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A Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Danielle Woltman

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Holli Nelson
  • 386th AIr Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Q: What is your family's military heritage?
A: My mom was in the Navy and served in Desert Storm, my dad was a Marine, and both my grandfathers were in the Navy.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: I work at the Medical Control Center; I coordinate all patient movement from AASAB to locations that can offer a higher level of care to our Air Force and sister services. I am also an alternate security manager and primary OPSEC coordinator for our deployed group, and I ensure personnel are maintaining operational security standards.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: Being the Unit Travel Representative, I get to be one of the first people to welcome our newly assigned personnel to the Rock. I think a warm welcome to our new personnel is one of the best ways to help with the transition from home station to our deployed environment. Being one of the first people to tell our redeployers when they are headed home to their families is also a plus!

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: I've gotten the opportunity to take on additional tasks that I haven't performed before, so I've had to reach outside my comfort zone and make decisions in more of a leadership role. I sew on Staff Sergeant in August and I've been able to develop my leader, mentor, and followership skills by working with some of the great professional organizations and mentors The Rock has to offer.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: I work in the Readiness office at home station, and I primarily prepare Airman to deploy to the AOR. At this deployed location, I have been able to work more closely with other AFSCs and see their daily functions. I also get to manage and coordinate medical responses to In-Flight Emergencies, patient medical evacuation transfers, and emergency medical responses.

Q: How many times have you deployed?
A: This is my first overseas deployment; in late 2012 I had the opportunity to deploy stateside to Joint Base Andrews (JBA), Maryland and work in the Aeromedical Staging Facility, coordinating return travel for wounded warriors as they returned from overseas locations. JBA was the first stateside location our wounded warriors arrived at as they transitioned to higher levels of care, rehabilitation, and reintegration to home life. It was a unique and humbling experience that I was honored to be a part of.

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: In this deployment I have the opportunity to work in a smaller unit than at home station. This gives me a chance to not only have a professional relationship with my co-workers but also learn more about them and their life on a personal level. I've developed friendships I know I will carry throughout my career. I also enjoy being able to travel off base and experience local cuisine and learn about the culture.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: I joined the Air Force because I wanted an opportunity to serve my country and take pride in my career. I knew the Air Force would give me the discipline and structure I needed to reach my goals. The military has allowed me expand my knowledge and experience training that I would have never received in the civilian world. I've been fortunate to travel, pursue my education, and work side by side remarkable individuals from around the world.

(The Rock Solid Warrior is a weekly spotlight focused on an outstanding member of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. These unsung heroes have been nominated by their unit leadership to be recognized for their efforts while deployed.)