Welder sparks commander's interest

by Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
442d Fighter Wing

1/14/2015 - VALDOSTA, Ga.  -- The commander of the 476th Fighter Group at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, was so impressed with the work done by Airman in metals fabrication shop that he decided to spend part of the next unit training assemby there to learn more about their craft.

Master Sgt. Kristopher Prouty, an Aircraft Metals Technology craftsman and 2014 Senior NCO of the Year for the 476th FG, arranged a special training session for Col. James Travis.

"The commander was intrigued," Smith recalled Travis' reaction to watching a welding demonstration during a tour of the maintenance shop. "He made a casual statement that he'd like to stop by and try it sometime. We told him, 'anytime, sir.'"

The shop was pleasantly surprised when the commander took himself off flying status to spend half a day with them during the next unit training assembly weekend.

And they were ready.

"We thought up a project, as a group, that incorporated our jobs," Prouty described. "He wanted to be hands-on and see what we do."

They copied the design of the A-10 from a technical order, imposed the outline onto metal sheets, trimmed the sheet into different pieces representing the aircraft's engines, wings and body and left the rest to be finished by the colonel.

During the commander's visit, Prouty taught Travis how to weld using scrap metal.

"We thought he might get bored, but he seemed to really enjoy it," said Prouty, "That was before he even realized what he was making."

Prouty graduated the colonel up to welding the model outline and when the commander began to piece them together he realized what it was.

"It was funny to see his face, when the lights came on and he exclaimed, 'It's an A-10!'" Prouty recalled.

The shop brought out a pre-assembled base and the colonel welded it to the aircraft figure.

"It seemed to mean something to him," said Master Sgt. Thomas Smith, 479th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication flight chief.

A visitor to the commander's office might agree- back shelves are lined with expensive, professional aircraft models. Sitting at arms' length from the visitors' couch, nearest the doorway, is his hand-welded A-10.