Getting job done, no matter what

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Quion Lowe
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs

F-16 Fighting Falcon jets are large, fast and loud machines. The roar from these aircraft speeding across the sky is affectionately called “the sound of freedom” by many who feel a sense of pride for their country.

311th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs take pride in their responsibility for these jets after long, grueling hours working on them.

“When I joined the Air Force, my recruiter said I could get my name on an aircraft by being a crew chief, and I thought it was pretty cool,” said Senior Airman Jonathon Crank, 311th AMU dedicated crew chief. “I take pride in my jet 100 percent.”

Having your name on a fighter jet comes at a hefty price, as these maintainers perform mission-essential work every day.

“Maintaining a sense of urgency is definitely a challenge, there is a lot that we have to get done very quickly,” said Crank. “If we take our time to get the work done, it delays the mission and that pilot can’t get trained or they can’t make that sortie.”

While working quickly is important, being accurate is paramount.

Airman 1st Class Jacob Henes, 311th AMU aircraft tactical maintainer, knows the importance of being well informed on jets and says it as one of the most challenging parts of becoming a crew chief.

“Learning and retaining so much information about the aircraft is difficult,” said Henes. “There is so much about them, you could work on them for years and still have much to learn.”

While mastering their craft is their main mission at their home station, maintainers get to apply this knowledge in a deployed environment.

“When you go downrange and you actually see the impact of ‘this is my jet, I got it ready and this pilot was able to keep this person safe,’” said Crank. “I think that is the most rewarding part.”

These skilled Airmen work around-the-clock to keep the jets flying, which rallies them as a unit.

Crew chiefs face many challenges due to the nature of their job, and by employing resiliency, and understanding their part in the mission, they get the job done--no matter what difficulties they face. 

“I believe Winston Churchill said, ‘If you are going through hell, keep going,’” said Crank. “Which means whatever comes at us on the line we have to get through it, there is no giving up.  Everything we do has an effect on the bigger picture.”