Square D Spotlight: Senior Airman Joseph Cyr

  • Published
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  

Name and Rank: Senior Airman Joseph J. Cyr

Unit: 100th Operations Support Squadron

Duty Title: Aircrew Flight Equipment Journeyman

Time in Service: 3 years 4 months

Time at Mildenhall: 2 years 10 months

Hometown: Newport, R.I.

Hobbies: Playing softball, working out and traveling

Core Value Portrayed: Service Before Self

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
Serving in the Air Force is important to me because I am the fifth person in my family who has served in any branch of the military. I'd always thought about joining after I went through college, but decided to join sooner when the college route didn't work out. It's nice to know that I'm keeping the family tradition going.

What accomplishment during your Air Force career are you most proud of?
My greatest accomplishment in my career was when I was put in charge of a one-man shop while deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. I learned a lot from my experience and it's definitely one I'll never forget.

What are your personal and/or professional goals?
My personal goals are to make the Air Force softball team and to become jump-qualified. I got into softball a few years ago and have grown to really enjoy it, especially with the opportunity to travel and to compete at a different level of experience. The jump qualification is another because my grandfather was in the Airborne Division for the Army during the Korean War. He always talked of his experiences and they really got my attention. Also, it would help me become a better technician on the parachutes I pack, if I actually experience how they work first hand.

What is your favorite part of your job?
The job satisfaction for me is definitely my favorite part of the job. I remember when I first got here; it really opened my eyes when working on free-fall parachutes, my trainer went into the importance of attention to detail and how this could save someone's life one day. Knowing that the equipment I work on can possibly save a life really makes me enjoy what I do.

How does the individual portray that core value?
"Senior Airman Cyr demonstrates sound and effective leadership at the junior-enlisted Airman level on a daily basis. He continually places and carries out the mission ahead of his own personal desires, and sets the example for his peers to follow," said Master Sgt. Brian Morales, 100th Operations Support Squadron flight chief. "A hard-charging Airman, Cyr plays a key role in successful mission accomplishment by skillfully providing critical life sustaining aircrew flight equipment for KC-135 Stratotanker operations. In addition to his primary duties, he's also a force protection/anti-terrorism representative and ground safety representative for the 100th Operations Group, as well as a physical training leader, resource protection/explosive safety representative and Aircrew Continuation Instructor for the 100th OSS. Cyr has quickly developed into one of the 'go-to' airmen in the AFE shop."