Commander Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC)

FRCE ADOPTS NEW SYSTEM TO IMPROVE AIRCRAFT PAINT PROCESS A new capability at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) is streamlining the aircraft painting process, allowing the depot to decrease maintenance turnaround time and return aircraft to the fleet faster than ever before. The Fleet Support Team’s Materials and Processes Branch and Digital Data Center are working together to improve the final finish process within the depot’s Aircraft Paint Shop with the adoption of a laser projection system. The system acts as a guide for the precise placement of markings and insignia by projecting their outlines onto the aircraft. According to Steven Lofy, senior materials engineer for the Materials Branch’s Corrosion and Wear Team, the system has bolstered the depot’s capabilities by decreasing turnaround time and labor hours and producing a reliable and repeatable aircraft paint process, all while offering artisans ergonomic and safety benefits. “It takes an extensive amount of time and labor to mask aircraft for the application of major markings and insignia during the final finish process,” said Lofy. “It’s a demanding process based on old, paper drawings that can be difficult to read, making it challenging for our artisans to mask the exact areas on each aircraft consistently. The laser projection system makes the process much more precise and reliable when masking and applying stencils to an aircraft, while also saving a significant amount of time. “With the laser projection system, we can simply come in, turn on the projectors and actually project where each marking should be on the aircraft,” Lofy continued. “All we have to do from there is line each stencil up, mask and paint.” You can read more at https://lnkd.in/exymxSTR Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Commander Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) #servicetothefleet #militaryaviation #COMFRC #NAVAIR

Congratulations to our very own RADM Joe Hornbuckle on his promotion to rear admiral (upper half) last week. RADM Hornbuckle leads the FRC Enterprise with transparency and an open mind. He sets a positive example by encouraging and empowering his team to think, act and operate differently. We are proud to be part of the COMFRC team. Congratulations again, RADM Hornbuckle!

Today we celebrate 248 years of our nation’s independence. The signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 gave us the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Every day since, we have enjoyed the freedoms our nation’s founders fought for. Happy Independence Day!

July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month. This observance reminds us of the importance of increasing awareness of the unique issues people of color face that impact their mental health. Whether it’s cultural beliefs, fear of judgment or lack of access to resources, stigma can manifest itself in many ways. Breaking the silence is crucial for fighting stigma and the first step towards improved mental health. When we ask for help, we begin to heal ourselves and our community. If you are struggling with a mental health condition, help is out there. For additional information and resources, click here: https://lnkd.in/gRePbQG National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Happy Juneteenth! Juneteenth recognizes the long-awaited day of June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Grander arrived in Galveston, Texas to read General Order Number Three announcing that all slaves were free. This was nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and freed enslaved Africans in America. Juneteenth is also referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day and commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States. This is the fourth year Juneteenth has been celebrated as a federal holiday, but celebrations can be traced back to as early as 1866. Today is a time to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of African Americans that enrich and advance our society and celebrate freedom. Click here to learn more about the history of the holiday and how it’s celebrated today: https://lnkd.in/gqvPZFF

Happy Flag Day! In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established June 14th as Flag Day to commemorate the day in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress passed a decree for an official flag unifying the United States. The decree ensured that the colonist were all fighting under a single flag during the American Revolution. Our flag remains a symbol of our country’s history, freedom, and represents what our Sailors and Marines fight for every day.

On this day 80 years ago, the World War II allies stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, undertaking the largest military seaborne invasion in history. Together, we remember D-Day.

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Midway. The battle took place from June 4-7, 1942 on Midway Island. The United States’ victory in this Battle was a turning point in the Pacific during World War II and provided a crucial morale boost for fleet. The innovation that made this victory possible inspire us each day to think, act and operate differently as a way to commemorate those who served the Fleet before us.

FRCE RECEIVES THIRD CNO SHORE SAFETY AWARD A commitment to safety and occupational health excellence has earned Fleet Readiness Center East the 2023 Chief of Naval Operations Shore Safety Award in the Large Industrial Activity category. This marks the command's third time receiving the honor. The command has introduced several safety initiatives over the past two decades, all of which have played a pivotal role in earning the depot this prestigious award, said FRCE Compliance and Quality Department Head Amy Morgan. “FRC East has successfully established a positive, risk management-based safety culture embraced by everyone in the depot, with the common goal of providing and maintaining a safe, healthy and productive work environment,” she said. “We have worked diligently to transform the depot’s safety culture into the success that it is today, and we can see its success in the numbers. Back in 2002, we had 835 OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses. Now, we only see about 30 injuries per year.” Visit Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) News to learn more about how FRCE's robust safety culure contributed to the win: https://lnkd.in/e4w_GTV6 Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Commander Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) Naval Safety Command #safetyfirst #cnoshoresafety #safety #occupationalhealth #cno

June is LGBTQ Pride Month. The celebration is a way to commemorate the riots that occurred in June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York, which became a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. This year’s DoD theme is “Pride In All Who Serve: A Place For All.” This theme reminds us to celebrate and give thanks to LGBTQ Service members who have courageously served and sacrificed in the U.S. military. During Pride Month, we celebrate the equality and rights of LGBTQI individuals, commit to diversity and inclusion across the Armed Forces, and take pride in our teammates.