21A Aircraft Maintenance Officer. (They OWN the jet!)

If aircraft are central to the Air Force, then maintainers are at its heart. Aircraft Maintenance Officers lead these airmen in ensuring that each jet is ready and capable to project airpower anywhere, anytime.
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[@jbullet630]

So…you work on them? Do you provide expertise and guidance? Or, do you provide updates on them with the boss at your morning meetings?

[@airforceofficerpodcast]

maintenance officers do not usually work on the jets. rather they are responsible for the overall safety and capability of the aircraft and the people who work on them.

[@abbyholman1090]

Guys.. stop saying that there will be links in the description when there is not any!

[@adambutz3782]

The Public Affairs POC information in the video commissioned in 2019 and ironically is now a Mx Officer.

[@waynecardwell2835]

No Mx officers don't say the aircraft is safe and ready. The Mx crews do with the final review by the pro super typically an E-7

[@saldol9862]

to be honest as a maintainer I almost never interact with MX officers

[@airforceofficerpodcast]

why do you think that is?

[@elodionocesa]

I think it's different everywhere, at Cannon, maintainers (even E4 and below) had a great relationship with aircrew and talked to each other about the issues they faced in flight. I moved to Hurlburt in 2018 and it was the complete opposite, no one talked to no one, and I've seen the difference that makes in actual deployability in system maintenance.@@airforceofficerpodcast

[@IDidntVoteForThisOption]

@@airforceofficerpodcastbecause the maintenance officers who spend 2-3 years at a base before moving are typically just learning the ropes of the maintenance process, and aren’t actual SMEs. The enlisted that can spend possibly their entire careers (looking at you PRP) on a jet are the aircraft SMEs, the Mx officers are just the enlisted voice to leadership at best.

[@donttrackmebro]

That's not entirely accurate. While it's usually a pro-super that signs off on the jet being safe to fly..... Mx officers can as well and often do (assuming they have the right authorities on the special cert roster).

[@cruzej804]

Officers know the MDS before going to tech school. ...Unlike pilots... most officers go to their base first and then attend tech school... so their aircraft is already known. There is no "drop night"... you know once you get your first assignment during ROTC

[@snwboardguy04]

Submitting SCLEP-A package this fall. 14 year MSgt. I want to be a Mx Officer. Is the field difficult to get selected for?

[@cruzej804]

@@snwboardguy04 congrats! No, if I'm not mistaken it high need, along with LRO and security forces. Are you a maintainer?

[@snwboardguy04]

@@cruzej804 yeah I am. C5s and C17s

[@cruzej804]

@@snwboardguy04 nice, should be a seamless transition. I'm at an enroute with C17/C5s Best of luck to you!

[@snwboardguy04]

@@cruzej804 ramstein? Rota? Yokota? Kadena? Hickam? Spang? Turkey?