Their mission is critical to the global war on terrorism. They perform maintenance for the KC-135 Stratotankers that enable U.S. and coalition aircraft to sustain flight and take the fight to the enemy.

Stratotanker maintainers are the keys to the KC-135’s success in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They prepare the aircraft before takeoff, oversee launch and then conduct recovery when the aircraft lands.

The KC-135’s principal mission is refueling B-52s which provide close air support for troops on the ground in Afghanistan. This asset greatly enhances the Air Force’s capability to accomplish its primary mission of global vigilance, reach and power.

“I troubleshoot aircraft problems and then follow through with necessary repairs,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Pillar, 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, aerospace repair craftsman. “Our mission here in the 28th is real. Working on our refueling aircraft allows us to play an integral role in projecting firepower where it is needed.”

“We see the results of our work and the effect it has on the mission firsthand,” Sergeant Pillar said. “More importantly, we also know that troubleshooting and repairing a faulty part in a safe, timely manner may save someone’s life.”

Their scope of responsibility is huge.

The maintainers identify problems, analyze repairs and perform rigging of flight controls, landing gear, major airframe components, door systems and engine throttle controls for the Stratotankers.

They also perform periodic inspections, and scheduled and unscheduled aircraft maintenance. They comply with all time compliance technical orders. In addition, they take care of ground handling maintenance including towing, refueling and defueling, engine operations, and launch and recovery.

“I think the maintenance we provide is vital. Every time we launch a KC-135, it provides the refueling support (building air bridges) required to enable our B-52s and other coalition aircraft to provide close air support for troops on the ground in Afghanistan,” said Master Sgt. Patrick Keenan, speaking with 15 years in the maintenance field.

“The combined force of the Stratofortress and Stratotanker puts the enemy into a reactive posture -- our force can hinder their ability to plan and execute attacks against American interests worldwide,” he said.

“I think aircraft maintainers know that not only has the Air Force entrusted us with multi-million dollar aircraft, but the flight crews have also entrusted us with their safety and wellbeing. Every time a 135 takes off, there is a mechanic who has worked long, often sweaty hours, to make sure it is fully mission capable,” Sergeant Keenan said.

Even though the KC-135s are an aging fleet, with most of the aircraft built in the 1950s and 1960s, the mission capable rate here hovers near 95 percent.

“It didn’t take me long to realize the backbone of the operation here is the maintainers,” said Lt. Col. Marc Van Wert, 28th EARS commander. “With the incredible mission capable rate they have achieved, their efforts have been instrumental in ensuring the gas is delivered at the right time and place. From a strategic perspective, one should keep in mind the average age of most of our KC-135s is around 45 years old. Imagine having a car for that long and the maintenance required to keep it running.

“We can expect the KC-135 to be in our inventory for years to come since a tanker replacement has not been decided. This makes it critical for maintainers to preserve the fleet for the future,” Colonel Van Wert said. “I’m confident they are doing just that, and their hard work pays off when our B-52s, refueled by our KC-135s, ‘put bombs on target’ in Afghanistan.”