Rock Solid Warrior: Senior Airman Armand McKenzie

Photo By Master Sgt. Marelise Wood | Senior Airman Armand McKenzie, 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cable antenna systems technician, splices fiber optic cables here, Sept. 16, 2013. According to McKenzie, splicing cable requires a great deal of attention to detail in the best of conditions. However, doing it in the sandy, windy elements at his deployed location in Southwest Asia adds another level of challenge because the smallest piece of dirt can be the difference between a good cable and a bad one. McKenzie is deployed from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. He is a native of Salinas, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Marelise Wood)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

09.27.2013

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

Rank/First & Last Name:
Senior Airman Armand McKenzie

Deployed Unit:
386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron

Duty Title:
Cable Antenna Systems Technician

Home unit/station:
325th Communications Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.

Family’s military heritage:
My father was in the Air Force for 20 years and retired in 2000 as a master sergeant

What is your mission here?
Our mission here is to provide the 386th AEW and its various components with fiber, copper, and LAN cable necessary to stay in constant communication.

What are some of the best parts of your mission?
The best part of our mission in my opinion is knowing that we maintain and install just about every type of communications medium. We set the ground work for every computer and phone to work on station. It is very rewarding to think that our mission has such a broad impact on such a large scale.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
Being that our job is so broad there are many safety hazards associated with it. Whether it is working aloft or in confined spaces, there are many standards of safety we need to adhere to before we can even begin our work. We overcome these obstacles by keeping an updated safety program and keeping in constant contact with wing safety. In doing these things we maintain a safe worker friendly environment.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
My job here has changed dramatically from Tyndall. Coming here has given me the opportunity to manage my own shop and put me in a leadership role I wouldn’t normally be able to fulfill. Just in the time spent at “The Rock” my views on supervision have greatly changed and I have a better understanding of what it takes to manage and lead.

How many times have you deployed?
This is my first deployment.

What makes this deployment unique?
This deployment has been very unique for me just for the fact that I’m not used to working so closely with civilian contractors. Our shop is made up of a majority of retired military veterans. It has been a tremendous experience learning from them and using their knowledge to grow and broaden my scope of not only cable & antenna systems, but also the Air Force.

Why did you join the Air Force?
Coming from a military household it was an easy decision to join the Air Force. The opportunity to serve my country, go to college, and travel the world seemed like something I definitely wanted to be a part of.

• Date Taken: 09.27.2013
• Date Posted: 09.27.2013 02:16
• Story ID: 114354
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)
• Hometown: SALINAS, CA, US