Thick skin
By Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
/ Published May 10, 2012
1 of 3
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Thomas drills a hole in a boarding ladder at the sheet metals shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. The boarding ladder attaches to the F-15E Strike Eagle to assist aircrew with getting into the cockpit. Thomas, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural craftsman, hails from Panama City, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)
2 of 3
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Vincent Wilson removes a rivet from a guard instrument at the sheet metals shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. The guard instrument is used in the F-15E Strike Eagle as a cover for the control buttons in the cockpit. Wilson, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural journeyman, is from Mechanicsville, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)
3 of 3
DOWNLOAD HI-RES
/
PHOTO DETAILS
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew Beehler removes a rivet from an engine-augmenter duct at the sheet metals shop on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. The duct attaches to the F-15E Strike Eagle and is a means for funneling exhaust gases through the back of the aircraft. Beehler, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural journeyman, is a native of Rose City, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho/Released)
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --
The 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's sheet metal shop is responsible for ensuring a wide variety of F-15E Strike Eagles parts continuously meet Air Force standards.
There are currently 75 Airmen assigned to the shop, who assemble structural parts and components on the wing's 94 Strike Eagles. The Airmen are responsible for preserving the structural integrity of these Strike Eagles.
During a 76 day training course in Pensacola, Fla., the Airmen learn how to design, repair, modify and fabricate, metal, plastic, composite and bonded structural parts and components for the aircraft. They are also trained on applying preservative treatments to aircraft missiles, aerospace ground equipment and support equipment.