Reserve, Regular Air Force maintainers married after reunion at Nellis

  • Published
  • By Capt Jessica Martin
  • 926th Group public affairs
Total Force "Integration" has taken on a whole new meaning for two aircraft maintainers here. 

Reservist Tech. Sgt. Shanna Perry of the 926th Group Detachment 2, and her husband, regular Air Force Tech. Sgt. Trent Perry with the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, found both employment and love on the Nellis flightline. 

The two met back in 2003 at Aviano Air Base, Italy, where they were in the same squadron as RegAF maintainers for three years. 

"We never worked together directly, but I would see him around every now and then, and I kept an eye on him," said Sergeant Shanna Perry. 

Sergeant Trent Perry permanently changed stations in February 2006 when he was selected to join the Thunderbirds here, where he is now the Quality Assurance Chief Inspector. Coincidently, Sergeant Shanna Perry soon followed as she transitioned from the RegAF to the U.S. Air Force Reserve and found a position with the 926th GP Det. 2 in June 2006. Although working in different units, it wasn't long until their paths crossed again. 

"It's common for us to borrow tools from other Aircraft Maintenance Units when our guys are on temporary duty away from home with ours," said Sergeant Trent Perry. "When I walked into the Viper AMU and saw her, I remembered her from Aviano. We had a chance to catch up." 

"I asked her to play racquetball with me...and I let her win," Sergeant Trent Perry said. "I knew it was true love for me after that," Sergeant Shanna Perry joked. 

The pair found they shared a lot in common. Both outdoorsy types, they enjoy working out, snowboarding and fishing in their free time. They also joined the Air Force for the same reasons--to serve their country, travel the world and get an education. 

The couple started their serious relationship in November 2006 and married the following June. Together they're reaching all of their goals: they've seen more than 55 countries combined and they're both working toward their bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. The Perry's have also found that being in a Reserve--RegAF marriage is beneficial. 

"I have a very gratifying job as a Thunderbird to represent the Regular Air Force, Reserve and Air National Guard," said Sergeant Trent Perry. "My wife really helps me understand how it works in the Reserve," he said. 

Through TFI, Reserve personnel are completely integrated into RegAF units, working side by side their RegAF counterparts on a daily basis. The RegAF provides the aircraft, and the Reserve supplies additional manpower to get the mission done. 

"To me, TFI is seamless; you can't necessarily tell who's a reservist and who's RegAF in a unit," Sergeant Trent Perry said. "A lot of people I know are learning about TFI and the Reserve just by watching her life." 

Since Sergeant Shanna Perry had been a RegAF maintainer for four years, she was an ideal candidate to fill the full-time Reserve slot with the 926th GP. 

"When I saw the position opening I flew out here for an interview. The commander at the time hired me on the spot," she said. "When I started I was the only maintainer in a unit of pilots." 

It didn't take her long to prove herself to the RegAF squadron she works in, as she's now a dedicated crew chief on the F-22 Raptor, the Air Force's premier advanced tactical fighter jet. 

The Perry's plan on making a career out of the Air Force. They know that as they get higher in rank their hands-on days fixing planes will lessen, but also know the maintenance field is their calling until retirement. The couple has had the chance to serve their country, travel the world and get an education, and now they have each other.