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Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Booker Beacham

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Booker Beacham, and aerospace ground equipment craftsman with the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native is deployed from the 355th Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

Q: What is your family’s military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: I am the first “Beacham” to join the Military.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: In the 386th EMXS we support our C-17s with ground support so they can effectively: land, fuel, accomplish repair maintenance, and then go back downrange to fulfill their mission.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: Some of the best parts of our mission are our side mission. We support many, many different agencies with our equipment so that they are also able to do their job. Our hands touch pretty much everyone on the flight line.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: Desert conditions are not the best condition to work in. Whether it be a sand storm or extreme heat, it all takes a toll on our equipment. But we have great training and leadership, so we are equipped with the knowledge of how to upkeep our assets and make sure they continue to work.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: Besides having a direct impact on the mission downrange our mission is the same.

Q: How many times have you deployed?
A: This is my first deployment, but I am expecting a lot more.

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: This deployment is my first, so it will be my basis for my deployments in the future.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: My brother in law was in the process of joining the Air Force, so he would wake up every morning and go work out. I started working out with him every morning and eventually met his recruiters. I like the sense of doing something bigger than me, so I decided to join.