Golden Bolt lifts FOD walks

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As big and hulking as Travis aircraft are, they are still vulnerable to damage.

It's not just small arms fire and anti-aircraft weaponry that can cause harm, but something as simple as a rock being ingested into the engine intake.

Fortunately, the Airmen at Travis conduct frequent foreign object damage walks on the flight line to remove that threat. Six squadrons at Travis share the responsibility of clearing the flightline, each removing about 20 pounds of debris per month.

"Travis has gone 22 quarters without a reportable FOD incident," said Master Sgt. Matthew Warren, 60th Maintenance Group FOD/dropped object prevention program manager. "That means in five years we haven't had damage equating to $50,000 as a result of FOD. Our personnel are inspected very closely on their FOD walks to keep their standards high."

A positive incentive program that is also a driver to maintain those high standards is the Golden Bolt program. Quality Assurance evaluators will randomly place an actual golden-colored bolt in a discreet location before a squadron is about to perform its FOD walk. The Airman who finds it is rewarded with a certificate from the vice wing commander, a $25 gift card to the Exchange, a $10 gift card to the food court and his or her name etched on a plaque in the maintenance atrium.

"We make it so it's not easily found, but not impossible to find," Warren said. "It motivates the troops to be thorough when they're looking for FOD. It was long thought of as a flightline myth, but it does exist."

The most recent winner of the Golden Bolt was Senior Airman Marvin Baez, 60th Aerial Port Squadron aerial porter.

"I found the Golden Bolt on a power cart during a FOD walk," he said. "The program is great. It gives a little extra motivation to be vigilant on the FOD walk. It's also awesome that base leadership takes the time out of their day to show their appreciation."

On average, a squadron will have roughly 20 Airmen to perform a FOD walk, with exception of the 60th MXS having the military qualification training program students bringing its numbers up to around 60.

"It's great to have the students here to help out with the FOD walks," Warren said. "It teaches them early in their career about being detail orientated and thorough while showing them what the standards are at Travis and how to achieve them. It's also handy to have all those extra eyes on the lookout."