BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq –
Name: Airman 1st Class Troy Falkena
Home Unit: 1st Civil Engineer Squadron, Fire Protection Flight
Location: Balad Air Base, Iraq
What do you do? Fire Fighter
What's a day in the life like ... while in Balad, Iraq? Do morning details and any training that we have for the day. Go on any calls that we might have; i.e. In-flight emergencies, medical and structural emergencies. I was also in charge of the fire extinguisher program on the west side of base.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? The friends that I have made.
What's the most useful item you packed? Q-Tips
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? Stepping on to the C-130 in full battle rattle to fly to Balad.
What has been the highlight of your tour? Battling a Two Alarm Blaze preventing $1.9 million in damage.
What's the best part of the deployment? Getting to fly in a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter .
The worst part? The 130 degree temperature.
What new survival skill have you learned? I took a Combat Life Saver class to better help with the care of my fellow Airmen and Soldiers.
What do you do during down time? I completed my five level upgrade training, worked on the computer, watched movies, and volunteered numerous hours helping with sporting events and Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility missions.
What is the first thing you will do? Go see my family.
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? Chinese food.
What insight/experience will you take away from your time over there? Adapt and over come any obstacles.
What do you miss the most? I miss being able to get in my car and drive anywhere I want to go. Here I am restricted to the base.
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside?
We work with limited resources, and also we work along side the Army.
Have you tried the local cuisine? No.
What do you think about what you hear on the news from what is going on stateside?
I have been listening to the election debates to help pick the best candidate for president.
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment? Yes, I am going to pay off any outstanding bills that I might have.