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 final salute is rendered, signaling that the aircraft is cleared for takeoff, during exercise Real Thaw at Beja Air Base, Portugal, Feb. 25, 2016. Real Thaw was designed to provide joint interoperability training throughout the execution of a vast range of battlefield missions, facing day and night operations in a high intensity joint setting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber)F-15 maintainers keep exercise going in Portugal
                        
                        
                        A final salute is rendered, signaling that the aircraft is cleared for takeoff, during exercise Real Thaw at Beja Air Base, Portugal, Feb. 25, 2016. Real Thaw was designed to provide joint interoperability training throughout the execution of a vast range of battlefield missions, facing day and night operations in a high intensity joint setting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Senior Airman Noah Fuller and Airman 1st Class Edward McGroder, 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew members, transport simulated munitions on an MJ-1 Lift Truck during exercise Real Thaw at Beja Air Base, Portugal, Feb. 25, 2016. Real Thaw was designed to provide joint interoperability training throughout the execution of a vast range of battlefield missions, to include day and night operations in a high-intensity joint setting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber)F-15 maintainers keep exercise going in Portugal
                        
                        
                        Senior Airman Noah Fuller and Airman 1st Class Edward McGroder, 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew members, transport simulated munitions on an MJ-1 Lift Truck during exercise Real Thaw at Beja Air Base, Portugal, Feb. 25, 2016. Real Thaw was designed to provide joint interoperability training throughout the execution of a vast range of battlefield missions, to include day and night operations in a high-intensity joint setting. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Dawn M. Weber)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

F-15 maintainers keep exercise going in PortugalPublished March 1, 2016
                    
                    By Senior Airman Dawn Weber
                    
                    
                    48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **BEJA AIR BASE, Portugal (AFNS) --**The 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit is playing a major role to keep their F-15C and D Eagles flying high during exercise Real Thaw, a Portuguese-led, large joint and combined forces exercise that trains participating forces on a vast range of battlefield mission sets.Maintenance Airmen are demonstrating their expertise to an international audience working with numerous NATO allies during Real Thaw.During the two-week exercise, maintainers are working day and night to keep the 493rd Fighter Squadron aircraft ready for takeoff."The Airmen in our unit are hard-working and highly devoted to ensuring our aircraft are mission capable," said 2nd Lt. Connor Maggs, the 493rd AMU assistant officer in charge. "As a part of leadership, we were very confident in their ability to maintain and equip the aircraft, and to foster relations with NATO allies because their professionalism and dedication is what gets the mission here, at Real Thaw, done."It hasn't been an easy task for the more than 60 maintainers."Working away from home station can be difficult," said Senior Airman Russell Habenicht, 493rd AMU avionics specialist. "We are working with limited manpower during exercise Real Thaw. Using the wingman concept is very important here, keeping each other in check is a priority."Preparation was key in order to success. The maintenance team had to ensure they brought not only the right equipment, but also enough of it. Attention to detail is required all the way down to the nuts and bolts.During a TDY or deployment, maintainers prove they are quick to adapt. Their priority is to maintain the jets in the most proficient way possible."Adaptation is a very important characteristic to have as a maintainer," said Staff Sgt. Del Williams, a 493rd AMU crew chief. "In a TDY location like Portugal, when something goes wrong, we want to figure out the problem as quickly and proficiently as possible."At Real Thaw, 493rd AMU maintainers are also learning to work with Portuguese and allied forces."Working with our NATO partners is a good career experience," Williams said. "We get to watch how the Portuguese and other allies conduct business, and, in return, they learn our way of maintenance."Portugal 



USAFE 



F-15 Eagle 



F-15 



NATO 



joint 



training 



exercise 



RAF Lakenheath Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                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 fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                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 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM 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