Joint Base Balad, Iraq –
Senior Airman Johnmarth D. Perez
Home Unit: 1st Medical Support Squadron
Location: Joint Base Balad, Iraq
What do you do? Platelet Apheresis Technician
What's a day in the life like ... while in Iraq? A day starts with regular platelet donations. Throughout the day, it can be hectic, with trauma patients coming in and out. I'm always on the move, making sure those patients have what they need.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? All the people I've met and the lives I helped save.
What's the most useful item you packed? My cell phone and my MP3 player.
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? When I arrived at Qatar
What has been the highlight of your tour? The patients I've treated and how well the medical group came together to take care of them quickly and in an orderly fashion.
What's the best part of the deployment? My mission helps to save the lives of many injured soldiers, that if not for the urgent care they receieve here, may not make it home.
The worst part? Not being able to drive or go to the beach.
What do you do during down time? Take classes to complete my degrees, perform on the Honor Guard, and learn Arabic.
What is the first thing you will do when you return? Visit Virginia Beach.
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? Twizzlers.
What insight/experience will you take away from your time over there? The value of life and family and how important it is to make sure that those around you know that you love them.
What do you miss the most? My 2001 Toyota Celica GT
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside? At home I perform all the duties of a lab technician. Here my only mission is to make sure our platelet supply does not drop below our quota, ensure we have enough platelets to supply the AOR and to make sure that the equipment we use to collect them is always fully functional.
Have you tried the local cuisine? Yes. It's not the Olive Garden, but it beats MREs!
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment? If so, what will you buy? Pay off debts and save for a down payment on my house.
About when are you to return? January 2010