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Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Quinton Fine

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Quinton Fine, the Operations Flight NCO in charge at387th Expeditionary Support Squadron Civil Engineer Section. The Milfay, Oklahoma, native is deployed from the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Q: What is your family’s military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: My grandfather served in the Navy; unfortunately I don’t know too much about his time in the service.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: My mission here is to manage and support the members in the Operations Flight for base sustainment, whether it’s replacing electrical wires, generator maintenance or contacting the associated contractor to respond to a busted water line or repair a faulty air conditioner.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: Working with such a diverse group of people and seeing how creative they are to ensure the mission gets accomplished.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: The shortage of materials is the biggest challenge. We do our best to repair the parts in-place rather than replace them. Additionally, I work with local nationals in my position as a contracting officer representative, and the language barrier can be tough at times.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: At home station I work only with HVAC members, but here we are a shop comprised of five different specialties. I rely heavily on the members within the flight to educate me on their jobs and corrective actions needed, as opposed to home station where the work pertains to HVAC and is my area of expertise.

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

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: The drive every day to and from is unique, and The Rock has some of the best living conditions

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: I was in high school when 9/11 happened. I was at home sick and my mother came in and woke me and told me something horrible had happened and I might want to come watch the news. My mom sat there on the couch crying as we watched everything happening. I told her right then I was going to join the service when I graduated. I have been in the Air Force for 11 years now. I had no idea when I joined what to expect. I quickly learned it was the best decision of my life, and I have enjoyed my entire career and plan on doing 20 years.