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A family atmosphere has long been rooted in the 145th Airlift
Wing and the Dietz family champions this statement. Senior Airmen
Jonathan Dietz, of the 145th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is the
youngest son of Chief Master Sgt. Susan Dietz of the 145th Medical
Group.
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U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Susan Dietz (left), 145th Medical
Group, and her son, Senior Airman Jonathan Dietz (right), 145th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, discuss the C-130 Hercules aircraft’s
upcoming deployment and readiness while waiting to go through a
deployment processing line held at the North Carolina Air National
Guard Base, Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Feb. 5, 2017.
The processing line had eight representatives from different units
to address any final concerns the Airmen may have before deploying. (North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Julianne Showalter)
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Jonathan Dietz is deployed for the first time in support
of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel as crew chief on the C-130
Hercules aircraft, but he is different in that his mother
has been there to support and guide him throughout the
process.
“We’re always here; in the guard we don’t
move like active military does every two years. You grow up
through the ranks with each other. It’s like a brotherhood
or sisterhood or an extended family whom you visit once a
month. We push each other to succeed much like a family
would,” said 1st Sgt. Jennifer Moreau, 145th Aircraft
Maintenance Squadron.
“I think she’s done a great
job raising him. He’s a good person and is making his own
way by doing the work. It’s tough when you have a family
member with such a big name,” said Moreau.
Susan
Dietz joined the military in June of 1980, and has witnessed
both of her sons David and Jonathan follow in her footsteps.
As a child, Jonathan Dietz remembers, with
nostalgia, his mother serving in the North Carolina Air
National Guard, “I used to come out here as a kid all the
time with my mom, I grew up here, and because of her, I knew
I always wanted to join.” Jonathan Dietz did just that and
enlisted in June of 2013.
“When I saw the name on the
training roster, I recognized it. When he came back from
technical training I confirmed that, yep, that’s her son. I
made sure he understood I wouldn’t give him any leeway just
because his mom is a chief,” said Moreau.
Jonathan
Dietz recalls the reactions of his fellow Airmen after
initially enlisting, “It’s interesting having my Mom work in
the same unit and they picked on me sometimes.” Despite the
banter, he’s forged his own path and is now deployed
maintaining aircraft readiness for tactical airlift
missions.
With a demanding work environment,
increased on-duty hours, and higher stress, a deployment
offers more experience compared to the day to day home
station missions. Moreau said with pride, “I think he’s
going to come back with so much growth. He’s going to come
back even better than where he is now. It’s great to deploy
these younger Airmen because they come back ready for
leadership and being a non-commissioned officer.”
Susan Dietz attended the departure of her son and over 100
other members of the 145th Airlift Wing. She hugged her son
on the flight-line just before he boarded a C-130 Hercules
aircraft to his deployed location.
“From a mom’s
perspective you’re always worried. That’s my baby boy, he’s
my youngest; so it’s a little scary to see him deploy, but
he’ll be alright because he’s going with a great group of
guys,” said Susan Dietz.
By North Carolina Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Julianne Showalter
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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