Two friends take 80 years of AF service to Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Gary J. Rihn
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  In addition to uniforms, supplies, and pallets of equipment, two Airmen from 301st Maintenance Squadron deployed with a staggering eight decades of combined military experience.

Senior Master Sgt. Paul Jordan and Master Sgt. Doyle Easterling, both full-time Air Reserve Technicians assigned to the engine shop, are deployed with the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.  They have both been turning wrenches on jet engines longer than most people in the Air Force have been alive.  Combined, their 78 years of military experience is about triple the average age of an individual deployed service member.

Jordan, a native of Butler, Pa., enlisted in 1972.  His co-worker and good friend, Easterling, is a Texas native from Fort Worth who enlisted in 1978.  Both deployed from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.  They initially deployed to Kandahar Airfield, but then relocated to Bagram along with their squadron's F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The pair have worked together for 11 years and consider themselves a great team.

"We have made good calls, done great maintenance, kept aircraft in the air, and gotten along great," said Jordan.

Jordan's military career began with the Army during the Vietnam era, but later transferred to the Air Force, where he worked on B-52s.  In 1989 he transitioned to the Air Force Reserve,  assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing in Pittsburgh, Pa., and ended up in Fort Worth 14 years later.  He is currently on his fifth deployment, and readily recognizes the benefits of deploying as a team.

"You remember the friendships you make on deployments.  [Deployments] can be both challenging and rewarding, but you always remember your friends," said Jordan.

Easterling's career also began with the Army before transitioning to the Air Force Reserve in 1983.  He worked on numerous airframes during his career, including the F-100, F-110, F-4, and F-16.  Regardless of the engine he worked on, Easterling said has always lived by the same credo.

"What gets done -- or doesn't -- reflects on you.  We often think of the pilot, not the aircraft.  If we don't do our job, somebody's not coming home.  And here, if we miss a sortie, guys on the ground can die.  I take it that personally," said Easterling.

The two often bounce ideas off of each other while looking for ways to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

"When I'm in a position, I always try to leave it better than I started. If you don't do your job, somebody else will," said Easterling.

Jordan echoed Easterling's sentiments.

"Everything's flown when it's supposed to here... every time.  We never missed a sortie here and we're proud of that. The soldiers and Marines are out there in the dirt every day. Whatever I can do to help them return home safely is icing on the cake," said Jordan.

As the two friends approach retirement, each reminisce about their careers and lives.

"For the past 41 years I've stuck with two things; the U.S. Air Force and my wife. And I don't think I made a mistake with either one," said Jordan.

Easterling summed up his thoughts with, "I really do love this job.  It's never 'I'; it's always 'everybody.'  It's always the team. Always."

Both Airmen will retire shortly after they return home from their current deployment.

(Story localized by Tech Sgt Shawn McCowan, 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs)