Deployed jet engine mechanic keeps his motor running by helping teammates, traveling abroad

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST EUROPE --  No matter what part on an airplane is being serviced, aircraft maintenance can be a dirty, difficult job with long hours - often in miserable conditions, especially during deployments.

Without maintenance, planes can't fly. And in the case of the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, which has been supporting French operations in Mali since January 2013, each refueling sortie can be the difference between life and death for troops in combat. The squadron is made up of members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England.

Fortunately, the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, which services the 351st EARS deployed KC-135 Stratotanker fleet in southwest Europe, has noncommissioned officers like Tech. Sgt. Michael Ruppert on the flight line every day and night.

Ruppert, an aerospace propulsion craftsman from Fort Meyers, Fla., works the night shift at the 351st EARS deployed operating location. Though he specializes in the maintenance of jet engines, he is qualified to work on almost every area of the KC-135 as a flying crew chief - a maintainer who travels with the aircraft on missions away from its home station.

Deployed operations have suited the technical sergeant well.

"It's been fun here, being part of a small group," he said. "There's a good sense of camaraderie, and it's a good mission, supporting the French."

Ruppert has been assigned to RAF Mildenhall for the last three years of his 11-year Air Force career. When he's not traveling abroad to support the 100th ARW's mission, he's traveling on his own accord. So far, he's made it to 11 different countries, and said he enjoys seeing different cultures and visiting friends stationed around the world.

As a propulsion specialist, Ruppert services the aircraft's engines, operating them whenever maintenance needs to replicate something that could occur in flight or perform other checks requiring the engines to be running.

But it isn't just engines that get him revved up. According to night shift expediter Tech. Sgt. Deshawn Bryson, Ruppert is always willing to roll up his sleeves and help out his fellow maintainers, no matter what the job entails.

"He's my go-to guy," Bryson said. "It doesn't matter what shop is working, he's out there helping whether it's his job or not."

Bryson added Ruppert's sense of both leadership and followership makes him an incredibly valuable member of the team.

"He's not afraid to get his hands dirty," Bryson said. "He's the perfect maintainer."