MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- CH-46E Sea Knight pilots have a responsibility to accomplish the mission and bring their helicopters back to the hangar in one piece. Like a pilot’s “sixth sense,” crew chiefs help keep an “eye” on the helicopter and its surroundings.

According to Sgt. James A. Franks, crew chief, with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the main mission of a CH-46E crew chief is to assist with troop transport, cargo loading, and aircraft maintenance. They also look for any potential dangers the aircraft may come into contact with and help the pilot with anything he needs.

Franks has been on three deployments with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and chose to be a crew chief because his recruiter asked if he would like to fly and it seemed like it would be a cool experience.

To become a crew chief, Marines are required to attend three different schools: the Naval Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., Mechanics School in New River, N.C. and Aircrew Training Squadron Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 located at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

“I love my job,” said Franks, a Houston native. “I wake up and go flying everyday; it doesn’t get much better than that.”

However, flying everyday is not without its own challenges. Flying in the pitch black desert without a moon can be a test, not only to the pilots flying, but the crew chiefs who have to help pick landing points as well as guide the pilots to the ground.

“One of the hardest parts of this job is not only watching out for the dangers we face in the aircraft, but also training the newer crew chiefs to be proficient enough to be on their own,” said Sgt. Anthony R. Henriquez, crew chief, HMM-163. “An important part of training the new Marines is not only making sure you cover all of the points you need to, but also letting them know what they did well and what they need to work on.”

Henriquez joined the Marine Corps not only because his father was in the Corps, but because he was looking for a challenge.

“I wanted to be a part of the best fighting force in the world,” Henriquez, a Bullhead City, Ariz., native, said. “I enjoy flying because it is not a routine thing, it changes; we can go out and practice Ground Threat Reaction, then later the same day practice aerial gunning.”

From July 31 to Aug. 4, HMM-163, the “Evil Eyes”, had a five-day deployment to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., to train the aircrew on GTR. During the deployment, the crew chiefs had the opportunity to provide various training for the newer Marines.

“What I would like the newer crew chiefs to take away from this training is that their decisions are not always pilot-based and there isn’t always enough time for pilots to make a decision,” Henriquez said. “It falls on the crew to make the right choice. When you can do that, it is a display of one of the 14 leadership trait’s the Marine Corps tries to instill in Marines: initiative.”

Crew chiefs are a vital part of the aircrew and are a component of the team that pilots appreciate.

“I’m happy to be alive, thanks to our crew chiefs,” said Capt. Ivan Beiarano, pilot, HMM-163. “Sgt. Henriquez alone has saved my life on numerous occasions.”

Some of the “Evil Eyes’” crew chiefs are not only flying missions day and night, but also take the second job of conducting training on the ground.

“We have one crew chief who performed exceptionally during our deployment to Yuma.” said Lt. Col. Brent Willson, commanding officer, HMM-163. “Cpl. Bradley W. Hussey not only conducted excellent training on the ground, but flew day and night; it’s because of Marines like him that we always get the job done.”

The motto for the “Evil Eyes” is: A tradition of excellence. The crew chiefs are an example of upholding that tradition.