News

AES Reservist logs 5,000 flying hours

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Imagine what it would be like to spend seven solid months in the air ... or make five round trips to the moon and back ... or even make 103 trips around the earth at the equator.

These statistics are just a few things that it takes 5,000 hours to. However, Master Sgt. Aaron Maness, a Reservist with the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here reached a milestone this month, logging more than 5,000 flight hours in his 32-year Reserve career.

"It was a goal for me," said Sergeant Maness. "It just seemed like a good number. Loadmasters, flight engineers, etc. accumulate more hours faster. But for an aeroevac person it is a significant number. I feel satisfied that I can go into retirement next year having done a long and good job of service and duty."

Sergeant Maness says his achievement is a reflection of his total time in service as an aeromedical evacuation technician, who moves patients from the battlefield in need of medical care to facilities with permanent care.

It was a personal goal, said Sergeant Maness. It meant a lot more military service that just the actual number of 5,000 hours. There was also training time, commuting time, prep time, and the most important time ... taking care of people, passengers, and patients.

According to Sergeant Maness, this milestone helps him remember certain missions.

"There are missions that stand out for me," said the West Valley City, Utah native. "Missions like, the one from Bahrain to Andrews (Air Force Base, Md.) that brought back the POW's (prisoners of war) from the first Gulf War, the mission from Puerto Rico to New Jersey and Connecticut that brought the victims of the Dupont Plaza hotel fire back home on New Year's Eve, 1986, the mission from Somalia to Pakistan that brought the wounded home stand out for me. But I have memories over the years that go on and on."

According to Chief Master Sgt. Tom Henderson, 446th AES superintendent, Sergeant Maness's service is valuable.

"As a crewmember, he's always done good job," Chief Henderson. "He's an asset in that regard. When you get a person in the unit who lasts more than 30 years, it's a pretty big deal."

Sergeant Maness explains his purpose for going on these many missions over his three-decade career.

"The bottom line is this was an opportunity to serve my fellow man, alleviate pain and suffering, give some hope of recovery, and help make these possible," said Sergeant Maness.

Sergeant Maness gives credit for his longevity to the 446th AES.

"I've been with the 446th since 1980," said the 18-year Veteran's Administration employee. "Number one is people. We're like a big family with all of the personalities. Things don't always work out but we focus on the group and why we're there. We're medical people and that means care and concern for our patients, fellow man, and each other."

Chief Henderson recognized Sergeant Maness's volunteerism.

"He's deployed a lot," said Chief Henderson. "He benefits the Air Force with his volunteerism. He's always stepped up to the plate to volunteer for deployments and training when he can."

According to Sergeant Maness, over 30 years of service, he has seen many changes to the mission.

"We grew up with the Cold War," said Sergeant Maness. "The enemy at the time was different and more geographical than now. Now the threat is more world wide."

"Today, we are more formalized," said Sergeant Maness. "Our primary aircraft before was the C-141 (Starlifter), which was an art as much as a science to turn into a hospital plane. The current C-17 (Globemaster) is much easier to set up and load and unload. It's a lot more mechanical."

Chief Henderson emphasizes Sergeant Maness's role in 446th AES.

"We have an outstanding squadron with outstanding members," said Chief Henderson. "He helps make that up." He's got many experiences and has travelled to a lot of places and can share his experiences with the younger Airmen, so they can learn and be better prepared to accomplish our mission."