Teamwork keeps 910th birds in flight Published Feb. 9, 2012 By SSgt. Valerie Smock 910 AW/PA YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Puzzles are comprised of many pieces. If a piece is missing, the puzzle isn't as effective. Here at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, it takes 15 pieces to put one type of puzzle together. That means 15 integral parts to get the job done. This puzzle is the aircraft and those pieces are the Airmen of the 910th Maintenance Group (MXG). These Airmen work together to complete Isochronal Inspections (Iso), which are assessments of the aircraft to ensure they are ready for flight. During an Iso, among a long list of other checks, aircraft receive an oil change, engine check and a run through the wash rack, and all the debris gets swept out of the gear wells. Airmen from different flights, including Avionics, Fabrication and Propulsion are all part of the inspection process. "This is a good example of a team effort," said Master Sgt. John Schmolly, heavy maintenance flight chief with the 910th Maintenance Squadron (MXS). "Everyone has a certain responsibility. Everybody is an integral part of the puzzle. When the puzzle is complete, then we're done with the Iso." Airmen from the 910th MXG inspected four aircraft during the February Unit Training Assembly. The aircraft returned from Southwest Asia in January, bringing approximately 140 deployed Citizen Airmen home to YARS. "We are really depending on traditional reservists to get the job done with the recent deployment," said Schmolly. "They really pitch in and help out. Without them, we can't do the things we do." Those "things" they do are what helps prevent a small issue from becoming a larger problem. "If you didn't do [Iso] and you only would do a pre-flight on the aircraft, it would be down all the time," said Master Sgt. Nathan Anderson, assistant heavy maintenance flight chief assigned to the 910th MXS. "It would be reactive, not preventative. What could originally be a little leak could result in us losing a mission because of serious problems." If those problems aren't under control, it could be detrimental to YARS, especially if the aircraft is scheduled to go to the desert. Anderson said those planes fly as much in a three or four month deployment as they would in one year at home. However, keeping the problems at bay is just one small part of working on the aircraft. Anderson said there is much more to it. "There is a structural integrity with this program," said Anderson. "This is especially true for crew chiefs to refurbish the aircraft. They can really take pride in what they do and make their aircraft shine."