Photo By Charles Russell | Senior Airman Juan Velazquez and Airman 1st Class Brandon Jones, 605th Aircraft...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - The 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron works 365 days a year to ensure a fleet of KC-10 Extenders is always ready for operations here.
The 605th AMXS comprises more than 400 active-duty and Reserve airmen who maintain 32 KC-10 aircraft. The squadron is known around the world for "bringing fuel to the fight."
“We provide a force extension which breeds efficiency both in fuel and time delivery,” said Maj. AJ Griffin, 605th AMXS commander. “Force extension translates directly to supporting our forces downrange with food, ammunition and any other supplies you can imagine which can often be a matter of life and death.”
The KC-10 Extender is Air Mobility Command’s advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-10s’ primary mission is aerial refueling, it can also provide critical cargo capability.
The multifaceted aircraft conducts air-to-air refueling while simultaneously carrying personnel and equipment to deployment locations. The KC-10 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.
KC-10 maintainers inspect the aircraft and check components for clearances, tolerances, proper installation and operation. They operate powered and non-powered aerospace ground support equipment, identify aircraft corrosion for prevention and correction, review maintenance forms and aircraft records to ensure complete documentation.
The maintainers specialize in instrument and flight control maintenance, communications and navigation, hydraulics, aerospace propulsion, fuels, electrical and environmental systems and aero repair.
Griffin, a former enlisted C-5 Galaxy maintainer, said he knows firsthand the remarkable feeling of a job well done in the maintainer realm.
“It’s very gratifying watching an aircraft you just worked on take off, knowing you had a direct role in ensuring the mobility mission continues,” said Griffin. “It’s up to us everyday to keep the wheels turning so to speak.”
The spirit of workmanship is shared throughout the more than 400 armen.
“At an aircraft maintenance level, the mission cannot continue without a healthy aircraft,” said Airman 1st Class Brandon Jones, 605th AMXS electrician specialist. “An unhealthy KC-10 means it can’t deliver the fuel or supplies to those in need.”
The 605th AMXS keeps the KC-10s in the air which, in turn, fuels the fight for another day.
| Date Taken: | 01.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2013 15:13 |
| Story ID: | 100201 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Hometown: | CENTERVILLE, IOWA, US |
| Hometown: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 605th AMXS maintains KC-10s, Air Force mission, by SrA Ryan Throneberry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
