Wild Weasel of the Week: Airman 1st Class Marc Cooperman

Published June 9, 2014
By 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- 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 35th Civil Engineer Squadron chose Airman 1st Class Marc Cooperman, explosive ordnance disposal technician, as its Wild Weasel of the Week.

What's your daily mission?
To train for the EOD mission, which involves learning new details about my specialty, constantly improving my mental and physical health and being flexible for whatever tasks arise.

What do you enjoy about your job?
The fact that my mission always has new developments. Last month, my schedule consisted of training and maintaining equipment one week, clearing a bombing range of explosive hazards the next, then being attached to the U.S. Secret Service to protect the President of the United States the week after that. There are always new experiences and more things to learn.

Why did you choose to serve in the military?
My goal is to become a science fiction writer, so I feel I need to live life before I start writing about it. When my recruiter advised me to research jobs, I researched the on-going conflicts in the Middle East instead, which brought me to select EOD as my specialty.

What is your favorite thing about being in Japan?
The people here in Japan; they're very friendly and willing to help you whenever possible. I admire the fact they take pride in everything they do. I also enjoy snowboarding, so I make sure to visit the mountains during winter.

Who is your favorite mentor and what did you learn from him/her?
Senior Airmen Brent Points and Travis Ditmanson who work with me in the EOD workshop. They not only have taken the time to help train and familiarize me with the shop and equipment, but they are also introducing me to new activities outside of duty hours.

Time in Misawa:
4 months

Time in military:
17 months

Goals you want to achieve or meet while in Misawa?
I would like to advance my knowledge and upgrade my training in the EOD career field, start my college degree, climb Mount Fuji and continue to experience new things and develop new skills.

Supervisor's remarks:
"Airman Cooperman is a highly motivated Airman with a deep commitment to learning his job by contributing to and fulfilling the EOD mission. He is constantly putting in the extra effort, whether it's completing his career development courses, getting signed off on upgrade tasks, participating in flight training evolutions or setting up the next fitness challenge. He is always striving to improve himself and the team and his personal work ethic, character and devotion to duty make him a role model for other Airmen to follow. He is a fantastic Airman who I know will do great things for the Air Force of today and tomorrow." - Master Sgt. Cary Gibson, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight chief.