McGuire Airmen know meaning of service

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Mann
  • Air Force Mortuary Operations Center Public Affairs
Twelve deployments in a 13-year timeframe is a lot for any military member, but for one Reservist from New Jersey it's not about the numbers, it's about helping the families; and he's not alone.

Master Sgt. Jerome Ferguson, a member of the 514th Airlift Wing Services Flight is on his 12th rotation to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This time he brought eight other reservists from his Reserve wing with him to accomplish the task of taking care of America's fallen military members and their families.

"I enjoy the job I do," said Sergeant Ferguson, who works in the mortuary's shipping section. "They've given their lives and it's the least I can do to give something back to them."

Sergeant Ferguson's dedication to service is not lost on his colleagues; in fact service is a commonality they all seem to share.

"I enjoy doing something nice for somebody," said Master Sgt. Nicole Bristol, a Reservist with the 514th who currently works in the mortuary's uniform department. Sergeant Bristol is on her fourth rotation to the mortuary and has worked in every area of the operation.

Her current job entails preparation of the fallen member's service uniform, a job that requires a lot of attention to detail and precision to get it right. On previous tours she also worked in autopsy and embalming, but the job that brought tears to her eyes was working in personal effects.

The personal effects' staff works with the belongings that were on the fallen at the time of death. Wedding rings, pictures from home and letters can be especially tough for the staff because they offer a glimpse of the fallen's life.

"You get to know the person," Sergeant Bristol said. "The toughest was a letter from a son to his father asking when he would be home and the next day the father died."
A moment of silence fills the room.

"This job matters," she said.

For six of the nine McGuire deployers this is the first time working at AFMAO.
"I wanted to do my part," said Staff Sergeant Anthony Terry, a first-time deployer working in shipping. "This was a part of services that I'd never gotten to do."

Such is the case for most services troops. For most in the Guard and Reserve working in a services flight or squadron entails working with lodging and meals, mortuary affairs is a part of the job that few ever get to see.

"At first it was rough," said Sergeant Terry. "But you put your feelings aside because you imagine how the families feel and you want to help ease their pain."

A seasoned veteran of mortuary, Sergeant Ferguson knows this job isn't for everyone at his home unit. For those interested in volunteering, he explains what the job is like and tells them to take it one step at a time.

AFMAO requires a three-day Port Mortuary Operations training be completed for all services personnel prior to their deploying. The on-site course offers a look into what the mortuary is all about, and after the training is complete, personnel can be offered the opportunity to volunteer for a deployment to the center.

But while nothing can really prepare them for the actuality of what they will see at AFMAO, the McGuire team is one of the few Reserve Services Flights that is dual certified in mortuary and services combat training, said their commander, Capt. William Chaikowsky. Captain Chaikowsky deployed with his team to Dover this time and works in the newly created command, control and communication operations center, often called C3.

C3 is usually a function reserved for Airmen with an operations backgrounds, but here at AFMAO it is expertly handled by services and personnel Airmen. The captain will tell you it's a hard learning curve, but one he and his troops have embraced.

"No matter what job they are doing at the time, they take ownership and run with it," said Chaikowsky. "They are all stellar performers."

As commander of the flight at the 514th, Captain Chaikowsky has seen nearly half his 31 Airmen volunteer for duty at AFMAO. "Duty, honor and respect," he said. "They feel they are giving back to the fallen's family; they feel a sense of honor."

All the deployers from the 514th AW exude the same pride and professionalism as they talk about their jobs at AFMAO and about each other. For many, this isn't a job to them; it's a calling to serve.

"They understand the importance of this mission," Capt. Chaikowsky said. "I am extremely proud of how they have stepped up."