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Rock Solid Warrior: Airman 1st Class Brandon Henry

  • Published
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  
Rank/First & Last Name: Airman 1sat Class Brandon Henry

Deployed Unit: 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Duty Title: Aircraft Electrical and Environmental System Craftsman

Home unit/station: 30th Airlift Squadron, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Family's military heritage:
Other then my Grandfather who served in the Army, I'm the first in a long time for my immediate family.

What is your mission here?
As an Electrical & Environmental Craftsman, E&E or Elen for short, I'm a specialist. After the crew chiefs or flight crew find/report a problem in my specialty, I'm dispatched out to the aircraft to troubleshoot the problem. I then determine the tools and parts required to fix the discrepancy as quickly as possible, while following all Technical Orders and proper documentation.

What are some of the best parts of your mission?
The best part of my mission is seeing the end result; what the aircraft does. Watching the aircraft take off, land, and repairing them is rewarding in itself. However, going on a mission as a flying crew chief, seeing how the mission is done and the cargo that is being delivered, brings a whole new level of appreciation and respect for my little part in the big picture.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
Some challenges I face are time constraints. You have to always be on the ball and work your hardest. The aircraft have a mission to do, so you have to be focused and safe while doing your job, but also get tasks accomplished in a timely manner. Another challenge is the strain put on our aircraft by operating in a desert environment and flying at a higher ops tempo, which makes for a busy day.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
The aircraft fly a lot more here than they do at home station so there is always work to do. This leads to longer shifts as well. We work 12 hour shifts providing 24/7 maintenance coverage.

How many times have you deployed?
This is my first deployment.

What makes this deployment unique?
This deployment is unique in the aspect that there are so many different people from different places. Being Guard, Active Duty, or Reserve doesn't matter, we all work together to get the job done right as a team.

Why did you join the Air Force?
I joined the Air Force because I'm very patriotic and mechanically inclined, so why not combine the two for a living.