WoW: Senior Airman Trevor Tefft

The Weasel of the Week series asks Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, heroes, experts, and all-around great Airmen to share their likes, dislikes, Air Force spirit and personalities. We sat down with Senior Airman Trevor Tefft, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, wheel and tire crash recovery team member, to get to know him.
Please explain your career field and job.
I am a wheel and tire crash recovery team member here at Shaw. This is one of the back shop jobs a crew chief can be selected for. For the wheel and tire portion I am responsible for the disassembly, inspection and reassembly of aircraft wheels. For the crash recovery portion I respond to any in-flight emergency or ground emergency. We work with the other emergency responders to safely and quickly remove any disabled or damaged aircraft from the runway. We also work depot level maintenance on aircraft landing gear, inspecting and providing good sets to phase for six-year gear inspections and rebuilding depot landing gear sets.

How do you affect the wing’s mission capabilities?
As a wheel and tire crash recovery team member, I affect the ability to sustain the wing’s mission. Aircraft can only take off and land safely with serviceable wheels. We allow for the quick replenishment of wheels and landing gear components in the supply system, sustaining the wings mission capabilities. We also keep the airfield open as crash recovery. Quickly and safely removing any damaged or disabled aircraft from active runways or taxiways allows the wing to sustain its mission.

What inspires you to strive and excel at your job?
The mentorship I’ve received in my career inspires me to strive and excel at my job. I have been fortunate enough to work with some great crew chiefs, both here at Shaw and at my previous duty station. Passing on this knowledge and experience to others strives me to be the best I can be.

What advice do you have for people coming into your career field?
This career field isn’t always the easiest, but if you work hard you’ll have some great experiences.

What is your proudest moment since you arrived here?
Responding to the aircraft incident in June is my proudest moment since arriving here. It was a truly humbling experience to be able to work on both sides of aircraft maintenance. From working and inspecting these jets to ensure they are mission ready and capable, and now being able to be there and provide support and help when things go don’t go as planned.

How do you define success and how does this definition of success help you succeed in your career field?
I define success by how well I sleep at night and the work I don’t turn over to the next shift. This has helped me succeed greatly in my career field. By doing things safely and correctly the first time I never have anything to worry about at the end of the night. Any work I don’t turn over is one less job for the next person. In my career field it helps to pay your work forward.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Doing my job to the best of my ability with any rank or recognition I’ve earned.

What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?
The hard work that goes into getting an aircraft in the air.

What is one thing that is taken for granted about your job?
The hard work that goes into getting an aircraft in the air.

What impact have you made in your career field and at this base?
I like to think I have had an impact on anyone I’ve worked with long enough to teach something. This career field is ever changing and there are always younger Airmen to teach. One thing I want to ensure is that I’m leaving a lasting and positive impression as I move forward in my career; I can bring these younger open minds along with me.