126th Maintenance Group Achieves Highest Maintenance Efficiency

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clare Wallace
  • 126th Air Refueling Wing
The 126th Maintenance Group was rated best in the Air Force for KC-135 mission capability readiness for the fiscal year 2016.

The 126 MXG received an 82 percent mission capability rating.  This exceeded the Air National Guard goal by 8 percent and the Air Mobility Command goal by 2 percent.

There are other performance measures such as cannibalization rate and repeat/recur rate; however, the mission capable rating incorporates contributions from across the entire group, measuring overall maintenance group effectiveness.

According to Lt. Col. Keith R. Benko, commander of the 126th Maintenance Squadron, this year's ranking was a product of smart maintenance practices.

"We are constantly looking for ways to improve our maintenance efficiency," said Lt. Col Benko. "This not only includes scheduling maintenance, but also immediately addressing unscheduled maintenance and investing time-planning for any issues that may arise."

For the 126 MXG, this ranking means a new performance expectation.

Lt. Col Benko said that the 126 MXG plans to continue to improve by trying to stay one step ahead--being a proactive rather than reactive MXG.

The MXG's exemplary maintenance practices, coupled with outstanding support from operations and logistics, has allowed the 126 MXG to fulfill their creed "Fix it today, safely" and thereby sustaining the 126 ARW's ample ability to meet nuclear and conventional missions and allowing the wing to soar to new heights.