Airman’s life-altering decision takes turn for the better

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Dorsey
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Before Airman 1st Class Shannon Cavasos enlisted in the Air Force, she was at a crossroads in her life.

With high-school graduation on the horizon, the Midland, Texas, native lived alone her senior year after her mother moved away. Her mom sent her small checks to cover bills while she cleaned houses for spending money. After many failed attempts to obtain a decent-paying job, she realized the future looked like a dead end.

“I saw the Air Force as a bold, yet only, way to improve my life, and I haven’t regretted anything since,” she said.

That was 2002. Today, as a life-support specialist with the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at a forward-deployed location, she helps maintain the equipment that keeps aircrews in her unit alive. Responsible for more than 480 pieces of mission-essential flight gear, plus the 112 survival kits and seat-installed parachutes in the unit’s F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft, Airman Cavasos said she stays busy.

Preventive maintenance and certification equipment for the G-suit, survival vest and all other survival items for preflight, post-flight and 30-day inspections takes up a large part of her duty day.

“Without a current inspection date or our training on their gear, they can’t fly, which would cancel an entire mission,” said Airman Cavasos, who is deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England.

Airman Cavasos said she has fun on the job. She laughs and jokes with her peers and said she sees her unit as family -- especially in a deployed environment. They are like brothers and sisters willing to help others in need. When it comes to the job however, she is all business.

“Not taking my job seriously isn’t an option,” she said. “Taking a shortcut on an inspection could mean taking a shortcut trying to save someone’s life.”

Although she has yet to be involved in a situation that would cause the aircrews to use the survival equipment, she said she is confident that if aircrews had to use the equipment, they would be in good hands.

“Without properly functioning life-support systems it is impossible to accomplish a (deployed) sortie,” said Capt. Richard Dickens, a pilot with the 494th EFS. “Any of our life-support technicians are willing to do anything necessary to ensure all aircrew are prepared to fly, and Airman Cavasos’ performance is outstanding. She is extremely knowledgeable and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure mission accomplishment.”

Airman Cavasos has worked hard at her craft. After six weeks of learning the basics at technical training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, she mastered the necessary skills and tasks unique to Lakenheath and her mission. All of her efforts paid off, resulting in her earning Lakenheath’s 2004 Life Support Specialist of the Year award.

“I was really happy and appreciative to receive the award because it let me know that all I had been working for had been noticed,” she said. “It motivated me to continue to work hard.”

Poised and competent at her job, Airman Cavasos has also grown as an individual.

“From Day One, I have worked with many high-ranking officials, and I used to get very intimidated,” Airman Cavasos said. ”But my co-workers helped me to overcome this. I have gained more confidence.”

Now, three years after graduating, Airman Cavasos said she is aware of the personal and professional changes in her life and has her sights on higher goals.

“Before I joined the military, the importance of a college degree was never brought to my attention,” said Airman Cavasos, who plans to take distance-learning courses. “My goal is to leave here steps closer to earning a degree. Now I have higher expectations for myself and have learned to have patience when it comes to pursuing goals. When I do finally achieve a degree, that will only motivate me to keep going.”

Looking ahead to the future, Airman Cavasos is giving back to her Air Force community -- the one that rescued her.

“I can support my family which is something I have always wanted to do,” she said. “When (I) think conditions are bad, I remember that things could be worse, and it makes me thankful and appreciative for everything.”