SOUTHWEST ASIA -- This week’s Rock Solid Warrior is Airman 1st Class Nicholas Robinson, a response force member with the 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, deployed from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
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.
Why did you join the Air Force?
I joined the Air Force for a multitude of reasons. The men in my immediate family have all served in the U.S armed forces since World War II so tradition is one reason that influenced me. After I finished high school I didn’t go to college like many of my peers. I lived at home and worked three jobs but I still wasn’t making enough money to move out and pay for college at the same time. I wanted to get an education, save some money, and move out of my hometown and the Air Force provided an opportunity for what I was looking for.
How is your deployed unit/job different from your home unit/job?
Honestly, there’s not much of a difference between working here and Holloman aside from a slight temperature difference. As far as the job goes, there are a lot of similarities between working at here and working flight back at Holloman. We still provide security for military assets by manning entry control points, searching vehicles, executing random antiterrorism measures, and carrying out security checks every day, so that others can carry out their duties and feed the fight.
What are some of your professional and personal goals?
Professionally for the Air Force, I have two options. I’d like to either lateral train to CATM because I’m a weapon enthusiast or I’d like to cross train to become a UAS sensor operator. Personally, I want to lose more weight, I’ve lost 18 pounds since I arrived at the end of July. I’d also like to save enough money for a motorcycle once I get back to the states.
What is your favorite part of your mission here?
Knowing that we provide security for U.S joint and coalition forces entering the AOR gives me an appreciation for knowing what we do here is important.
What are some of your hobbies?
Since I’ve been here, I’ve started participating in Jiu-Jitsu. I try to go three to four times a week. I also started reading a lot more than I used to, compared to being stationed back home. At home, I enjoy hiking, going out to the pub with friends, or gaming.
What are some of the challenges you face here? How do you overcome them?
Trying not to fall into a ‘Groundhog Day’ type of routine is probably the hardest challenge of being here. It’s a psychological barrier that I try and defeat by keeping things fresh in my routines.