Rock Solid Warrior: Senior Airman De’Angelo Brundidge Published March 11, 2011 SOUTHWEST ASIA -- This week's 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Rock Solid Warrior comes from the 387th Air Expeditionary Group Name: Senior Airman De'Angelo Brundidge Unit: 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron Duty Title: Materiel Management Specialist / Primary Vehicle Control Officer Home unit/station: 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 628th Mission Support Group, Joint-Base Charleston, S.C. How do you support the mission here? As primary vehicle control officer for the 387th Air Expeditionary Group, I am charged with managing a fleet of 41 vehicles valued at $1.2 million. I make sure all vehicles are routinely maintained and safely equipped for all military assigned. I am responsible for safe travel of the Air Force's No. 1 resource, its people. There have been zero accidents within our fleet since I arrived in December 2010. I coordinate repairs and maintenance through various agencies including the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's fleet manager and directly with the local lease agency. I recently oversaw a lease contract modification mandating vehicles that lack dual airbags be replaced and upgraded for increased road safety. I ensured a seamless transition for personnel while integrating 11 new vehicles valued at $270,000. Additionally, I work hand-in-hand with the supply NCOIC to ensure the duties of the entire material management scope are executed efficiently. I work diligently on everything from receiving customer orders to processing/tracking shipments in the Enterprise Solution-Supply (ES-S), receiving/in-checking assets of other U.S. bases within the host nation and delivering orders directly to the customer ensuring the fastest service possible. I also create monthly reports that allow me to conduct warehouse inventories to ensure adequate property counts are reflected to AFCENT/A4. Furthermore, I execute logistical oversight supporting seven equipment accounts totaling $19.6 million. I tracked and researched Higher Headquarters audit findings for security forces armory operations and remedied them by ensuring all weapons physically assigned to our location were loaded by serial number in AFEMS. Finally, I hold the position of treasurer on the 387th AEG Rising VI Council. I coordinate fundraising events and assist with joint efforts between our group and Top III Council to enhance morale of 200-plus Airmen. How many times have you deployed and what makes this deployment unique? This is my second deployment, but first six-month rotation. The experience here is not like before because I interact with different AFSCs and even work beside contract civilians. I can personally say that I have not had a bad day working here in the 387th AEG from the time I arrived in December 2010. The people I work with and/or see on a daily basis have shown me how dedication, high morale and teamwork come together and how much you can enjoy your time in any AOR. Being a part of the 387th AEG is much like a family because we make sure that everyone is well taken care of whether you're an airman basic or chief master sergeant, officer or enlisted. My time here has given me a better understanding of many different jobs and their part in the United State Air Force. It's because of the people in my peer group as well as my supervisor and up to the highest ranking individual, and the work environment I'm in, that has made this experience one of the best. It's a deployment I will not forget. I can say we are like several peas in an APOD. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? Back at Joint Base Charleston I work in the customer service section of supply and I don't have the opportunity to interact with many of the people I assist on a daily basis. So coming here and actually ordering, delivering and picking up property for our customers is something different. Knowing that the property I order here is needed to make the mission happen and then getting to see the customer appreciation makes me feel like a valuable member of the team. Upon arriving here I had no prior knowledge of VCO duties and I thought it would be a lot to take in and difficult to maintain. But with time and dedication it has turned into a good learning experience. Back home the job is important because supply and Air Force assets equate to taxpayer dollars and attention to detail is stressed. But being a VCO here, I can put faces with the names everyday and that is a whole new level of responsibility. The personnel in the vehicles I help maintain are someone's mother, father, sister, brother, son and/or daughter. I have achieved a broader foundation and can say that I learned a lot of life-long skills while deployed to the 387th AEG.