Hickam’s Auto Skills Center Earns Blue Seal

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais
  • Air Force Print News
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  The Auto Skills Center here recently received the Blue Seal of Excellence from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

The award, presented by the independent, non-profit organization, is reserved for facilities that have proven to be committed to the highest quality work. The A.S.E. also certifies individual mechanics.

Services officials say Hickam's is the only Air Force Auto Skills Center to earn this honor.

The facility's manager, Andrew Martin, says it's an important distinction.

"It means more to the customers than to the shop," he said. "It means that at least they know it's not just backyard mechanics working on their stuff, you know. It's somebody who's studied and got knowledge of it."

Mechanics at Hickam's Auto Skills Center-four out of five of who are A.S.E. certified themselves-do light repair work and vehicle inspections. More frequently, they serve as mentors, helping Airmen do the work themselves.

"It gives them a place to learn something that maybe they don't know," said Martin. "If they have the time and just a little bit of wrench knowledge--they've got to know how to turn the wrench, right?--they can save a lot of money."

With the ASE's Blue Seal of Excellence, Airmen can feel even better about trusting Hickam's Auto Skills Center, whether they're having the work done or doing it themselves.