News>Reserve C-17 aircraft maintainers take talents to Alaska
Story at a Glance
• McChord Reservists complete two-week annual training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska • 446th Airlift Wing C-17 maintainers certify active-duty maintainers on core tasks
Photos
A Citizen Airman from the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of McChord Field, Wash., performs a prefight walk-around inspection on a McChord C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, April 25 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Reservists from the 446th AMXS were at JBER fulfilling their two-week annual training requirements with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, JBER, April 21 to May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)
Master Sgt. David Timney, a 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulic technician out of McChord Field, Wash., drags a hose to fuel a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 25. Timney and other 446th AMXS Reservists were at JBER fulfilling their two-week annual training requirements with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, JBER, April 21 to May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)
A Citizen Airman from the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of McChord Field, Wash., monitors aircraft fuel flow, April 25 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Reservists from the 446th AMXS were at JBER fulfilling their two-week annual training requirements with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, JBER, April 21 to May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)
Tech. Sgt. Eddie Maldonado, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance technician out of McChord Field, Wash., documents fuel servicing on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, April 25 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Maldonado and other Reservists from the 446th AMXS were at JBER fulfilling their two-week annual training requirements with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, JBER, April 21 to May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)
Tech. Sgt. Eddie Maldonado (orange vest), 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance technician out of McChord Field, Wash., prepares to block out in order to marshal a McChord C-17 Globemaster III the aircraft before takeoff, April 25 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Maldonado and other Reservists from the 446th AMXS were at JBER fulfilling their two-week annual training requirements with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, JBER, April 21 to May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)
Tech. Sgt. Eddie Maldonado, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance technician out of McChord Field, Wash., marshals a McChord C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for takeoff at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 25. Maldonado and other Reservists from the 446th AMXS were at JBER fulfilling their two-week annual training requirements with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, JBER, April 21 to May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)
by Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
5/13/2013 - MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- A group of Reserve C-17 Globemaster III maintainers here spent their annual tour at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, April 21 - May 5 to accomplish required core training and to train mechanics from the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron.
"Elmendorf was selected to receive an en-route team because they needed training," said Master Sgt. David Timney, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulic technician, and team chief during the TDY. "We wanted to complete as much upgrade and refresher training for both 732nd and 446th team members."
Tech. Sgt. Eddie Maldonado and Tech. Sgt. Raymond Green, were also able to certify some of the 732nd AMS maintainers on core tasks so they could pass the training on to their teammates within the squadron.
"We did most of our training with the active duty," Timney, of Graham, Wash., said. "We brought two people from McChord who had the ability to certify the active-duty members on multiple tasks. This would allow the certified 732nd members to branch out and train others."
Even with eight years of aircraft maintenance training under his belt, Staff Sgt. John Cannon, 446th AMXS jet engine technician, said this was his first offshore TDY, and he was curious how other C-17 maintenance units operated.
"I was hoping to contribute and see what it was like at other bases," said the Tacoma resident. "I was able to cover C-17 engine maintenance while the active duty trained."
Reservists, including Cannon, were also able to learn some of the duties outside of their specialties.
"I learned more about (Basic Post-Flight inspections), through flights (a type of flight inspection), and other crew chief tasks, such as integral jack (the use of onboard hydraulics to change tires without an external jack)," said Cannon, who works as a field service technician for Safeworks, a vertical access equipment company.
The 446th AMXS Citizen Airmen and the 732nd AMS Airmen developed a noble working relationship.
