SVMS maintains wing’s ability to throw snow

Sadao Sumomozawa, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron Specialty Vehicle Maintenance Shop heavy duty vehicle mechanic, replaces a crankshaft pulley on an Oshkosh flightline snow blower in the SVMS at Misawa Air Base, Japan Feb. 27, 2012. The SVMS is one of several shops found in the 35 LRS Vehicle Maintenance Flight, which keeps Misawa’s vehicles running at their best. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield/ Released)

SVMS maintains wing’s ability to throw snow

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Nguyen, vehicle maintenance craftsman, checks the connections on an electrical panel, while U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Chad Berry, vehicle maintenance apprentice, looks for an indication on a display in an Oshkosh flightline snow blower at Misawa Air Base, Japan Feb. 27, 2012. Both Airmen maintain vehicles for the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Maintenance Flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield/ Released)

SVMS maintains wing’s ability to throw snow

Published Feb. 28, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- According to the story, "35th CES clears the way," published Jan. 22, the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron's Snow Control Shop anticipates snowfall of approximately 125 to 200 inches this year; this is enough to bury an F-16 Fighting Falcon. In an effort to keep this from happening, Misawa employs large flightline snow blowers, plows, brushes and scrapers to clear a path for the wing's flightline operations.

However, like most vehicles, use translates to vehicle break downs and repairs but there is one shop that specializes in these large vehicles and gets them operational again, clearing the way. The 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Vehicle Maintenance Flight, Specialty Vehicle Maintenance Shop repairs all manner of large vehicles to include flightline snow blowers, fire trucks, bulldozers and more.

The shop is comprised of 23 Japanese residents and 39 servicemembers who rotate from shop to shop in the VMF.

"The Airmen and JRs work very well together," said Airman 1st Class Jeff Oberschlake, 35th LRS VMF vehicle maintenance apprentice. "The Japanese have been here for a long time, and with our turn-over rate; it's nice to have people here with a lot of experience to learn from."