Erich Anderson was born in 1973 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He served as a Cadet in Civil Air Patrol from 1986 to 1992, and participated in 4 years of Air Force JROTC in High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve on September 18, 1991. PFC Anderson attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, from July to September 1992, and advanced individual training as a single-channel radio operator at Fort Gordon, Georgia, from September to December 1992. He transferred to the Mississippi Army National Guard in April 1993, and served with various Army National Guard Field Hospitals as a radio operator until transferring to the U.S. Air Force Reserve in September 1994. SRA Anderson went on active duty in the Air Force in March 1995, and cross-trained into the Aviation Resource Management career field at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, from March to May 1995. He then served in base operations, performing duties such as scheduling aircrew training and aircraft sorties at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, and Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, from May 1995 to May 1997. SSgt Anderson then served in the Mississippi Air National Guard from May 1997 until his honorable discharge on September 18, 1998.

The Airman's Creed:

I am an American Airman.
I am a Warrior.
I have answered my Nation's call.

I am an American Airman.
My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.
I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,
A Tradition of Honor,
And a Legacy of Valor.

I am an American Airman.
Guardian of Freedom and Justice,
My Nation's Sword and Shield,
Its Sentry and Avenger.
I defend my Country with my Life.

I am an American Airman.
Wingman, Leader, Warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind,
I will never falter,
And I will not fail.