One among all, at CATM answers nations call Published Feb. 10, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Artemy Shpakovsky Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Sitting behind an old desk there is a man who seems to be concentrated completely on the papers laid out before him and the computer screen that gives off a low light on the tabletop of his desk. This individual is the 5th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance assistant noncommissioned officer-in-charge; he is Tech. Sgt. Earl L. Mills. Born on April 27, 1977, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Sergeant Mills came from the family of an Air Force Vietnam veteran. He grew up in Post Falls, which is about eight miles from the place he was born, and he spent the first 18 years of his life in the same house until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. "I joined the Air Force on June 28, 1995," Sergeant Mills said. "I signed up for the Delayed Enlistment Program during the spring of my senior year in high school, deciding to become an armed forces member to provide service to my country as all my ancestors have done in the past." He started his military career on Osan Air Base, South Korea, where he was assigned after completing the security forces technical school located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas as a security apprentice. He resided At Osan only for a short tour, when he received follow-on orders to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. "Within my first year of being stationed at Tinker, I deployed to Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia for a four month tour," said Sergeant Mills. "I was there for 120 days, providing security and entry controller duties to the installation." Sergeant Mills continued his work at Tinker AFB until one valued moment of his life, the moment when he met with the men and women of CATM. In October 1998, he was accepted to work alongside the CATM team, fulfilling the position of acting firing line official. "I was then awakened on how fulfilling the military could be, besides just being a security forces troop," he said. "After working in the CATM section for about two and a half years, I put my package in for lateral training to become a CATM instructor." After completing his training, Sergeant Mills was assigned to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. There he worked as a Combat Arms instructor for seven years. While serving at Holloman AFB he was deployed to Ali Al Salem, Kuwait in 2007. "It was hard to get a deployment as a CATM troop due to being constantly low-manned at the shop and having to fulfill our mission to train and maintain," said Sergeant Mills. "I worked out of Kuwait City International Airport as NCOIC of the armory, which housed weapons for installation security, third country nationals and off-base transportation escorts." Over the course of his time spent in the enlisted ranks of the Air Force, Sergeant Mills has come to really enjoy to job. One thing he likes most about his job is the interaction among all installation agencies. "I have always enjoyed giving every person all the information and techniques required to be effective on their weapon," said Sergeant Mills. "Especially to those who are deploying to hostile areas." Sergeant Mills recited the combat arms instructors' creed, "My students - I must not fail. My students - I will not fail for mine is a proud heritage and fostering it is my responsibility." During the course of his military career, Sergeant Mills has received a few awards for his service and performance of his official duties. But he does not believe receiving awards and decorations is an imperative factor. He said that he believes the quality of work and dedication to making sure job gets done is important. Additionally, he said the way people carry themselves is paramount to mission success. "However, I do believe that people should be awarded for exceptional performance in duties they are assigned," Sergeant Mills said. "But I don't believe in 'flashing' or showing off what I've received in my career. The way I perform and conduct my duties shows what kind of person I am... Taking pride in the work I do." And so does every Airman in CATM. They are Airmen just like any other, and without them, the mission would not be completed. They inspect, train and help every single Warbird and Rough Rider - from security forces to medical assistants and from tactical air control to missile alert facility crew. [Editor's note: This is a three-part series highlighting the critical mission CATM Airmen complete on daily basis.]