Serving through the season: Senior Airman Douglas Hicks

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stan Coleman
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  Senior Airman Douglas Hicks, deployed from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., misses his wife, Yolanda, and his teenagers, Troy, 16, and Olivia, 15. But he knows he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and he accepts his volunteer status gracefully.

After all, this is not his first deployment, but it is his first deployment to Southwest Asia.

"There's nothing like home and family," said Airman Hicks. "You also miss the simple pleasures you take for granted when you're not deployed, like driving 'Betsy,' my Ford pickup.

"I would rather be at home with the Christmas rush, searching for the right present for my wife," he said. "But knowing my mission here is keeping some Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine servicemembers alive makes it all worth it."

Airman Hicks is an air transportation journeyman with the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. His job involves loading and unloading cargo, configuring aircraft for personnel transport, vehicle transport, and supplies. His home unit is the 80th Aerial Port Squadron at Dobbins. His previous military experience includes 10 years active duty with the Marine Corps and one year with the Army Reserve. He has served four years with the Air Force Reserve.

"I enjoy the camaraderie of military service along with the opportunity for traveling and meeting different people," he said.

Airman Hicks also serves as the assistant safety representative. He provides daily safety briefings to all team members on his shift.

"My safety briefings include common sense procedures we're required to follow in order to do our job safely," he said. "Those procedures include having another Airman guide you when visibility is limited and reminding our fellow team members to look out for each other. We're required to use safety equipment such as gloves, ear plugs and goggles."

Airman Hicks is a graduate of Mount Hope High in Mount Hope, W.V. He achieved a bachelor of science degree in industrial design from ITT Technical Institute in San Bernardino, Calif.

As a civilian, he is employed as a computer-aided drafting technician. But like other Airmen deployed to Southwest Asia and other locations around the globe during the holiday season, Airman Hicks understands the sacrifice that comes with military service.

Airmen are warfighters and are proud of their military service and commitment to excellence in fighting the global war on terror. They are committed to their jobs, no matter what day it is.

On Christmas day, Airman Hicks will follow his usual routine of checking his safety gear, having lunch, inspecting vehicles and briefing his team on safety.

Aircraft arrive at all times during my 12-hour shift, he said. "Unloading a C-130 may take 5 minutes or 20 minutes. Or we may upload a C-17 with 300 to 20,000 pounds of cargo. You never know what you're going to get from day to day.

"On the average, I communicate with my family twice a week or sometimes three times a week," said Airman Hicks. "My previous Christmas memories keep me going. My favorite is catching the kids sneaking downstairs to open their presents. I would like my wife and kids to know that I love them and no matter how far apart we may be -- they are close to me in heart and spirit!"

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