Airey NCO Academy commemorates fellow warrior Published Feb. 13, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Alex Echols 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Airey NCO Academy Class 13-2 dedicated one of their 13 flights to Master Sgt. Christopher Aguilera, an aerial gunner with the Pedro 66 helicopter crew that was shot down while on deployment in Afghanistan. The Pedro 66 took on enemy fire while flying to rescue a wounded Marine, their third mission of the day, said student Tech. Sgt. Scott Wolf, 461st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Robins Air Force Base, Ga. He directed his crew to fly their helicopter away from civilian homes. Once they passed the homes, the helicopter went down leaving only him and one other alive. Even after sustaining serious injuries, Sergeant Aguilera held off enemy fire until rescue paratroopers arrived. "A lot of this room is not about him crashing or the members of his crew passing away," Sergeant Wolf said. "It is more about everything after that day. Everything we learn here at the NCO academy, the warrior ethos, the tenacity to drive through is everything he exemplifies. This isn't a memorial to him, it's a dedication to warrior ethos and a reminder that this is what you can do; you can push through." Sergeant Aguilera is one of the only enlisted air crew members to be so severely injured and still put back into service. He has returned to flight status and is currently deployed in support of the U.S. Africa Command. "There are five men that I carry with me during every achievement," said Sergeant Aguilera in reference to his motivation and drive to keep going during a Skype interview. "Everything is done for them and is done for their families," This marks the 12th room reassignment the Airey NCO Academy has completed leaving just one more flight to be named.