Herculean effort: 777th EAMU lifts maintenance to a new level

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Airlift is the lifeblood for most operations, especially when cargo has to get somewhere fast. For rapid airlift to work as advertised, maintenance cannot be an issue.

The 777th Expeditionary Airlift Maintenance Unit with a small fleet of C-130 Hercules cargo planes push more than 950 sorties a month.

"Our mission is to carry passengers, cargo and anything else the Army needs moved that does not require larger aircraft," said 1st Lt. Cory Eubanks, 777th EAMU officer in charge. "On a monthly average, the 777th EAMU transports 14,000 servicemembers and 1,400 tons of cargo."

Additionally, the C-130's carry mail, aircraft parts and on a more somber note, injured and fallen warriors, said Lieutenant Eubanks, deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

Whether in the dark of night or the blistering heat of the day when aircraft ramp temperatures can exceed 125 degrees Fahrenheit, Airmen keep the aircraft moving and the flow of cargo high.

"The Airmen are doing an outstanding job," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Sisk, 777th EAMU production superintendant. "They keep surprising us with the speed that they repair the aircraft."

If it were not for the Airmen, the EAMU would not be able to do what it does, which is produce sorties, said Sergeant Sisk, deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

However, producing a staggering amount of sorties through rapid maintenance is not the only eye-opening thing that happens at the 777th EAMU. For some Airmen, this is their first deployment and they get to see how all the pieces fit.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Senior Airman Jennifer Sonnamaker, 777th EAMU communications and navigations technician deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. "I get to see how our training gets used operationally; I'm planning on extending my tour here."

The 777th EAMU's accomplishes its mission of flowing cargo and passengers wherever they need to go with a mighty effort and motivated Airmen.

"This is a great organization," said Lieutenant Eubanks. "The Airmen that are working with me are doing a tremendous job. I am very proud of them."