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ROCK SOLID WARRIOR

  • Published
  • 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Senior Airman Blake Kelsey

Electrical Systems apprentice

Home base/unit: 151st Civil Engineer Squadron, Salt Lake Air National Guard, Utah

How do you support the mission here? I troubleshoot and maintain the electrical distribution systems on base. We are responsible to maintain it and keep everything that has electricity running. I also support host-nation facilities with repairs such as airfield lighting systems at and the new Apache facility here.

How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This is my first deployment since I joined the Salt Lake Air National Guard. This deployment is unique because I have a job that so many people on base rely on. I get to meet all kinds of people and see where they work and what they do. I am also getting tons of experience in all aspects of my career field. I can be working on a 12,000 volt power outage one minute and wiring in a 24-volt control system the next.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? The obvious difference is that the foreign voltage and wiring techniques are very different than at home. This is the cause of a lot of our work load, since personnel rotating in are still thinking in "American" power systems. Also being in the deployed environment assigned to the ECES, you get used to doing so much with so little. By the time I leave "I will be certified to do anything with nothing."