605th AMXS Crew Chief Embodies Warrior Heart

Mobility Airmen that answer the call to serve at the Defense Department's only tri-service base learn to make an ally of resiliency.

For Senior Airman Austin Sondergard, a crew chief with the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, recovering from a life-threatening condition meant waging a war of attrition against his own mind and body. His journey on the road to recovery, while fraught with daily challenges, is paved with the support of friends, family and a warrior heart's passion.

Senior Airman Austin Sondergard, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs pre-flight checks on a KC-10 Extender at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Oct. 10, 2022. Sondergard received brain surgery to remove an arteriovenous malformation and later suffered loss to his memory, speech and motor skills due to a stroke. Recovered, Sondergard returned to his duties as a crew chief and hobby as an avid powerlifter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)

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