Wild Weasel of the Week: Airman 1st Class Julian A. Montanez

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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 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit chose Airman 1st Class Julian A. Montanez, aircraft armament systems apprentice from Oswego, Illinois, to be their Wild Weasel of the Week.

What's your daily mission?
Our mission on the flightline is to send out every aircraft from the 14th AMU weapons ready.

What do you enjoy about your job?
There's nothing better about our job than loading a jet with awesome firepower. I feel sorry for our enemies if they go to war with us.

Why did you choose to serve in the military?
I chose to serve because I felt like I needed a different way of life. I was bouncing around  from job to job, and it felt the same everywhere I went. I asked people who previously served about the military and they had nothing but good things to say about it -- it seemed like it would be a good fit for me.

Who is your favorite mentor and what did you learn from him or her?
Hands down it will always be my father, Julio C. Montanez. He taught me everything while I was growing up and he still gives me his words of wisdom that help me from time to time.

Greatest accomplishment?
Every day is a great accomplishment for me. Not everyone can say they served in the Air Force. The things I do for the Air Force make me feel like Im part of something bigger than myself.

What goals do you want to achieve while in Misawa?
I want to be able to get as much education and travel throughout Japan as much as I can.

What are your hobbies?
Anything that has to do with sports -- basketball, baseball, football, softball, snowboarding, swimming, boxing, running, fantasy football, Ping Pong, darts, paintball, rock climbing, biking, kayaking...

What's your dream duty station?
Hickham Air Force Base because Hawaii has a good mixture of cultures, the weather is stable, and there's plenty of outdoor activities to do. I can just imagine myself waking up and hearing the sound of the ocean.

What's your favorite quote?
Even tough this quote is simple it still makes me think to push forward: "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost.

What's your favorite movie?
I have so many movies but I'll just name just a few: Act of Valor, Fast & Furious 6, This is the End, The Croods, and World War Z.

If you could spend one hour with any person, who would it be?
For just one hour it would be Colonel Sanders so he can show me that awesome KFC recipe.

What's your squadron's motto?
Wooooooooooooood!

Supervisor's remarks:
"Airman Montanez is hard worker -- he gets the jobs done correctly and efficiently. Everyone in our flight likes his sense of humor. He has adapted to this job very quickly and has the potential to be a good team chief someday." - Staff Sgt. Heather Shields