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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kaden Birch, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology journeyman, performs a weld on a structural component for a forward operating base generator within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. The weld, completed by the 386th EMXS combat metals flight, enhances the structural integrity of the generator, minimizing downtime and improving operational readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron combat metals flight pose for a group photo within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. The team specializes in aircraft structural repairs, component fabrication, corrosion control, and support for aerospace ground equipment maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kaden Birch, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology journeyman, cuts tubing for a hood vent holder within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. The hood vent holder designed by the 386th EMXS combat metals flight streamlines maintenance operations, reducing manpower requirements and enhancing safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kaden Birch, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology journeyman, fabricates a custom bracket for a field deployment tool within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. The bracket, engineered by the 386th EMXS combat metals flight, improves the functionality of the tool, ensuring increased efficiency and durability during its use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jorge Vidal Alvares, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology journeyman, polishes a piece of equipment within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. Vidal and his team specialize in aircraft structural repairs, component fabrication, corrosion control, and support for aerospace ground equipment maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Quentin Claxton, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance journeyman, applies protective coating within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. Aircraft structural maintenance specialists apply protective coatings and markings to ensure durability and preserve mission capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Quentin Claxton, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance journeyman, inspects a ball joint valve for pin holes within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. The valve will serve as an emergency shutoff system, designed to minimize water outages and improve resilience of base infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jorge Vidal Alvares, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology journeyman, conducts mill machinery training within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. This training enhances precision machining capabilities, enabling aircraft metals technology specialists to fabricate and repair critical aircraft components, ensuring mission readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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386 EMXS combat metals flight: innovating for mission readiness

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ulyses Medina, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology craftsman, welds a portion of an emergency water shut off valve within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 28, 2025. The valve, designed in collaboration with the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, aims to reduce water outages by allowing localized shutoffs during infrastructure repairs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Ortega Corona)
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Combat Metals builds on partnership with Kuwait

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nicholas Novotney, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance technician, uses a 90-degree terry drill on a helicopter door at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, Sept. 25, 2020. Novotney is drilling out rivets to replace damaged ribs on the door. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth Boyton)
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Combat Metals builds on partnership with Kuwait

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Lowrey, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology craftsman, uses a lathe at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, Sept. 25, 2020. A lathe is a machine that rotates an object to perform various operations such as milling, cutting, sanding, drilling and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth Boyton)
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Combat Metals: 'The Modern Day Blacksmiths'

The 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron combat metals flight took photos of the initial patchwork on a C-130 that was involved in a bird strike at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, early Feb. 2019. The combat metals flight worked a total of 144 hours on this project, and cut the ground time of the aircraft by roughly three weeks. (Coutesy Photo)
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386th EMXS Combat metals flight: fabricating parts, saving Air Force money

Senior Airman Tobias Budd, 286th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Combat Metals Flight aircraft structual maintenance journyman, prepares equipment to practices welding two pieces of metal together at and undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan 9, 2018. The Combat Metals Flight combines multiple Air Force specialties, including aircraft structual maintenance and iarcraft metals technology technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William Banton)
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386th EMXS Combat metals flight: fabricating parts, saving Air Force money

Senior Airman Tobias Budd, 286th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Combat Metals Flight aircraft structual maintenance journyman, practices welding two pieces of metal together at and undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan 9, 2018. The Combat Metals Flight combines multiple Air Force specialties, including aircraft structual maintenance and iarcraft metals technology technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William Banton)
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386th EMXS Combat metals flight: fabricating parts, saving Air Force money

Senior Airman Tobias Budd, 286th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, Combat Metals Flight aircraft structual maintenance journyman, prepares equipment practices welding two pieces of metal together at and undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan 9, 2018. On Sept. 21, 2017, an EC-130H Compass Call forward nose landing gear door sustained damage caused by a bird strike during flight, requiring combat metals technicians to complete an extensive aircraft battle damage repair. In less than 12 hours the team was able to coordinate with Warner Robins Air Force Base engineers approving a plan to return the asset back to service six days early. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William Banton)
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A 386th Air Expeditionary Wing C-130H Hercules sits immobile after experiencing a tire blowout on landing at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, June 16, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric M. Sharman)
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Airman Kiley Foulke, a 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron combat metals team member, inspects the edge of a recently repaired C-130 landing gear door during an installation operation at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, June 23, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric M. Sharman)
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Airman Kiley Foulke, a 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron combat metals team member, hammers in a hinge pin on a recently repaired C-130H landing gear door at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, June 23, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric M. Sharman)
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The 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron combat metals team installs a repaired C-130H landing gear door during a maintenance operation at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, June 23, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric M. Sharman)
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Master Sgt. Daniel Taylor, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron combat metals flight chief, checks a newly repaired C-130H landing gear door for fit after installation as Senior Airman Andrew Williams, a combat metals team member, looks on during an installation operation at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, June 23, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric M. Sharman)
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