SOUTHWEST ASIA -- For most people, Oct. 9 was just another day, but for Capt. Justin, a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, it was another milestone in his career.
Justin achieved 2,000 combat hours flying the KC-10 Extender and MC-12W Liberty.
“I don’t know of many KC-10 pilots that have flown 2,000 combat hours,” he said. “This milestone kind of snuck up on me.”
Justin has supported multiple operations in U.S. Central Command areas, with 124 MC-12 and 173 KC-10 combat missions.
“All in all, I’ve served the 908th EARS seven times as a crew member and once as assistant director of operations,” he said.
However, Justin does not take all of the credit for reaching this milestone, recognizing the support of his family, KC-10 community, and especially the maintainers.
“Ultimately, this achievement is a reflection of the sacrifice of others,” he said. “I would like to dedicate reaching the 2,000 combat hour mark to the men and women of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and KC-10 Aircraft Maintenance Unit.”
Justin remarked about how maintainers literally give “blood, sweat, and tears” to make the mission happen daily, working through extreme temperatures to keep the planes flying.
“It is incredible, and humbling, to step onto an aircraft where so many people have worked their entire day just to get it ready for launch,” Justin said.
(For security reasons, last names have been removed.)