Mortuary affairs sends fallen warriors home

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs8/21/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A solemn dignified transfer of remains is conducted upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Del., from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have given their lives in service to America. These fallen warriors, however, have stops along the way including the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here on their way home to family."What we do is ensure these fallen warriors get home to their families, friends and loved ones as quickly and safely as possible," said Tech. Sgt. Harvey Greenwood, the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs NCO in charge deployed from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., and a Yazoo City, Miss., native.While there are only two mortuary affairs technicians locally, they're supported by services Airmen volunteers."We have a 'Fallen Warrior Detail' consisting of six to 12 members who carry the body transfer cases to and from the aircraft," Greenwood said.After the cases have been secured, mortuary affairs jumps into action."The sooner we can get the member ready for transport again, the sooner they can be home and offer their families some peace," said Master Sgt. Michael Trace, the 379th EFSS mortuary affairs superintendent deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and a Hartville, Ohio, native.A dignified transfer is the process by which, upon the return from the theater of operations to the United States, the remains of fallen military members are transferred from the aircraft to a waiting vehicle and then to the port mortuary. The dignified transfer is not a ceremony; rather, it is a solemn movement of the transfer case by a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's respective service. A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country. A senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service presides over each dignified transfer.Reminiscing, Trace said the greatest sense of accomplishment that he's done a job well is when the grieving family member comes to him and thanks him for returning their warrior home."Our job is one of the most stressful and rewarding at the same time," said Trace. "At the end of the day, when that family member walks up to you with tears of thanks -- that's what it's all about."However, being deployed ushers in a whole new set of emotions each mortuary affairs technician learns to cope with in their own ways.And according to Trace, it takes a special person to fill their shoes."We're hand-selected by our squadron leadership," Trace said."After chosen, we attend a five-day course designed to better prepare us in handling the technical aspects of mortuary affairs," added Greenwood.The course focuses on the procedures for case file management; administrative functions; search and recovery operations; and honor guard."It's a course that pulls Airmen from across the Air Force and all from force support squadrons," continued Greenwood. "You have to be in the Services career field to fill this position."After graduating from the course, mortuary affairs' Air Force specialty code gains a modifier showing they are qualified to accomplish the mortuary affairs mission at home and overseas.It's a challenging job, Trace and Greenwood said, but they're proud to take part in sending their fallen comrades home."They and their family made the ultimate sacrifice," said Greenwood. "We're here to make sure their loved one is handled with dignity, honor and respect in care, service and support for the families."

Dirty Jobs: Water, fuel systems maintenance

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

6/19/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Water and fuel systems maintenance Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron worked to replace one of the largest sewage lift station pumps here June 18."These pumps tend to get clogged with rags, sanitary napkins, etc.," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Schrader, a 379th ECES water and fuel systems maintenance technician deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. "Our sewage systems weren't built to handle anything other than toilet paper and sewage, so when people put other things in them, it's bad news for everyone."The issue began with the damaged pump, but snowballed when the team went to replace it and a retaining rail pulled out of place requiring them to hoist an Airman into the hole to not only replace the pump, but also the unaligned rail."We have to make sure the sewage does indeed go away and doesn't come back up," said Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Williams, the 379th ECES superintendent permanently assigned here on a one-year controlled tour. "This is one of the main contributing factors to delivering combat power -- disposing of everyone's waste, and it's something a lot of people take for granted."The chief said the operation is a unified effort between agencies from across the wing including the fire department, bioenvironmental engineering, ground safety and his troops."The fire department provides the tripod and breathing equipment necessary for lowering our guys in the hole," Williams said. "Bio ensures the quality of air in the confined space, while safety provides the necessary oversight to help keep us on track."Everyone uses the restrooms making it everyone's responsibility to police what they put into the toilets so situations like these don't occur regularly, the chief said. While it is understood that the systems can get old and clog on their own, the base can certainly help these Airmen in a preventative way from having to fix things that wouldn't have been broken otherwise.

Local school stimulates servicemember’s spirit

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

to come to," she said. "We are very grateful for everything you have done for us and our country and planned this day as a way of saying thank you."

Maintenance chaplain makes big impact

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

5/23/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- With the blinding sun baking down on the hot tarmac, maintenance crews strive to keep aircraft strategically poised to support troops on the ground in the area of operations. The work isn't easy, the days are long and nerves can be frayed. That is until the maintenance group chaplain rolls up with a smile, devotion and a popsicle."It's nice to know we have the support of more than just our leadership," said Senior Airman Jonathan Donovan, a 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-130 Hercules crew chief deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "He really connects with us at the most basic levels."That sentiment for Chaplain (Capt.) David Dziolek is carried across the maintenance group here, but as they say, "there's a rhyme for every reason.""He was maintenance like us, so we really feel like we can open up to him because he understands what we're going through day-in and day-out," said Airman 1st Class Paul Basirico, also a 379th EAMXS C-130 crew chief deployed from Peterson AFB.Dziolek, a Freesoil, Mich., native, began his career in 1991 when he enlisted in the Air Force as an F-15E Strike Eagle maintainer. While he had aspirations to play basketball in the NBA, he said he was needed elsewhere."The Lakers wanted me, but I had a calling to serve," he smiled.After completing technical training, Dziolek arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., where he served for five years."I completed Airman Leadership School there," he said. "But I learned at Nellis a lot of what not to do and it wasn't until my next assignment I really felt like I belonged."Dziolek credits his next assignment, the former Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, for turning his life around."The Lord really got a hold of me up there," he said. "I came to him broken. But he got a hold of me through the Gospels and the Navy chaplain took me under his wing and really began to mentor me."Losing his father at 12 years old, Dziolek hadn't had a real mentor or even father figure until meeting this chaplain."He had a huge impact on me," Dziolek said. "He was one of the first to say to me, 'I believe in you.'"It was under this Navy chaplain's spiritual mentorship he began reflecting on what the future had in store."God was doing some major molding in my life," he said. "He would come to me in visions while I was reading the Bible. These were moments of clarity in my life -- I could literally see myself dressed up in a suit and tie preaching God's word."Following his calling, Dziolek left the Air Force in 2000 to pursue the higher education necessary to be a chaplain. He attained his bachelor's degree in Pastoral Ministry in 2003 from Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., joined the Air Force Reserves in 2005 and completed his master's in Divinity from the Church of God Seminary, also in Cleveland, Tenn., in 2006. From there he went active duty in 2010 as a chaplain and has since been assigned to Wilford Hall Medical Facility at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.He's served the men and women of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group for the past six months as their chaplain. He said his experience here rekindled "some old energy and passion."These sentiments are rooted in the maintenance career field. He loves going out visiting with Airmen, because not only is he able to share God's message of salvation, he relives the things he grew to appreciate earlier in his career."I absolutely love the smell of the flightline," Dziolek said. "I love the heat baking down on you and to see those awesome planes fly."Maintenance at the core, the chaplain enjoyed reliving his youth here."I remember when the jets would break down hard and we had to troubleshoot the problem to get the aircraft back on the line," he said. "Out here you really feel connected to the mission. But now as a chaplain, I get to do some spiritual troubleshooting and help these guys with their issues -- watch them fly, spiritually."This gives Dziolek the greatest sense of accomplishment because at the end of the day, his work adds to the 379th's maintainer's spiritual readiness. But the chaplain hasn't accomplished all he has here without the guided help of his assistant, Staff Sgt. Bernard Untalan."Working with Chaplain 'DZ' I've experienced profound moments of ministry," Untalan said. "He made it a point to include me in everything he did. From our weekly devotions to simply delivering cold popsicles, I know we made a difference, but I wish we could've done more."Untalan and Dziolek both wished they could've spent more time with the crews, noting 25 or more units visited in a week just wasn't enough."We could never visit long enough," Untalan said. "As the chaplain's assistant you can really tell when your presence isn't welcome, but here, we were always welcome."Untalan feels like this had a lot to do with the chaplain's enlisted and maintenance background."You can't be mad when the chaplain walks in," said Maj. Bryan Webster, the 746th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. "People couldn't help but smile when they saw the chaplain because he did a lot to help center us."With unit engagement as his number one priority, Dziolek made a huge impact on the maintenance group, but if you ask the chaplain, it was God working through him."To God be the glory," he said. "For all the great things he has done in my life, I'm just happy to serve."