MOC Airmen ensure mission success is no joke

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Maintainers are highly visible working on aircraft out on the flightline, but it is a select group of Airmen who are responsible for tracking and ensuring Eielson's fleet of jets are maintained everyday. 

The 354th Maintenance Group Maintenance Operations Center personnel work day, swing and mid shifts to plan, schedule and manage aircraft status 24 hours a day, seven days a week 

They act as a sort of command post for the flightline-- keeping track of every aircraft, whether it's assigned here or transient, and the aircraft's current condition. They coordinate with the354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 354th Maintenance Squadron, and airfield operations for everything from aircraft launches to recoveries. 

The dedicated crew work from a remote room to centralize coordination of all aircraft maintenance. These specialists gather facts from pilots and flight crews about what part is broken on airplanes before they are fixed, and that is where the MOC takes the reins toward mission success. 

As they orchestrate maintenance operations, MOC Airmen ensure timely and accurate support of everyday and exercise related missions. They implement daily flying and maintenance schedules, ensures optimum utilization of hundreds of Maintenance Group personnel. 

"We control what maintenance Airmen do and how they do it," said Tech. Sgt. Charles King, MOC NCOIC. "We track the flying status of aircraft--when it's broken, if so why, and coordinate aircraft inspections regularly." 

The MOC was previously co-located with the base command post but recently moved into a new facility beside the flightline. 

"After working on the flightline, it was a huge change," said Sergeant King, "but once you see the result of the guys on the flightline and how it affects things, it's gratifying." 

MOC personnel do not only help the maintainers, they help the wing as a whole by ensuring the mission is accomplished. By interacting directly with numerous flightline maintainers and aircrew members daily, this element also maintains successful response activities during ground and in-flight emergencies to ensure against loss of life and equipment. 

"When it comes down to it, we have to make sure the proper personnel are notified of any mishaps," said Senior Airman Kyle Otis, 354th MOC coordinator. "The loss of a life or an aircraft could be at stake." 

Working in the MOC is a type of special duty and Airmen are typically assigned for two years. Airmen usually have a background in maintenance which helps them to understand the numerous calls they receive when maintenance personnel are updating an aircraft's status. 

"It makes things a lot simpler when you've actually worked on aircraft," said Airman 1st Class Julio Oseguera, 354th MOC controller, whose Air Force specialty is a crew chief. 

"It's a new challenge and learning experience," added Staff Sgt. Robert Myrah, MOC Senior coordinator who is also a crew chief. "You go from physically working on aircraft to being and administrator and using more computer skills."