Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A 168th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker is pushed backward by a tow truck prior to takeoff Sept. 30, 2014, at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany. The aircraft carries 125,000 lbs. of fuel and will offload 30,000 to 35,000 lbs. to receiving Boeing E-3A AWACS. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Senior Airman Francine St. Laurent)140930-F-MQ741-234
                        
                        
                        A 168th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker is pushed backward by a tow truck prior to takeoff Sept. 30, 2014, at Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany. The aircraft carries 125,000 lbs. of fuel and will offload 30,000 to 35,000 lbs. to receiving Boeing E-3A AWACS. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Senior Airman Francine St. Laurent)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Airmen wear many hats, support NATO mission in GermanyPublished Oct. 6, 2014
                    
                    By Senior Airman Francine St. Laurent
                    
                    
                    168th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
            **GEILENKIRCHEN NATO AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --**Airmen from Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Air Refueling Wing began a two-week support mission here, supporting NATO’s airborne warning and control system mission.
The 168th ARW is one of 18 ANG units that support the 17 E-3A AWACS aircraft and their radar surveillance missions by providing refueling capabilities.
Maintenance Airmen play a key role by ensuring Alaska ANG’s two KC-135 Stratotankers in Germany are kept in the best possible condition. 
“Our system knowledge is used not only to fix problems when they happen, but to diagnose and prevent future problems from happening,” said Airman 1st Class Deren Trounce, a 168th Maintenance Squadron hydraulics technician.
As the only hydraulics specialist on a team of 19 Airmen who traveled to Geilenkirchen, Trounce said he gained experience and confidence in his skill set. 
“Back home I have a support net,” Trounce said. “My mentors guide me through fixing a problem. Here it’s basically me; I am the hydraulic specialist.” 
With the help of Staff Sgt. Shawn McCarthy, a 168th Maintenance Group aircraft electrical and environmental technician, Trounce fixed a fuel line leak in the wheel well and bled the system of air pockets. 
Working closely with Airmen from career fields ranging from avionics communication and navigation to crew chiefs and propulsion helped Trounce appreciate their knowledge and become better at his job, he said. 
“This trip not only reinforces the knowledge I already have but helps me extend what I know,” Trounce said. 
This growth echoes among the 168th ARW Airmen supporting the AWACS’ mission. Airmen build on their knowledge and experience, which benefits the 168th ARW teamwork at home, said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Renson, the 168th MXS component maintenance flight superintendent. 
“When they’re back home, all these shops are segregated, and they perform their own duties,” Renson said. “When they get here, we integrate them into each other’s jobs so they are helping each other. There’s not enough of each one to do their job by themselves so they all have to pitch in.” 
Many of the specialists wear two hats, helping crew chiefs launch and recover aircraft, Renson said. Prior to the trip, Airmen spend a day learning to refuel the aircraft, add oil to the engines, install a tail stand and additional pre and post-flight procedures. 
Airmen gain experience with different skills when their specialty is not yet needed, Renson said. 
“For example, if you don’t have any engine write-ups, you can have them do crew chief launches,” Renson said. “When there’s no electrical and environmental work, we’ll have them help propulsion when they’re hurting.”
In many ways, the trip is a unique training opportunity for many Airmen, such as Staff Sgt. Mike Meyers, a 168th MXS Fabrication Shop aircraft structural mechanic.
“Bird strikes don’t happen very often at Eielson (AFB),” Meyers said. “It happens sometimes, but not very often. Now here, there’s a very high possibility that it’s going to happen because of the number of birds on the runway.” 
If a bird were to hit a KC-135 during takeoff or landing, varying degrees of damage could occur. 
Meyers, as the only sheet metal specialist, would fix any dents or cracks on parts that must be replaced or repaired.
“We brought little pieces of metal and all the basic tools to fix it, such as a drill, rivet gun and measuring equipment to measure distances between holes and make a rivet pattern,” Meyers said. 
Each specialty brought tools, parts and repair equipment because supplies can’t be acquired. The success of the 168th ARW refueling mission at Geilenkirchen depends on the teamwork of Airmen and the culture of melding and sharing knowledge they create.AWAC 



Alaska 



ANG 



Air National Guard 



refuel 



E-3 



Germany 



joint 



training 



Airborne Warning and Control System

Related Links
        E-3 Sentry (AWACS)
                                Sept. 22, 2015
                                The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, aircraft with an integrated command and control battle management, or C2BM, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform. Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil