WILD WEASEL OF THE WEEK: STAFF SGT. GENE SAN NICOLAS Each week a member of the 35th Fighter Wing is selected as the Wild Weasel of the Week. This individual is recognized based on superior performance, outstanding work ethic, and overall good conduct and discipline. The 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit chose Staff Sgt. Gene San Nicolas, crew chief, as its Wild Weasel of the Week. What's your daily mission? I trust the people I'm appointed over to finish a given task in a safe and timely fashion, in addition to verifying end products as the final inspector of the maintenance processes performed. What do you enjoy about your job? The most enjoyable part of my job is leading and teaching my Airmen to make our processes work in favor for all personnel and still fully support the mission of being ready to fight tonight and putting iron in the sky and being protectors of this country. Why did you choose to serve in the military? My grandfather was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and my father was a prior enlisted helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. I wanted to uphold the family tradition and chose to be a crew chief. What is your favorite thing about being in Japan? Experiencing a different and interesting culture. Who is your favorite mentor and what did you learn from him/her? Tech. Sgt.Edward Waskosky. He taught me to care about your people. Knowing you genuinely care about them helps them become better workers. Time in Misawa: Four months Time in military: Eight years What goals do you want to achieve while you're stationed at Misawa? Achieve the rank of Technical Sergeant and continue my bachelor's degree in safety . Supervisor's remarks: "Since being assigned to the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Staff Sgt. San Nicolas has made it a personal effort to take newly assigned Airmen under his direction and train them in all aspects of aircraft maintenance. He uses his knowledge of aircraft maintenance and forms documentation to teach our new technicians the proper way to perform, document and verify by the book technical procedures and maintenance discipline. He recently identified a procedural problem with turning parts to our supply section and took the opportunity to mentor our younger Airmen and teach them to turn in parts properly. He is not only an asset to the aircraft maintenance section, but also to our unit and squadron." - Waskosky