Indianola native keeps jets in the sky over Afghanistan

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Greg Biondo | A U.S. Air Force F-16C with the 451st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, takes off for a mission over Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, April 4, 2012. The mission of the 451st EFS is to deliver decisive airpower on target, on time.  

AFGHANISTAN

04.05.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri 

United States Air Forces Central     

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — A native of Indianola, Iowa, recently deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob Hermanson, an F-16C Fighting Falcon mechanic with the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron deployed from the Iowa Air National Guard, is enjoying this deployment.

"This has been my favorite deployment so far," said Hermanson, who's on his fourth deployment of his career. "We're really close to the action here."

Keeping aircraft in the air allows the squadron to carry out its mission of delivering decisive airpower to the southern region of Afghanistan.

"Our jets are more than 20 years old, and require routine maintenance," said Lt. Col. Travis Acheson, 451st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander. "We couldn't do what we do, without having the high-speed maintainers we have here."

• Date Taken: 04.05.2012
• Date Posted: 04.05.2012 15:04
• Story ID: 86312
• Location: AF
• Hometown: INDIANOLA, IA, US