Airman trains Iraqi technicians, focuses on self improvment

Published Sept. 16, 2011
By Senior Airman Patrick McKenna
U.S. Air Force Central Public Affairs

CAMP SPEICHER, Iraq -- Deployments are what a person makes of them. Working long hours is expected, but sometimes it's what an individual does in their off time that sets them apart from their peers.

Some choose to hit the gym hard, take self improvement courses, or work to further their education. At Combat Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, one aircrew flight equipment technician assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron, just a few months into a year-long deployment, has hit the ground running.

Staff Sgt. Joe Cardiel, a native of El Paso, Texas, deployed from the 2nd Operations Support Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., begins most days well before the sun comes up working long hours at his AFE shop. He's tasked with the responsibility of mentoring four Iraqi trainees so that in the not too distant future, they can run the AFE shop on their own.

"Our mission is to help train Iraqi airmen on aircrew flight equipment," said Cardiel. "We want them to understand how important their job is as much it is to us. This equipment needs to be well maintained because it is the pilots' lives in their hands. We're teaching them from the basics all the way to the details of what it takes to ensure this equipment is taken care of and functions properly."

While one of Cardiel's Iraqi trainees, Private Naser, refers to Cardiel as a "loveable guy," Naser isn't the only person with good things to say. His leadership has taken notice and couldn't be happier with how Cardiel is handling his first deployment. Coming from a survival equipment background, not aircrew life support, Cardiel has learned additional skills in the new merged career field, aircrew flight equipment.

"Our career fields recently merged," said Master Sgt. Michelle A. Bell, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 52nd AFE shop. "He's picked it up very quickly having not worked on any of the personal flight gear for pilots. He Jumped right into the job and ran with it. He's one of the best workers I've ever worked with in my entire career."

Back home in Louisiana, Cardiel is a reserve police officer in the Greenwood Police Department where for the last year and a half he's volunteered two or three weekends per month helping out the short-manned department.

"Crime was high there, especially after Hurricane Katrina," Cardiel said. "I knew I couldn't stop it completely, but I thought I could help do something about it."

While deployed, he's taking two online classes working his way toward a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, with the goal of one day starting a career in federal law enforcement. When he's not working or completing his class assignments, Cardiel manages to hit the gym two hours per day, always working to improve on his already skilled athletic background.

"I have been wrestling since I was 10 years old," Cardiel said. "I wrestled all the way through high school. Wrestling kept me focused as I was growing up and kept me out of trouble. My junior year in high school I made it to the Texas state finals taking first place at state in the 135lb weight class. Physical fitness is important and nobody is going to do it for me."

As Cardiel looks ahead to another several months on this deployment, he feels proud of both what he's accomplishing personally, but more importantly, of what he and his AFE team have done to help train Naser and his fellow Iraqis.

"It gives me a good feeling to see their progress and seeing them step up for their country," Cardiel said. "They're self sustainable. What's happening here is history in the making, and 20 years from now when my kids are in class this might be what they're learning about."