Maintainers
at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., finished painting the first of nine Minuteman III ICBM payload transporters with the names of cities and counties surrounding the base. Honoring the base’s host city, the 341st Maintenance Group christened the first of the 66-foot-long vehicles the “Spirit of Great Falls.” By the end of the summer, the unit plans to emblazon a further eight vehicles with the titles: Electric City Endeavor, Choteau Challenger, Cascade Crusader, Wheatland Wayfarer, Judith Basin Journeyman, Fergus Ferrier, Lewis and Clark Explorer, and Teton Traveler, respectively. (Malmstrom report by Beau Wade)
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David R. Wolfe recently pledged “a plus-up in manpower” for the maintainer ranks, as the service prepares to launch a major overhaul of its maintenance career field next year.