Serving at extremes

Courtesy Photo | Master Sgt. Dusty Snyder, 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, aerospace propulsion craftsman, and Staff Sgt. Sophia Mantzouris, 386th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, aerospace propulsion craftsman, pose for a picture at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica, during an Operation Deep Freeze mission Nov 20, 2003. Mantzouris, native of East Greenbush, N.Y., is deployed here from the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard. (Courtesy photo)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

05.20.2013

Story by Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson 

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Staff Sgt. Sophia Mantzouris, 386th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, knew she wanted to enlist on active duty from the time she was a little girl, but a friend steered her towards the Air National Guard which provided her an opportunity to serve at extremes.

"The first guard unit I joined was the 109th [Airlift Wing] in Scotia, N.Y.," said Mantzouris. "I served there for nine years and I became an engine troop because, at the time, they had the most educational benefits, the highest bonus and I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity the guard had to offer."

As a single-parent airman, even great opportunities like supporting one of the most unique missions in the world presents its own set of challenges.

"Being a single mom is difficult because it's two ways that I've completely dedicated my life," she said. "I'm a perfect example of the importance of a family care plan."

The family care plan is designed to provide a smooth, rapid transfer of responsibilities to designees during the absence of members both short and long term.

"My plan allows me to be there for my guard unit as best I can and still make sure that my daughter is properly cared for as she needs to be," she said.

As a member of the 109th AW, Mantzouris put her plan into effect to support Operation Deep Freeze missions.

"In some ways it's like here, but it's frozen," she said. "You deal with the extreme cold instead of the extreme heat. When the wind starts whipping down there, it's like the sandstorms here where you can't even see in front of your face."

Due to the harsh Antarctic environment, Operation Deep Freeze missions are only flown during the summer months but Antarctic summers are not the time for popsicles and ice pops.

"The day I went to South Pole Station it was -15 degrees and the scientists that were there said 'It's like a heat wave right now' and I said 'You got to be crazy,'" she said. "It's not like here where you can get parts from Bagram [Air Field, Afghanistan,] on the next plane, you're all by yourself down there."

Mantzouris has once again put her long-term family care plan into action supporting the 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard's C-130 Hercules rotation at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing where summer temperatures routinely top 100 degrees.

When asked where she would rather deploy, she quickly replied "I hate the cold which is why my family thought it was comical that I joined the only unit in the entire world that belongs to the Antarctic mission," she said. "So far the heat hasn't bothered me but talk to me again before I leave in July and we will see."

• Date Taken: 05.20.2013
• Date Posted: 05.20.2013 05:29
• Story ID: 107226
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)