Senior Airman Colt J. Wiens

Senior Airman Colt J. Wiens Special Missions Aviator/54th Helicopter Squadron Hometown: Hanford, California “To be successful as a special mission aviator is a challenging task. There’s no such thing as normal and I remain flexible. One day you might be forced to fly through weather that's well below freezing and the next you may be hanging outside a helicopter trying to save someone's life. Flexibility is the key to airpower and I believe the 54th HS aircrew members demonstrate this ability better than anyone else. Life as a Career Enlisted Aviator is always subject to change and we get through each day by relying on our training and our crewmembers, knowing that our wingmen will always have our backs no matter the situation. I was raised by my father and my grandmother with the same mentality. I credit them for giving me what I need and for teaching me how to succeed in life. They are the most selfless people I will ever know and I am proud to call them my family. When I decided to join the USAF, I could tell my father was overjoyed. He always took an interest in the military and I think that seeing me join gave him a feeling of great pride. My grandmother was at first apprehensive because she knew I would potentially be put in harm's way but she eventually agreed with my decision. Overall, my parents know that I am capable, responsible and selfless. They know me very well because these are the values that they taught me as a child. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro)