ROCK SOLID WARRIOR Published Dec. 12, 2008 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Tech. Sgt. Timothy Gobble Force Protection Shift supervisor Home unit/base: 31st Maintenance Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy How do you support the mission here? As the Force Protection Shift supervisor, I am responsible for 14 swing-shift Force Protection escorts. Their efforts toward minimizing information collection activities of non-coalition contractors enable the transition of cargo and support troops to and from forward locations. Specifically, I am responsible for ensuring my Airmen have the right equipment and knowledge to do their job correctly. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This is my fifth deployment, but the first to this region. What makes this deployment unique is that this is the first time I have been asked to perform a mission outside my Air Force specialty. It is a welcome change to be part of the bigger picture, and be able to work with different people from all over the Air Force and the world. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? The difference is actually not that great. I am a shift supervisor at my home station in charge of Airmen that repair avionic equipment that allows aircraft to defeat radar signals, as well as identify and destroy enemy targets. Here I am in charge of Airmen that help protect the aircraft and equipment while preventing our enemies from gathering information that could be used to hamper or destroy our mission. It's a nice change of pace, and it feels real. I like getting up every day feeling like I am a part of what is going on up north and knowing that this is what we train so hard to do at our home stations. Now I actually get to do it.