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IN FOCUS: Staff Sgt. Kristofer Leirfallom

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Crystal Charriere
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Staff Sgt. Kristofer Leirfallom, 419th FW Aircraft Maintenance Squadron fighter aircraft integrated avionics technician, has turned his boyhood dream of flying and working on planes into a reality in his Reserve and civilian careers. I recently learned more about Leirfallom.

When did your passion for aviation start?
Pretty much since the day I was born. Both of my grandpas were pilots, and they both told me stories about flying, and I've wanted to be around planes ever since then. When I started thinking about joining the military, I went to a Navy recruiter, and one of the first questions I asked him was, "Will I get to work around planes?" He said, "No," so I went to the Air Force. Now I'm an avionics technician, so I get to work on aircraft, and on the civilian side, I'm a pilot instructor, so I get to fly as well.

What was it like to fly for the first time?
It was exciting. Usually people get really nervous before they fly, but I wasn't nervous at all. Flying adds a whole new dimension to movement; it's more of an art than just driving in a car. I feel more free. I like being closer to the sky and the sensation of being propelled by air.

Why did you join the Reserve?
Well, I actually joined active duty in 1999, but that didn't leave me with enough time to go to school to get my private pilot's license. I still wanted to be in the Air Force though, so I joined the Reserve.

What is your favorite part of the Reserve?
This may sound strange, but I enjoy being working on planes and just being around them. In my career, you're almost married to the aircraft you maintain. I maintain the electrical system and fix all the technology on the aircraft; my whole life revolves around the plane.

What is your civilian job?
I'm a certified flight instructor at a flight school in Ogden. It took me about four years of school to become an instructor. There are some scary moments with students, and you have to watch them carefully to make sure they react to different situations correctly and respond in time.