100th LRS Airman shares his story

  • Published
  • By Gina Randall
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operations section is home to both Airmen and civilians.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Strickland, 100th LRS U-Drive-It dispatcher, is part of the team.

Many of the civilian workforce have been there for many years, so they provide continuity. The incoming service members provide a fresh approach to normal, day-to-day tasks.

"This combination of civilian and military work well for us," said Steven Randall, 100th LRS distribution manager from Brandon, Suffolk. "Strickland is one of our service members who provides a valuable fresh approach to the workplace."

But back in 2009, Strickland wasn't sure what he wanted out of life.

"I was really bored at home and I wanted to try something new. I was on my way to college and one day I drove by the recruiters office, and I was like "Hey, let's check it out" -- a month later I was a member of the best Air Force in the world," the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, native exclaimed.

Like so many other young American men and women, Strickland was attracted by the medical benefits and having his schooling paid.

"It's a great lifestyle," he thought at the time.

In the beginning his hopes were somewhat dashed, coming from a privileged upbringing to become a hard-working, disciplined new military recruit.

"I was very spoiled as a child," he laughed. "So going from home to the military was very difficult in the beginning."

Strickland soon learned that he didn't sign up for a 9 to 5 job; he signed up for a new life. A life that would take him all over the world, get him educated and allow him to meet all sorts of people.

"I've loved dealing with the different cultures, dealing with military and the British people. That was a huge shock for me, since I have never been to England prior," Strickland said.

The work center is made up of 26 Airmen and 32 British civilians. The civilians in the vehicle operations building are seen as an asset: part of the 100th LRS family for young Airmen to absorb as much knowledge as possible from.

The nature of the career field means the vehicle operations world needs people who have been in the career long enough to impart wisdom on young Airmen, people to know all the Air Force Instructions inside and out, and to know enough about what they do to feel confident enough to advise their leaders. Many of the leaders in the building are not U.S. citizens, but they are entrusted with protecting the American taxpayers dollars, and as such are devoted enough to the job to speak out to protect the Air Force assets against misuse, unintentional or otherwise.

These British leaders have guided Strickland to give him the confidence to do his job.

"Without the mentorship that you get it would be very hard. I work with direct supervision on a day-to-day basis, but you can have a lot of different types of mentorship. Here, I have had mentorship one-on-one," he said. "Whether it is civilian or military supervisors, they have been really helpful."

Strickland's has a good working relationship with his supervisors.

"They actually care about what you are doing; care about what your problems are," the dispatcher said.

Strickland knows and loves his job which entails dealing with all vehicles base personnel drive, and different units around base. If units have a shortage of vehicles they often sign one out from the vehicle operations section. Strickland's team distributes vehicles out to different people if the request is for official use, and arranges vehicles for distinguished visitors.

His job can be very stressful when organizing details for such high-profile people. But the unsaid message in the hearts and minds of the staff in the work center rings in Strickland's ears each day, he serves his country.

"They are willing to take the bullet for you, they have your back. That's what is most important, the mentorship and the camaraderie. Especially here, I deal with the British civilians and the military side," Strickland said. "It's just all coming together as one."