CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Senior Airman Wesley Spring is a member of the 15th Airlift Squadron and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for more than two years.
In his most recent deployment, he was a member of an expeditionary airlift squadron in the Middle East from September 2008 to January.
During his deployment, Airman Spring performed duties including coordinating and supervising the loading and offloading of the C-17. He also performed pre-flight and post-flight inspections of aircraft and integrated systems. He computed weight and balance, prepared and rigged airdrop equipment. He also participated in the aerial delivery of equipment, supplies and personnel.
Being deployed during the holiday season was no reason for Airman Springs to forget his holiday cheer, he took it upon himself to make sure no one else did either.
"During the week before Christmas, I had a box of candy that was sent to me from home, as well as candy that I bought. I put on toy body armor and a Santa Claus hat and handed out candy to all of the passengers that we had during the missions that week," he said.
He also had an opportunity to be a part of a special holiday homecoming mission.
"On Dec. 23, 2008, we extended a ground time at a base in Iraq by several hours and reconfigured our load to accommodate extra passengers so that they could have a chance to make it home for Christmas. These passengers would have waited at least 2 days for another ride home, and had no chance for Christmas with their families."
While at Charleston AFB, Airman Spring said he performs the additional duty of coordinating and managing the schedules of more than 60 loadmasters for missions, local flights and ground classes to maintain the highest level of readiness and to be 100 percent prepared for full deployment at any time.
Airman Spring says he contributes to Team Charleston's mission by ensuring the loadmasters in his squadron are properly prepared for any mobility mission.
According to Airman Spring, what he likes best about his job is traveling the world and seeing things he never would have been able to see otherwise.
"I have been to more than 15 countries in the two years I have been doing this job. I have been able to visit places such as London, England and Tokyo, Japan," he said. "I didn't actually get to visit, but I have also flown over the beach at Normandy, France"
Airman Spring's future goal is to advance his job qualifications progressively to become a loadmaster instructor and to earn the rank of staff sergeant.
This "warrior of the week" hails from Meadville, Miss., and enlisted in the Air Force a little more than three years ago.
He said he joined the Air Force to serve for those who cannot serve, to defend the freedoms that are rights of all people and to achieve a level of honor and discipline that an ordinary life could not fulfill.
"I've noticed he is a good at managing his time and the resources he has, and I think he has the ability to be a very good instructor," said his supervisor, Staff Sgt. Peter Sloan, a loadmaster with the 15 AS. "He definitely has what it takes to be a good supervisor. He has initiative and he has been one of those troops that makes your job as a supervisor a pleasure."