Airman completes mission with pride, satisfaction

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  As he completes his tour of duty at this small, forward-deployed desert air base, Master Sgt. James Royuela looks back with satisfaction and pride knowing his hard work directly contributed to the overall success of coalition forces fighting the global war on terror. 

Sergeant Royuela, a 1988 graduate of Palmdale High School in Palmdale, Calif., is a 17-year veteran whose service to the country has taken him around the world. 

An aircraft mechanic by trade, Sergeant Royuela has risen through the ranks to his current position as production superintendent for the KC-10A Extender aircraft based here. 

He directs, controls and supervises maintenance activities for a 21-person crew responsible for maintaining several KC-10A aircraft valued at more than $85 million each. The team provides maintenance inspections and repairs on the engines, landing gear, flight controls, fuel systems, communication and navigation systems, hydraulic systems and avionics systems. 

“Aircraft maintenance is hard and demanding work with long hours,” Sergeant Royuela explained. “But the satisfaction of watching a jet take off on time makes all the hard work worth it, no matter the airframe or location.” 

Sergeant Royuela and his crew play a vital role in the larger picture of military efforts in the entire area of responsibility -- a fact not lost on his boss. “Our mission here is vital,” said Capt. Tim Smith, KC-10 Aircraft Maintenance Unit commander. “Our maintainers make it happen on a daily basis -- we take the fight to the enemy.” 

The KC-10A Extender serves as an aerial refueling plane. Its function is to keep combat and support aircraft in the air over needed areas by providing fuel in flight rather than requiring those assets to land, refuel and return to the action. Sergeant Royuela is well aware of the impact of his job. 

“If our planes cannot get off the ground, or if they have maintenance trouble in flight, not only are the aircrew’s lives at risk, but the lives of countless American and coalition military members who indirectly rely on the support of our jets,” he said. “For instance -- a unit on the ground in a combat area might need to call in one of our fighter jets to deter or even engage enemy forces. 

"If that aircraft is on the ground in another country fueling up at the time of the call, that support would be delayed and it could jeopardize lives,” he said. “But if my crew and I do our jobs right, that fighter can quickly refuel from our KC-10A above the action and then break off and complete the mission right when the ground forces need it most. It’s a great feeling.” 

Sergeant Royuela is preparing to return soon to his home unit at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where he has a wife, Norma, and three children wait for him. His job at Travis is similar, but he leaves here knowing that doing the hard work in a deployed 
environment brings increased satisfaction. 

“My team spends an average of 120 days each year deployed, so we have lots of experience in the Persian Gulf region,” he said. “These folks continue to perform at high levels despite the harsh conditions we have here. While I look forward to seeing my family again, I’m proud to have had the opportunity to support American and coalition forces directly by supervising the maintenance of a vital link to their success and safety.”