GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (USTCNS) --- Almost anyone at Grand Forks Air Force Base can say the main purpose of the 48 KC-135R Stratotankers assigned here is to refuel other aircraft.

There's also no question that many of the officers assigned to the base are KC-135 pilots.

But what may not be so apparent is the professional team of specialists and crew chiefs from the 319th Aircraft Generation Squadron who keep the "super tankers" up and flying, who are essential to successful refueling missions.

"The main function of specialists is to repair all discrepancies on our aircraft," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Hare, 319th AGS flight chief. "They're also responsible for things such as posting fire guard, refueling, towing and marshalling."

Specialists work in three eight-hour shifts, and their duties depend on which shift they are working.

When working 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., specialists get the KC-135Rs functioning properly to meet departure schedules. From 3 to 11 p.m., they generally make repairs from write-ups from that particular day's missions. During the night shift, workers prepare the jets for the next day's missions.

"It's a three-phase process," Hare said. "We need all three phases to do their job so we can continue to meet our mission."

Hare said a good specialist works closely with crew chiefs to keep the super tankers mission-ready.

"Crew chiefs have a general system knowledge of how the aircraft works," Hare said. "Specialists have a more specific system knowledge.

"Crew chiefs help us most by providing preventative maintenance. They save us time by informing us of the early warning signs, and then we go in and verify their suspicions."

"We're the first ones there," said Senior Master Sgt. Dale McDonald, 319th AGS flight superintendent, about the crew chiefs. "We go in before anyone else to inspect and service the aircraft. We also do minor maintenance and things like washing and de-icing the planes. Crew chiefs are like a jack-of-all trades." McDonald said crew chiefs must know all systems be able to adapt to the environment.

McDonald pointed out how specialists and crew chiefs jobs are often intertwined.

"They help us by repairing systems that are beyond the scope of our guys' experience," he said. "We provide them an extra hand for servicing needs. Without crew chiefs, there is no one to oversee the whole operation."

McDonald and Hare echoed each other's interpretation of the best parts of their jobs.

McDonald said, "Travel opportunities really mean a lot to (crew chiefs). It's something they have to work up to, so when they get to that point, they really appreciate it."

"The (specialists) love getting out on temporary duty assignments where everything comes together," Hare said.

"Our motivation comes in the satisfaction of getting an aircraft up and flying," Hare said. "It really fills you up with a sense of pride when your work pays off." (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).