Laughlin XLer – Staff Sgt. Darrius Tyler, 47th Flying Training Wing

  • Published
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Job title and unit: 47th Flying Training Wing Command Post NCO in charge of console operations

Why he XLed: Tyler manages the wing's largest communications security account and revamped the program to 100 percent compliance in three weeks of supervision. As the NCOIC of command and control operations, he rewrote more than 80 command post checklists in accordance with new Air Force instructions in a fraction of the time allowed and he improved the command post's physical fitness assessment pass rate by 60 percent after volunteering as unit physical training leader.

Hometown: Souderton, Pa.

Family: Deatra (Mother) and Derrick (Father)

Time at Laughlin: Seven months

Time in military/civil service: Eight years, July 2012 will be his ninth year.

Greatest accomplishment: When he was an armament systems technician, Tyler and two fellow Airmen loaded an A-10 Thunderbolt II with four live Mk-84 500-pound bombs, 1,150 rounds of 30 mm target practice ammunition in the GAU-8 Avenger 30 mm cannon, six white phosphorous rockets, one Captive training missile, 120 flares and 120 chaff during live load operations in an incredibly short time.

Hobbies: He is a big fan of RC helicopters

Bad habit: Doesn't drink enough water

Favorite movies: Star Wars, The Aviator and Ip Man