An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Joseph Antonic

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Joseph Antonic. He is the NCO in charge of Medical Logistics with the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group. The St. Louis native is deployed from the 88th Medical Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Q: What is your family’s military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: I come from a very proud military family. My grandfather served in the Army during the Korean War, where he was actually field commissioned. My dad and brother-in-law served in the Army, my father-in-law and brother-in-law both are retired chiefs from the Navy, and I am so proud of my nephew, who just graduated Navy boot camp.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: My job here is to make sure our hospital stays up and running. As a medical logistician, I have to make sure our medics have the supplies and equipment they need to make sure our patients have the best care possible.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: There are so many great things about my mission. Knowing that the supplies and equipment that I purchase and maintain are used to save lives gives me such a great sense of pride. I have also had the chance to work closely with some of our Air Force and Army medical teams and train some of the Navy corpsmen here, as well as work with our coalition partners. I also have the privilege of working with 42 of the greatest medics this theater has to offer.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: Since I deal in medical supplies and equipment, there can be such a broad array of products available, but we are very limited on what we can obtain in theater. I try as hard as I can to make sure our providers and medics have what they need, but sometimes it takes a little more work to get something here. Our medical logistics motto is “Whatever It Takes,” and I will do just that to maintain patient care.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: There really isn’t a huge difference in what I do here versus what I do back home. I am a one-man shop, so the challenges are significantly more difficult here. Coming from a large base back home I have been able to move around and receive training in all areas of my career field, which better prepared me for this deployment.

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


Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: This deployment has allowed me some very unique opportunities. From working with our sister services and coalition forces, to being able to travel to different bases for my job, this deployment has challenged me not only as an NCO, but as an Airman first.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: There are a number of reasons why I joined the Air Force. After college, I really had no direction on what I wanted to do with my life. I came into the Air Force thinking I would just do four years and earn a job skill and money for school. I realized that I really enjoyed the military and decided to make it a career. But the biggest reason I joined was to serve my county. There is no greater sense of pride than wearing this uniform and being part of the world’s greatest Air Force.