MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C., - --
The deputy commandant of Marine Corps Aviation visited
Marine Corps Air Station New River Sept. 17 to discuss the future of naval
aviation with aircraft maintenance professionals and senior aviation leaders.
Lt. Gen. Jon M. Davis was joined by naval aviation community
leaders to discuss suggestions the aviation community has come across that
affect the readiness and capabilities of naval aviators. Davis’ visit to Marine
Aircraft Group 29 was part of the Naval Aviation Enterprise’s Boots on the
Ground, an event that provides senior leadership and flight line Marines with a
venue to discuss readiness challenges and process improvement efforts face to
face.
During the visit, Marines were given the opportunity to
speak to senior leaders in charge of naval aviation operations and give
detailed briefs on the equipment they use, along with any issues maintenance
personnel may have with their training or aircraft platform.
“I think it is really important to come see the Marines
personally, face-to-face, see where they are working, and look them in the eye
to find out what’s going on from their perspective,” Davis said. “I learn a lot
by talking to the lance corporals, corporals and sergeants of the units I
visit.”
According to Davis, the Marines are working to enhance their
maintenance training and achieve higher technical proficiency. Marines’ skills
with new maintenance technology and procedures directly impact the readiness of
both maintainers with their respective aircraft.
After visiting Marines at each of the wings, Davis said he
has a better understanding of what the Marines at the air station want and need
and will look for ways to follow through on their requests.
The Marines on the ground see the real issues better than
personnel who don’t work hands-on with the aircraft, Davis explained.
“The Naval Aviation Enterprise brings people together,”
Davis said. “What we do with what we learn here involves coming up with a plan
of action and implementing it. The things we have to do will not only improve
readiness, but maintain the readiness that the U.S. Marine Corps needs to
continue operating successfully.”
Davis said, leaders use the data gathered while visiting the
Marines during the “Boots on the Ground” events to propose solutions for the
issues that are impeding the Marines’ readiness.
“There is a word called ‘alignment.’ We want our
organizations aligned for a common goal and a common target,” Davis said.
“While we are out here, we make sure that the Marines know what our target is,
which is readiness.”
Davis said, two of the biggest concerns affecting the
readiness of naval aviation today are depleting mission-capable supplies and
aviation maintenance personnel who lack follow-on training.
With the amount of mission useful supplies continuously
decreasing and Marines earning less credentials in their job fields, mission
readiness and expertize are affected, Davis said.
“We hope to all come out of here on the same sheet of
music,” Davis said. “Everybody sees the problem the same way, we make solutions
collectively and we move out and make it happen.”
We need to have a better training stratification for our
aircraft maintainers so they can deliver what the naval aviation community
needs for aviation readiness in both the Navy and the Marine Corps, said Davis
said.
“I am really proud of the Marines down here with 2nd MAW and
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29,” Davis said. “They are engaged and
bright. They are the best the nation has to offer and my job and my motivation
is to give them the tools they need so they can be better.”