DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — For Airman 1st Class Jonathan Carbajal, 55th Rescue Generation Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief (ADCC), every workday begins with roll call and ends with the satisfaction of knowing the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters he works on are ready to save lives.
Carbajal described his daily mission as managing “absolutely everything that has to happen with the aircraft.” That includes pre- and post- flight inspections, maintaining forms, performing blade changes, fueling and ensuring no grounded conditions remain before a helicopter launches.
“A usual day starts with a roll call,” Carbajal said. “Leadership hands out the work. Today we had two aircraft flying, and I was managing our in-flight operational checks. It’s everything from forms going out and looking over the bird, to launching our birds so that they’re able to go save lives.”
The work can be intense and demanding, but the mission comes with moments of pride. He recalled helping launch an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter for a real-world rescue earlier this year.
“There was an Italian cargo ship worker having a medical emergency, and the Navy and Coast Guard couldn’t get to him,” Carbajal said. “I got to launch that aircraft out, and being part of that life-saving mission was incredible.”
Each aircraft represents a huge area of responsibility, and for Carbajal, having his name on the side of a Jolly Green II is a career milestone.
“I can say I’ve had my name on the side of an aircraft,” he said. “I even got to fly an aircraft to Sedona recently. Being part of this mission is amazing to me.”
Carbajal said his focus is on performing above expectations, mentoring new maintainers and preparing for future opportunities.
“Day to day can feel repetitive,” he said, “But when you see the impact, like that rescue, it all comes together. I like knowing I’m part of something bigger than myself.”