By Master Sgt. Chance Babin, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
From www.af.mil
Airman 1st Class Miad Maleki inspects a gas mask Dec. 1, 2011, at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Maleki, a native of Tehran, Iran, is a material management journeyman for the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Chance Babin)
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) - (This feature is part of the “Through Airmen’s Eyes” series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)
A deployed supply Airman here is not only ensuring Airmen at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing have the protective equipment they need; he is using his rich heritage to equip them with language skills as well.
Airman 1st Class Miad Maleki, a native of Tehran, Iran, is a material management journeyman for the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. He issues, stores and maintains individual protective equipment and is volunteering in his off time to teach a free Farsi class for the deployed troops.
“I’m teaching a class of 18 students here,” he said. “My students are really interested and all have plans to test for the language and either cross train or bring their new skill to the plate.”
Maleki was born and raised primarily in Iran until he was 16. He has also lived in Sweden, where he has family, and in Turkey. He eventually moved to San Antonio, Texas, which he now calls home. He is a linguist in Farsi and Dari, speaks Swedish and is working on Arabic.
He said he sees his knowledge of languages as a skill that can be paid forward to help others get a leg up in the work force.
“There is high demand for this language, so in the near future there will be a greater need for Persian linguists in government,” he said. “I’m trying to be responsible for the skill I have. Although I’m not in an official position to teach this, I try to play a role in the whole movement toward having a more knowledgeable and skilled intelligence community. I believe, with the recent economy and our government struggling with budget cuts, I can play a small role in saving the government on contractor teachers.”
While Maleki is putting his language skills to good use during this deployment, he is actually excited about the opportunity to focus more on the skills of his actual air force specialty, he said. Although he has the same job back at his home station at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., he hasn’t been working his normal supply mission there.
“Back home I do the same job, but I got picked for linguist duties, which gave me the opportunity to work with the Defense Language Institute in (Washington, D.C.), ” Maleki said. “So being here gives me the opportunity to really do my primary (Air Force specialty code).”
Each person who processes into the 380th AEW gets body armor and a helmet, gas mask, canteen, web belt, first aid kit and ammo pouches, Maleki said. “The best thing about my job is seeing our troops get their protective equipment from us and knowing that my job plays a role in the process of protecting our number one asset – the troops,” he said.
The chance to focus on his specialty again during this deployment is not only helping him understand his job but also leadership principles.
“It’s really helped me learn more about functional management,” Maleki said. “But not just working with people, also dealing with assets. I’ve learned how to manage the Air Force’s assets and work under different managers to learn different management styles.”
Maleki’s drive to learn doesn’t end there. He is working on his thesis and is set to receive his master’s degree in management information systems from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas when he returns from this deployment. He is applying for officer training school and hopes to eventually use his talents as a professional linguist or in a government intelligence position.
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