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Transient alert maintainers provide critical mission support

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFNEWS) --  Whether changing a tire on an F-16 Fighting Falcon, marshalling in a heavy airlift C-17 Globemaster III on the north ramp, maintaining a piece of air-ground equipment such as a power unit or responding to an in-flight emergency, Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron's transient alert section are integral to the operation of this key airpower hub in Iraq.

In fact, they could use "Follow Me" as a motto for their shop.

The most visible sign of the 25 Airmen assigned to this section is one that reads "Follow Me" that is prominently displayed on the back of each of two white pickup trucks that are commonly seen on the flightline.

The driver of the Follow Me truck positions the vehicle in front of an arriving large aircraft and leads it to the proper parking spot in order to accommodate the day's flying schedule.

Many of the Airmen assigned to transient alert maintenance are crew chiefs back at their home stations and may be doing something a little different during this deployment.

Master Sgt. John Nash, production superintendent for the transient alert section, is deployed here from the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., where he is production superintendent for the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit. The 1st AMU maintains the E-4B aircraft which serves as the national airborne operations center for the president and secretary of defense.

Sergeant Nash initially deployed to New Al-Muthana Air Base in Baghdad in September 2006 where he worked directly with members of the Iraqi Air Force at the 23 Squadron, maintaining C-130 Hercules in the maintenance operations control section.

Sergeant Nash developed an understanding and respect for his Iraqi air force counterparts during his time at New Al-Muthana.

"Those guys just wanted to do what's right for their country and make a living just like we do," said Sergeant Nash. "I respect them a lot, because while they're at work serving their country, someone could be harming their families as a way to coerce them."

In January, Sergeant Nash was reassigned to Balad Air Base and began working in his current position.

"The folks we've got on this rotation are smart. We've got a lot of fighter maintainers working heavies [aircraft] here. Our guys are very good at thinking outside the box to get the job done."

Master Sgt. Blair McAnally, section supervisor for the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron transient alert section, is deployed here from the Montana Air National Guard's 120th Fighter Wing in Great Falls.

According to Sergeant McAnally, transient alert, or TA, Airmen help marshal incoming and outgoing aircraft on the north ramp that are dropping off personnel or cargo such as base exchange merchandise and mail, and contractors and Soldiers.

Sometimes they even get a chance to work with aircraft that aren't in the U.S. Air Force inventory.

"We recently assisted with an engine change on a British (GR-4) Tornado. We towed the aircraft, secured the munitions and helped British maintenance technicians repair the jet. We gave them a hand procuring equipment and getting the tools necessary for the job," Sergeant McAnally said.

According to Sergeant Nash, the TA section processes about 3,000 aircraft a month and coordinates with the aerial port and the air terminal operations center to keep the flow of passengers and cargo moving smoothly. TA Airmen routinely call for fuel, and block aircraft in and out. They also assist with aeromedical evacuation flights and "Hero" missions.

Senior Airman Lloyd Bryars is deployed here from the 314th AMS at Little Rock AFB, Ark. 

"If we weren't here to take care of planes, we'd have a hard time getting cargo in and out of here," said Airman Bryars. "We coordinate each crew's method of payment for fuel and get that information to the command post. We're also the first people arriving crews see when they get here and the last ones when they leave."

Staff Sergeant Michael Thompson, deployed here from the Maine Air National Guard's 101st Air Refueling Wing at Bangor, is on his first OIF deployment and said "I felt I wanted to be here for the experience of supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a KC-135 (Stratotanker) mechanic, I miss the maintenance aspect, but I do get to meet a lot of people here," he said.

In addition to the more visible TA Airmen working the parking ramp, the TA section also includes the Crash Recovery and the wheel and tire shops.

Airmen at the wheel and tire shop repair 25 to 30 wheel and tire assemblies a week for F-16s here, maintaining the combat readiness of the aircraft that take off and land in harsh desert conditions.

Staff Sergeant Ernest DeLeon is deployed here from the 35th Maintenance Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan. 

"I'd have to say this has been an interesting experience so far," he said.  "Whether it's maintaining a wheel and tire assembly or, God forbid, responding to an aircraft crash, we've got important work to do here."

Staff Sgt. James Marsili also is with the crash recovery/wheel and tire shop and is deployed here from the 366th Maintenance Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. 

"If there were a crash, we'd do what we need to do as quickly as possible to get runways open again," said Sergeant Marsili. "We've got thousands of dollars worth of crash recovery assets, but obviously we hope we never have to use them."

"What we do directly contributes to all combat mission sorties flown here. The tires on these jets get them down the runways for takeoff and bring them back to the ground and down the runways safely again," he said.

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