2 AMXS announces ‘Buff of the Month’ winner Published March 14, 2011 By Senior Airman La'Shanette V. Garrett 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, at Barksdale, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, announced its first 'Buff of the Month' winner as part of the Dedicated Crew Chief program. The recently re-established DCC program has been an Air Force tradition for decades and gives crew chiefs the opportunity to be recognized as the top crew chiefs of their base. The Buff of the month awards the team with the best aircraft. "The reemergence of this program was important because it directly assigns a Crew Chief to each aircraft to provide continuity and accuracy of aircraft forms, aircraft status, scheduled maintenance and improves aircraft appearance," said Tech. Sgt. John Rump, 2 AMXS dedicated crew chief manager. Out of 27 teams, the "Rolling Thunder" B-52 was chosen as Buff of the Month. The three-man team consists of Staff Sgt. Andre Green, dedicated crew chief, Airman 1st Class Carson Mather and Scott Harrison, crew chiefs. Winners are chosen by an equation that factors in the aircrafts mission capable rate, 12-hour fix rate and crew chief workable delayed discrepancies. "If there is a tie between two of the crews, we fall back to the amount of on-time takeoffs that the aircraft had for the month," said Sergeant Rump. "Winning this award feels good," said Airman Mather. "Seeing the hard work and effort that my team and I put into our job daily payoff is great." Crew chiefs are responsible for the overall maintenance on the aircraft they are assigned to as well as to perform preflight, thru-flight, hourly post-flight and launch and recovery actions in direct support of their unit's flying schedule, which is above and beyond that of the duties of a crew chief. "The DCC program is a key component of an overall effort to create a culture of excellent in 2 AMXS," said Master Sgt. David Bennett, 2 AMXS aircraft section chief. "Through setting a high standard of personal and team accountability, to quality aircraft maintenance and rewarding our troops that excel, we believe a more cohesive team will be built, moral will increase and the quality of the aircraft we produce for the 2nd Bomb Wing will improve. The Airman will no doubt become more highly experienced and qualified technicians, creating a great sense of pride in what they do for this wing each and every day," continued Sergeant Bennett. "The program has boosted moral by giving the DCC's a sense of ownership and pride for their aircraft," said Tech. Sgt. Mike Hollister, 2 AMXS shift supervisor. "It has given a positive sense of competition between the crew chiefs to see who has the better aircraft on the flightline." Hard work and dedication of the crew is ultimately what chooses the winner.