The Force behind the flight: Ready before the rescue

23rd Wing:

"MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — Before an HC-130J Combat King II can take off for a rescue mission, maintainers need more than technical expertise. They need the right tools, equipment and resources to keep the aircraft ready to fly.

For Senior Airman Manuel Salazar Valenciano, an HC-130J crew chief journeyman assigned to the 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron’s, 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, making sure those resources are available is a mission of its own.

“If it is a component that we don’t have and it’s needed, then, guess what? The plane doesn’t fly,” Salazar said. “So, it’s very important to have everything that we need to fulfill the mission.”

Salazar spent his first years in aircraft maintenance working directly on the HC-130J, eventually becoming a designated crew chief responsible for an aircraft and its maintenance requirements. About two years ago, he moved to the unit’s support section, where he helps manage the tools and equipment maintainers rely on every day.

“All of our maintainers will go there daily, on all shifts, to check out tools that they need for their job,” Salazar said. “In the maintenance world, tool control is critical. We cannot leave tools out, and tools need to be controlled at all times.”

The support section, commonly known as the tool room, does more than distribute equipment. Salazar also manages programs involving spare tools, hazardous materials and maintenance communications, helping ensure maintainers have the resources needed to complete their work safely and efficiently.

Although his responsibilities shifted away from direct aircraft maintenance, his connection to the mission did not. The transition gave Salazar a broader view of how each part of the maintenance operation contributes to generating combat-ready aircraft. He learned that having the right tools and equipment available is just as important to the mission as the hands-on work performed on the flightline.

That responsibility becomes especially important when preparing for deployments. Salazar helped inspect, validate and repair more than 6,000 items and prepare $18 million in support equipment and tools for movement. The work required coordination with maintainers across multiple specialties, including crew chiefs, engine, hydraulic and electrical technicians, to identify what was needed and ensure equipment was serviceable before it left Moody.

Salazar explained that preparing equipment for deployment involves more than gathering items from the tool room. He works closely with maintainers across multiple specialties to identify mission requirements, determine what equipment is needed and ensure nothing is missing before it leaves Moody.

Equipment must also meet inspection and calibration requirements before it can be shipped. A missing or unserviceable item can affect an entire maintenance operation, potentially keeping an aircraft from returning to the mission.

Salazar’s supervisor, Master Sgt. Richard A. Nydam, support section chief for the 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit assigned within the 723d AMXS said Salazar’s initiative and willingness to seek knowledge have helped him take on greater responsibility.

“All I have to do is give him an end goal, and he takes the necessary steps to accomplish whatever task is put in front of him,” Nydam said. “He takes pride in his work. He is not afraid to ask questions and seek knowledge if he comes across an unfamiliar task.”

Nydam said Salazar initially felt unsure about moving away from direct aircraft maintenance. As he grew more confident in the support section, he began taking on larger projects and more responsibility for running programs.

“I watched him transform from a follower into a leader within the shop and the squadron,” Nydam said.

That growth also reflected Salazar’s ability to adapt to what the mission required. Rather than viewing the support section as separate from aircraft maintenance, he learned how his work helped other Airmen accomplish theirs. Nydam said Salazar’s willingness to draw on the knowledge of those around him and find solutions made him a dependable member of the team.

During a deployment supporting an immediate response force, Salazar managed tools and equipment in the tool crib while volunteering to help prepare aircraft on the flightline. He also provided tools and maintenance support to a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J team during a propeller change, helping return the aircraft to service and enabling it to provide aerial refueling for 13 Marine Corps F-35B aircraft, Nydam said.

For Salazar, working alongside another military branch reinforced that the mission extends beyond individual units and services.

“It felt good helping another branch because we’re all on the same team,” Salazar said. “We’re a big team. I am actively helping the team.”

Nydam said Salazar’s work contributed to the inspection, staging and readiness of $18 million in deployment assets for the 71st AMU, including new deployment toolboxes for the hydraulics and aero repair shops. He said the section achieved full mission readiness for its equipment for the first time in the decade since HC-130Js arrived at Moody.

“He doesn’t give up when things get too hard or there seems to be no solution,” Nydam said. “He uses the resources and job knowledge of those around him to ensure mission success.”

Through his experience in aircraft maintenance and the support section, Salazar has learned that readiness depends on more than having the right equipment. It takes preparation, adaptability and the ability to work through challenges alongside others. He said being mission ready means maintaining both physical and mental readiness, knowing his responsibilities and recognizing when to seek help to get the job done.

As the Air Force honors Veterans Day during the nation’s 250th anniversary year, Salazar’s experience reflects the legacy of generations who have served before him. Like the Airmen who came before, he contributes to the mission wherever he is needed, using his skills, perseverance and commitment to ensure the next team is ready to answer the call.

His role may not always put him on the flightline, but the work he does helps make the mission possible. The aircraft may be what people see. The force behind it makes the mission possible."