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ROCK SOLID WARRIOR

  • Published
  • 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Airman 1st Class Christopher Stewart 

C-130 Hydraulics journeyman 

Home unit/base: 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz.

How do you support the mission here? I support the mission by delivering mission capable aircraft to aid in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I assist daily in the towing and refueling of our aircraft whenever I'm not doing my own work on the C-130 hydraulic systems. In addition, I am pursuing more training to become signed off on various crew chief inspections and taking some college courses to further my education.

How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This is my first deployment, and it has been a very educational and informing experience. I joined the Air Force last year in March, and have already deployed less than a year at my first duty station. I feel my own personal experience is different due to the fact I've been in the Air Force for such a short amount of time and I've already deployed.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? My job in the deployed environment here is no different than home station in the sense of the work ethic of everyone deployed here. Everyone works together as a team, helping whoever needs it out and making sure that no matter what, safe and efficient maintenance efforts are made to get our planes in the air to complete their mission.