ROCK SOLID WARRIOR Published Oct. 19, 2009 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Dauton Achord Duty Title: C-130H crew chief Home unit: 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas How do you support the mission here? I support the mission by expertly maintaining safe and reliable C-130 Hercules aircraft for the transportation of combat ready troops in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. My daily duties include accomplishing scheduled inspections and any unscheduled maintenance that may arise as a result of daily flying operations. Maintaining aircraft that have been in service since before I was born is a very difficult task. It takes dedication, skill, and hard work; I am ready. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This is my first deployment and I must say it has been enjoyable. The base has an array of quality morale programs for deployed personnel. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? My job here is the same as home station. I just don't get to fly aboard the aircraft here as I do at home station and the operations tempo combined with the long days can be challenging here. But no matter where we are as maintainers when there's "HERKS in the air...Maintenance put em' there!"