Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Derrick Mims, the Shops Platoon maintenance supervisor for Company D, 3rd...... read more read more
By Sgt. Brandon Little
Task Force XII Public Affairs Office
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Staff Sgt. Derrick Mims, a native of Shreveport, La., has become the "go-to guy" whenever Company D, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment needs something done.
"I do a little bit of everything," said Mims, the maintenance supervisor, Shops Platoon, Co. D.
In addition to being the maintenance supervisor, he is also the unit's movement officer, equal opportunity liaison, historian and photographer.
He married his wife, Tamara, almost six years ago, and they have a 5-year-old son named Derrian.
Mims said he had no idea exactly where joining the Army would take him.
"I joined the military 13 years ago because I wanted to travel, see different things and just get away from Shreveport," he said. "Most of my family thought going into the military wasn't a good (idea) but, being a rebel, I decided I'm getting out of this place."
He hoped to become a photographer in the Army, because he had been taking photographs since he was in high school; when that job was unavailable, he chose to pursue his second love ... aviation.
"Growing up, my brother and I did a lot of research on aircraft," he said. "My recruiter had a background in aviation maintenance, and once he explained his job to me, I knew that's what I wanted to do."
He was first stationed in Korea, for five years, and then he moved to Germany where he's been ever since.
"I've known (Mims) since August of 1999," said 1st Sgt. Ronald Pickens, Co. D, a native of Abilene, Texas. "When we first met, I was an aircraft component repair supervisor and later became his platoon sergeant."
The two kept in touch over the years, and Pickens says, he even received a call from Mims before he went to Iraq in 2003 because he had some questions, and needed a little mentorship, on how to handle his first deployment.
Mims, now on his third deployment, is giving the same mentorship he received from Pickens to his younger and less experienced Soldiers.
"He's been married for quite some time, and this is his third deployment," said Pickens. "One thing the junior Soldiers, who are married, need is that faith and confidence that a marriage can work through these deployments. He gives them a little advice here and there on how to handle situations, because everything seems to magnify while you're apart."
As for his dreams of becoming an Army photographer, Mims says he has accomplished just about as much as any military photographer.
"I've had photos published in Freedom Watch Magazine, the Anaconda Times, EURARMY Magazine, Army Aviation Magazine (Quad-A) and on various web pages (USAREUR, V Corp, U.S. Army, etc)," said Mims. "I've also had non-military related photos published in the "Girls of Lowrider Magazine" and various webzines.
"I placed first and third in the 2005 Quad-A Photo Contest and received an Honorable Mention in a USAREUR sponsored photo contest," he said. "I also placed third in a photo contest on TakeGreatPictures.com in 2005."
Ever since he's know Mims, Pickens said, he's been his "go-to guy" to get things done.
"Whether it's handling unit equipment movement or temporarily filling in as platoon sergeant, he'd be the guy I would turn to," he said. "I know he can perform any job asked of him, and someday soon he's going to make a great platoon sergeant."
"I like the big responsibilities that come with the jobs, and I think I've assured them I'm capable of handling those jobs on my own," said Mims. "I've been able to do all of the things I set out to do, and I've been able to see different parts of the world.
"The Army's been good to me."
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.16.2008 16:19 |
| Story ID: | 15513 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 376 |
| Downloads: | 294 |
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