“The work ethic and dedication of [the KC-10 maintainers in Southwest Asia] is outstanding,” says MSgt. William Dorety, production supervisor for the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Dorety is one who would know. According to the Sand Script, Dorety has deployed 19 times during his 20-plus years in the Air Force and says, “I’ve never seen the same level of commitment as I’ve seen out of these young maintainers.” They perform all manner of maintenance—in 135 degree-heat on the flightline and hotter in the aircraft—on the KC-10s to ensure they can fly twice within 24 hours. (Read the feature in the Sand Script.)
The Air Force has finished resurrecting a B-1B Lancer, completing a yearslong process to transform a bomber that had been stored for parts in the Arizona desert into the new flagship of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.