SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - We sat down with Tech. Sgt. David Jones, 20th Operation Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of operations, weapons and tactics, to get to know him and how he helps make the 20th OSS the best in the Air Force. Jones teaches Shaw Airmen how to survive, evade, resist and escape and is best known as our very own survival man. Being a family man at heart, he spends his time off with his wife, two daughters and two dogs.
Where are you from?
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Why did you decide to join the Air Force?
I joined to make a difference.
How long have you been at Shaw?
Just over four years.
What is your favorite part of South Carolina?
It’s close to the beach and the mountains, it is God’s country and my family and I love it. I love the country, being able to go hunting and fishing with the green grass and blue sky.
How would you describe a normal day?
A normal work day consists of lessons to teach and people to train for that day.
What is your favorite sport? Team?
Football and the Packers, they play in the cold and they are pretty tough.
What is in your cargo pocket?
Patches.
What is one word that describes how you lead?
I lead by example. That is how I would have wanted a leader to be when I was an Airman.
What is one Air Force resource you found that is incredibly beneficial?
I would say the Education Center.
What’s your outlook mailbox look like?
Full!
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?
We do a lot of stuff behind the scenes. Our job is preparing for bad days, and a lot of times people don’t see what we do because our goal is to train the pilots for those bad days and make sure they get through them safely.
What is your least favorite task and how do you make sure you get it done?
Personally, my least favorite task is being on the computer. I know that it is a tool and I am starting to get better at it. Our job is very hands-on and when we lead, we are physically doing things, not just writing things down.
What is your favorite part of the job?
The ‘doing’ part. The tactical part, where you are leading the pilots out in the woods, out in the water, running our joint training program with the Coast Guard.