted as early as possible; in most cases, this means the next business day.

For the benefit of robust discussion, we ask that comments remain "on-topic." This means that comments will be posted only as it relates to the topic that is being discussed within the blog post. The views expressed on the site by non-federal commentators do not necessarily reflect the official views of the AF or the Federal Government.

To protect your own privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include personally identifiable information, such as name, Social Security number, DoD ID number, OSI Case number, phone numbers or email addresses in the body of your comment. If you do voluntarily include personally identifiable information in your comment, such as your name, that comment may or may not be posted on the page. If your comment is posted, your name will not be redacted or removed. In no circumstances will comments be posted that contain Social Security numbers, DoD ID numbers, OSI case numbers, addresses, email address or phone numbers. The default for the posting of comments is "anonymous", but if you opt not to, any information, including your login name, may be displayed on our site.

Thank you for taking the time to read this comment policy. We encourage your participation in our discussion and look forward to an active exchange of ideas.