JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, the largest PMEL facility in Air Mobility Command and second largest across the Air Force, is responsible for ensuring precision in electronic equipment of over 18,000 items.
PMEL is made up of three sections that measure frequencies and currency, where their measurements are applied to items used in the everyday Air Force.
“The scale you stand on to take your PT test has been in our hands,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Albano, PMEL K1 section NCO in charge. “We also calibrate thermometers in the dining facility to test food before it is served as well as test the air pressure and hydraulic gauges you find at the auto hobby shop.”
With precision being the goal of PMEL, extreme measures are taken to control the environment, including gravity checks of the building bi-annually to ensure the results are as accurate as possible.
“The building is kept at 73 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus six degrees,” said Tech Sgt. Joseph Stone, 305th Maintenance Squadron quality assurance NCO in charge of PMEL. “The building doesn’t have windows to keep out sunlight and heat and has a relative humidity of 20 to 50 percent throughout the building. It enables the readings to be consistent on a daily basis.”
With the environment in a controlled state, the results and findings PMEL can track items at a miniscule level.
“If you were to stack pennies two and a half Empire State Buildings tall, we would be able to tell if one penny was missing,” said Albano. “We also are able to measure items up to one millionth of a volt. These readings allow us to maintain each item so it performs effectively for Airmen in their day to day job.”
With PMEL playing a crucial role in keeping parts and instruments working effectively and efficiently, PMEL knows that the Airmen is the ultimate factor to success.
“We want our Airmen to be confident and precise in what they are doing,” said Tech. Sgt. Rozilynn Breedlove-Stone, PMEL quality assurance administrator. “We encourage progress with our Airmen so they can do the job accurately and efficiently every time.”