Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Tech Sgt. Kasey Hollinger, a 432nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment craftsman, stands next to a self-generating nitrogen cart May 19, 2015, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The self-generating nitrogen cart is used to separate the nitrogen from the oxygen in the air and compresses it to be used to inflate AGE equipment and aircraft tires. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Adarius Petty)Tech Sgt. Kasey Hollinger, a 432nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment craftsman, stands next to a self-generating nitrogen cart May 19, 2015, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The self-generating nitrogen cart is used to separate the nitrogen from the oxygen in the air and compresses it to be used to inflate AGE equipment and aircraft tires. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Adarius Petty)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Creech Airman resurrects AGE equipment, saves AF thousandsPublished May 30, 2015
                    
                    By Senior Airman Adarius Petty
                    
                    
                    432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada (AFNS) --**Since fiscal year 2013, the Air Force has faced the long-term effects of sequestration, resulting in the reduction of manning needed to complete the mission while working with a tighter budget.With the phrase "do more with less" in the forefront of the minds of today's Airmen, the obligation to save money is still a top priority.For Tech. Sgt. Kasey Hollinger, a 432nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment craftsman, it was this priority that inspired him to try and complete the mission while saving the Air Force nearly $100,000 -- starting with his own duty section first."Due to an upcoming mobility tasking, I was assigned to fix a nitrogen cart," Hollinger said.  "My leadership felt I was best suited for the job."The self-generating nitrogen cart is used to separate nitrogen from the oxygen in the air and compresses it to be used to inflate age equipment and aircraft tires."This cart was a sole asset; it was one out of three nitrogen carts on base but the other two are down range supporting combat operations," said Master Sgt. Michael Chance, the 432nd MXS assistant maintenance flight chief.The AGE shop is authorized manning for nearly 40 people, but within the last few months the already undermanned unit has lost an additional seven Airmen, primarily to retirements and separations.Currently, 20 individuals are responsible for more than 761 pieces of equipment that support MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircrafts, for both home station and deployed commitments."Hollinger was the most experienced and the nitrogen cart had to be fixed as soon as possible,” Chance said.The nitrogen cart had numerous problems and had also missed scheduled maintenance while it wasn't used for the four year period it had been out of commission."The cart had multiple maintenance write ups, the system coolant pump and programmable logic controller were shorted and the actual hose reel where the nitrogen comes out was bad," Hollinger said.Prepping himself for the ultimate test in AGE maintenance, Hollinger sized up his opponent. Before he began his task, he contemplated the cost of replacing the cart with a new one.It would cost the Air Force $90,000 to replace the broken unit, however, with some time and ingenuity Hollinger was able to fix it for just under $11,000."It took me a total of 48 duty hours to complete the tasking," Hollinger said.Despite the challenges that come with being undermanned, Hollinger and other AGE maintainers have several accomplishments to be proud of, including surpassing and sustaining an above average Air Combat Command passing rate on inspection.He attributes a portion of his success to having a small shop of Airmen with infectiously positive attitudes that have helped build strong camaraderie within his unit.Creech Air Force Base 



cost saving 



 



innovation Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil