SOUTHWEST ASIA --   This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Robert Hester. He is the Air Terminal Operations Center senior controller with the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Controller. The Jonesboro, Ark., native is deployed from the 73rd Aerial Port Squadron at Naval Air Station Ft. Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas.

Q: What is your family’s military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: My grandfather served over 20 years in the Navy.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: My mission here is to move cargo and passengers throughout the area of responsibility.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: I really enjoyed getting to work with the coalition forces.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: Some of the challenges here are avoiding delays even through maintenance and manpower issues. At different points through the deployment we were down equipment and people, but with a good team and the proper planning we prevented mission delays.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: As a reservist our mission is very minimal stateside, so this deployment has been a nice change of pace to really push myself in a higher paced location.

Q: How many times have you deployed?
A: This is my first deployment.

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: It is a very relaxed environment for being a deployed location.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: I felt like it was my duty to serve my country.