Airman coined for eye of excellence

by Airman 1st Class D. Blake Browning 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Courtesy photo
Senior Airman Paige Hoag poses with Chief Master Sgt. Todd Petzel, 18th Air Force command chief, and Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Cox, 18th Air Force commander, after a coining ceremony Dec. 19 on Ramstein.

The 18th Air Force commander and command chief coined a 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron airman Dec. 19 on Ramstein.

Senior Airman Paige Hoag, 721 AMXS crew chief, was coined by Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Cox, 18th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Todd Petzel, 18th Air Force command chief, for her attention to detail during a post-flight inspection.

During an inspection last month, Hoag identified a sheared shimmy assembly on the main landing gear of a C-17.

Hoag immediately notified her leadership, and the squadron promptly began searching for the resources to fix the damaged gear.

After communicating with the 618th Air and Space Operations Center located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, the logistics experts determined a Boeing repair service needed to perform the maintenance on the aircraft.

The Boeing Repair and Modification Service team then began their assessment of the aircraft. Upon completion, they found additional cracks and heat damage on the gear.

Through the dedication to her job and attention to detail, Hoag saved the Air Force from a potential accident caused by gear failure, resulting in additional damage to a $202 million aircraft and possible injury to personnel.