Maintainers sustain in-theater rescue missions

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Airman 1st Class Micheal Griggs, 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit weapons team member, torques a module into place on an HH-60G Pave Hawk as part of a maintenance check Oct. 27, 2009. The HH-60G Pave Hawk is maintained by Airmen with various specialties that include communications, navigation, engines, hydraulics, electronics, weapons systems and electronic counter warfare. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Maintainers sustain in-theater rescue missions

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Senior Airman Casey Warner, 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit crew chief, inspects the engine controls of an HH-60G Pave Hawk as part of a pre-flight inspection Oct. 27, 2009. The HH-60G Pave Hawk is maintained by Airmen with various specialties that include communications, navigation, engines, hydraulics, electronics, weapons systems and electronic counter warfare. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Maintainers sustain in-theater rescue missions

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Gregory Boggs, 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit weapons team chief, reassembles a .50 caliber machine gun for an HH-60G Pave Hawk during a maintenance check Oct. 27, 2009. The HH-60G Pave Hawk is maintained by Airmen with various specialties that include communications, navigation, engines, hydraulics, electronics, weapons systems and electronic counter warfare. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Maintainers sustain in-theater rescue missions

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Airman 1st Class Micheal Griggs, 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit weapons team member, torques a module into place on an HH-60G Pavehawk as part of a maintenance check Oct. 27, 2009. The HH-60G Pave Hawk is maintained by Airmen with various specialties that include communications, navigation, engines, hydraulics, electronics, weapons systems and electronic counter warfare. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Deployed Moody maintainers sustain in-theater rescue missions

Published Nov. 2, 2009
By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Approximately 80 Airmen from the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., are currently assigned to the 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit and charged with the upkeep of the helicopters used in combat search and rescue missions in-theater.

"Our job is to ensure the aircraft is ready to fly at all times," said Staff Sgt. Sean Hamilton, 64th EHMU crew chief. "And when it's not ready, we fix it as quickly as possible. If the aircrew goes up, we want to make sure they come back."

Senior Airman Skyler Callender, 64th EHMU aircraft hydraulics specialist, said the overall mission of the maintenance unit is to augment the combat search and rescue team members -- whose primary mission is recovery and medical treatment of friendly forces in need.

"Whether it be Iraqis or our own servicemembers out there, it's very satisfying to know you helped save a life," said Airman Callender, a native of Big Rapids, Mich. "Even though we don't fly these things, we maintain them every day so our aircrew members can go out there and save lives."

The unit is broken down into 15 specialty areas, ranging from electronic countermeasures to quality assurance. Each specialized component works collectively to ensure every HH-60G Pave Hawk undergoes routine pre-flight inspections, hit, hover and hoist inspections -- called "H3s" -- and repair work. Crew chiefs review the work of the 14 other areas of expertise.

"Basically they are the backbone of what I do," Sergeant Hamilton said, referring to the Airmen whose work he assesses. "They are the ones out there on the aircraft all the time, making sure inspections are completed, gassing the aircraft when it comes down, and (conducting) launch and recovery."

The team is able to work swiftly, preserving the aircraft's alert status, by employing cross-utilization.

"My specific role is to maintain the aircraft's hydraulics system," said Airman Callender. "It's not too complicated, so oftentimes I give a helping hand to the crew chiefs and other career fields on the aircraft."

While the retractable in-flight refueling probe and hoist, capable of lifting a 600-pound load, make the Pave Hawk well-suited for combat-zone operations, it's useful in non-combat scenarios as well. Last year, the helicopters were dispatched for the retrieval of Cuban refugees in the Gulf of Mexico. Also, in 2005, the rescue aircraft was called upon in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"Back at home station, our work makes the aircraft function for humanitarian relief, natural disasters and homeland security missions," said Staff Sgt. Birdeal Ferguson, 64th EHMU crew chief.

Master Sgt. Matt Compton, the unit's production superintendent, said no matter what capacity they need to fulfill, the Airmen of the 64th EHMU bring dedication to their mission.

"Even if we're sitting alert and there's not much going on, we still have guys finding things to do," he said. "Even as (operations are) drawing down, we're still hacking a mission -- making sure people come home."