[Webmaster’s Note: USAF article originally appearing on the Nellis Air Force Base website, reposted here in its entirety.]

Article Link: https://www.nellis.af.mil/News/Article/284560/pave-hawk-maintainers-get-new-unit-patch/

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, pose in front of the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The brothers were able to paint the patch in less than 12 hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Pave Hawk maintainers get new unit patch

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal, 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published December 19, 2012

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Within a green border, on a white and blue interlocking disc, a gray pave hawk with a black border grasps a two sided wrench in one talon and a lightning bolt in the other.

The image is the design for the 823rd Maintenance Squadron’s new unit patch painted in the squadron’s hangar after the 763rd Maintenance Squadron transitioned to the 823rd MXS Dec. 15. With the squadron’s new designation came a need for a new unit patch.

The 823rd MXS is a tenant unit at Nellis AFB and falls under the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB, Ga.

“When the decision was made to move forward with the change and align the 823rd MXS under the 23rd WG, the old patch had to be retired and a new patch had to be designed,” said Master Sergeant Mark Schultz, 823rd MXS superintendent of plans and programs and designer of the new unit patch.

After the patch was designed, Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd MXS aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sullivan volunteered to paint it.

“I’ve done things like this in the past,” Daniel said. “I thought my brother, being in the line of work that he is in, could help out. I’ve talked to him about it in the past a couple of times to see if he wanted to help with a project around base. He always showed interest, so I figured it would be a good thing for us to get together and knock it out.”

The painting took the brothers just under 12 hours to complete thanks to their teamwork and backgrounds.

“I have had to use these vinyl paint mass stickers for a lot of ornate ceilings and motifs that go all the way around rooms,” Michael said. “It’s kind of a neat coincidence that Dan has been using the same equipment to paint insignias on jets so he knows how to work those machines and files.”

The 823rd MXS’s leadership views the team effort as a great opportunity.

“Being in the military usually means you are stationed away from your family,” said Maj. Kimberly Grover, 823rd MXS commander. “Staff Sgt. Sullivan and his brother volunteered to paint our new patch on our wall together and were able to spend quality time together and create memories that will last a life time. How awesome is that?”

The brothers were satisfied with their hard work’s end result.

“It ended up better than I expected knowing that it was going to be painted on a rough brick surface,” Michael said. “That is a nightmare. We had a real irregular surface to paint nice clean lines on so it’s a challenge. It’s beautiful, and it looks like it was silk-screened straight onto the brick. I’m really happy with it.”

“I really like it,” Daniel said. “It turned out as good as I knew we could do it. I know that [Michael] puts a lot of pride in his work, and I put a lot of pride in my work. I think we got a really good product out of it.”

The new patch is a visible symbol of the 823rd MXS’s transition and new identity.

“A patch symbolizes your identity and mission,” said Grover. “It’s that small piece that lets you know and everyone around you how you fit into the Air Force’s big picture. We are Rescue Maintainers!”

Airmen of the 823rd MXS maintain and repair engines and auxiliary power units for the HH-60 Pave Hawk.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, apply a coat of paint to the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Sergeant Sullivan has had experience painting aircraft as part of a corrosion control process and has painted several murals in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, paints details to the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The new patch was designed by Master Sgt. Mark Schultz of the 823rd MXS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, prepare paper sheets prior to painting a portion of the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The new patch was designed and painted due to the unit’s transition from the 763rd MXS to the 823rd MXS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, peel tape off of the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The squadron changed its name to match its sister-squadrons, the 723rd MXS of Moody AFB, GA., and the 923rd MXS of Davis-Monthan AFB, Az. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, work together during the painting of the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 763rd MXS transitioned to the 823rd MXS to signify the squadron’s alignment with its sister-squadrons to become a more cohesive unit with its sister-squadrons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, and Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, discuss the next step in painting the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Members of the 823rd MXS, a tenant unit assigned to Moody AFB, Ga., repair engines and auxiliary power for HH-60 Pavehawks at Nellis. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

Staff Sgt. Daniel Sullivan, 823rd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, blow dries fresh paint as Michael Sullivan, artist and brother of Sergeant Daniel Sullivan, draws in details during the painting of the new 823rd MXS unit patch Dec. 15, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. A new unit patch was designed after the units transition from the 763rd MXS to the 823rd MXS April 10, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

 

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