CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Senior Airman Jaron Brown is a loadmaster who returned in September 2007 from a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia with the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.
He has been stationed at Charleston AFB for 3 years and is part of the 16th Airlift Squadron. While deployed or at home station, he is responsible for ensuring safe on and offloading of all cargo, including passengers, and making sure the aircraft is safe for flight. To do this, he has to compute the weight and balance for the aircraft to make sure the aircraft can safely take off. He also periodically runs through checklists during flights so aircraft can remain safe and comfortable for passengers. He contributes to Team Charleston's mobility mission by going out on stages and delivering warfighters, vehicles and supplies to deployed locations throughout the world.
While he was deployed last year, he was part of several missions that carried human remains and also part of a medevac to get an Airman who was injured by an improvised explosive device safely to Germany.
"I like my job because I get to see some pretty amazing countries that people my age don't usually get to see," said Airman Brown. "I have visited more than 15 percent of the world, and to me, that's an accomplishment. One particular place I like to visit is Ramstein AB, Germany, even though we go there a lot, because they have these go-carts people can drive to get medals. I have three second place medals and am ready for the day I get a first place medal."
This "warrior of the week" hails from Rocky Mount, N.C., and enlisted in the Air Force to have the opportunities to travel and go to school. His future career goals include being upgraded to an instructor loadmaster and achieving a degree in business.
Airman Brown is a member of the Charleston AFB Honor Guard. He is also his squadron's point of contact for Airmen Against Drunk Driving and is also the coach for the Flyers intramural basketball team.
"Airman Brown is a stellar performer who constantly seeks challenges," said Master Sgt. Kevin Kloeppel, 16 AS chief loadmaster. "He has an outstanding work ethic and has been instrumental to the 16 AS mission. Not only does he excel on-duty, but off-duty as well. He has accepted the challenge and is a member of Charleston's elite base honor guard and an active volunteer for the AADD program."