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Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Rickey Kelly

  • Published
This week's 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Rock Solid Warrior comes from the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Name:
Staff Sgt. Rickey Kelly

Unit: 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Job: Crew Chief

Home station: 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

How do you support the mission here?
I am the dedicated crew chief on C-130E Hercules aircraft and serve as my shift's lead technician. I conduct daily preventative maintenance, servicing and inspections on my aircraft. Also, as a 7-level crew chief, I oversee all the maintenance that takes place on my aircraft.

How many times have you deployed and what makes this deployment unique?
I've been assigned to the Air Education and Training Command for the past 10 years, so this is my first deployment to the U.S. Central Command AOR. It's been a unique experience because I've had the opportunity to support three different operations - Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
Probably the most significant difference here is that we get a real sense of pride when we launch the aircraft, knowing that all our hard work is in direct support of ground commanders as they continue to shape the battlefield against insurgency.