917th Metals Technology Shop integrates 2nd Bomb Wing personnel

Staff Sgt. Drew Shield, 2nd Maintenance Squadron, watches attentively as Staff Sgt. Zachary Perry, an Air Reserve Technician with the 917th Maintenance Squadron instructs him on the procedures for setting tools in the Fadal CNC Machining Center, July 14, 2009, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The Machining Center is a completely programmable Milling machine used to fabricate Non-procurable Aircraft components for the B-52 and A-10 aircraft, ground support equipment. It is also used to manufacture custom tooling for many aircraft support specialist. Shop personnel are qualified to completely program the machine using Feature cam which is a CADCAM system used widely in civilian industries and the Air Force. Sergeant Shield is one of the first of seven Regular Air Force personnel from the 2nd Bomb Squadron at Barksdale scheduled to work alongside Reservists at the 917th Wing as a part of the Air Force’s Total Force Integration Plan, which brings together National Guardsmen with Reserve and Regular Air Force Airmen. Both Sergeants Shield and Perry are Metals Technology Craftsmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston)