LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Front Line Warrior: Maj. Warren Rohlfs
Deployed Unit: Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force
Duty Title: Military Assistant to the Director of Development
Home Unit: Headquarters Air Combat Command
Hometown: Hampton, Va.
Time in Service: Active-duty Air Force 13 years
Describe your deployed duty and the tools you use to accomplish it: I provide executive support for the ISAF Director of Development, building on previous experience, both at the headquarters staff and five previous deployments to Afghanistan. I enable communication between senior leaders at HQ, Afghan government officials and leaders in the international community.
What do you bring to the fight? This deployment position is not in my career field (combat rescue helicopter pilot), but leverages officer skills developed over my career, such as communications, interpersonal relations, organization, management and leadership. However, combat rescue aircrews contribute a vitalcapability to the deployed mission by recovering wounded warriors from harms way to medical support. This allows our troops to boldly take the fight to the enemy with the confidence that a "guardian angel" will always be there for them.
What are you overall thoughts and opinions about your mission there? Supporting the political and strategic demands of the headquarters here during counterinsurgency will be absolutely necessary for our troops to be successful in Afghanistan and return home. And developing the basic services of life here - good roads, reliable electricity, sustainable and legal livelihoods and formal education - will give the people of Afghanistan a compelling reason to support their sovereign government and reject the harmful ideals of the insurgency.
Supervisor comments: Major Rohlfs is an outstanding young officer who puts service before self. He is dedicated to the success of the Air Force and our nation in the continuing effort to support the Afghani people against the Taliban. His professionalism and abilities give me confidence that our Air Force will remain the best in the world.