167th Logistics Readiness Squadron hosts advisory group meeting

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle
  • 167th Airlift Wing

The 167th Logistics Readiness Squadron hosted a Materiel Management Advisory Group (MMAG) meeting at Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, W.Va., Aug. 23-25.

The Air National Guard MMAG, comprised of senior non-commissioned officers representing each FEMA region in the U.S., meets semi-annually to facilitate continuity across the materiel management career field and serve as a communication link between Air National Guard units and the National Guard Bureau.

“The MMAG is leading the way on making improvements, changes, and updates to a litany of materiel management related areas that directly impact things like aircraft readiness and mission capability rates, war fighter equipment, clothing procurement, to mention a few,” said Chief Master Sgt. James DeCicco Jr., 167th LRS materiel management senior enlisted leader and MMAG Region V representative.

The MMAG spent the first and third days of their August meeting at Shepherd Field and traveled to the National Capital Region to meet with the logistics staff at the National Guard Bureau on the second day.

“We had a very productive meeting, and the fruits of our labor will benefit not only materiel

management personnel, but also the rest of the Air National Guard in the coming months and years,” DeCicco said.

The MMAG meets in-person twice a year and holds monthly teleconferences to discuss their agenda which currently lists more than 10 action items.

The group’s current discussions include the Air Force Materiel Management manpower study and enlisted grade review, the development of training programs to include the formulation subject matter expert teams to assist in materiel management at the wing level, and streamlining gas mask inspection processes.

One of the MMAG’s most recent successes includes codifying the process to order uniforms for deploying Airmen to ensure they receive their items within the pre-deployment timeframes.

The MMAG is chaired by Chief Master Sgt. Donald Sutherland of the Illinois Air National Guard and Maj. Kenneth Simon, Arkansas Air National Guard, serves as the MMAG director.