Tuskegee Airman of the Week June 7-13

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Staff Sgt. Jerry Vega is the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's Tuskegee Airman of the Week for June 7-13.

Brig. Gen. Brian Bishop, 332nd AEW commander, presented Vega with the award and a commander's coin during a ceremony June 19.

Vega, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire department crew chief, deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, provides fire protection, medical support, and hazardous-materials response for Joint Base Balad.

On-duty, Vega led a crash rescue-support incident involving a smoke-filled cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, saving the pilot from toxic smoke inhalation and recovering the $20-million jet.

Also, he rescued two service members injured during an indirect-fire attack. He stabilized the patients and called for medical support. Overall, his actions assisted in a full recovery for both servicemembers.

Off-duty, Vega volunteered as an emergency medical technician standby for the Coast Guard Biathlon, thereby ensuring the safety of more than 70 participants.

Vega's supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Michael Nichols, 332nd ECES fire department assistant chief, said he put Vega in for the award because of his professionalism, leadership ability, hard work and dedication.

"Sgt. Vega is organized, efficient, and extremely competent and has an excellent rapport with his fellow Airmen," said the Cincinnati, Ohio, native deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy. "His communication skills, both written and verbal, are outstanding."

Even though Vega has only been deployed here a short while, he wasted no time making a name for himself.

"I've only been here for a few weeks, but I am getting involved," Vega said. "That's the advice I'd give to others. You need to strive for excellence and get involved in and out of your unit."

"The people I work with have been very helpful to my success," added the Chicago native. "The fire department is like a huge family; nothing is done alone. I owe my leadership for their guidance and my peers for their support."

As for motivation to go above and beyond, Vega said he owes that to his "wonderful" wife who works very hard and is committed to the Air Force as well.

"She is a great inspiration for me," he said.

The 332nd AEW Tuskegee Airman of the Week is selected based on an Airman's accomplishments both on- and off-duty. Airmen in the pay grades of E-1 to E-5 are eligible.