Team Kirtland first sergeant deploys to support Airmen Published June 18, 2010 By Master Sgt. Monte Waters 855th Air Expeditionary Squadron Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan -- Going from being the 898th Munitions Squadron First Sergeant at Kirtland AFB to the Shirt for the largest deployed squadron in the Air Force - the 855th Air Expeditionary Squadron, has been a learning and rewarding experience. The 855th AES has nearly 900 Airmen supporting provincial reconstruction teams, embedded training teams and agricultural development teams, with a mission of teaching the people of Afghanistan necessary skills to sustain and build their country. 855th AES Airmen live on 11 different Forward Operating Bases in Regional Command Capital, Afghanistan. The squadron supports them across Afghanistan's austere landscape in support of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and International Security Assistance Forces. Our Airmen ensure specific tactical-level missions are fully supported with the right Airmen in the right place, with the right skill sets, on time, every time. We consider our Joint Expeditionary Tasking and Individual Augmentee Airmen the elite. They have been called upon to augment our sister services because of their unique skills, capabilities and training. The Airmen assigned to the squadron are placed in non-typical environments and excel at what they do. As our leadership team travels the Afghanistan countryside assessing the health, welfare and morale of these Airman, we have seen firsthand how they have been able to integrate their training, tactical skills, mental abilities and determination to excel at whatever task they are given. These Airmen are truly utility infielders, and they do amazing things outside their skill set every day. Airmen have the unique ability to integrate into any culture and serve alongside any service, including the Afghan National Security Forces. Accountability and assurance that Airmen are getting what they need can be a daunting task. The biggest struggles we face are maintaining accountability of so many Airmen over such a vast battlespace. The Airmen are constantly being re-missioned to adapt to the changing face of the fight in Afghanistan. One of the keys to ensuring Airmen have the resources they need to accomplish the mission is having an eyes-on approach. That's why we've adopted an aggressive forward operating base hop plan, allowing our team to travel to forward operating locations and assess the needs and welfare of Airmen on a more personal level to gain a better understanding of how they live and work. We relieve the tactical commanders from Air Force-specific responsibilities, such as discipline, performance reports, tracking and administrative accountability, individual training and equipment, and redeployment of our Airmen. Doing so has helped foster a strong working relationship with the battlespace owners on the ground. The tactical commanders love our Airmen and just can't get enough of them to further their missions, but we are limited in numbers, so every Airman must be productive on the battlefield. JET Airmen endure weeks of difficult combat-skills training to ensure they are prepared for the dynamic environment of frontline combat, working for people who don't fully understand the Air Force culture, but know they cannot live without the abilities the Airmen bring to the fight. Our Airmen are honored to have been selected to take part in such an important mission at a critical time in our nation's history. They represent the next greatest generation; one that will take the lessons our forefathers earned through blood, sweat and tears, and forge a new path for others to follow. By their actions here, they will leave behind a better, more prosperous world for tomorrow. Airmen are making a difference in this fight on the ground every day.