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Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Bradley Willock

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Hehnly
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Bradley Willock, a 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The Rock Solid Warrior program is a way to recognize and spotlight the Airmen of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing for their positive impact and commitment to the mission.

What is your current job title and unit?
I am a firefighter with the 386th ECES.

Which squadron and base are you deployed from?
I deployed from Beale AFB California, with the 940th CES.

Why did you join the Air Force?
I have always had a great deal of respect for the military. Joining gave me the opportunity to serve my country and get some of the training I wanted as a firefighter.

How is your deployed unit/job different from your home unit/job?
The schedule and call volume are a little different. The environment and potential hazards are a lot different. Luckily firefighting requires you to be flexible with your plans and tactics, which makes it easier to adapt to different situations.

What are some of your professional and personal goals?
My professional goals are to get on with San Francisco or Sacramento Fire Department and be the best firefighter I can be, before I start moving up in the fire service. My personal goals are to complete my Associate's degree, start working on my Bachelor of Arts degree, and spend as much time with my wife and kids as possible.

What is your favorite part of your mission here?
It is rewarding knowing that what we do supports forward deployed troops.

What are some of your hobbies?
I enjoy talking to my wife and kids, responding to letters at the chapel, working out and talking about different firefighting techniques with guys from different departments.

What are some of the challenges you face here? How do you overcome them?
There are always challenges working with new leadership and new personnel. We train together and go over things we need to do to improve. The most important thing in a fire department is knowing what people are capable of and knowing you can trust them to do their job in a high stress situation. We are fortunate to have such skilled, competent and highly trained personnel on this deployment.