JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Airman 1st Class James McMillan is a member of the 437th Operations Support Squadron and has been stationed at Joint Base Charleston for a year-and-a-half.
He is currently deployed to the Middle East where he is assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.
In his deployed unit, Airman McMillan is an aircrew flight equipment apprentice. His primary duties include maintaining and fitting invaluable life-sustaining equipment, such as oxygen, floatation, parachutes and night visions goggles. He also provides technical advice on the wear and use of the equipment.
"My job is to ensure that the life-sustaining equipment is in place in the event an aircraft went down," said Airman McMillan. "My role here is very similar at home station, just not at the same pace. I didn't know what to expect when I arrived here. I went into [the deployment] with a positive attitude and have kept that attitude for the duration of this deployment."
According to Airman McMillan, what he likes best about his job is the comfort he provides to the pilots he works with.
"This career field is very rewarding because we give the pilots such a sense of comfort with their equipment that they can focus solely on the mission at hand," he said. "They don't have to worry about anything going wrong with their parachutes or anything of that matter."
This "warrior of the week" hails from Dalton, Ga., and joined the Air Force in July 2008.
"I wanted to do something that I could be proud of," said Airman McMillan. "As soon as I spoke with a recruiter, I knew the Air Force was where I belonged."
When he isn't deployed, Airman McMillan enjoys the sports of wrestling and tennis and also volunteers to mentor young children.
Airman McMillan, who was recently promoted below the zone, has set a few goals for himself.
"I hope to be accepted to the Air Force Honor Guard team," he said. "I'm also looking forward to pinning on [his new rank] and continuing to succeed."