Air Force career jumps starts Airman's childhood dream

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cohen Young
  • Defense Media Activity-Hawaii
HALIM AIR BASE, Indonesia --  Being an aircraft mechanic is helping Senior Airman Brian Heimgartner,  who is assigned to the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, realize a childhood dream.

Airman Heimgartner has wanted to be a crop-duster ever since he was child growing up in Kendrick, Idaho, and the Air Force is helping him towards that dream.

"I joined the Air Force as something that would be a great place to start me off towards my goal of working on planes and being a crop-duster," said Airman Heimgartner.

Learning how to repair and maintain an aircraft will be a great benefit to Airman Heimgartner because it teaches hims the mechanics involved in not only flying but in maintaining an aircraft said Airman Heimgartner.   

Airman Heimgartner is one of 90 Airmen participating in Cope West 10 at Halim AB, Indonesia. Cope West is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored bilateral tactical airlift exercise involving the U.S. and Indonesian air forces. The exercise is designed to advance interoperability between the two services, and promote cooperation and unity of purpose.

Airmen from different job specialties have come to Halim AB to strengthen ties with Indonesia and improve their on-the-job skills.

"I get a lot of personal gratification participating in an exercise like this because I get to work with others and learn new things," said Airman Heimgartner.

"The people of Indonesia are friendly and great."

The weather is much warmer at Halim AB in comparison to Yokota AB but that doesn't stop the Airmen from Japan in completing their tasks.

"It's a lot warmer here in Indonesia, but we get the job done," said Airman Heimgartner.

Being an engine mechanic can require a person to be resourceful and dedicated to fixing a problem.

"I've always been the tinkering and fixing type so this job is perfect for me," added Airman Heimgartner. "If I find something wrong, I don't stop until I can fix it."

"The best part of this job is that the Air Force is paying me learn and do something I like," added Airman Heimgartner.

Exercise Cope West 10 is scheduled through April 23.