Airman rigs 'Chutes, travels the World

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais
  • Air Force Print News
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Sometimes, Airman 1st Class Darrius Armstead, Jr. would say his job is tedious.

Airman Armstead is an air transport specialist for the 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Combat Mobility Element (CME). One part of his job is rigging huge parachutes for C-17 Globemaster III airdrop exercises.

Rigging parachutes is the process of packing a parachute and securing its lines to prepare it for deployment.

The chute and its lines are secured with dozens of knots--more than 70 of them on some chutes--and Airman Armstead and his coworkers often rig chutes all day long.

"It gets monotonous sometimes," admitted Airman Armstead. "I mean it gets to the point where I'll sit there and start tying my shoes like that," he laughed.

But rigging parachutes is only part of the job. Hickam's CME provides ground support for C-17 tactical airlift operations. That means deploying to austere environments in the wake of natural disasters, to provide help to allies and friends in the region, and in support of the global war on terror.

In February 2006 a massive mudslide caused serious damage at a village on the island of Leyte in the Southern Philippines. A C-17 from Hickam carried food, water, tents, and heavy equipment to the area. A CME team that included Airman Armstead deployed to offload the vital supplies and gear to assist the relief mission.

Such contingencies are the reason the CME exists, and according to Airman Armstead, they're the best part of the job.

"I've only been in for two years and I've already been to four different places," he said. "My sister's been in for six and hasn't really gone anywhere yet, so that's pretty cool," he laughed.

Whether he's traveling around the world or sitting in a Hickam hangar rigging parachutes, Airman Armstead said he feels lucky to be a part of his team.

"I think CME is probably one of the best things that you could ever get into, so I'm glad I got to do it."