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“I did five years active duty in the U.S. Navy and then I spent a
year or two in limbo until I got this great job as a Department of
Defense firefighter,” said Moralez. “I worked with a couple of guys
who were in the 512th Civil Engineer Squadron and they explained all
the benefits that the Air Force Reserve has to offer for the fire
protection career field.
Moralez was an aviation boatsmans
handler Third Class from 2005-2010. All five of his years were spent
on the U.S.S Enterprise traveling around the Pacific Ocean and
Mediterranean Sea. He also performed two combat deployments; one
tour each for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
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August 19, 2016 - Senior Airman Ricky Moralez, 512th Civil
Engineer Squadron firefighter, dons his mask before extinguishing a
fuel fire during exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Fort McCoy,
Wisconsin. Patriot Warrior allows Air Reserve fire fighting units
from throughout the U.S. to train together and learn from
professionals throughout the career field in a deployment-style
environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Rivard)
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“The Navy cared about me, but I just felt like a number rather
than a person,” said Moralez. “I worked on the flight deck as part
of the crash crew and as a firefighter. I trained on aircraft
crashes, shutdowns and worked in that hot firefighting uniform. That
part transferred over.”
Moralez's crew chief who is also
prior-service, Tech. Sgt. Joab Mejia, spent 10 years serving in the
Army before joining the Air Force. He is also a combat-veteran with
two Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom deployments.
“I can empathize with Moralez and try to give him an idea of
what's to come,” said Mejia. “I like having new guys because when
somebody comes in new, they need to learn a whole different
environment. I accept the challenge happily.”
“It's great to
be in an environment when people are willing to help you transfer
and when other people are also prior service,” said Moralez. “Mejia
is a great crew chief because he understands the change-over.”
The Air Force Reserve firefighting position also helps Moralez
with his civilian employment. Moralez is a full-time firefighter for
the DOD at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.
“All of my
certifications I get at Dover Air Force Base directly fall into my
DOD job, so it's a win-win,” said Moralez. “What I do in the DOD
also transfers over to the Air Force, so it works both ways. One of
my chiefs at the 512th CES is also my boss in the DOD, so he's shown
me the ropes and set me on the right path as well.”
Moralez
has been in the 512th CES for two years and his work ethic and
experience aren't going unnoticed by his wingmen.
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August 19, 2016 - Firefighters throughout the Air Force Reserve and
Army watch a fuel-fire build in size before extinguishing it during
exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport, Wisconsin.
Patriot Warrior allows Air Reserve fire fighting units from
throughout the U.S. to train and learn from professionals throughout
the career field in a deployment-style environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Rivard)
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“He's motivated,” said Mejia. “I don't have to tell him
anything, he starts doing things on his own and if he has
questions he approaches me. He has the maturity from not
only age, but also prior service. It's a blessing to have
somebody like that working in my crew.”
Although
Moralez has served in two branches of service, he says he
will stay in the Air Force “blues” for the rest of his
career.
“The Air Force treats me like a person and
not like a number,” said Moralez. “I love my job here and I
plan on finishing my career in this unit.”
By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Rivard
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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