Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Joshua Dickens Published Oct. 25, 2011 By Tim Flack 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- For those who complain that there's nothing to do at Grand Forks, Airman 1st Class Joshua Dickens has an answer: Just follow him. Follow him to the gym, where he trains nightly, or to the college classroom where he's working on his degree. Or, if you're bored on the weekend, follow him out into the local community where he volunteers to help various organizations. Airmen Dickens, 21, from Hattiesburg, Miss., works Material Management and Supply with the 319th Logistical Readiness Squadron. He's not sure where his Air Force career will take him, but he plans to stay busy in the meantime. "I would like to see other careers, bases, see the rest of the Air Force," Airmen Dickens said. He said he's especially grateful for that he was given the opportunity to serve on the base color guard, not once, but twice. "I loved it," he said of the job. While performing funeral services - especially for those fallen in combat - can be "very emotional" duty - it's also a chance to "show the utmost respect," for a fellow servicemember and the surviving family, Airmen Dickens said. "You're the last image that family has," he said, explaining why the honor guard members strive for perfection with their uniforms, precision movements and ceremonies. Airmen Dickens brings that same professionalism to his work section, taking pride in making sure the warehouse is stocked with the parts listed in the inventory. If a transient plane breaks down and a part is required, his team has 30 minutes to locate and provide it. If it's not where it's supposed to be, that's potentially a plane that won't be flying, a direct impact to the mission. Even though he had only seen snow once growing up in the South, he hasn't let the long, cold North Dakota winters keep him homebound. "I work out, that's probably my biggest hobby," Airmen Dickens said. "I work out - lift weights - every day after work ... it kind of just clears my head." He also likes to help the community, something he grew up doing with his church at home. "I volunteer a lot, I guess," he said. "I volunteered yesterday at the Salvation Army." He said that since he's single and here without family, he's got the time to help. Airmen Dickens said that while he's tight with his co-workers, there's one thing they may not know about him, something he still jokes is sort of embarrassing. "When I was in high school I did the whole football and baseball thing, but I also did choir," he said. While he didn't have a big interest in singing, he did have a reason for joining choir: "It was pretty much the girls, I guess."