LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Staff Sgt. Joel Bond
Home Unit: 82nd Communications Squadron (Air Combat Command Communications Group)
Location: Joint Base Balad, Iraq
What do you do? Communications Squadron Warehouse Manager
What's a day in the life like ... while in Balad? Wake up at 5:45 a.m., at work by 7 a.m., home by 7:15 p.m. Eat, gym, work; 12-hour days, six days a week. My off-duty time is precious.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? The little things like how much sand covers everything you see or how the milk tastes at the DFAC
What's the most useful item you packed? PT gear and parachute cord -- I can find PLENTY of uses for that stuff.
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? Well, it's my fourth deployment to the Middle East, so I didn't really have one. I guess when you don your body armor and helmet as you deplane. It was intense the first time I set foot onto Iraqi soil.
What has been the highlight of your tour? Volunteering at the Combat Aeromedical Staging Facility -- I've met so many great people there.
What's the best part of the deployment? Just the camaraderie and getting to know people from all over the Air Force and other branches as well
The worst part? Being away from family and not being able to drive my own car to name a few
What new survival skill have you learned? Flexibility. You can't expect everyone around you to have the same skill set that you have. You have to be prepared in any situation to step outside your comfort zone.
What do you do during down time? Work out mostly or go to other DFAC's for chow
What is the first thing you will do when you return? Take my car to the car wash because I'm sure my roommate hasn't.
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? There is a Mexican restaurant near Langley called Plaza Azteca. I will probably go there and end up making myself sick from all the chips and salsa.
What insight/experience will you take away from your time over there? Well, since I plan on separating this December it's my last deployment (active-duty, at least). I'll try to remember that hard work pays off and what it's like to be part of a team.
What do you miss the most? I guess playing tennis with my friends. Also being able to go out and have a nice steak and a cold beer.
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside? Face-to-face interaction with customers. I work at a help desk back at Langley, so it's a nice change here.
Have you tried the local cuisine? Not yet. I stick to the basics pretty much.
What do you think about what you hear on the news from what is going on stateside?
I'm excited about President Obama. I think he has a fresh take on social issues and is very intelligent. He's right when he says "we" have to pull together because I think the economy is in rough shape and it's going to take a group effort to pull us out.
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment?
I've already paid off some debt. Just getting that out of the way is a relief. I'm also doubling up my car payments. I have to save a lot because I'll be a full-time student in January.
If so, what will you buy? I'm going on a nice vacation with friends when I return.
Note: Staff Sgt. Joel Bond returned from Iraq in July.