Airmen have more hours to get their hands dirty

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brandon Valle
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The 90th Force Support Squadron's Auto Skills Shop recently changed its hours of operation and is now open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"We wanted to give more opportunities for people to use the shop and the equipment," said Greg Winters, 90th FSS Auto Skills Shop mechanic.

The shop is open to Airmen, retirees and their families. Lifts and stalls can be rented hourly for $7 and $5 per hour respectively, and almost every tool needed to work on a vehicle is available for use.

"People can come in and  rent a stall or lift and perform any maintenance they need to," Winters said. "From changing a tire or performing an oil change to full engine repairs, we have the equipment available."

For those less mechanically inclined, the mechanics that run the Auto Skills Shop are on hand to provide helpful advice and assistance to tackle any job.

"When people come in with questions, we are there to help them," said Dale Lake, 90th FSS Auto Skills Shop mechanic. "We have experience in performing almost every vehicle maintenance procedure one can dream of."

Lake and Winters have more than 50 years of experience combined, culminating in a wealth of knowledge, something they enjoy sharing with those who come in.

"We love to help people learn new things when fixing their cars," Winters said. "We know of ways to perform repairs that can save people a lot of time."

Winters made it a point to ensure that the Auto Skills Shop is not a mechanic shop, meaning it is not a place for you to have someone else work on your car for you.

"We will not fix the car, we will help you learn how to do it yourself," he said. "We can show you how it is done and help walk you through the process, but the majority of the work depends on you."

Lake said that they will even help diagnose any issues people are having with a vehicle.

"After working as a mechanic for so long, you get a feel of what can go wrong and how to fix it," he said. "We can tell you if it is something small, such as a filter or hose repair, or if the issue is going to need a big fix."

Overall, the mechanics are there to ensure people get the assistance they need to get their cars up and running.

"We love to stay busy with people coming in with questions or concerns about their vehicles," Winters said. "Being able to watch people learn and gain confidence in their mechanical knowledge is what makes this job worthwhile."