Kadena Airman earns deployed wing's 'Warrior of the Week'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Airman 1st Class Justin T. Rellin, an Air Force firefighter, was named the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's "Warrior of the Week" for the week of Jan. 6 to 12.

Airman Rellin, deployed from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, works in the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's fire department at a non-disclosed base here.

As an emergency responder, Airman Rellin, along with his fellow firefighters, is responsible for protecting millions of dollars of Air Force assets and personnel from fire. Air Force firefighters, according to their career field description, are required to plan, organize and direct fire protection activities. They are also required to be knowledgeable on fire safety and prevention and capable of fire response to control and extinguish aircraft, structure, wildland and miscellaneous fires.

To do all those tasks, firefighters also have to be capable to drive or operate and be certified on numerous types of fire response vehicles and equipment. In earning the "Warrior of the Week" honors, the Waianae, Hawaii, native described his support for an emergency response earlier in his deployment.

"I helped with the removal of more than 1.6 million gallons of water from mission-critical areas in one response, which I learned had saved an estimated $1.8 million worth of property from water damage," Airman Rellin said.

The airman first class said he's enjoyed being able to be a part of something special during his deployment. As part of the 380th AEW, Airman Rellin is among a group of Airmen who supports Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

"The thing I enjoy most about this deployment is the opportunity to meet new people from so many different backgrounds," Airman Rellin said. "I also enjoy working with all my other 'fire dawgs' who I've come to know well."

During his deployment, Airman Rellin said he's been working on numerous personal and professional goals. In personal physical fitness, he said, "My goals are to bench-press 405 pounds and squat 500 pounds."

Professionally, he said he wants to complete his Community College of the Air Force degree and wrap up his upgrade training.

"I would like to continue to learn from all my peers and senior leaders about my career and be the best firefighter I can be," Airman Rellin said. "I also would like to encourage and motivate as many others as I can along the way."