Courtesy Photo | Ketwana Wright, a Defense Logistics Agency Aviation warfighter support representative,...... read more read more
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LIBERIA - Defense Logistics Agency Aviation employee Ketwana Wright normally works as a contract specialist on DLA Aviation’s Lockheed Martin Integrated Support Team in Richmond, Virginia. That changed in the fall of 2014, when she volunteered to serve on a DLA support team supporting the effort to contain Ebola in West Africa.
Wright, who has worked for DLA for three years, left the U.S. in November to work as a warfighter support representative, helping units deployed for Operation United Assistance, the Defense Department operation supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development-led effort.
Wright works in Liberia with employees and military personnel from other DLA activities and the military services. The DST supports Joint Forces Command-United Assistance and other governmental agencies.
“This is my first deployment as a Department of Defense civilian,” Wright said. “I saw it is an opportunity to serve and help those in need, so I seized the moment.”
All of Wright’s previous deployments were in a military uniform or working for civilian companies. She served on active duty in the Air Force for nine years, leaving the service in 2007 as a staff sergeant. During that time, she deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and other operations. Wright also traveled overseas while working for two years in private industry.
Wright said the cooperative training conducted by military agencies was a new experience for her, and she quickly became accustomed to washing her hands in bleach water, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
“You get accustomed to no contact and taking your temperature twice a day,” she said. “But, when someone says hello or thank you, those are the things that significantly impact you and leave lasting memories … not the infectious aspect of the operation, but the people you are helping.”
Helping those people puts a face on the Ebola outbreak, Wright said.
“When you hear Ebola, you automatically think of the most devastating situations that create fear,” she said. “But the beauty of the people affected makes you forget everything negative and focus on the mission and the impact you can have on [helping] that situation.”
Wright, who completed the DLA Pathways to Career Excellence program in February 2014, said she starts each day with a synchronization meeting with the DST commander.
“We talk about the pertinent issues and devise a plan of action,” she said. “Then from the moment the plan is devised, flexibility becomes a key. I move around to meet the mission needs to accomplish what needs done today, instead of putting it off until tomorrow.”
Wright meets the aviation needs of the military services in West Africa, but she also works to fill requests for items from DLA Land and Maritime’s supply chains and other DLA field activities.
“It is extremely hard to say what the most needed items are, as requirements are continuously changing,” she said. “Currently an in-country requirements review is being conducted to determine what is needed and what isn’t.”
Wright said the speed of the work has not yet registered on her.
“My mindset is always to support, so my days are busy, but enjoyable. I am here to serve,” she said.
Everyone on the team is dedicated to winning the fight against Ebola, she said.
“Every accomplishment saves a life. Everyone here has the same focus – making a difference – even if our disciplines are different,” she said. “From a mission-specific aspect, everyone has been helpful. That is a challenge at times due to the many hats everyone wears, but I have noticed a one-team, one-fight mentality.”
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.16.2015 08:47 |
| Story ID: | 152147 |
| Location: | LR |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DLA Aviation team member deploys to support Operation United Assistance, by Catherine Hopkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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