A glance at the individuals of Alabama’s Air Pressure Reserve Device
Senior Airman Shelby Thurman and Employees Sgt. Max Goldberg
MAXWELL AIR Pressure Foundation – Alabama’s only Air Power Reserve Unit, the 908th Airlift Wing in Montgomery, is created up created up of far more than 1,200 reservists who add to the nation’s protection. The pursuing is a look at 4 of them: Master Sgt. Vickey Matthews, Technical Sergeant Lateriya Stamps, Technical Sergeant Marlin Kennedy, and Airman Cody Varner.
Master Sgt. Vickey Matthews
Master Sgt. Vickey Matthews is the logistics guidance manager for the 908th Logistics and Readiness Squadron. As the assist supervisor for the 908th, Matthews is liable for providing gear to the wing from weapons and gasoline masks to pens and pencils.
Matthews has been with the 908th LRS for the entirety of her 30 calendar year profession, signing up for as an airman basic and operating her way up the ranks. All through her time with the 908th, Matthews has deployed 4 instances, overcoming adversity and generating an affect every single step of the way.
Matthews is a most cancers survivor who, irrespective of going through intense health-related treatments, fought to deploy and carry out her mission overseas. Though in Qatar in 20015, Matthews helped arrange the initially breast most cancers awareness seminar, educating users on danger things, detection and avoidance. Since then, Al Udeid Air Base has held a luncheon every single Oct for Breast Cancer Awareness Thirty day period.
All through her difficulties, Matthews developed incredible resiliency competencies and was identified to assistance many others produce that exact same mentality. Matthews utilised her particular encounters to become a qualified learn resilience coach, educating Airmen the abilities they need to defeat some of the troubles of military life.
“I wanted to aid other individuals make their resiliency,” claimed Matthews. “People facial area all sorts of issues but if you can locate a way to drive ahead you can achieve anything at all.”
In the course of hardships and struggles, Matthews persevered and remained positive. She showed perseverance in the confront of adversity and remained dedicated to developing up individuals she serves with.
Complex Sergeant Lateriya Stamps
Complex Sergeant Lateriya Stamps is an air transportation craftsman with the 25th Aerial Port Squadron in this article at the 908th Airlift Wing. As somebody who performs in load scheduling, she bargains with load sequencing so that the aircraft is well balanced when cargo is loaded.
Stamps initial joined the Air Drive appropriate out of large college in 2012. She claimed that the self-discipline component of the navy is what drew her fascination. She said that her reasoning was also for the reason that the two of her grandfathers were being in the Military during the Vietnam War.
Stamps said that her favorite section of remaining an air transportation craftsman was remaining equipped to see the impression her function experienced on the Air Pressure. She reported that they transport anything at all and all the things ranging from travellers and cargo to provides and explosive materials.
“If it has to be loaded on an aircraft and transported any place, we shift it,” stated Stamps.
Even while she is a TR at 25th APS, in her civilian occupation she performs in the 908th AW finance business. Stamps helps individuals with their vacation vouchers, the Protection Journey Procedure web-site, and building confident that assistance members get paid out.
“I like being ready to aid persons,” reported Stamps. “That’s who I am as a individual.”
It tends to make feeling that Stamps loves doing the job both as a TR and civilian in roles that directly impression men and women due to the fact she claimed she enjoys to support other people. She explained that this generate to serve many others is instantly tied to why she also enjoys being a non-commissioned officer. These motivations are why she explained she wishes to stay in for her “full 20 a long time.”
“Taking care of Airmen is my most loved factor.”
Possessing NCOs like Tech. Sgt. Stamps in roles exactly where they are ready to fortunately provide some others in both of those their entire-time task and reservist occupation are who continue to keep the 908th AW operating on a daily basis.
Technological Sergeant Marlin Kennedy
Specialized Sergeant Marlin Kennedy is an aerospace upkeep craftsman and a devoted crew main for the C-130 Hercules with the 908th Plane Upkeep Squadron. Kennedy performs scheduled maintenance to be certain the in general integrity of his assigned aircraft.
Kennedy was originally born in Heidelberg, Germany, mainly because his father was in the Military. At the age of four, his father was transferred to Redstone Arsenal in Madison, Alabama. He would later on go on to retire from there.
He graduated from substantial university in 2006 and went on to enlist in the Air Drive in 2009. Considering the fact that his father was in the Military he understood he wanted to join the military as effectively. After signing up for the Air Force Reserve, Kennedy has experienced the possibility to get a entire-time posture as an Air Reserve Technician.
“Being an Art will help give me additional expertise as an NCO since I am able to spend more time handling and interacting with people today and building guaranteed that they are taken treatment of,” claimed Kennedy. “There’s a lot additional to this than just turning wrenches on an aircraft.”
He stated he loves his position because he enjoys performing with his palms and utilizing his dilemma-resolving techniques. From plane at work to his truck at home, he tinkers with it all. In his off time, Kennedy even assists other individuals fix their own vehicles. He reported that being aware of he is equipped to place his talents to good use by serving his state is a good experience.
“Being a reservist and a entire time civil servant is far more than just a job,” reported Kennedy. “I am equipped to provide my state, my local community, and make my spouse and children proud by continuing a custom of spouse and children assistance.”
Obtaining Airmen like Tech. Sgt. Kennedy who are committed to perfecting their craft and foremost others is how the 908th AW is able to deliver beat functionality whenever and wherever.
Airman Cody Varner
Airman Cody Varner is an air transportation specialist in the ramp area of the 25th Aerial Port Squadron listed here at the 908th Airlift Wing. His job as an air transportation professional is composed of uploading and downloading cargo from aircraft as nicely as transporting cargo to and from the keeping lawn.
The father of 5 claimed he is at first from a little, “one pink-light town” identified as Wewahitchka in Florida.
Varner initially joined the Air Power October 20, 2019 as a Regular Reservist with the 908th AW. He mentioned he was happy he chose the Air Force simply because of how numerous chances there ended up readily available to assist him, his wife Ashley, and their youngsters.
He said that ultimately staying capable to be a part of the armed forces soon after rising up looking at other users of his spouse and children do the very same was like a aspiration come true. He extra that he was glad he in no way gave up on that dream.
“I often wanted to make my family, in particular my grandparents, proud,” said Varner.
Prior to becoming a member of the military services, Varner currently had knowledge performing with heavy machinery. He also has certifications from diverse trade universities to verify it. He been given his automotive mechanic certification in 2009, his welding and fabrication certification in 2010, his excavation, grading and leveling with a bulldozer certification in 2015, and grew to become a nationally certified heavy tools operator in 2013 and once more in 2015. On leading of all of that, Varner also been given his class A CDL from the Truck Driver Institute out of Milton, Florida in 2015.
On his civilian side, Varner still performs in the construction sector as a foreman and superintendent. He stated they accomplish underground perform, lay asphalt and concrete, and do in general site preparing at construction internet sites. He mentioned that this performs calls for the crews to just take down a large amount of trees and clear the land to prep the ground for a dwelling pad or business business pad. Right after they create basis then they create the true composition.
He stated he was thankful that his task as a TR is related to what he does on the civilian side due to the fact he enjoys to function with his arms and generate matters. The component that he cared about most while was the comradery.
Varner mentioned that the people he is effective with at 25th APS are some of the closest friends he has produced. He mentioned that he noticed them as family and that they are usually on the lookout out for one yet another. Rain or shine, they are only a mobile phone connect with absent and checking in on every other and their families.
“If anything at all arises, they are the first kinds to say ‘Hey, we’re listed here for you no make any difference what,’” said Varner.
Acquiring users of the 908th AW like Airman Cody Varner who treatment for their fellow brothers and sisters in arms and their do the job is how the 908th AW is equipped to boast that our Airmen constantly follow our Main Values of: Integrity 1st, Provider Right before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.
