The “In Focus” series is a monthly feature that puts the spotlight on some of the 419th Fighter Wing’s best and brightest Reserve Citizen Airmen. Find it on Instagram @419fw
Life as a reservist can be a juggling act, and being a father of four is also no easy feat. Combine the two and you get the life of Senior Airman Matthew Hicks from the 419th Maintenance Squadron.
As a low observable aircraft structural maintenance technician, Hicks decided to become a full-time Air Reserve Technician – even with more than an hour’s commute each day – so he could “double dip” into the benefits of being a civilian and a reservist.
“My ultimate goal is to put my kids through college,” Hicks said. “I’m using this opportunity as a platform to get them through life.”
When he’s not spending time with his family or working on base, Hicks, 39, enjoys sports and the outdoors. From camping to skiing, playing soccer for 25 years to maintaining Fantasy Football teams, Hicks has learned to manage a busy life.
“What can I say, I love it,” he said. “I love everything about the outdoors, I just even bought a new kayak.”
The passion and dedication Hicks puts into his professional and personal life recently earned him the Maintenance Professional of the Year award in the Airman category.