Altus Airman deployed to 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marianne E. Lane
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  When you think of security forces you think of action, such as weapons and defense not the thankless routine of paperwork.

"We know we have done our best job when no one knows we exist, because that means we performed our administrative duties with minimum delays in support of the Defense Force Commander and the Security Forces Airmen who risk their lives to fight for the mission," said Capt. Ted Kim, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group executive officer, a native of Irvine, Calif., deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The administration team deals with a fast paced tempo in a deployed environment. The staff of three, supporting all 600 members of the 332 ESFG, contributes to the mission day in and day out.

The team completes this by keeping track of the commander's calendar, ensuring no operational security violations, picking up and distributing mail, setting up meetings, formatting slides for briefings, updating rosters, and ensuring all paperwork is taken care of. Anything that requires a signature goes through the administration section for proper format and content review. They also are the units command and control, when required they initiate recalls, and account for the presence of all personnel to the commander.

To keep the flow for information to assigned personnel in the 332 ESFG running smoothly, the team is also in charge of keeping their computers up to date and running smoothly.

"In today's era of warfare, cyberspace is a critical domain and war fighters are unable to complete their mission without it, it has a significant impact from beginning to end, it is more than critical, it is absolutely essential," said Staff Sgt. Zayra Blandon, 332 ESFG knowledge operations administrator, a native of Sacramento, Calif., deployed from Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Fla.

Information is gathered on significant occurrences, for historical records and to give recognition when it is deserved. They maintain more than 150 packages, consisting of achievement, accommodation, combat action, bronze star and meritorious service medals.

"Awards and decorations is an everyday reminder to me of how security forces, leadership and their troops, handle immense pressure and maintain calm collectiveness and professionalism at the same time. They inspire me more every day, and the awards I help process is a cool story for them to read and tell as a reminder of their moment of achievement," said Senior Airman Max Martinez, 332 ESFG executive assistant, a native of Bronx, N.Y., deployed from Altus Air Force Base, Okla.