Tip of the Spear
Master Sgt. Michael A. Kaldenback, 476th Fighter Group egress technician, helped prepare 18 A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft for the group's recent deployment. As a forward-thinker, Sergeant Kaldenbach developed a local inspection checklist used during seat-visual inspections. He managed the critical replacement of 415 explosive tive changes for A-10 ejection seats with 100-percent scheduled maintenance-effectiveness. Sergeant Kaldenbach contributed to restructuring 36-month ejection seat inspection process and slashed aircraft downtime from 72 hours to 48 hours. he provided supervision and leadership for 20 assigned active-duty and four Air Force Reserve egress technicians. Additionally, he managed the staff car and mini-van program for the group, as well as acting as the lodging coordinator. He developed and managed billeting accommodations for personnel during unit training assemblies. Sergeant Kaldenbach acts as a squadron sports representative, who rallied members to join intramural sports, which bolstered teamwork and unit cohesion. His keep inspection abilities and attention to detail make him December's tip of the spear. (U.S. Air Force Photo Illustration/Staff Sgt. Danielle Wolf)