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ROCK SOLID WARRIOR

  • Published
  • 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron
Senior Airman Brett Cranwell

Job: Aviation Resource Management Journeymen

Home unit: 36th Airlift Squadron Yokota Air Base, Japan

How do you support the mission here?
I help maintain the collection of inputs and audits for flying and ground training events, combat sorties, flight times, passenger and cargo movements that are essential to daily flight operations. I also administer COMSEC, which includes classified codes, to aircrew ensuring safety while flying in the AOR. My additional duties include being the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group, 386th EOSS and 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron security manager, alternate COMSEC manager, and alternate equipment manager. 

How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique?
This is my first deployment, which makes it a unique one for me. It brought me to a place in the world that I would have never thought of visiting as a civilian, and opened up opportunities to experience a new culture and way of life.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
It's about the same as home station except for the longer hours, less manning, higher ops tempo, and the extended work week. Once you get settled in, the work load becomes natural and time seems to fly by. Also having crews from both Dyess Air Force Base, Texas and Yokota AB, Japan combined into one big unit brings on the added challenge of tailoring your ways of working so that the mission operates smoothly.