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      An Airman assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals an MQ-9 Reaper to the runway prior to launch March 20, 2015, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airmen assigned to the 451st EAMXS provide 24/7 maintenance support to the Air Force’s largest Reaper unit, ensuring ground troops are supported around the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz)Reaper maintainers ensure ISR mission accomplishment
                        
                        
                        An Airman assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals an MQ-9 Reaper to the runway prior to launch March 20, 2015, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airmen assigned to the 451st EAMXS provide 24/7 maintenance support to the Air Force’s largest Reaper unit, ensuring ground troops are supported around the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airman performs preflight checks prior to launching an MQ-9 Reaper March 20, 2015, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airmen assigned to the 451st EAMXS provide 24/7 maintenance support to the Air Force’s largest Reaper unit, ensuring ground troops are supported around the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz)Reaper maintainers ensure ISR mission accomplishment
                        
                        
                        A 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airman performs preflight checks prior to launching an MQ-9 Reaper March 20, 2015, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Airmen assigned to the 451st EAMXS provide 24/7 maintenance support to the Air Force’s largest Reaper unit, ensuring ground troops are supported around the clock. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Reaper maintainers ensure ISR mission accomplishmentPublished March 30, 2015
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz
                    
                    
                    455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --**In an era where combat extends from the battlefield to cyberspace, technological advancement can mean the difference between victory and defeat; between lives lost and lives saved.
One of the most advanced airframes in the Air Force’s arsenal, the MQ-9 Reaper is the manifestation of technical ingenuity and a guardian for ground forces in Afghanistan.
Supporting the largest Reaper unit in the Air Force, Airmen assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron work 24 hours a day to ensure the Reaper fleet is fully operational and ready to launch at a moment’s notice.
“I perform preventative maintenance as well as scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on the aircraft,” said Staff Sgt. Adam, an avionics systems specialist assigned to the 451st EAMXS. “If it has anything to do with electronics or a computer system, it’s my job to make sure it’s working properly.”
The Reaper, a remotely piloted aircraft primarily designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection, can also perform close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike and other critical functions, making it an indispensable tool.
“There are many things that require unique and specific attention pertaining to avionics and the kind of education the Air Force provides us,” Adam said. “The Reaper is a sophisticated airframe and it requires an elevated level of care and comprehension.”
In addition to avionics, aircraft mechanics are also on hand to ensure troops in the field have the support they require should the need arise.
“Unlike other aircraft, Reaper aircraft mechanics not only take care of the airframe, but the engine as well,” said Tech Sgt. Jacob. “With fighter aircraft, they have a dedicated engine shop, but we became an all-in-one shop for this specific airframe.”
Comprised of approximately 100 active-duty and Air National Guard Airmen, the 451st EAMXS acts as a melting pot where Airmen from various facets of the Reaper community come together and function as a cohesive unit.
“I’m a guard guy,” Jacob said. “But I haven’t found it challenging to blend with a group of primarily active duty maintainers because they know what they’re doing, I know what I’m doing, and at the end of the day we’re all here to accomplish the same goal.”
Adam echoed his colleague’s sentiments.
“Working with guard and reserve Airmen makes things more interesting,” he said. “It adds a different level of experience to the group and brings new perspectives to the equation. When I leave here I will take information I’ve learned from our guard Airmen back to my home unit and that’s how we become more knowledgeable as an organization.”
Jacob on his first deployment, and Adam on his third, volunteered their time to fulfil the Reaper mission in Afghanistan.
“I volunteered for this deployment,” Jacob said. “There are Airmen who are on their third and fourth deployments to Afghanistan and I decided this was an opportunity to share the load and gain some valuable experience.”
Adam, having already served the required tour length for his deployment, chose to double his time in country by extending.
“I’ve worked this mission every time I’ve come to Kandahar,” he said. “It’s been interesting to see the aspects of our assignment that change and the ones that stay the same firsthand. It’s such a learning experience being out here and I’ve worked with the best people I’ve ever known. I would never want to give that up.”
As evidenced by their willingness to serve, purpose is not something 451st EAMXS Airmen struggle to find at Kandahar.
“I think anytime we can potentially protect American lives by simply not sending a pilot up in an aircraft, it’s beneficial to us as an Air Force,” Adam said. “We are able to alleviate the strain placed on other aircraft and also support ground troops. We’re accomplishing the mission every time we protect an American life and that gives me satisfaction.”
(Editor’s note: Last names were removed due to safety and security reasons.)RPA 



Kandahar Airfield 



Afghanistan 



451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron 



Remotely Piloted Aircraft 



MQ-9 Reaper Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 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