Alaska Airmen operate out of Guam

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) --  The 168th Air Refueling Wing was the first Air National Guard tanker unit deployed to Guam after Sept. 11, 2001.

Five years later, the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Airmen are back on the island with their KC-135 Stratotankers as part of a theatre support package for U.S. Pacific Command flying operations.

“Our job here is to ensure our tankers are ready to fly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Aerial refueling planes are the key to air operations,” said Maj. Jeffrey Elliott, the unit’s maintenance commander.

The wing’s maintainers are keeping an airplane flying that was first built in the early 1950s. In many cases, the tankers are older than the parents of some of the Airmen that work on the planes. But, the Airmen do not lose sight of their task.
“We have a very important mission. This is a pretty big area and there are not many tankers here,” maintenance chief Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Carrier said.

He was one of the wing’s Airmen who originally deployed here after the 9-11 attacks. He said although the ops tempo here is not as “intense” as it was then, his team went straight to work to ensure a seamless transition.

The team of more than a hundred people, including aircrew members, maintainers and support personnel, arrived here Jan. 3.

Learning how the infrastructure works on Guam is an adjustment for the Airmen. The team brought some of their small tools. However, much of the big aircraft generation equipment is provided by the 36th Air Expeditionary Wing. Knowing where to go and who to talk to takes some time to, team members said.

Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Sawyer a ground safety manager, said being here is a great experience for young troops who have never deployed.

First, they learn how to work outside the comfort of their home station. Second, this deployment promotes team cohesion, he said.

“We have a limited amount of people here. Everyone has to pitch in. You learn and appreciate the importance of each person to the success of the mission,” Sergeant Sawyer said.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Lescault, a pneudraulic journeymen, said his biggest challenge is the weather.

The temperature in Alaska dipped below 20 degrees below zero when they left. Here the climate normally ranges between 80-95 degrees. Squadron members said it is tough getting used to the suffocating island heat and humidity.

“Sometimes the temperature can reach over a hundred degrees inside the aircraft. You are drenched with sweat. It’s like working inside an oven,” Sergeant Lescault said.

The mechanics said they understand the importance of tanker operations in the Pacific.

“There is a lot of aircraft and cargo movement here and they need our help. These planes are not going anywhere without us,” Chief Carrier said.

The wing is the only Arctic region refueling unit in Pacific Air Force. Their mission is to train and equip Stratotanker crews to provide air refueling taskings, worldwide.