Accomplishing his goals: Another step along the path

Courtesy Photo | ALI BASE, Iraq- Staff Sergeant Cesar Flores is deployed from the 325th Security Forces Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla. Each experience makes him better at his job said Staff. Sgt. Cesar Flores. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean) (Released)  

ALI BASE, IRAQ

11.23.2005

Courtesy Story

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By Tech. Sgt. Paul Dean
407th Air Expeditionary Group public affairs.

11/23/2005, ALI BASE, Iraq --Three years experience in a sister service gave a 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military policeman a good foundation for his current position, the edge in an Air Force competition and the drive to accomplish his goals.

Going blue almost two years ago, the discipline of Army Airborne Infantry carried Staff Sgt. Cesar Flores to the top at Airman Leadership School, earning the John L. Levitow award for Class 12-05, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., which was a precursor to his latest accomplishment: Air Education and Training Command's Outstanding Security Forces Airman.

Sergeant Flores will now compete with winners from the other MAJCOM's for the Air Force level winner. But his current focus is to keep doing his job and expand his capabilities.

"I really care about my job and look at the things I'm doing here as making me a better Airman," he said.

Being assigned to the military police section"dealing with on-base law and order in a Coalition and joint environment"is a new deployed experience for Sergeant Flores.

"Air base defense, convoy security, combat patrols " these are all things that are second nature for an Army Infantryman," he said. But as a military policeman he's getting valuable experience in another aspect of security forces: reporting and tracking procedures, administrative challenges, and added emphasis on internal and external communication skills.

Sergeant Flores is also learning a lot about cooperation as he interacts frequently with sister services and Coalition partners. It's not uncommon for offenses and investigations to cross service and international boundaries, so each of the base tenants has security teams that interact and cooperate.

"He's a real asset to the provost marshal's office," said Senior Master Sgt. Marc Melcher, 407th ESFS military police superintendent. Especially in dealing with the unit's largest customer base: the 6,000 Army service members stationed [at Ali Base.] "He's really unique. He remembers the Army language and has stepped up to the plate, taking on additional responsibilities and teaching his fellow patrolmen about Army procedures."

Sergeant Flores served in both the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 82nd Airborne during his Army service.

This is the longest of Sergeant Flores" three deployments (he's been to Kosovo and Russia), but that hasn't dampened his resolve. "This is where the rubber meets the road. This is what we're paid to do. And I"d volunteer to come back and do it again," he said.

That's the kind of attitude that makes him a great Airman said 407th ESFS commander Maj. Joseph (Joe) A. Engelbrecht III. "Sergeant Flores is a professional Airman with the right attitude. As a military policeman in a joint environment he's facing unique challenges and meeting them all. Within this joint environment he's exactly the type of Airman I want representing the Air Force to the other services on base."

Sergeant Flores is deployed from the 325th Security Forces Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.

• Date Taken: 11.23.2005
• Date Posted: 11.23.2005 10:40
• Story ID: 3838
• Location: ALI BASE, IQ