MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Hall is an aerospace propulsion technician with the 908th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
The Mobile, Alabama native grew up just north of Atlanta and worked in construction until he decided to make a change in his life. In 2008, he joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman, deploying to Iraq in 2009.
Three years later, Hall left the Army to pursue an opportunity as a parts inspector in Columbus, Georgia. There, he saw the chance to work on aircraft engines, but did not have the experience, so Hall turned to the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Being a former U.S. Solider turned Airmen was a transition that seemed a bit daunting initially.
“It took some getting used to,” he said. “The Air Force is big on mentorship, and even now, I have Airmen come and ask me questions about their careers. So I had to learn how to talk to people,” he joked.
As his career progressed in the Reserve, Hall found so much pride in his work, seeing the planes he worked on finally take flight.
“We spent years tearing down and rebuilding propellers,” he said. “Finally getting to see them work was pretty cool.”
For Hall, one of his proudest moments happened during his deployment to Kuwait in 2021. A deployment that would mark the last one for the 908th Airlift Wing, C-130H Hercules aircraft, and for him, felt both rewarding and like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I was so happy I got to go,” he said. “With our next mission, our deployment cycle will change, and I wanted to use my skills outside of a temporary duty assignment.”
On that deployment, Hall got the opportunity to work with members of the 166th Airlift Wing from the Delaware Air National Guard.
“It was neat to see how we work with another unit,” he said. “We had a guard unit compared to a reserve unit—totally different people— we’re from the south, they’re from the north.”
And, once the two units teamed up, they found in each other some true friendship.
“We worked really well together,” he added. “It was interesting to see how it all molded together.”
After nine years of service, Hall plans on sticking around to help develop the next group of Airmen.
His dynamic work ethic combined with his ability to both work in and lead a team, make Hall an amazing Reserve Citizen Airman who will inspire many Airmen that come behind him.