86th MMS takes mission to Arctic Circle

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stephen Martin
  • 86th Materiel Maintenance Squadron
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Tasked with maintaining, preserving, and inventorying approximately 80 percent of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's War Reserve Material, the 86th Materiel Maintenance Squadron has a unique mission. Although administratively located at Ramstein, the bulk of the operations take place at sites in Luxembourg and Norway.

In order to ensure the material is in tip-top shape, members of the 86th MMS complete biannual quality assurance evaluation inspections of the WRM storage and maintenance sites.

"Our goal is seamless asset condition transparency; the inspection visits allow us to ensure the stored WRM assets are maintained to the same AF standards as equipment and vehicles used on daily basis throughout USAFE," said Maj. Ryan Coyne, 86th MMS commander.

A team of five inspectors returned from their visit to two sites in Norway Aug. 30 to Sept. 18. The sites visited during this trip, operated by their Norwegian NATO partners, keep a contingent of general and specialized Air Force vehicles, material handling equipment, and aircraft generation equipment mission ready in support of exercises, humanitarian relief operations, contingencies and war.

The 20-day mission focused on verifying the condition of the WRM assets while conducting a 100 percent inventory at both collocated bases.

The quality assurance evaluation team, headed by Master Sgt. Stephen Martin, 86th MMS Aircraft Ground Equipment flight chief and Norway Program manager, was excited about moving forward after an 18-month long delay due to the Icelandic volcano eruption coupled with limited funding. The long wait didn't disappoint however, as the vehicle and AGE assets were found to be stored in an immaculate condition at both locations because of humidity controlled storage warehouses and a superb work force.

Their first stop was Sola Air Station near Stavanger, Norway, where most of the WRM vehicles are stored in a heavily fortified and fully hardened operational aircraft shelters. The team was impressed with the great lengths the Norwegian Site Manager Harald Haukali took to maintain and store the equipment to near flawless condition, despite some of the equipment being over 25 years old.

While there, the team was also able to engage in some NATO partner immersion and cultural engagement, to include sampling some arctic food specialties: whale steaks and reindeer jerky, plus a 45-minute Norwegian Sea King Helicopter Training Mission flight for, Master Sgt. Romeo Delossantos, who said it "was a once in a lifetime experience."

The team's next stop was to Bodo Air Station situated above the Arctic Circle. Not only does Bodo maintain Air Force WRM equipment, but it is home to the 132nd Norwegian Air Wing, a robust F-16, Fighting Falcon base. The team was graciously welcomed by their Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Per Egil Rygg and then turned over to his Norwegian maintenance officers who accompanied the visit.

At Bodo, the team was once again impressed with the condition of the vehicles, equipment and AGE as all were in pristine working order.

"Rarely do you get to see a fleet of vintage 1984 VW military vans in near-new condition ready to roll out if tasked," said Major Coyne.

The Norwegian team strives to maintain the same skill level and training as Air Force craftsman while also following strict aircraft maintenance standards parallel to the U.S. Air Force.

Additionally, a complete information technology structural survey was conducted by Master Sgt Michael Gonzalez, 86th MMS IT and AGE manager, who was tasked with bringing both sites on line with Air Force Portal access to allow increased training and a more robust Air Force parts sourcing capability.

Vidar Nilsen, the Bodo site manager, was always present to answer and voice concerns while providing insight about maintenance and storage operations in harsh arctic weather conditions.

The team successfully accounted for all U.S. property validated by supply specialist Staff Sgt. Cecil Jones, 86th MMS material management QAE, while Tech. Sgt. Ronald LaMar, 86th MMS fuels QAE, performed cyclic inspections on ten R11 Refueling vehicles.

Although the work was tedious, the team left both locations knowing if needed; the 86th MMS WRM sites at Sola and Bodo Norway are prepped to deploy fully mission capable WRM assets without hesitation.


Members of the QAE team included: Master Sergeants Stephen Martin, Romeo Delos Santos, Michael Gonzalez, Tech. Sgt. Ronald LaMar and Staff Sgt. Cecil Jones. While transitioning between Sola and Bodo, Norway, the team was also joined by Lt. Col. Kennerly, 86th Logistics Readiness Group deputy commander, Major Coyne, 2nd Lt. Dawn Pieper, 86th MMS director of operations, Jim Sherlock, USAFE A4 directorate, and Senior Master Sgt. Derrick White, 86th MMS superintendent for briefs with Norwegian base leadership.