MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (March 15, 2012) -- Cpl. Robert J. Bedwell
Job Title: UAV Maintainer
Unit: VMU-2
Hometown: Plainfield, Ind.
Age: 23
Date Joined: June 21, 2008
Cpl. Robert J. Bedwell keeps the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s eyes in the sky. He maintains the RQ-7B Shadow for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2.
“My job entails maintaining the aircraft, fueling and defueling, maintaining and replacing parts, troubleshooting any problems we have with the aircraft and launching and recovering the aircraft,” said Bedwell.
Making sure the Shadow is flight ready means 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and the Marine Corps can see developments unfolding on the ground during combat situations, he said.
The most challenging part of this job is the logistics, said Bedwell. The squadron does frequent field operations and ensuring all the Marines and gear are where they’re needed can be difficult.
However, being in a leadership position is what he loves.
“I like working with other Marines and watching them succeed in their job; training them to be proficient and seeing them develop as a whole person,” he said.