JOINT-BASE SAN ANTONIO-Randolph, Texas --
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE AIR FORCE? 12 years
HOW LONG IN THE RESERVES? WHAT IS YOUR STATUS (AGR, TR, ART)? I started as a Traditional Reservist with the 55th Combat Communications Squadron and transitioned to AGR at HQ AFRC in 2010, and I have been an AGR ever since.
WHY DID YOU JOIN? It was a dream of mine to be an astronaut when I was 12. I had originally wanted to fly planes when I was 10 and after a tour of a ship with my DAD I knew that the Navy just wasn’t for me. But being around planes and ships I just knew I wanted to join the military and it was a path I wanted to take. Little did I know it was deeply rooted, dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War. I have relatives dating that far back being in the service. So from generation to generation, a member served. The only difference is that I am the first female in my family to serve her country, on both my mothers and fathers side.
HOW LONG WITH THE 340TH FTG? I have been here since November 27, 2017
WHAT IS YOUR DUTY TITLE? Currently it is Section Chief, Information Technology
WHAT DO YOU DO ON THE CIVILIAN SIDE? I haven’t been in the civilian section since 2010, but I have a financial background. Previously, I worked with key players at the Stock Exchange, or with financial advisors in that area.
HOW DOES YOUR JOB SUPPORT THE 340TH FTG MISSION? Being in communications, we touch everything that today’s 340th FTG members use. We touch every aspect of communications – phones, email, and internet. The members cannot complete the mission without technology. Fliers can’t fly until they see their schedule, planes..etc. How do they do that? Via computer. It is the same with a member needing to access education information – say a CBT -- can’t do that without access to the network.
WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK AT THE 340TH? Helping people do their job.
FAMILY? SPOUSE/KIDS? I have two beautifully grown children. Kayla will be 24 on the 21st and she is finishing her Master’s Degree and getting her CPA by year’s end. Taylor will be 20 on the 28th. No spouse
ANY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES? I haven’t actively sought out something here in SA yet. I am a member of AFSA. I used to work with Habitat for Humanity at previous bases. I would like to work with animals at this base.
WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION OR ADVICE ABOUT WORKING AT THE 340TH FTG THAT YOU'D PASS ON TO NEW MEMBERS OF THE 340TH FTG TEAM? Network. We work with all types of people from the GSUs to folks here at 340 FTG, and I believe in having good working relationships and mentorship.
NAME ONE THING YOU’D LIKE FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I’m crazy…just kidding. I must be crazy to love obstacle course races where I pay to be tortured and covered in mud, then sore the next few days. I just find them challenging. They get me out of my head. I am a survivor of PTSD, and these races help me get out of my comfort zone and help me embrace my new norm – to get back into society.