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Crew chief for a day

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Orville F. Desjarlais Jr.
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  As an inbound traffic management office clerk, Airman 1st Class Eymi Acevedo processes cargo coming into Camp Cunningham.

On July 25, she helped send an important item off base.

She launched an A-10 Thunderbolt II in a war zone.

"I couldn't believe I was actually sending an aircraft to war," said Airman Acevedo, who is deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Airman Acevedo was one of the first Airmen to participate in the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group's "Crew Chief for a Day" program.

The program's goal is to expand people's knowledge about the aircraft maintenance world.

"When you work in finance, you never get to see what happens on the flight line," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Hornback, the group's superintendent. "When they come out, they learn what it takes to put bombs on target and the challenges with getting an aircraft in the air."

When her jet returned from its mission, Airman Acevedo had to "recover" it, park it back in its spot and check it over for damage, then refuel it to make sure it was ready to go again.

"Crew chiefs do a lot, and they don't get credit for all the stuff they do," Airman Acevedo said. "That's what its all about -- being out there -- and you don't really appreciate it until you do it."

Staff Sgt. William Ross, also from Dover, wanted to launch a jet because he has spent his entire nine-year Air Force career pouring fuel into them. So, he, too, took part in the program.

"Since I work with them every day, I wanted to see what it was like on the other side, to see how they operated so I could get a better understanding," said Sergeant Ross, a member of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron.

"It's a good program, especially for those who don't work the flight line," Sergeant Ross said.

The program is available to Bagram Airmen and Soldiers. To participate, supervisors must e-mail nominations to Chief Hornback.