Biography

Major Eikman proudly began his 26-year career in Air Force from the enlisted ranks. Surrounded with few prospects and recognizing a dim future as a seventeen-year old high school drop out, in Utah, our retiree today enlisted in the Air Force in May of 1979 with only a GED. Classified in the "open mechanical" aptitude area, Airman Basic Eikman found few enticements with the jobs he was being offered, until a last minute video depicting demolition blasts and fiery destruction captured his attention and inspired his classification into the Explosive Ordnance Disposal career field.

AB Eikman found accomplishment and purpose with the military lifestyle, hitting full stride during joint service EOD training at Red Stone Arsenal, Alabama and Indian Head NAS, Maryland were he garnered top Honor Graduate in both these intensive academic environments. The youngest EOD trainee ever in Nuclear Weapons branch, he was nearly removed from training because the radiation exposure formula could not be calculate for his age. However, frocked with a radiation badge and waiver, AB Eikman completed training and with little encouragement, but adventure, volunteered for assignment change to Clark AB, Republic Philippines.

Still seventeen, Airman Eikman, arrived at Clark AB in Jan 1980 for duties with the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, PACAF Emergency Response EOD Team. For the next three years, he excelled as an EOD Specialist traveling throughout PACOM meeting response demands. His roommate, Airman Ramos (Now Chief) became a close friend, confidant and influence who inspired positive steps that touched the rest of Eikman's career. With Ramos, Eikman began jumping out of planes, renewed education, got married (a bad move at Nineteen) and volunteered for retraining into Combat Control.

In May 1983, SSgt Eikman returned CONUS to CCT training knowing little more than paid Sky Diving and opportunities for adventure were in his future. Honor graduate at Air Traffic Control and CCT Apprentice course, SSgt Eikman was assigned to the 317th Air Lift Wing's Combat Control Team at Pope AFB where he enjoyed a fast pace lifestyle of conventional CCT support to the Air Force's airlift mission. In 1986, while TDY, TSgt Eikman met his wife, now of sixteen years, SSgt Sharon Brown, who happened to be assigned at Lackland AFB, TX.

In 1987, Military Airlift Command's Director for Combat Control and Pararescue drove consolidation of initial pipeline training for both specialties into the existing PJ Indoctrination Course at Lackland AFB. TSgt Eikman immediately applied becoming the 3rd and ranking CCT instructor assigned into this schoolhouse. Hard lessons learned inspiring, mentoring, training young warriors with another key long-term influence, MSgt Lewry, set destiny for Eikman's later return to this training venue.

In 1994, MSgt Eikman completed his Bachelor's degree and was accepted for Officer Training School with appointment as a Special Tactics Officer. Completing OTS as the top honor graduate and turning down a regular commission, Lt Eikman was assigned as Director of Operations, 314th Combat Control Team, Little Rock Arkansas. During this assignment he mastered operations, logistics and resources processes as he built the small team to a full operational squadron, with new facilities and commitments. However, consolidation of CCT into Air Force Special Operations Command almost immediately dismantled the squadron, removing all support and leadership personnel while leaving Lt Eikman with command of the unit closure and reassignment of all operational personnel and unit assets.

In 1997, Lt Eikman was blessed with return to team operations with assignment as Silver Team Flight Command, 1722nd Special Tactics Squadron, McChord AFB, Washington. Here he hand massaged team transition from supporting traditional airlift operations to full immersion into full Joint Special Operations training and commitments globally. Later as Assistant Director of Operations, he developed deployable computer based, command and control systems that stand today and make this squadron's operations center the best in special tactics.

In May 2001, Capt Eikman returned to AETC with on a quest to resolve long-term training failures in Combat Control and Pararescue that had eroded operational manning in war fighting units to crisis levels and fragmented the warrior brotherhood. In his current position he directs training processes and empowers action across ten training venues in three time zones. He has been a major diving catalyst for phenomenal turn-around production successes, the establishment of "train for success" methodologies, and squadron refinements/reorganization actions. The 342TRS stands today as AETC's lead unit for Special Operations and Ground Combat Skills training and continues to grow with the addition of an Air Force Dive School and the Tactical Air Control Party Apprentice Schoolhouse.

From humble beginnings Major Eikman climbed both enlisted and officer ranks with vision and education accomplishment. He holds two Associates, a Bachelor and Masters Degree and achieved lauded honor graduate recognition from nineteen of the forty-six training programs/academies he attended in his career. Major Eikman is proud to finish his career as a Special Tactics Officer, Combat Diver, Master Parachutist and Free-Fall Jumpmaster, but believes his greatest accomplishments have come in building young warriors under the badge of "trainer."