Maintenance Material Control Officer Advanced Party

MMCO's quick reference to conducting a Remain in Place/Transfer of Authority (RIP/TOA)

Arriving in Country

Gather information to develop your plan.

Questions to ask in understanding Operations Plan:

• What is the Monthly Flight Time Projection?
• What are the anticipated flight hours per day?
• What are the required aircraft per day?
• What are the general aircraft configuration requirements? (Guns for insertion/extraction, externals, refueling, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), etc)

Once you have the requirements you can plan how you will need to set up your phase crew. Phase crew will make or break a squadron in a high OPTEMPO environment.  

Study the immediate situation.

• What is the phase time average now?
• How many phases per month has the unit before you been able to do?
• Does the logistics (Supply) support the phase cycle you are proposing? Eg. Can you get high time components in time to complete the phase?

Study your Component Removal Due (CRD) reports and make a quick reference sheet so you always know what the major high time components are for each aircraft. 

Ensure the Marine you have as the Phase Crew senior leader is a workhorse and gets things done. He/She will be a cornerstone of your readiness in country.

Conduct a meet and greet with supply and logistics. How far out can you order ZA9 docs?

Get to know them and build relationships. When I was on an Afghanistan deployment I had a tiny freezer in my tent. I would request people send out freeze pops. I froze them in the freezer and then would hand them out to Maintenance and Supply Marines when it was 113 degrees out. Lets just say when I need something in a hurry, I got it.

• How do they conduct business? 
• What do they like and dislike?
• Do they have special work-arounds for things you need now?
• How can you make their jobs easier?

Ensure your lines of support (SIPRNET, Parts Runs, Logistics) are thoroughly established and you know who to lean on all along your supply chain to get your parts. Work with other squadrons to establish ways to get parts. Eg C-130 squadron can make a run and pick up a part that is stuck somewhere on your logistics route.

Before the other unit leaves ensure you know what is staying and what is going so you can ensure operations don't halt once the unit departs. (computers, tools, spare parts, printers, equipment, etc).

Observe and note the other unit's operations. Ask about critical lessons learned. Take note of improvements you would make. Take it all in and visualize how your unit will accomplish the mission. Imagine daily operations and piece together your plan and imagine how you will execute it before your main body arrives.

• How many Marines does the unit you are replacing have?
• How long is it taking them to phase an aircraft?
• How many Marines are in their phase crew?

Getting Comfortable

Think about how much you can accomplish in a day and develop a plan for turnover.

Focus on conducting a systematic and thorough turnover.

The other unit is likely wrapped up in the mission and you are an after thought. They will likely fit you in where they can, if they can. Coordinate with their Maintenance Control and discuss your plan. You will have to meet them halfway on things, but ensure you establish a daily routine for the Advanced Party that will ensure you complete serialization of gear and aircraft, Functional Check Flights, etc. (the transfer and acceptance) prior to the unit's scheduled departure.

Account for everything. (Type/Model/Specific) (AIRS gear, mission hooks, ballistic protection plates, etc.), any equipment that belongs to the aircraft or used to maintain the aircraft. Everything needs to be physically touched and accounted for. You are the representative of your CO and he/she is relying on you to ensure what is required for the mission is on hand and accounted for. Ensure that anything not accounted for is surveyed with a DD-200 form by the other unit's MMCO and the unit takes responsibility for it; do not sign for unseen equipment.

Finally, do not take no for an answer. Beg, barter and steal to make it happen. Marines on the forward edge of the battle area are counting on you with their lives to get your aircraft up and deliver life sustaining logistics.

These are some thoughts I wrote down with my Gunny when I was an MMCO over a decade ago. I figured they might help a MMCO out there somewhere.

Anthony D Ripley is currently working as a Technology Program Manager for Lowe's. He is experienced in Science & Technology, Acquisitions, Operations, Project & Program Management and Operational Excellence. He is excited about building, leading and guiding teams in the pursuit of strategic objectives that add significant value for Lowe's as well as helping as many people grow as he can along the way on his journey.

Other articles by Anthony D. Ripley:

Surviving Suicide

How to Knockout the PMP in Round 1. You-1, Exam-0

Military Transition: It Worked For Me and It Can Work For You Too.

Will You Trade 30 Minutes for the Keys to Success?

My Time in the Seat; Executive Officer Lessons Learned

Lightening the Load and Increasing the Self-sustainability of Dismounted Marines