Soldier spotlight: Crotwell

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kenneth Hatten | Spc. Ashley E. Crotwell, a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard's 184th ESC, stands guard at the JSC-A compound at Kandahar Airfield May 2.  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

05.02.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Kenneth Hatten 

Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Spc. Ashley E. Crotwell is a human resources specialist with the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 184th Expeditionary Sustainment Command/Joint Sustainment Command–Afghanistan. She is currently assigned as a joint operations center administrator, and she also serves as a member of the commander’s personal security detail.

“I work in the J3 Section, where I help build the nightly reports for the commanding general,” said Crotwell, “and every other weekend I get the opportunity to get off Kandahar Airfield with the PSD team, taking part in small missions to the surrounding bases.”

The Wetumpka, Ala., native has served more than two years in the MSARNG, and this is her first overseas deployment.

Crotwell graduated from Chapman Christian Academy in Millbrook, Ala. In 2007, and then decided to join the military.

“Growing up, I wasn’t too fond of the military because I had always seen my parents going away for drills/training or deployments, but the older I got, the more respect I had for the armed services and what they do,” said Crotwell. “I really appreciate the sacrifices my parents made for me so that we could have a better life.”

Now deployed in Afghanistan, Crotwell said that her experience has been good so far.

“Our work environment is calm and laid-back, and it’s a place where everyone can get their work done at a comfortable pace,” she said. “We work very efficiently together, and even though 12 hours is a long shift with the same people every night, we’ve learned each other’s likes and dislikes so that we can work through issues together and help each other as much as possible.”

Crotwell said that she tries to catch up on sleep during her spare time here at KAF, and generally doesn’t go out much except to go get something to eat at the Boardwalk.

“Working 12 hour nights doesn’t leave a lot of spare time to get around, but it passes the time quickly and keeps me busy,” she said. “I do like going to the food places on the Boardwalk, though, because the dining facility food isn’t so great, and it’s nice to have something a little different every once in a while.”

At home, Crotwell said that she prefers to spend as much time with her family as possible, and that she misses the freedom of being able to hop in her car and go places.

“I love spending time with my family, and sometimes I like to take long drives just to get out and see things, so I guess I miss that freedom the most,” she said.

Crotwell said that she was surprised that the living conditions at AF were better than she expected.

“”There’s a lot more here than I expected, and the living areas aren’t as bad as people were saying before we got here,” she said. “I don’t need a lot, though; I’m glad we have beds and indoor plumbing, and that’s more than a lot of other soldiers have over here.”

• Date Taken: 05.02.2011
• Date Posted: 05.07.2011 07:36
• Story ID: 70021
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF