Reservist lends a hand

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcy Copeland
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Arizona --  Master Sgt. Steven Joubert, 944th Fighter Wing Detachment 1, is the first Air Reserve Technician aircrew chief to hold a position within the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Unit since the 944th base realignment and closure in 2007. 

"Joubert is great at what he does," said Chief Master Sgt. Brice Evans, 309th AMU superintendent. "He is a reservist and as a master sergeant, he is out working on the flightline helping others. He has a tremendous depth of experience and, having worked on the F-16 for such a long time, that experience is needed." 

Originally from New York City, New York, Joubert started his career in the Army in 1978, working for an air ambulance squadron. He left after his four year contract ended in 1981. After a break in service he joined the Air Force Reserves in 1988.
Joubert was working at the 944th FW before the base realignment and closure occurred.   

"What was disappointing for me was when the 944th had a BRAC in 2007, the squadron ran like clockwork," said Joubert. "The pilots were awesome, the crew chiefs, back shops supervisors, beautiful aircraft that flew code one constantly, it was just such a well-oiled machine and the camaraderie and the friendships were all there then it was gone."

Attached to the 924th Fighter Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Joubert saw a job advertised for the aircrew chief and applied. He was hired as a civil service employee and is sponsored by a union that mandates a 40 hour work week. 

"The active duty run their full-time schedule and are mandated by an 8-10 hour schedule," Joubert said. "They  are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year."
Joining the 309th Fighter Squadron but reporting to the 944th FW, Joubert gets to experience the active-duty tempo to help maintain the squadrons F-16 Fighting Falcons with more Reservists scheduled to be hired.

"We are augmenting the 309th," Joubert said. "We expect more Air Reserve Technicians to come through. The people from the 309th are very appreciative. We augment them which give Airmen relief to take a day of leave or to go to their appointments."

Having once served under the 944th, Joubert was excited to become a part of the wing once again and to see a breath of new life in the wing while helping the mission at Luke.  

"The 944th is getting rejuvenated," Joubert said. "It came to life again, and for me to be one of the first crew chiefs to come back to the 944th is really exciting. I love being in Arizona, I love Luke, and my supervisors are very supportive and everything is running really well."

Joubert has deployed three times and plans to officially retire in 2018, at the age of 60 with more than 30 years of service.