JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Senior Airman Casey Cousins is a member of the 628th Communications Squadron and has been stationed at Joint Base Charleston since November 2007.
Currently serving in the Middle East with the 392nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion on a deployment, this expedition is not his first. Besides his currently deployment, Airman Cousins has previously embedded with the Army on a Joint Expeditionary Tasking, working with the Army experiencing what he calls a "combat first mentality."
"Being in a deployed environment is very different from being in the U.S.," said Airman Cousins. "You can't get complacent in a war zone."
Enlisted in the 3D1X1 career field, Airman Cousins performs deployed duties with the 392 ESB as an automated data processing equipment baseline technician. His daily responsibilities are focused on providing computer hardware support for two forward operating bases.
In all, he supports more than 5,000 user accounts and 80 joint units to enable the warfighter mission. He has also supported more than 80 Army units, configured more than 700 computer systems and resolved more than 500 baseline trouble tickets.
"My favorite aspect of my career field is learning something new all the time," he said. "Technology changes every day."
So far, the deployment is mostly what Airman Cousins expected, he said, although it's unlike normal life at Charleston. The work is different, and his customers are too. Whereas in Charleston he primarily works as a technician providing customer support for Air Force users at the base helpdesk, Airman Cousins works daily with Army counterparts while deployed.
In his free time, Airman Cousins said he enjoys weight training and getting out on the Charleston seaside for salt water fishing. He is also currently enrolled at Park University pursuing his college degree.
Airman Cousins said his two primary goals are to make the rank of staff sergeant and to eventually receive a commission. In the meantime, he said he looks forward to advancing in his career field and earning further technical certifications.
This "warrior of the week" hails from Atlanta, Ga., and entered active-duty service in May 2006. He joined the Air Force to further his education and to serve his country.
According to his supervisor here in Charleston, he is an outstanding asset to the team.
"Airman Cousins is one of our top client support technicians," said Staff Sgt. Stewart Beaumont, 628 CS client support technician. "He has a wide background of experience which makes him extremely versatile in and out of the workplace."
Airman Cousins' can-do attitude never fails to rise the occasion, Sergeant Beaumont said, and he is always ready to step-up and take on new challenges.
"He has a great ability to think on the fly which is imperative when troubleshooting on the network," Sergeant Beaumont continued. "Airman Cousins sets the standard for his peers with his work ethic, dress and appearance and physical fitness. He is a vital asset to Joint Base Charleston and the Air Force."