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JBB's Jackals maintain heavy lift capability

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  At five-stories high, Air Mobility Command's C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy aircraft "Grey Tails" can be seen on flightlines the world over, even here among the Red Tails of Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

These globe-hopping giants are resilient, but when they do break throwing them to the jackals isn't normally done-or is it?

Enter the 521st Air Mobility Operation Group, Detachment 5, known as the "Jackals."

The Jackals' mission is to support all Air Mobility Command heavy airlift transiting JBB, said Master Sgt. Richard Spotts, 521 AMOG, Det. 5 production superintendant. Balad's mission and everything that happens here primarily relies on AMC heavy airlift moving smoothly in and out.

"We provide launch, recover, servicing and maintenance capabilities for C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy cargo aircraft," said Sergeant Spotts, a native of Bellwood, Pa., deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "Our maintainers are all fully qualified C-17 maintainers, who are also qualified to perform minor maintenance and servicing on C-5s."

The Jackals stationed at Balad don't just keep the heavy lift aircraft moving in and out smoothly; they also keep any stricken aircraft from taking up ramp space while a maintenance team is inbound.

For AMC to prepare a maintenance and fly them from the U.S. isn't easy, and is quite expensive, said Capt. Michael Zeigler, 521 AMOG, Det. 5 commander, a native of St. Louis, deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "So units like Det. 5 are designed to mitigate the number of maintenance recovery teams sent to the field. Assisting with the smooth movement of aircraft is the detachments primary job. However, the Airmen do have time for self-improvement.

"JBB is a nice base to be deployed to," said Airman 1st Class Robert Jacoby, 521 AMOG, Det. 5 communication-navigation equipment maintainer, a native of Athens, Ala., deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. "The shop and I volunteer at different organizations like the chapel and the USO, and some of us are also furthering our educations here."

Now as U.S. and Coalition forces responsibly withdraw from Iraq. The Jackals of AMC stand by to assist with any maintenance issues that may arise in an effort to keep supplies a servicemembers moving smoothly.

"From the day we arrived at JBB these guys have made me so proud," said Sergeant Spotts. "They know what they're doing, they do it right, they do it safe and they never complain. I have a great team that makes me proud every single day."