ROCK SOLID WARRIOR Published Sept. 17, 2009 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman James Letts Duty Title: C-130 Hercules loadmaster Home unit: 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas How do you support the mission here? As a C-130 loadmaster I support the mission by airlifting all categories of passengers, baggage, mail, vehicles and all other cargo throughout the AOR. We are delivering combat power and taking the fight to the enemy. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? I am on my second deployment. This deployment is unique because I am not the "new guy" on our crew this time. Having deployed once before I have a better understanding of how things are supposed to run from the start instead of figuring it out a month in. The experience has also given me the chance to help other crewmembers catch on the same way I did last time. Also, it seems to be going by more quickly this time! How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? My job out here is almost 180 degrees opposite from missions at home station. At home station, I mainly fly air drop training missions. Here the main focus is air to land combat missions. The biggest change is that at home, as a supply monitor for my squadron I'm behind a desk for most of the week. But, out here I can count on flying at least four days a week. Out here I am helping support all the other service branches that depend on us to deliver our cargo.