Mobility Airman profile: Fairchild NCO supports Operation Enduring Freedom, deployed KC-135 maintenance ops at Kyrgyzstan base

Published April 11, 2011
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- It's a fact that KC-135 maintenance Airmen at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, are busy 24 hours a day, seven days a week supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. For Staff Sgt. Joshua Scott, he said he knows how much and his fellow maintenance Airmen "have a very large impact."

Sergeant Scott, an instrument and flight control systems craftsman deployed to the 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, said he is proud to support the KC-135 deployed mission and Operation Enduring Freedom.

"We collectively provide safe, reliable guidance and flight control systems to the aircrews to provide on time sorties," Sergeant Scott said in a 376th AEW Public Affairs news report April 8. "On-time sorties correlates into supporting aircraft that in turn support our forces on the ground.

"As well as fixing these aircraft, we also launch them out every day," said Sergeant Scott, who is deployed from the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. "I feel we have a very large impact on the mission because it's a coordinated effort from everyone within our unit to keep these aircraft flying smoothly every day."

In doing his job at home station for deployment, Sergeant Scott is doing exactly what he was trained to do, according to his official Air Force job description for the 2A5X3B career field.

Sergeant Scott is trained to "analyze malfunctions and inspect, remove, maintain and install instrument and flight control systems. He also "performs and supervises avionics maintenance and general aircraft servicing and handling."

In operating and maintaining avionics systems, maintenance Airmen like Sergeant Scott analyze equipment operating characteristics to isolate malfunctions in avionics systems, radar, integrated test systems built-in-test, video display systems, flight instrumental, mission computer systems, electro-optical viewing systems and inertial navigation systems, the job description states. They also maintain primary and secondary flight controls, automatic flight control, engine instrumentation, fuel management systems, central air data systems, electronic warfare systems, sensors, communication and navigation systems and aircraft indicating systems.

While deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Sergeant Scott said he's working on getting better on the job for all the things he's required to know.

"My main goal is to become more technically proficient," said Sergeant Scott, whose hometown is Lebanon, Ore.

Sergeant Scott's skills also show he is able to "remove, install, check and repair avionics systems and line replaceable units" and he can "diagnose malfunctions using technical orders, schematics, wiring diagrams, integrated test systems and other test equipment."

Additionally, instrument and flight control Airmen like Sergeant Scott remove, replace and repair faulty system wiring, electrical connectors, antennas, transmission lines and multi-conductor cables. They also modify avionics systems according to technical publications and update operational logs, inspection records, aircraft forms and automated maintenance systems.

Sergeant Scott was also recognized by his deployed wing as going above and beyond his required duties when he was named the 376th AEW "Warrior of the Week" for the first week of April 2011. According to the news report announcing the honor, "this individual is recognized based on outstanding performance, good conduct, work ethic, and most importantly, for a job well done."

Sergeant Scott said he will continue to strive to do well and that he has more than one person who helps him and inspires him to achieve success. He noted a technical sergeant he works with who "somehow, while working ridiculously long days, still makes time to complete professional military education and take classes."

Sergeant Scott also highlighted a fellow staff sergeant "who has been in the Air Force for 5 years and is fully qualified as a seven-level communication navigation and crew chief." He also recognized a younger Airman who "continually has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen while maintaining a very positive attitude."

In all, the people he mentioned and others have kept him inspired during his more than seven and a half years of military service.

"These people give me the drive and the inspiration to continue to better myself personally and professionally," Sergeant Scott said.

The Transit Center at Manas was activated in December 2001 when coalition forces deployed to Manas International Airport and began supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the 376th AEW fact sheet states. The base continues to promote regional stability in Central Asia.

At his home station at Fairchild AFB with Air Mobility Command's 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Sergeant Scott supports a world-wide mission in a wing that has more than 50 active duty and eight Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers assigned. "These aircraft and the dedicated members of Team Fairchild continue to actively support...missions around the world," according to the 92nd ARW fact sheet. "The 92nd ARW is proud to provide the best global reach for America, helping to make the world safe for our future."

(376th AEW Public Affairs contributed to this report.)