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Rock Solid Warrior: Tech. Sgt. Scott Gatewood

  • Published
  • 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Rank/First & Last Name: Tech. Sgt. Scott Gatewood

Deployed Unit: 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron

Duty Title: Noncommissioned officer in charge of Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO)

Home unit/station: 419th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah

Family's military heritage: Fourth generation: Dad -Air Force (retired at 27 years as technical sergeant); Grandpa (paternal) - Army (WWII); Great Grandpa (paternal) - Army (WWI); Grandpa (maternal) - Naval Reserve (WWII); Step-dad (Navy)

What is your mission here? Providing and tracking Joint Expeditionary Taskings/Individual Augmentee members to the theater of operation (accountability and troop movement)

What are some of the best parts of your mission? Seeing how the pieces all fit to make the war machine run smoothly (teamwork).

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them? Our members are spread throughout the area of operations. Learning the new systems to provide troop movement has been challenging. Great communication has been the key to success.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? At the home station I deploy members, here I track and send them home. I still account for the members, but the troop movement portion is a huge difference.

How many times have you deployed? First time

What makes this deployment unique? It is NOT a true "PERSCO;" more like a merging of logistics/personnelist

Why did you join the Air Force? It is in my blood... and the benefits and pride of being a member of the U.S. military has few equals.