163d RW Maintenance Group members return from Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Paul Duquette
  • 163d RW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Three Wing members from the 163d Maintenance Group returned recently from a four-month tour at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan, where they supported 'round-the-clock MQ-1 Predator operations overseas. 

For all three members, Staff Sgts. Michael Astolfo, Skyler Swinhart, Predator crew chiefs, and Senior Airman Eric Hurley, a Predator avionics technician, this was their first deployment with the Predator. 

The team replaced two other wing members, Master Sgt. Allen King, a Predator crew chief, and Senior Airman Dustin Cornell, a Predator avionics technician, who returned in December after being the first California Air National Guard maintainers to deploy in support of overseas maintenance operations for the Predator. 

While tasked with providing maintenance support to warfighters in the area of operations, the team also had to face the threat of attacks against the base by enemy forces. 

"The base was attacked on a regular basis," said Airman Cornell, "The first time we were attacked was a wake up call to me. It made me realize I was in a war zone." 

But, despite the hazards, Sergeant Astolfo said there were ways to take your mind off the situation. 

"It wasn't all war over there, we had some fun too," said Sergeant Astolfo, "Both myself and Skyler won the best mustache award. Sergeant Skyler won it because he had the best, but mine wouldn't grow right, so I won it because it was the most messed up." 

During their tour, Sergeant Astolfo and Airman Hurley were both recognized for being the maintainers of the month.