A Rock Solid Warrior: Senior Airman Johnell Alexander

Published June 3, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Bowcock
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Senior Airman Johnell Alexander. Alexander is a lodging clerk with the 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron. The Chicago, Illinois native is deployed from the 366th Force Support Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

Q: What is your family's military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: My mother is active duty Air Force CMSgt at Maxwell AFB. Her mother (my grandmother) served in the Army. My father is a retired Air Force MSgt. His father (my grandfather) served in the Army.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: My mission is to provide our Airmen with the best accommodations as possible, which could mean fixing a bed frame or providing them with a new refrigerator, that's my job. As well as providing the base with quality laundry service and linen.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: After completing a work order and seeing the gratitude from the person I just helped.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: The weather is always a challenge. Sometimes finding the right tools to fix a piece of furniture is challenging. Being very quiet while moving heavy furniture is a challenge. We stay hydrated and assist each other with moving furniture when the weather becomes too much for just one person. If we can't fix the furniture we replace it and we do the best we can to not make noise while doing work orders.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: I work in a completely different section of FSS at home base, so almost everything about this job is different. I am the sports director at the fitness center home station. I work a lot more outside here than I do home station. I also work with Airman from other squadrons more out here than I do home station. I also work with a smaller group of people here than I do at home station. Home station I tend to work more by myself than I do here.

Q: How many times have you deployed?
A: This is my first time being deployed.

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: This is unique not only because it was my first deployment, but my significant other was deployed for much of the same time I was.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: I joined the Air Force to finish my degree and to help me become a trainer for professional athletes.

(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.)