AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- A crowd gathers inside a hardened aircraft shelter as 32 Airmen stand with focused expressions, raise their right hands and answer with two words, “Yes, Sir!”
In that moment, the Airmen agreed not just to serve as Dedicated Crew Chief members, but to be a part of a time-honored tradition.
Dedicated Crew Chiefs, or DCCs, are the best of the best when it comes to ensuring every aircraft is properly maintained and returns safely with honor. To follow tradition, their names are painted on the side of an F-16 Fighting Falcon to instill pride and preserve the working relationship amongst pilots, aircraft and crew chiefs.
“Ultimately, all crew chiefs should dedicate themselves to every aircraft that takes off,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Hodges, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief member. “But once your name is on the side, you take even more pride in your work to ensure the aircraft is mission capable.”
That pride stems from a sense of ownership established by a long and valued history. In the past, a crew chief member was assigned to a particular aircraft and was dedicated solely to its maintenance. The ownership motivated them to know every aspect of the plane and put the necessary attention-to-detail into their work.
Currently, however, the Air Force requires all crew chief members to know every aspect of the aircraft and for DCCs to work on all aircraft, not just their dedicated jet. While DCCs may work on any aircraft within their squadron, the title is a reminder of the bigger mission they are a part of and the pride they put in their work.
Hodges was chosen by his flight chiefs as the 31st Fighter Wing’s flagship dedicated crew chief. The flagship aircraft is the wing commander’s fighter jet that represents the wing, with Hodges name on the side of the flagship, it requires him to meet higher expectations and responsibilities.
“As a section chief, I expect my DCCs to know all the ins-and-outs of their aircraft,” said Master Sgt. Charles Nichols 31st AMXS section chief. “To be a DCC, you need to have yourself together and really know your work. I expect them to uphold the highest core values and best maintenance practices.”
The DCC is the last person to have their hands on an aircraft when it goes out for a flight and the first when it lands. They are there as the first-level supervisor on the flightline, and their knowledge ensures everything runs smoothly with take-offs and landings.
“It’s important to have that working relationship as it develops trust,” said Airman 1st Class Jordan Eveland, 31st AMXS assistant DCC. “A DCC gets to learn about the pilot and who they are as a person. Putting that aircraft in the air is not just a job, it’s about protecting someone’s life.”
DCC’s must exemplify qualities based on technical knowledge, management skills, initiative, and leadership to gain the responsibility of protecting someone’s life. These Airmen uphold the task of maintaining a decades-old aircraft to keep it flying faster than the speed of sound and ready to go wherever they’re needed in the world.
“It means everything to have this honor,” said Hodges. “It’s a team effort to get the pilots in the air, and there is no better feeling than watching that aircraft land.”