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Rock Solid Warior: Senior Airman Joseph Howell

  • Published
  • 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Rank/First & Last Name:
Senior Airman Joseph Howell

Deployed Unit:
387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron

Duty Title:
Security forces member

Home unit/station:
123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard

Family's military heritage:
My grandfather retired as a major in the Air Force, my aunt is a colonel in the Air Force Reserve, and my father was in the Navy Honor Guard.

What is your mission here?
My mission is to ensure security of my base. Whether it is working an entry control point or a mobile patrol, my mission is to remain vigilant and perform the tasks designated to my post in order to ensure the safety of the personnel and resources that are on the base.

What are some of the best parts of your mission?
The best part of the mission is knowing that I am making a difference. My actions directly affect the security of the air base and I take pride in knowing I am keeping people safe.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges in my career field is complacency. It is easy to allow the monotony of the job to cause one to become complacent. I overcome these feeling by reminding myself that the moment I am not being vigilant I could make a mistake that could compromise the security of the base. I also go through "what-if" scenarios in my mind and determine how I would respond to them; this keeps me sharp and focused on the mission.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
I would say the biggest difference is the culture. At home station I am dealing with Americans and the majority of them have the same customs and language as I do. Here, I am challenged to overcome a cultural and language barrier. These barriers are a way for me to improve my interpersonal skills.

How many times have you deployed?
This is my first deployment.

What makes this deployment unique?
The fact that this is my first deployment makes it very unique to me.

Why did you join the Air Force?
I joined the Air Force because of the influence my family had on me while growing up. Because of my family's example and advice, I decided to serve.