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Video by Michael McCool

Fulfilling a Dream (with slate)

419th Fighter Wing

May 3, 2017 | 1:46

A New Crew Chief Reflects on His First and Last Deployment with an F-16.

Airmen from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, work side by side. Airmen 1st Class Joe Pearson is an active duty F-16 crew chief dedicated to a Reserve fighter jet.

Pearson was one of roughly two hundred active and Reserve Airmen, who deployed to Spain in support of a NATO training exercise, marking both his first and last deployment with the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

As Hill Air Force Base completes its transition from the F-16 to the F-35, Pearson will transfer his skills to the new fighter.