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Behind the Scenes: CCC visits 20th EMS AGE Rangers

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  • By Airman 1st Class Kelsey Tucker
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – --  A selection of 80s hard rock blasting through the speakers, wall decals that proudly proclaim ‘Danger Is No Stranger To An AGE Ranger,’ and the overall smell of an auto workshop are the first impressions that welcome newcomers to the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment shop.

Supervised by a painting of a grinning skull over crossed wrenches, AGE Airmen in deep blue overalls and violet latex gloves go about their work.

Unlike other shops across Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, this one isn’t filled with parts from the F-16CM Fighting Falcons that line the runway. Instead, the AGE shop is filled shutter to shutter with the equipment used to fix those parts.

It’s business as usual in the AGE shop today, except for one thing – Chief Master Sgt. Christopher McKinney, 20th Fighter Wing command chief. Though visiting the building for the first time, he is not an unfamiliar face.

As command chief, McKinney usually takes the role of a teacher for much of the population of the base. Today, however, he’ll find himself on the other side, learning from the Airmen that spend their days (and sometimes evenings and nights) among these generators, weapons loaders, and other equipment.

After a tour of the squadron, followed by an orientation drive down the flightline, McKinney donned his own set of olive green coveralls and was ready to get dirty with the Airmen.

“I wanted to experience life from the perspective of our Airmen and to see firsthand all of the phenomenal things our bright Airmen accomplish,” said McKinney. “Additionally, sometimes there are resource shortfalls and our folks just keep pressing through without asking for help and I am looking for these shortfalls. Part of my job at the wing is to knock down road blocks for our people so they can do the mission.”

Airman 1st Class Kristofer Kabalan, 20th EMS AGE apprentice, was McKinney’s partner for the day. Together they went through the steps to replace an oil filter and safety wiring, and remove, clean, and replace tire bearings on an A/M32A-60 generator. The generator, only one of the types of equipment maintained by the AGE shop, is used as an alternative to burning fuel by maintainers on the flightline when troubleshooting the engine and electrical system of F-16s.

“It was awesome working with the chief because you have this big guy coming down and just showing his humility, being like ‘I don’t know but I’m willing to learn,’” said Kabalan. “Being able to teach and learn at the same time is always a great thing. And me being so low on the ‘totem pole’ and being able to instruct a command chief was pretty neat.”

The work was filthy, tedious, and sometimes difficult, but it allowed McKinney to witness firsthand the mission of AGE in action.

As his time with the AGE Airmen came to an end, McKinney called them all together for a few parting words and to present Kabalan with a coin of his own as thanks for a job well done.

“Sometimes we are quick to label ‘this generation of Airmen,’” said McKinney. “What I have observed and continue to observe is that this generation is extremely innovative and talented. If we provide them with rock solid leadership, they will grow and knock it out of the park. But that requires old-heads like me to stop using antiquated methods of leadership.”

McKinney plans to continue visiting shops across Shaw, meeting and observing the Airmen in their workplace and ensuring they understand how they connect to the 20th FW mission.