News

Maintenance deployments continue into next year

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 446th Maintenance Group deployed more than 30 Airmen this year to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. 

The upcoming new year looks to be just as busy with deployments. The Reserve maintenance group will also be filling 13 positions for the Air Expeditionary Force starting in January 2009, said Senior Master Sgt. Kim Johnson, 446th MXG unit deployment manager. 

Tech. Sgt. Elliott Standish, an integrated flight control system technician with the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Thomas Raynor, also an IFCS technician with 446th AMXS, are two Reservists who have been deployed this year. 

Sergeant Raynor was assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq from April to September. 

"The overall mission at Baghdad International Airport is diverse," said Sergeant Raynor. "The unit I was assigned to was the transient alert and maintenance section, controlling and servicing as many as 150-plus fixed wing and rotary flights per day; passengers, cargo, special ops, detainee, and distinguished visitors. All were in support of OIF." 

Because of the high ops tempo in theater, some of the deployed personnel are given more than one task. 

"I worked in the command post as a maintenance operations center controller," said Sergeant Raynor. "I tracked all military and support flights and coordinated all maintenance and servicing activities. I also worked as the only integrated avionics associate for C-17 Globemasters, which meant that I had to go to the flightline for assistance when avionic issues were present." 

Sergeant Standish was greeted with a similar challenge. Sergeant Standish was deployed with the 5th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, from May to September. 

"The jobs that I performed while on deployment were different," said Sergeant Standish. "I had to be much more versatile in the fact that I had to not only know my job, but my co-workers' as well. I started learning their jobs so I could help them out, so they would not be overworked. I also fixed and maintained the C-17s for special resupply and special operations missions." 

Deployments in theater can also be an eye opener when it comes to the reality and importance of the mission. 

"Doing your job in theater is a very different experience because you are seeing everything first hand, such as an indirect fire attack at a very high frequency," said Sergeant Raynor. "This is where all of your training back home comes into play. You are tested under pressure when the stakes are high." 

Updated training is crucial before deploying. 

"The training (I received back home) seems to be consistent (with how we operate), so working with other components was flawless," said Sergeant Raynor. 

According to Sergeant Raynor, real-world deployments are the best way for Reservists to get training and knowledge. 

"It is important for the Reserve to take deployments to help relieve the overall strain and requirements of the Air Force," said Sergeant Raynor. "Deployments also make me more knowledgeable of my primary job at home station."