It doesn't matter what day it is ... I'm a maintainer

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  What are you usually doing at 3:27 a.m.?

While most people are sleeping, operations don't stop. The 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers, with their oil-drenched boots and callused hands, are finishing up paperwork to end their more than 10-hour work day. And they are not in an office.

Whether it is 98 degrees or nine, jets are launching from flightlines around the world, but they do not get up into the sky alone. It takes a crew of dedicated Airmen working 10 - 12 hour shifts daily to accommodate flying schedules for the base.

In rain, snow and sometimes freezing conditions, maintainers are out in coveralls, sometimes temporarily losing the feeling in their fingers and toes to put jets into the air, said Senior Airman Aaron Pegues, 4th AMXS flight control section.

Do not confuse this explanation of their duties as a pity plea; they do not want sympathy. 

Sympathy does not change the mission at hand, nor does it change the need for even more air power in overseas contingency operations. With an increase in operations tempo, even more maintainers may be deployed soon. Why?

Because it takes an entire team of professionals to successfully launch a jet.

Currently, more than 350 maintainers are deployed from the base in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Recently, Airmen from the 336th Aircraft Maintenance Unit returned from a four-month deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. While there, they supported missions that shaped the history of the war and the 4th Fighter Wing.

Afghanistan held its second presidential election since the implementation of their new constitution, Aug. 20. Opposing forces threatened this historic election with suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices. The 336th Fighter Squadron maintained close watch over the area, not only dropping bombs on the enemy but also assisting in delivering ballots to counting stations and providing protection to voters.

The tempo of that day was almost unbearable, said Senior Master Sgt. Davis Seia, 336th AMU superintendent, with F-15Es launching and coming back continually. The normal turnaround for a jet landing, inspected and re-engaging is generally an hour and a half. Aware of the dire need for air support in the area, the 336th AMXS Airmen successfully inspected and re-launched two to four jets at a time, most of them in thirty minutes or less.

Fifteen-hour work days were just one of many the Airmen experienced while deployed. 

Losing count of the days, weeks even, seemed normal among the group, as the long, hard hours of the work day wore down on their bodies. Downtime or off days offered some solace, but even those were few and far in between. If there was an "all hands" mission, everyone was out there and there were no sick days.

They did not know what day of the week it was and it did not matter. Bombs had to be dropped, said Staff Sgt. William Loy, 4th AMXS.

Even after the 4th FW lost two members, Captains Thomas Gramith and Mark McDowell, 336th FS. The Airmen honored their service and contributions by continuing the mission and working tirelessly to help protect the citizens of Afghanistan. Many times, these Airmen learned later the Strike Eagles they maintained saved people's lives. During close air surveillances of the area, more than 109,000 pounds of ammunition was uncovered from opposing forces.

After a deployment filled with long days, exposure to the elements and sleep deprivation, one would think these maintainers may be wary of deployments. However, many of the Airmen are ready to go back at a moment's notice.

The camaraderie and the work tempo motivate Airmen to keep going even after they are tired and worn. Their will to support the mission is the pulse behind the entire Air Force.