Why We Do What We Do

  • Published
  • By Senior Airmen Tammy Cario
  • 911 AW/PA
PITTSBURGH AIR RESERVE STATION --  "Being deployed helps you realize how you fit into the scheme of everything," said Tech. Sgt. Clark Elwarner, a crew chief with the 911th Maintenance Squadron. "It helps you see how your job impacts other people." 

Tech. Sgt. Elwarner has been in the Air Force Reserve 13 years. When he deployed in July 2008 to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, he was going on his fourth deployment to the desert. 

"[This deployment] gave me a firsthand view of how we, as a squadron, have helped to impact the mission," Tech. Sgt. Elwarner said. He believes Airmen gain a better understanding of the Air Force when they volunteer to deploy because it gives them a broader view of the mission. 

As a crew chief, Tech. Sgt. Elwarner was in charge of the maintenance of a C-130 Hercules. "We do any refueling or maintenance that's needed," he said. "We do anything that will keep the aircraft in flying condition." 

"We also helped set up configurations in the back of the C-130, depending on what our mission was," said Staff Sgt. Jason Hlavsa, also a crew chief with the 911th Maintenance Squadron who deployed to Al Udeid. 

For Staff Sgt. Hlavsa, it was the first time he had deployed to the desert.
"This deployment showed me that I could be successful," he said. "This is what we have been trained for. All that training paid off."