Southwest Asia -- I’m Senior Airman Colleen Sweeney-Marple, a 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief. I am deployed from the 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. I joined the Air Force to serve my country.
As an assistant dedicated crew chief, I coordinate the aircraft’s systems maintenance and perform daily inspections and servicing. At home we have a straight training-only mission. While deployed we get to see the impact of all the long training hours. The best part of my mission is seeing the aircraft get airborne and hearing the difference we make for those on the ground.
The biggest challenge I face is low manning, longer hours and longer work weeks. It can make it challenging, but I overcome this with time at the gym or pool to relax.
My biggest professional goal is to finish my Community College of the Air Force degree and to make staff sergeant. Some of my personal goals are to train to get above a 95 on my Physical Fitness Test and to take classes to complete my Associates in General Studies from the American Military University.
Some of my hobbies include reading, kickboxing and running.