News

Reserve maintainers deploy to keep C-17s flying

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  As they do here, Reservists with the 446th Maintenance Group will provide relief to the 62nd Maintenance Group as they take up the mission in Southwest Asia, allowing their active-duty counterparts to come home.

In early July, 27 maintenance Reserve Airmen will deploy to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia for about 60 days to provide C-17 maintenance support. The Airmen come from the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 446th Maintenance Squadron, and the 446th Maintenance Operations Flight. They will maintain C-17s that provide the critical strategic airlift and logistical link for the warfighters.

The team of maintainers processed for deployment June 29, listening to a series of briefings and visiting with specialists from finance, the judge advocate, personnel, the chaplain, airmen and family readiness, and picking up some personal equipment. This process, while new to some, is a familiar routine for about half the maintenance contingent.

Master Sgt. Randall Wentz, an air reserve technician with the 446th AMXS, will be the production superintendent on this deployment. Sergeant Wentz has previously deployed to Southwest Asia on many occasions, as well as other countries in his more than 27 years of service.

"I understand the stress of deployments, so I'll be making sure our folks are well taken care of from arrival to departure," said the former F-15 mechanic.

According to Sergeant Wentz, the Reservists will oversee the complete line of maintenance for C-17s going in and out of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's Southwest Asia location. While he's unsure just what type of equipment will be available to his team at the deployment location, he is confident they'll have no problems accomplishing the mission.

"We'll conduct our maintenance the same way we do here," said Sergeant Wentz. "I don't really foresee any drop off in quality of maintenance. We'll be able to accomplish all the maintenance required to perform our mission."

Among the 26 other maintainers deploying is Staff Sgt. Kim Shadlow, a traditional Reservist who also has previously deployed to Southwest Asia.

"We'll be doing quick turns of the C-17s," said the crew chief with the 446th AMXS. "I'm looking forward to the different pace, the challenge of depending on myself ... and the warmer weather."

When the quick pace slows down, Sergeant Shadlow plans on spending her down time completing her NCO Academy by correspondence and preparing for her physical fitness test.

With this group deploying, the 446th Airlift Wing will have more than 50 maintenance Reservists in Southwest Asia supporting the mission.