10/30/2012 - SOUTHWEST ASIA – Senior Airman Joseph Merriman, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, checks the exterior of a C-130 Hercules for damage after it lands here Oct. 23. Between missions, maintainers feverishly perform pre- and post-flight inspections on the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

10/30/2012 - SOUTHWEST ASIA – Staff Sgt. T.J. Ogden, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, inspects the wheels of a C-130 Hercules after it lands here Oct. 23. Crew chiefs are responsible for the overall care of the aircraft. They marshal the aircraft into its spot, debrief the aircrew and run through a gamut of post operations inspections. They oversee the loading of fuel and liquid oxygen and check systems. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

10/30/2012 - SOUTHWEST ASIA – Staff Sgt. T.J. Ogden, 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, inspects the wheels of a C-130 Hercules after it lands here Oct. 23. C-130s must be brought into a maintenance hangar after 270 flight hours for a more thorough inspection called a “Home Station Check.” The HSC is a complete tear-down inspection of the C-130 in which maintainers carefully examine every component of the aircraft, looking for wear and tear to make sure the aircraft is safe for flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)