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Rock Solid Warrior: Tech. Sgt. Angel Montalvo

  • Published
  • 386th Air Expeditionar Wing Financial Management
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Rank/First & Last Name: Tech. Sgt. Angel Montalvo

Deployed Unit: 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Financial Management

Duty Title: Paying agent

Home unit/station: 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Family's military heritage:  Spouse, Kassie M. Montalvo--U.S. Air Force; Cousin, Eliseo Matos--U.S.Army

What is your mission here?  My mission is to provide quality customer service and accurate financial advice to the deployed commander and deployed members. I also have oversight and accountability of Air Force cash operations to include military pay, travel pay, vendor payments, and accommodation exchange transactions.

What are some of the best parts of your mission?  The best parts of my mission would have to be having the opportunity to lead Airmen and also being able to see how my job affects deployed operations. The Airmen I have the privilege to work with are high speed and highly motivated. This makes my job easier because they allow me to focus on mission-critical issues and day-to-day operations. The funding and guidance my office provides the wing is instrumental to the overall success of the war fighting efforts carried out by our Airmen.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?  The challenges would be balancing and accounting for the negotiable instruments at the end of every duty day.  Some jobs allow you to take it easy as your shift comes to an end. My job requires me to peak at the end. You have to be sharp mentally. I am required to balance to the penny and also incorporate resource protection in every aspect of safeguarding the taxpayer dollars that are entrusted to me. I have to be able to incorporate the training the Air Force has provided me with.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? I get to handle cash while I am deployed. Stateside operations carry limited amounts of cash depending on your location. Payments are usually made electronically by electronic fund transfer.

How many times have you deployed? I have deployed four times.

What makes this deployment unique? The heat! I believe you can cook an egg on the concrete during the hottest part of the day. I have never tried but I think it can be done.

Why did you join the Air Force? I joined because I wanted to be part of a team and I wanted to travel. Growing up I played sports, so being part of a team was something that I felt the military could offer. I also was told the Air Force had installations all over the world. So I knew that if I enlisted, I would be able to take advantage of those opportunities.