Rock Solid Warrior: Tech. Sgt. Raymond Gestring

Published Jan. 1, 2015
By 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Tech. Sgt. Raymond Gestring. He is the assistant chief of the Fire Protection Flight with the 387th Air Expeditionary Group. The Palm Bay, Fla., native is deployed from the 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

Q: What is your family’s military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: My mother served eight years in the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., as a laboratory technician. My dad served in multiple locations as security forces. My step-father served in the Navy as a radar officer on an aircraft carrier.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: I am the assistant fire chief for the 387th Air Expeditionary Group. I am in charge of all emergency operations that occur.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: Some of the best parts of my job are getting to work with Air National Guard personnel who I have under me. Their experience is different than mine, and I have learned a lot from them. Also being able to work with a variety of people here has brought a new understanding of how other organizations work. Lastly, being able to also work with the host nation fire department has been a good thing.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: One challenge that I’ve faced here is that since I am not familiar with how the Air National Guard guys do things, it is hard to give them advice on how to proceed in their career.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: My job here differs a little bit from back home because I have more responsibility here. Also in my area of responsibility we do not have the manpower that we do back at home station, so we have to do things a little differently but also stay safe.

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

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: This deployment was unique because I have been able to work with the Air National Guard and also interact with the host nation fire fighters.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: I joined the Air Force because I wanted a career. I was a volunteer fire fighter for three years and wanted more. I was not able to pay for school and then find a job. I talked to my mother, and she told me about the Air Force. So I went to a recruiter, and the rest as they say is history.