Mobility Airman profile: Kentucky Guard NCO, Louisville native, maintains C-130s in Afghanistan

Published Dec. 3, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The work of an aircraft crew chief is often unheralded, but is critical to keeping the plane ready at a moment's notice. For Tech. Sgt. John Posten, that means keeping deployed C-130s ready for Operation Enduring Freedom missions in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Posten is a C-130H Hercules crew chief deployed with the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He is deployed from the 123rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 123rd Airlift Wing, of Kentucky's Air National Guard at Louisville. His hometown is also Louisville.

At his home station in the 123rd AW, Sergeant Posten supports a mission "to provide worldwide theater airlift for U.S. military and humanitarian operations." The wing is equipped with eight C-130H model aircraft -- some of which are deployed to Bagram Airfield.

At Bagram, Sergeant Posten and his fellow C-130 Airmen support combat airlift and airdrop missions for OEF. For example, as of Oct. 31, that support has been an overall airlift effort in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility that has moved more than 247,500 tons of cargo and 1.1 million passengers in 2010, Air Forces Central statistics show.

In airdrops for OEF, C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 aircraft that Sergeant Posten cares for has contributed to a record year of pounds airdropped. Also as of Oct. 31, there has been 45.6 million pounds of cargo airdropped for OEF in Afghanistan.

As a crew chief, Sergeant Posten makes sure the whole aircraft he's assigned to 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 Sergeant Posten 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, Sergeant Posten 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.

Sergeant Posten's work is among several maintenance specialties who maintain the C-130 for deployed operations. There are C-130 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.

According to the wing Web site, the 455th AEW serves U.S. Air Forces Central and provides close air support, combat search rescue, aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and airlift capabilities to U.S. and coalition forces supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. In conjunction with Combined Joint Task Force-82, the 455th AEW is working to secure the future of Afghanistan for the Afghan people. Aircraft include the F-15E Strike Eagle, C-130 Hercules, HH-60 Pave Hawk, and Navy EA-6B Prowler.