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Rock Solid Warrior: Airman 1st Class Diana Geary

  • Published
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --   Name: Airman 1st Class Diana Geary

Deployed Unit: 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron

Duty Title: Response Force Member

Home unit/station: 96th Security Forces Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Family's military heritage:
Dave Geary (father) retired E-5 for Air Force
David Geary Jr. (brother) currently E-5 for Army
Crystal Geary (sister) current reservist E-4 for Army

What is your mission here? My mission is to defend USCENTCOM's second busiest aerial port of debarkation. I search and clear vehicles and personnel as well as provide patrol and quick reaction force response capability; securing more than three billion dollars in assets and over 1,000 U.S. and host nation members. I also assist team members as a flight-level PTL.

What are some of the best parts of your mission? The best part of my mission is the experience I am gaining on this deployment and the interaction I get with other individuals from all over the U.S.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them? Some of the challenges I face are stress, dangerous travel from location to location, and the lack of communication and distance from family members. I overcome stress by working out and surrounding myself with individuals who help keep my morale up.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? We have a much higher FPCON in the deployed environment than back at my home station. Our awareness is much higher and our work hours are longer.

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

What makes this deployment unique? This deployment to me is unique because I am working at an airport and not on the base I am living at. The climate is also much hotter than in the states causing me to drink a lot more water.

Why did you join the Air Force? I joined the Air Force because I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps. Growing up all I ever heard was my father's stories of how he got to meet the president and get stationed in many places overseas. He was my inspiration to reach higher levels and make something of myself. I also wanted to gain the education experience and personnel experience of being able to choose a job that I have always been interested in.