Joint base lab maintains precision measurements Published Aug. 6, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The 305th Maintenance Squadron Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Flight's Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here recently passed a six-area assessment conducted by a three-person team from the Air Force Metrology and Calibration Program. "The assessment was designed to ensure [we] can demonstrate the ability to perform safe, accurate, reliable and traceable measurements to the National Institute of Standards and Technology through the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory," said Master Sgt. Richard A. Hibbard, Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Flight supervisor. The inspection assessed the flight's management system, program quality, facility, environmental control system and proficiency testing/measurement assurance program. "How do you know what a pound of ham is [when shopping at] the base commissary?" asked Hibbard. "How does a pilot know what altitude he is flying at? All of these measurements that people take a machine's word for are tested and certified by the personnel at PMEL." During the assessment, the lab earned three noteworthy findings. Officials commended joint base senior leadership and civil engineering for their commitment to the lab's recent 2,400-square foot addition and new environmental control system. They also identified the PMEL scheduling section as being extremely organized, efficient and customer-friendly due to their comprehensive customer appointment schedule and noted the cleanliness and organization of the facility reflected the pride and professionalism of the entire PMEL team. The inspection also included 25 over-the-shoulder evaluations of 24 lab technicians as they worked, including one that lasted 35 hours and took three working days to complete. Following the assessment, Chief Master Sgt. Michael McGreevy, PMEL function area manager, awarded three individuals with a coin for their outstanding work efforts: Senior Airman Eric Wood, Staff Sgt. Jason Hopkins and Linda Keilman. Hibbard said the newly-renovated building has helped PMEL continue to execute the mission since the building must be kept at a steady 73 degrees Fahrenheit. "Measurements can change with the slightest increase or decrease in temperature or humidity," said Hibbard. "If the temperature or humidity changes too much, everything in the lab will require recalibration." Every Friday, flight members thoroughly clean the lab. Sticky mats on the floors outside the lab remove dirt from the shoes of anyone entering to keep the laboratory as clean as possible. The smallest amount of dust on a machine could cause a huge error in measurements, so keeping dust to a minimum is key to continuing the mission, said Hibbard. Joint base PMEL personnel are responsible for the largest inventory in Air Mobility Command, including more than 11,700 items for 100 aircraft belonging to 12 different wings located in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Lajes Field, Portugal. Nearly 65 percent of their workload comes from off base. According to Hibbard, the job accomplished at PMEL dates back to the time when the pyramids were built. Workers were given wooden sticks with notches on them to use for measuring. Every full moon, workers were required to return their sticks to the head foreman for inspection. The wooden sticks were then compared to a granite stick, which was the highest standard of measurement available, to ensure accuracy of all measurements. Failure to return their stick would result in death.