The White Falcon - 19.02.1993, Blaðsíða 4

57th FS airman
Story and photo by
J02 Colleen “Ghostwriter” Casper
His poise conveys unshakable self-confi-
dence, and his interaction with personnel
displays the respect he has for others. A1C
Richard S. Mendez’s professionalism was
recognized recently when he was selected for
the Iceland Defense Force Junior Military
Member of the Year for 1992.
Mendez was also chosen as the Iceland
Defense Force Junior Military Member of
the Quarter for October through December
1992 and Air Forces Iceland Airman of 1992.
Working in the Precision Measurement
Equipment Laboratory section of the 57th
Fighter Squadron, Mendez is responsible for
the calibration, overhauling, modifying and
sometimes even the creation of measuring
and indicating devices.
The Woodhaven, Mich., native finds his
job rewarding and challenging. “I have al-
ways been interested in electronics and this
job gives me a constant test of my skills. It is
the various types of jobs and different pieces
of equipment that we work on which make
the job interesting.”
Mendez feels persistence is one of his
better qualities. “When I come across a prob-
lem, I am persistent and just don’t drop it. If
I am unable to solve something on the spot,”
Mendez stated, “I take it home and sleep on
it.”
named tops for junior ranks
Mendez did not always enjoy his military
career. When he first joined the military, he
felt that he was not suited for the Armed
Forces. Since then, Mendez has
changed his outlook on the mili-
tary.
“I have continued to keep a
positive outlook and do the best
I can in my job. I discovered
that the military is my nitch,” he
stated.
His recent successes he cred-
its to all the continued support
and guidance that he receives
each and every day from his
command.
Sgt. Robert J. Stein, Mendez’s
immediate supervisor, said, “In
my six years of service, I have
never had an employee who has
been so motivated and profes-
sional in his job. We spent
hours of overtime on one par-
ticular job, and Mendez was the
one who finally found a solu-
tion.”
Mendez and his wife.
Heather, have resided on the
island since the summer of 1991.
He intends on making the mili-
tary a career and plans to enter
an officer program in the near
future.
“I believe everything in life is
really based on the fact that you can do
anything if you set your mind to it,” Mendez
stated.
Airman Mendez tests equipment for perfection.
Military Member of the Quarter looks to the sea
Story and photo by
J03 (SW) Andreas Walter
Intelligence Specialist Petty Officer Sec-
ond Class (IS2), Air Warfare (AW) Michael
R. Toombs, 28, was recently selected as the
Iceland Defense Force Military Member of
the Quarter for Oct. - Dec. 1992.
“It felt great to be selected as the IDF
MMOQ and gave me a proud feeling and a
sense of accomplishment,” said Toombs.
A native of Paris, Tenn., Toombs spent a
few years after high school as a local truck
driver, a job which he says, “There simply
was no future.”
The monotony of driving down a road
without seeing any signs pointing to a secure
future ahead, gave him the idea to look into
the military.
Toombs explained his next move, “Once I
had picked the Navy as my career field, I at-
tended school and learned the Data Process-
ing (DP) rating.”
Toombs then explained how the one-time
computer operator became a member of the
IS rating, “Onboard ship, I was assigned to
the Combat Information Center. It was there
that I first became exposed to the IS rating
and developed an interest in crossing over.”
In 1990, he fulfilled the requirements to at-
tend IS “A”
school and set
out on a new
career. His first
assignment
upon comple-
tion of the
schooling was
to the Iceland
Defence Force
staff.
When his tour
ends in August
of this year,
Toombs will be
on his way to
another ship-
board assign-
ment He plans
to pursue a commission as a Limited Duty
Officer.
“I have truly enjoyed my time with the
Navy in Iceland, yet I look forward to my
next assignment, wherever it may send me
and to whatever comer of the globe.”
The White Falcon