Technical Sergeant Jeff Fine keeps aircraft in tip-top shape

As a child, Jeff Fine was mesmerized by aircraft, and especially by helicopters. Whenever a chopper flew overhead, he always watched until it was out of sight. And he decided that one day he wanted to pilot Blackhawk helicopters or be part of the crew that kept them in the sky.

With a mind wired to understand the complexities of electronics and mechanics, Jeff is a perfect fit for his duties as an Avionics Technician in the Arizona Air National Guard. He’s spent the last 16 years in service to his country, serving for eight years in active duty and another eight in the Air National Guard. 

Jeff enlisted in 2009 when the war in Afghanistan was still raging. 

“I originally enlisted in the Army because I have always wanted to work on UH60 Blackhawk helicopters and fly in them, but also because of 9/11. The war was still going on and I wanted to serve my country, my friends, and family in a meaningful way,” he said.

Deployed for a year in Afghanistan, Jeff learned to closely rely on his military family when he worked as crew chief and door gunner on a UH60 Blackhawk. Getting to see Afghanistan from a higher perspective highlighted the differences that existed across the landscape. 

“Seeing Afghanistan from the air was surreal,” said Jeff. “It opened my eyes on how people sometimes live in other countries with mud houses and no amenities on bare sand and rocky desert. However, it was beautiful up in the mountains—it looked like Ireland with green grass and thick stands of trees.”

Jeff and his crew completed both combat missions and humanitarian assignments, and he fondly remembers the times when he was able to come to the rescue.

“Honestly the best memories from my service are when I was in Afghanistan and my crew supplied the last line of relief to troops on the ground. Knowing that we were providing some assistance to our military members when no one else could, meant a lot to us. We were able to help people in so many different situations,” Jeff explained.

With his wife and daughter, Jeff currently lives in Arizona and is responsible for keeping the Air National Guard’s aircraft flyable to meet local mission requirements and be ready for nationwide training. He works on repair and maintenance of the aircraft, often troubleshooting their complex electronic systems so that navigation and communications are always in top shape and ready for flight.

After returning from active-duty service, Jeff shifted from flying across the sky to speeding across the water. Spending time on the lake with friends and family, Jeff loves the adrenaline rush on supercharged PWCs. For years he owned Sea-Doos, but after he and his wife started a family, a boat became a better fit. The Fines rented pontoons for a few summers. This year, Jeff and his wife Christina purchased a Sylvan L3 DLZ and have loved the versatility it offers, as well as comfort for the whole family. 

Their favorite feature on the Sylvan is definitely the rear lounger that converts to a bar. 

“We love that this boat is roomy enough for our family and very comfortable, but when it is just a few of us, we can turn the rear table down into a lounger and relax.”

Whether they’re cruising around, trying out the various swimming spots in the lake, or kneeboarding, it always ends up being a good day on the water. They also plan to purchase a Turboswing XXL so they can put the kids in a tube. “Most of all we just like getting out of the house and spending time together,” Jeff said. Which sounds just fine.