Ramstein Non-Commissioned Officer, Moreauville native, keeps it cool for Southwest Asia unit

Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Tech. Sgt. Roderick Hill, heating, ventilation and air conditioning craftsman with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, chacks an air conditioning unit during operations at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, Jan. 17. A 12-year veteran of the Air Force, Hill is reponsible for maintaining HVAC equipment throughout the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Hill is deployed from the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and his hometown is Moreauville, La.  

01.18.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

Tech. Sgt. Roderick Hill, heating, ventilation and air conditioning craftsman with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, is reponsible for maintaining HVAC equipment throughout the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Hill is deployed from the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and his hometown is Moreauville, La.

There are days in the Southwest Asia desert climate that can reach extremely high temperatures during the day and chilly temperatures at night. For Hill, his job is to make sure facilities in the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing infrastructure maintains a steady temp no matter what's going on outside.

Hill, the lead heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, craftsman for the day shift in the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, said he and fellow HVAC Airmen have an important role in supporting the deployed mission of the 380th AEW.

"We have many critical facilities that we maintain and have to make sure that they stay at a certain temperature throughout the day," said Hill who is deployed from the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "Without our HVAC units cooling equipment, I think it would be impossible for some to complete their mission. We take care of millions of dollars in important equipment that has to stay at a certain temp or they will fail. We also have to make sure that people are comfortable in their work and sleeping areas to prepare and complete mission requirements."

In particularly hot weather, Hill said he and his fellow HVAC Airmen can be some very popular people. "If something breaks and the heat rises, we respond quickly to take care of any issue that arises," he said. "We want to be able to keep the mission flowing as uninterrupted as possible."

A 12-year veteran of the Air Force, Hill said he is proud of what he does for the service and of his role at a wing that supports Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

"I love serving in the best Air Force in the world," said Hill, a 1996 graduate of Avoyelles High School in his hometown of Moreauville, La.

The 2007 Community College of the Air Force graduate also said he's learned much on his current deployment and treasures the experience of every deployment he's been on.

"Deployments are a lot different than most people can imagine," Hill said. "It's a real-life experience and something that reminds you how you can feel real proud to defend your country."

The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia.

• Date Taken: 01.18.2010
• Date Posted: 01.18.2010 22:27
• Story ID: 44081