The airmen with the 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit at Balad AB, Iraq, are key to keeping the fleet of Air Force Special Operations Command HH-60G Pave Low helicopters fit for their Combat Search and Rescue mission. The unit has some 30 airmen who are constantly maintaining and repairing the well-worn birds. Despite the high mission tempo, Air Force officials say, launching on time hasn’t been a problem so far. “Every bird has made its mission,” said TSgt. Kevin Pizzino, the unit expediter.
The Air Force plans to offer virtual enlisted Foundations courses Airmen can take at their convenience as part of a larger effort to modernize enlisted professional military education, or EPME.