FSS first sergeant navigates two careers, 300-mile commute

  • Published
  • By MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  Judging from his cheerful demeanor and tireless work ethic, most people might not have any idea just how far MSgt. Daniel Howard will go to serve his country.

Try 315 miles.

That's two miles further than a road trip to the next-closest C-5 base - Dover Air Force Base, Del.

MSgt. Howard, 439th Force Support Squadron first sergeant, treks from Highland Plantation, Maine - as the crow flies - two hours west of Bangor - for each month's unit training assembly.

MSgt. Howard has been in the reserve for 24 years. He manages his Citizen Airman regimen while holding down his other career as a air traffic operations technician with the Federal Aviation Administration in Maine's capital of Augusta.

"I just make it work," he said. "I work the military side of the house while at lunch and at night a few times each week."

The first "shirt" isn't the only one who makes the long trips from Maine. According to recent wing statistics, 46 other Airmen from the Patriot Wing also make the drive "down and over" from Maine.

He's fairly used to it. One recent pre-UTA Friday did stick out in his mind.

"It poured rain from Freeport (Maine) to Wilbraham (Mass.)," he said.

Before he became a first sergeant, MSgt. Howard was an avionics technician in the 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

While most first sergeants oversee an individual squadron, MSgt. Howard not only reports to the 439th FSS commander, but is also the first shirt to the airlift wing staff, which isn't large enough to be a designated squadron.

One of the moments that mattered most while wearing the uniform?

"It would definitely be the Katrina mission. You couldn't help but notice we were making a difference. Now, as a shirt I'm helping on a more personal level." Besides the gallons of gas he puts into his car, what keeps him going?

"Service remains the biggest motivator. I want to believe what I'm doing matters and is making a difference."

"I love it."