Why I Serve

Staff Sgt. Andrew Depew, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, repairs a panel on a KC-135 Stratotanker in the hangar at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Oct. 18, 2015. Depew is responsible for any structural repairs or maintenance on the KC-135 Stratotanker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski/Released)

Why I Serve

Staff Sgt. Andrew Depew, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, aircraft structural maintenance craftsman, poses for a photo on the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Oct. 17, 2015. Depew is responsible for any structural repairs or maintenance on the KC-135 Stratotanker. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Zeski/Released)

Why I Serve -- Depew

Published Oct. 30, 2015
By Senior Airman Ryan Zeski
127th Wing

SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- If there's a tanker in the air, maintenance put it there. Staff Sgt. Andrew Depew joined the military over seven years ago and serves with the 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Depew works in sheet metal performing the necessary structural upgrades on the KC-135 to keep it flying.

He is currently working on repairing a topside balance bay, a panel on the top of the wing. The aircraft has recently returned from an overseas deployment where it has undergone extensive flying hours. The damaged panel is a result of the exhausting hours logged by this jet. Depew was able to visually notice the issue and take the proper action.

"You can really see what this jet went through, the toll all those hours took shows on this aircraft," said Depew while suspended on the wing of a KC-135. "After we get done with it, this aircraft will be operating back at its full capacity."

Information on careers at the 127th Wing is available at www.127wg.ang.af.mil/careers or by calling (800) 645-9420. Information on the Air National Guard is available at www.goang.com and on the Air Force as a whole at www.airforce.com

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command operations by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 98th year of continuous military air operations in 2015.