Teamwork gets the job done

  • Published
  • By Capt. John P. Capra
  • 313th Air Expeditionary Wing
WESTERN EUROPE --  Senior Airman Joseph A. Moran and Airman 1st Class Zina R. Allred work together as a team to complete critical aircraft maintenance. Moran's home unit is the 134th Air Refueling Wing in Knoxville, Tenn. and Allred is from the 151 ARW in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both are traditional guard members who share the same Air Force Specialty Code, aircraft avionics.

Today they are working on replacing an antenna pedestal for the color weather radar on a KC-135 Stratotanker. They both appeared quite comfortable with their task as Moran sat perched on an aircraft stand where he skillfully safety wired the antenna pedestal to the aircraft. Below Allred read aloud the technical guidance from her rugged laptop computer making special note of details as they both followed their checklist.

"This is a good experience, I get the opportunity to know my job better," said Moran.

"I get a lot of experience here due to the high operational tempo. This is experience that might take me years to get at my home unit," said Allred.

Both Airmen are part of the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing supporting "Operation Unified Protector."