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QA program redirects funds for mission use

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Angela Walz
  • 162nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Tech. Sgt. Chris Sabre is, in essence, the unofficial Santa Claus of the 162nd Fighter Wing. His job ensures sections of the base receive "wish list" items that might not otherwise receive funding approval. 

As the program manager for the base's Repair Enhancement Program (REP), Sergeant Sabre oversees the Quality Assurance program that increases mission readiness by repairing certain unserviceable aircraft parts and placing them into the supply system, thereby serving as an alternate source of supply of parts for unit aircraft. 

"This is a great program that not only does great things for our Maintenance Group, it also benefits the entire wing," said Col. Greg Stroud, 162nd Maintenance Group commander. 

Sergeant Sabre explained, "The REP benefits our unit by generating a costsavings on every part that's repaired through the program and turned in to meet a supply demand. Current regulations allow us to capture the funds saved through REP in a separate account and use those funds to meet other mission related requirements." 

His efforts garnered an Air Force credit of $612,069.08 for parts repaired through the program in fiscal 2008 and turned in to the supply system. "After taking into account the cost to repair the parts," he said, "a cost savings of $487,950.45 was generated." 

Tangible products abound throughout the base as a result of REP. Some of the fiscal 2008 funds were used for the following large purchases: 

Jet blast deflectors and pads
Line stripe machine
Weapons parts washer
Pressure washer
New lockers for Building 33
Laptops for the flight line
Munitions gate opener
Telephone switch components

Master Sgt. Jim Stenger, the assistant weapons section supervisor here, is enjoying his section's new automatic gate opener that was purchased with REP funds. 

"The motor went out in our old gate so we were locking and unlocking, and opening and closing the gate by hand," Sergeant Stenger said. 

"Now there's a sensor under the concrete pad on the inside of the gate, and remote controls in each of our trucks to automatically open and close the new gate from the outside. It's great, and it saves us so much time," he said. 

Sabre lauds the Repair Enhancement Program as a means to meet mission readiness and war-time requirements, and says he enjoys the working relationships he has maintained while in his position and in his nine years in the unit. 

"I just report the money," he said, "The commanders get to spend it.