Perfecting the detail

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  He silently marches in step with four other Airmen as they make their way on to the stage in the club ballroom here for the month's promotion ceremony. He stands at attention as the national anthem is played.

The base honor guard is one of the many ways Airman 1st Class Giovanni Costanza, 39th Maintenance Squadron technician and Hammond, La. native, volunteers his time to the base and stands out as someone to emulate, said Staff Sgt. Blair Pohl, 39th MXS technician and Costanza's supervisor.

"He takes on a lot of volunteer opportunities and cares about his community," Pohl added.

Costanza is a fourth generation military member, and joining was a natural step for him.

"Because of my family, I wanted to serve in the military and have a chance to live overseas," Costanza said.

The 21-year-old's wish was granted by receiving Incirlik Air Base, Turkey as his first duty station, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity. Costanza explained how traveling is one of the ways he relaxes from long, stressful days at work, along with playing golf.

While this maintainer enjoys his off time, he said he takes his work seriously and typically reports in at 6 a.m. As with anything important preparation is essential, and Costanza said that setting up his tools alone takes approximately two and a half hours.

"We are always being inspected by quality assurance because what we do is vital," he said. "It's mentally stressful, but the details are necessary."

Even with the high pressure, Costanza comes out on top.

This dedicated Airman finished his career development courses half a year ahead of schedule, which is no easy task with the amount of information necessary to learn and test on, Pohl said. His attention to detail is extremely high, whether through ensuring the flags are perfect during a ceremony or guaranteeing every item on a checklist is followed flawlessly, no matter the difficulty of a task, Costanza charges on.

"Even though this is Costanza's first base and first assignment, he has been a leader and a motivator for others," Pohl said. "He's been a mentor even as an airman 1st class."

The new Airman even puts extra effort in to his on the job training, learning as much as he can, Pohl added.

"Costanza just soaks it all in," Pohl said. "He's actually more proficient than some higher ranking [members] at his job."

Though being a maintenance technician requires 12-hour shifts, Costanza said he didn't mind.

"I have a lot of pride in what I do no matter how long it may take," Costanza exclaimed. "It feels good at the end of the day, knowing that what I do is important to the Air Force mission."