Icemen chow down before work on the flight line

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Eric Millen, the 354th Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight commander, flips chocolate-chip pancakes at the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) hangars, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Jan. 15, 2014. Millen and other leaders at the 18th AMU helped with their Airmen's morale by cooking breakfast for maintainers while they worked to launch numerous aircraft simultaneously for a large-scale exercise. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Peter Reft/Released)

Icemen chow down before work on the flight line

U.S. Air Force aircraft maintenance Airmen assigned to the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron receive a pancake breakfast at the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) hangars on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Jan. 15, 2014. Leadership at 18th AMU helped with their Airmen's morale by cooking breakfast for maintainers while they worked to launch numerous aircraft simultaneously for a large-scale exercise. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Peter Reft/Released)

Icemen chow down before work on the flight line

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Savannah Lampe, an aerospace ground equipment journeyman, Master Sgt. Bryan Hinton, the accessories flight chief, and 2nd Lt. Eric Millen, the maintenance flight commander, all assigned to the 354th Maintenance Squadron, enjoy a pancake breakfast at the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) hangars, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Jan. 15, 2014. Leadership at 18th AMU helped with their Airmen's morale by cooking breakfast for maintainers while they worked to launch numerous aircraft simultaneously for a large-scale exercise. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Peter Reft/Released)

Icemen chow down before work on the flight line

Published Jan. 28, 2015
By Senior Airman Peter Reft
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Airmen in the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron worked to keep 14 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft ready for launch while adverse weather prevented pilots from taking off until the third day of operations Jan. 17, 2015.

The large-scale launch, combined with two consecutive flight cancellations, left aircraft maintenance Airmen with a longer and more demanding work schedule for preparing the aircraft for take off.

The 354th Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight commander, 2nd Lt. Eric Millen, and other leaders in the 354th Maintenance Group helped maintain their Airmen's morale by cooking breakfast each morning of the three-day launch.

"It's a morale booster for these guys," said Millen. "They can come in, get some hot pancakes, get their bellies full and get back out there to do their jobs."

Senior Airman Michelle Park, a 354th AMXS F-16 crew chief, said she was pleased to receive the support from the various shops of the 354th MXG.

"It was really nice because we thought we were the only ones who were going to show up on Saturday morning," said Park. "Also, they kept on adding to the breakfasts every day, and everyone was excited for the bacon. It was all gone in a matter of minutes."

Maintainers prepared the aircraft to participate in Pacific Air Forces training exercises with joint and coalition partners. There was no shortage of work to be done on the jets while the maintenance Airmen stayed busy with repair issues, weapons, avionics and safety inspections.

"A lot of these guys may not have time during the day to get a full meal," said Millen. "These breakfasts are a way to get them some good food."

Maintenance leaders played an active role in helping their Airmen both on and off of the flight line, serving Icemen hot meals before they returned to work.

"My Airmen are on the line launching jets, so you bet I'm going to do my part to keep them focused," said Master Sgt. Bryan Hinton, the 354th AMXS accessories flight chief. "Hot coffee, orange juice and pancakes are the least I could do to keep morale high."