KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --
Imagine, for a moment, an F-15C Eagle. In the mind, it’s
likely flying or looking neat and proper in a hangar, showing the kind of image
airshows are made of. Now picture that same aircraft with missing or broken
panels. The view is different and probably nowhere near as pleasant. Without
members of the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, there would be a whole lot
more than just one F-15 looking rough.
Aircraft structural maintenance technicians are responsible
for providing parts and panels to many of Team Kadena’s assigned and tenant
aircraft, to include the F-15, HH-60G Pavehawk and KC-135 Stratotanker, among
others. While they definitely provide those parts, they stand apart by going a
step further and fabricating them in their own shop.
“If we weren’t here to do what we do, the current fleet
would not be where they are now,” said Tech. Sgt. Adam Hodges, 18th EMS
aircraft structural maintenance technician. “We have the capability to repair
and manufacture certain parts, so the current aircraft wouldn’t be around
without our expertise.”
With the multiple aircraft and airframes that are on Kadena
Air Base, the technical requirements for fabricating specific and individual
parts make the job very specialized.
“The most challenging part of our job, in my experience, is
becoming acquainted with the aircraft at your installation,” Hodges said. “For
this base, we have our aircraft and others from different bases. There are a
lot of basics, but there are also nuances that each airframe has we have to be
familiar with.”
In addition to the highly technical nature of measuring,
cutting and altogether creating parts for mission-essential aircraft, members
of the 18th EMS maintain a sense of pride in their skills and the affects it
has on Kadena AB’s resources.
“I get to see my job from start to finish,” said Airman 1st
Class Gilbert Martinez, 18th EMS structural maintenance technician. “I get to
create the patch I put on the aircraft and I can be creative with it. The most
rewarding part, for me, is when I can see the patch fully on [the aircraft] and
it’s signed off. It boosts my confidence and compliments my work.”
Providing their services to more than 50 F-15s and the
dozens of other individual aircraft on Kadena AB helps to highlight the value
of the mission performed by the Airmen from the 18th EMS structural maintenance
shop.
“This shop helps promote the commanders intent for
maintaining stability in the region through our absolutely pivotal role of
keeping these airframes up and readily available,” Hodges said. “We keep our
aircraft mission-capable through the repairs we do and inspections we complete
to make sure the jets are ready to launch and complete their mission.”