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Service is Key for Selfridge Munitions Airman

  • Published
  • By SrA. Toni Pointer
  • 127th Wing Public Affairs
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  "It's all about service," says Senior Airman Daniel Ellis who serves in the munitions section of the 127th Maintenance Squadron of the Michigan Air National Guard. Enlisting right out of high school, Ellis has served 5 and a half years at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. He said he chose the Air Force because, "they are mumber one in their field."

Ellis said the Air National Guard has taught him leadership qualities, as well the importance of attention to detail.

"Ellis has a good mind set," said Staff Sgt. Robert Lynch, Ellis' supervisor. "He thinks outside the box."

Ellis serves on the bomb loading crew that recently placed first in the Load Crew of the Year competition for 2013 at Selfridge.

Ellis said loves traveling with the military and has been on several temporary duty assignments including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.

When he is not serving with the military, Ellis works with volunteer organizations to see the world and to make a difference. He has traveled to Honduras and Panama with the Global Brigades Organization to build a health center. He has also traveled to Alabama and North Carolina with the National Disaster Relief organization. Currently, Ellis is working on a project to teach third through ninth grade students in Nagpour, India, English and math over the internet.

Ellis recently graduated from Oakland University with a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in operations management. He said he, "loves how you get to bring your civilian world experience to the job in the Air National Guard."

Ellis said he appreciates the heritage of the National Guard as he serves as both a Citizen and as an Airman.

"We are the Minute men of today," he said, recalling America's original Revolutionary War militia members who were said to be ready to serve at a "minute's notice."

Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.