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Rock Solid Warrior

  • Published
  • 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squdadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Staff Sgt. Anne Eckstrom 

Staff Sgt.
Anne Eckstrom

386th  Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron 

386th ELRS Commander Support Staff, Client Support Administrator and Commander's Assistant

Home unit/base: 3rd Operations Group, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska 

Hobbies/fun activities: I like to hang out and have dinner with my friends, going to each others houses to watch movies; I also like hiking in the mountains of Alaska.

How do you support the mission here? As the client support administrator and commander support staff for the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron I am responsible for the administrative and computer support of 218 people in seven very different flights, working out of 12 extremely geographically separated buildings. As the primary CSA I'm in charge of accounting and keeping more than 300 computer items up and running, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

What I do for the CSS part of my job, is as people come in to the squadron I do all their in processing, create their NIPR/SIPRNET accounts and get them logged in so they are ready to get to work. When I arrived here in early May, lots of AEF 5/6 people were just getting ready to leave, all of 7/8 were coming in are now leaving and the 9/10 people are already flowing in. Collectively I've in- and out-processed about 450 people.

Another part of my job is to review every piece of paper that goes into the commander, literally hundreds of AF Form-9's, 3215's, 332's, letters of excellence and decorations. I've seen and tracked them all. I also maintain the squadron's virtual organization chart on the shared drive; added all the dorm room numbers and any other significant contact information so the first sergeant's accountability is much faster and more reliable.

How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? This is my second deployment. My first was at the group level, three of us were doing the same things I am doing here as a one-deep position. This has been a very demanding, fast paced deployment, but the time has gone by fast.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? I also work at the group back home, but again three of us are doing the work that's one-deep here. I am learning a lot about CSS administrative processes at the squadron level though. At home, when I get off work, I can get in my truck and go home; the base and work stays behind me. Here it seems to find me no matter where I go ... perhaps it's this 24/7 cell phone.