Serving through the season: Senior Airman Hector Rosado

Published Dec. 26, 2006
By Capt. Vince King Jr.
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Defending freedom has no bounds and the ground support provided by Senior Airman Hector Rosado helps to keep the airlift mission in Afghanistan in the right perspective.

Deployed from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Airman Rosado is serving as an aviation resource manager for the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.

Only part of the total force mission here, the 1997 Leonides Morales High School graduate supports the C-130 airlift missions by tracking its flying hours and various mission accomplishments daily.

"This season I'll be supporting the airlift missions of the Puerto Rico, Michigan and Alaskan Air National Guard units deployed here," said the Airman.

Airman Rosado knows that he is a vital asset to the military and knows deployments also mean spending time away from his family, for any given amount of time.

"I feel sad not being home for the holidays, but I am doing this for my family and country," said the Airman. "They understand it is part of the job."

The 29-year-old from San German, Puerto Rico has been a member of the guard for nearly 5 years.

His wife, Noriaska Pabon, and 2-year-old son, Raymond Leniel, will be in his thoughts throughout the holiday.

"I'd rather be spending time with my son and wife," he said. "I would love to be there when my son opens his Christmas presents."

Instead, Airman Rosado will be communicating with his wife and son on the computer using instant messenger and a live webcam in order to see and talk with his family on Christmas Day.

Getting through the holidays away from his family is hard, but Airman Rosado said that he will stay strong for them and make sure the mission here gets done.

"The support of my comrades and family will get me through the holidays. Even more so knowing that I will be home very soon, makes this season even better," said Airman Rosado.

Like his fellow Airmen in Afghanistan and other world hot spots across the nation, Airman Rosado knows about sacrifice. Airmen are warfighters. They are highly trained, skilled and valued members of the interdependent force fighting the war on terror. They are always ready to do their job, no matter what day it is.

"Terrorism has no holidays,," said the Airman. "So we must prevent it always."