ROCK SOLID WARRIOR Published June 9, 2008 386th Expeditionary Medical Group SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Randy McKenzie Mission NCO in charge, Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility Home unit/base: 88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio How do you support the mission here? I support the mission by making sure that the team has all the right equipment, supplies, vehicles, and information needed to attend and care for the patients coming and going from each and every mission. How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? I have been deployed five times and this is my first one as a medic. This deployment is unique because of the teamwork, enthusiasm, leadership, and the most important thing, the mission. I have never been somewhere before and seen such a "get after it attitude" and I love it. Even though we are all away from our families and have a lot of first time deployers, they are professionals at what they do and the missions are getting done right the first time. How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? This deployment is different because at my home base I work on a medical ward at the hospital. I get to assist with a lot of patients who are very ill and need treatment. At the deployed locations I get to see a different part of my job ... taking care of the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and coalition forces out here on the front lines that are fighting for our freedom. I enjoy transferring the patients to and from the aircraft and letting them know that they are safe and that they will be well cared for. I couldn't ask for a better job than the one I have and the reward and feeling I get when the team sends that patient back off to be with his family is immeasurable!