Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Tamara Published April 28, 2013 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Rank/First Name: Staff Sgt. Tamara Deployed Unit: 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Duty Title: Sensor Operator Family's military heritage: My brother is in the Marines and my father was also a Marine. I was the first one in my family to join the Air Force and choose aviation as a career field. I am also a registered member of the Navajo Nation, the tribe that helped win WWII with the use of code talking. What is your mission here? My mission here is to safely launch and recover aircraft. I also provide the pilot with call outs, advisories and warning indications that might indicate an emergency. What are some of the best parts of your mission? The best part of my mission here is making sure that other theater components and assets are provided the best possible aircraft to complete the mission. What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them? Most of the challenges I face while conducting missions involve in-flight emergencies. We are trained how to handle various emergencies prior to deploying but the real thing is always challenging. We work together as a crew to make sure that any emergency is properly diagnosed so that the aircraft can be recovered safely. Another big challenge is ensuring that we keep our distance in the air or on the ground from other manned aircraft and personnel. If a radio call advises us that other aircraft are in close proximity to ours I will slew the camera in the direction of the traffic and try to put eyes on their location so we can maintain a safe distance. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? In the Area of Responsibility, we perform more copilot-like duties than at home station. There are only a few of us forward deployed, which keeps our footprint small. Here in Southwest Asia, I launch and recover the aircraft rather than fly the mission portion. How many times have you deployed? This is my third deployment. I have been deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and to Joint Base Balad. What makes this deployment unique? This deployment is my first time deployed in this role. On my previous deployments, I worked ammunitions. This career field lets me experience the AOR missions firsthand rather than being in a supporting role. I also get a new qualification, which expands my general knowledge of the weapon system. Why did you join the Air Force? I joined the Air Force right after High School at the age of 18. I was influenced by my father and the history of my tribe in the military. From a young age, I have always wanted to serve in the military and travel the world. I also like to help people and in my job I can provide help to others when needed.