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Joint Base MDL airman first class supports KC-10 maintenance ops in Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Taking care of the Air Force's largest air refueling aircraft -- the KC-10 Extender -- is a big task for any maintenance Airman. For a KC-10 crew chief like Airman 1st Class Gene Meredith, it's just another day on the job.

Airman Meredith is deployed with the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's Extender Aircraft Maintenance Unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Airman Meredith is deployed from the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

In Airman Meredith's deployed location with the 380th AEW, he supports operations New Dawn, Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Before every KC-10 Extender launch, 380th EAMXS Airmen like Airman Welch make sure the more than 180-foot-long tanker and airlifter is ready to go. As a crew chief, he makes sure the whole aircraft is cared for every day. He's required to know "everything there is to know about the jet."

The official Air Force job description for a crew chief states that maintainers like Airman Meredith advise on problems maintaining, servicing and inspecting aircraft and they use technical data to diagnose and solve maintenance problems on aircraft systems. Crew chiefs also troubleshoot and maintain aircraft structures, systems, components and support equipment. They also supervise and perform aircraft and component inspections and interpret inspection findings and determine adequacy of corrective actions.

Furthermore, in his job, Airman Meredith inspects and checks components for clearances, tolerances, proper installation and operation and inspects and operates powered and non-powered aerospace ground equipment, identifies aircraft corrosion for prevention and correction, and reviews maintenance forms, aircraft records and reports to ensure complete documentation.

Airman Welch's work is among several maintenance specialties who maintain the KC-10 for deployed operations. There are KC-10 crew chiefs and Airmen specializing in instrument and flight control maintenance, communications and navigation, hydraulics, aerospace propulsion, fuels, electrical and environmental systems and aero repair.

The KC-10 fact sheet states the plane "is an advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces." Although the KC-l0's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments. The KC-10 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.

Facts also show the KC-10 is a critical contributor in the air refueling effort in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. In just the first four months of 2011, air refueling aircraft supporting the air mission on the U.S. Central Command AOR have off-loaded more than 357 million pounds of fuel to more than 26,500 receiver aircraft.

The 357 million pounds of fuel figure, which is calculated and tracked by the U.S. Air Forces Central's Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia, equates to approximately 52.58 million gallons -- enough fuel to fill an F-16 Fighting Falcon to its capacity with two external tanks more than 29,750 times.

The 380th AEW's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance, airborne warning and control and fighter support for overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia and the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

At his home station at Joint Base MDL with the 305th AMW, Airman Meredith supports a mission that "extends America's global reach by generating, mobilizing and deploying 32 KC-10 and 13 C-17 aircraft to conduct strategic airlift and air refueling missions worldwide," according to the base Web site.

(Master Sgt. Julie Briden-Garcia, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this report.)