Is there a specialty track for being a Crew Chief?

[briancelis]

Is there a specialty track in CAP for being a Crew Chief, or something similar like aircraft maintenance? I apologize for the odd question.

[Pylon]

Since all CAP aircraft now participate in consolidated maintenance, there isn't a maintainer specialty track but the Operations specialty track would be the closest thing to being a crew chief in CAP, with a bunch of other duty areas thrown in. 


An excerpt from the preface to the Operations Track Specialty Guide:  "An Operations Officer must be able to develop standard operating procedures for the control and operation of CAP aircraft.   An Operations Officer does not have to be a CFI or a Maintenance Officer to earn the specialty track rating even though it would be an advantage to have this experience.  An Operations Officer does not have to be a pilot but in many cases they will be."


Also, just because the specialty track encompasses many different areas of CAP operations, that doesn't mean that you have to be responsible for all of those areas and duties in your duty assignment at the unit.  Your job scope can be as narrow or as wide as you and your squadron commander work out.

[ßτε]

Maintenance Officer is part of the Logistics Officer Specialty Track.

[Eclipse]

Maintenance Officer is part of the Logistics Officer Specialty Track.

Do many units below wing have a MX Officer?  Those with an aircraft assigned have POCs, but I can't see much to do for a MX Officer
at a unit now that we have Consolidated MX.

[peter rabbit]

Maintenance Officer is part of the Logistics Officer Specialty Track.

Do many units below wing have a MX Officer?  Those with an aircraft assigned have POCs, but I can't see much to do for a MX Officer
at a unit now that we have Consolidated MX.

Maintaining area around plane, arranging for washing plane as required, keeping supplies on hand - wax, cleaner, rags, oil, monitoring 50/100 hr and arranging for those to be done, reporting problems to wing maint & ops officers, turning in the monthly flight logs, keeping the aircraft information file up-to-date in the plane, updating GPS database. Not an everyday thing, but does require some time.

[Eclipse]

What you describe is generally the job of the aircraft POC, and those gents are not usually invested in the LG specialty track, which is
primarily concerned with accounting for assets, not the actual maintenance of them.  In fact 20-1 specifically indicates that CAP MX Officers
are "managers, not doers".

CAPR 20-1 Description:

c. Maintenance.  As maintenance officer, you exercise staff supervision and coordination of all aircraft maintenance.  You
shall:
•  make recommendations to the commander for the improvement of the maintenance program.
•  ensure that aircraft are painted and identified in accordance with current directives.
•  ensure that aircraft are maintained in an airworthy condition in accordance with FAA requirement.

#1 isn't going to be a factor with Consolidated MX, #2 and 3 are handled by wing.

[Flying Pig]

We call it Aircraft Manager.  But same duties.