SHAIKH ISA AIR BASE, Bahrain –
Senior Airman Ashley Johnson
Home Unit: 633d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
What do you do? I am a force protection escort.
What's a day in the life like ... while in Bahrain? Life is not what we expected. It's hot with 90 percent humidity almost every day; living in tents, basically a deployment.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? This is my first time out of the country, and I will take in all of the experiences.
What's the most useful item you packed? Definitely the sunglasses my supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Dawn Chapman, gave me.
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? When I woke up the first morning thinking it was pouring rain against our tent, I looked for my gortex, couldn't find it, so I just ran outside, and BAM! I got hit with more sunlight then my eyes could handle, and a sand storm.
What has been the highlight of your tour? The highlight yet so far was getting promoted, seeing that leave and earnings statement is nice.
What's the best part of the deployment? The best part is our day off, seeing the country a little bit.
The worst part? The humidity.
What new survival skill have you learned? How to use baby wipes when the water goes out for days.
What do you do during down time? Work out or watch movies.
What is the first thing you will do when you return? Visit my Mom.
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? Pickles!
What experience will you take away from your time over there? That I can say I went through a real deployment.
What do you miss the most? My family, friends and pickles.
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside? Very different. I am a supply troop, and now I am the first line of defense.
Have you tried the local cuisine? Yes.
What do you think about what you hear on the news from what is going on stateside? Is there really a mosque being built on the 9-11 site?
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment? Pay off my student loans.