She’d better not be. It’s her job.Ingram is a broadcast producer deployed to American Forces Network Afghanistan from the AFN affiliate at the Royal Air Force base in Feltwell, England. The Las Vegas native, who’s nearing the end of her second deployment, said assertiveness was ingrained in her throughout her childhood, most notably by her mother. “My mom was my rock growing up,â€Â she said. “She taught me to be strong, independent and outspoken. I use every single one of those things every day in the Air Force. The strength my mom had when she was raising me is something I’ve always looked up to, and it’s something I’ve tried to emulate as much as I can as an adult.â€Â Besides her mother, other key influencers helped to make Ingram the person she is today. “My grandfather, a U.S. Army Korean War veteran, is someone I definitely looked up to growing up,â€Â she said. “I never felt pressured that I had any sort of family legacy to carry on, but I always knew I wanted to do something that would make him proud, and this is it. But that’s not the only reason I joined the Air Force. I wanted to do something bigger than what the majority of those around me were doing after we graduated high school.â€Â Though it would be natural for any parents to be apprehensive about letting their daughter run off and join the military at 18 years old, Ingram said, her family never showed it. “When I decided to join the Air Force back in 2001, my parents were immensely proud and very supportive,â€Â Ingram said. “They just wanted me to do something that would make me happy. I think they’ve always been -- my mom, especially -- a little saddened that I wasn’t at home, but that doesn’t stop them from supporting me as much as they can throughout my career.â€Â Her decision has taken her to several different countries, she noted, and has given her incalculable experiences to carry on throughout her life. “There have been so many things I’ve been able to accomplish over the past nine and a half years that I’m proud of,â€Â she said. "My two combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, however, stand out for me. We all think we’re strong people, that we can handle all things that come our way, but you sometimes don’t get a chance to find out. “I think I came out of my first deployment, and I will come out of this deployment, a much stronger person and much more sure of myself,â€Â she continued. “I’ll always be proud I was able to serve my country in wartime.â€Â Though Ingram said she cherishes the experiences and lessons she has had over the past decade, a new chapter is about to unfold in her life and the life of her daughter. Early next year, Ingram will leave the Air Force after 10 years of active-duty service and plans to complete her college education and eventually teach high school history and English. “Leaving the military will be hard, but I’m grateful that being in the military has given me some great tools I’ll use my whole life, especially when I become a teacher,â€Â she said. “The Air Force has given me some really valuable ‘people’ skills, especially this particular job, as I’ve had the opportunity to train a lot of broadcasters. I think that will help me when I eventually transition into a classroom environment, and I have to deal with several students at once, each with differing personalities, and get results from them.â€Â Ingram said she learned another lesson from her mother early in life that has guided her decision making. “I learned early on to stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re standing alone,â€Â she said. “It’s always given me a moral ground and guide to focus on. My mom always wanted me to be my own person, and I think that really helped push me to be independent, and I’m thankful for that lesson.â€Â Ever the instructor, Ingram has words of advice for those coming into the military today. “No matter how long you’re in, whether it’s two weeks or 20 years, everything will change with time,â€Â she said. “But rest assured [that] what you do while you’re in the military will define you forever. Your experience in the military will change you, so let it change you for the better.â€Â Oct. 19, 2010: By Air Force 1st Lt. Mark Lazane- Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team

Patrick said he was first assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron in 1991 as an Airman 1st Class, who took care of aircraft scheduling, weather briefings and pilot requirement tracking."The 480th FS was my second duty assignment after only one year at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.," Patrick said. "I was an Airman 1st Class brought in as a temporary NCO in charge of the shop until an actual NCO could fill the position."It wasn't long before then-airman Patrick went on his first deployment with the 480th to Saudi Arabia, where during his downtime he sought mentorship and guidance from his first sergeant. "I would spend a lot of time with our first sergeant, and I've wanted to be a 'shirt' ever since then," he said. "He showed me it was all about helping people and not constantly yelling or demanding things from those below you in rank." Nearly 20 years later, Patrick has come full circle and is humbled by the fact that he has filled the boots of his first Air Force mentor. "Being chosen as the 480th FS first sergeant for this deployment is a big deal to me, because this is where it all started," Patrick said, "I've been in the Air Force now for 22 years and will test for senior master sergeant this year in the hope of continuing my Air Force career." Patrick talks about the airmen on this deployment with pride, knowing that 20 years after he first served with the 480th FS they are continuing the squadron's historic mission. "The 480th FS is a warfighting squadron which has a long history of greatness," he said, adding he can’t “say enough about our airmen, who are working on these aircraft and supporting our mission." Oct. 18, 2010: By Air Force Maj. Jillian Torango- 52nd Fighter Wing

Adair is a former middle school and high school teacher-turned Army transportation officer. Today, she serves in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division as executive officer for Company G, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade.Adair recalled how she decided to join the Army. “When I finished high school, I wasn’t too sure about anything,â€Â Adair, a Bonner Springs, Kan., native, said. “The stories of military life always fascinated me. My 12th-grade government teacher was a retired lieutenant colonel, and he used to tell the absolute best stories. “All his stories really fascinated [the class],â€Â she continued. “And it made you want to be in the military -- even just for a short time to say that you did it. I was definitely interested, but I wanted that college degree.â€Â Adair applied to the University of Kansas to pursue a career in teaching. “I enjoyed working with kids, so it just seemed a natural fit,â€Â she said. While pursuing her education degree, Adair again ended up in class listening to a teacher tell stories of the military. “The professor that we spent the most time with had great stories too,â€Â she said. “He was never in the military, but when he spoke about World War II and Vietnam, there was always such passion behind him. When people do look at our military, [they see] the history behind our whole country.â€Â Even though she was still fascinated by the stories, Adair said, she never had any serious intent to join the military at that time. While completing her graduate studies, Adair taught seventh-grade geography and 12th-grade government, just like her own teacher years before. “That last year I was teaching, I had my 12th-graders who were ready to go out into the world,â€Â she said. “At 18 years old, they are kind of in that transition where some of them kind of know what they want to do, but they are still full of energy and they want to get out there and do something. A lot of them were joining the military.â€Â And then, Adair realized she still wanted to be part of the military. “I figured that was a good time [to join the military] because I didn’t have a family yet and I could travel,â€Â she said. The Army was an easy choice when deciding which service to join, Adair said. “I never really looked at the Marines,â€Â she said. “At the time, I didn’t think Air Force, and I’m from Kansas so I definitely didn’t think Navy or Coast Guard. The way I looked at it, the Army is the military, just because it is so versatile and [it offers] the most opportunity. I could have done a whole slew of things in the Army.â€Â So in late spring of 2007, Adair officially became a U.S. Army officer. “I am a transportation officer,â€Â she said. “I was the distribution platoon leader for 22 months, and I got my chance while we were here in Iraq to be out on the road a lot with my guys, which was a natural fit.â€Â Adair said she quickly discovered she was even more suited for the military lifestyle than she expected. “At the end of the day, being a teacher and being in the military is about the same amount of work, which is kind of scary,â€Â she said with a laugh. “It [says a lot about] how hard teachers actually work.â€Â Adair said her training as a teacher helps every day, even when she may not notice it. “The younger soldiers, I know what they are interested in and I can kind of relate to them,â€Â she said. “Because all the conversations and all the classroom discussions I have had in the past, I know what they are going through at that age. With the added deployment, I can also relate to them as a soldier.â€Â Adair said the rewards of being in the military are even greater when she works with soldiers in a deployed setting. “The soldiers here are relied on to do an awful lot,â€Â she said. “It is kind of that same pride that a teacher would feel when their kids finally get that diploma. Except we get that on a much bigger scale over here because there is much more at stake.â€Â Among all the experiences Adair has had since joining the military, one will always stick out for her. “I think the biggest and best memory I am going to have of this deployment is being out on the road with my soldiers,â€Â she said. “After all the planning and all the days of training and load up, once you actually get into the truck and you leave the [base], that is the best feeling in the world. The mission is not even over yet, but you feel good because all that planning has already paid off.â€Â But there are downsides to every adventure, and for Adair, that’s being away from home. “The challenge is, when you look at your military career as opposed to your personal life, there isn’t a whole lot of time for your personal life,â€Â she said. “That has been a pretty big challenge for me, especially as a female in the Army, because you want to be a soldier, you want to be a leader. But at the same time, you also want the family stuff.â€Â However, Adair uses the examples set by her mentors in the military as inspiration. “There are enough female leaders I have seen who have managed to juggle both, so that is my goal,â€Â she said. Adair said while having a family is a goal of hers, for now, she embraces each moment she gets to spend with her soldiers. “The time you do get to hang out with the soldiers and talk to them is usually the best part of any officer’s day,â€Â she said. Adair said she plans to return to teaching eventually. “I don’t know if it’ll be three years from now, or 15,â€Â she said. “I think the Army is the life I want to stick with for right now.â€Â When Adair does go back to teaching, she said, she’ll have even more in common with her old high school teacher. “[The Iraq War] is the stuff we taught, and now I have firsthand knowledge of it,â€Â she said. “So one day when I do go back to teaching, the stories are going to be that much better.â€Â Oct. 15, 2010: By Army Pfc. Emily Knitter-U.S. Division Center

However, when Garutti deployed here in late 2009, he had no idea he would be handed two additional hats -- those of joint security station mayor and contracting officer representative. He wore the hats first at Joint Security Station Istiqlal in northeast Baghdad, and later, at Joint Security Station al Rashid in the city’s al Rashid district, while deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Battalion. “Being an infantry squad leader, [this] definitely wasn’t what I expected to be doing over here,â€Â Garutti said. “A lot of people skills and managerial skills come into play.â€Â For the past nine months, Garutti, a Merritt Island, Fla., native, has juggled mayoral duties -- managing daily operations and life support for the bases -- as well as contracting officer representative duties. As a COR, Garutti has served as the “eyes on siteâ€Â at both joint security stations to ensure U.S. government contractors deliver the services they’ve been contracted to provide. Garutti said the two positions are “a totally different animal.â€Â A typical day for Garutti involves inspecting the work performed by Iraqi contractors, monitoring fuel usage and water consumption, issuing supplies, and occasionally learning a new trade. “I came here and had to build quite a few things just out of necessity,â€Â Garutti said. “I’ve learned carpentry by Google and trial-and-error.â€Â Since moving to JSS al Rashid in May, Garutti has constructed a flight of wooden stairs and a containment area for petroleum- and oil-based products. He also has partitioned off a room to provide more billeting space. The most challenging aspect of being a mayor and a COR, Garutti said, has been learning how to work through cultural differences with the Iraqi laborers and business owners. “You have to know how to work with people,â€Â he said. Garutti said he always maintains a sense of pride in what he accomplishes. “I’ve shown my command that I can get the job done,â€Â he said. “I’ve got people that count on me to do the work I need to do. If I fail at that, they don’t get what they need.â€Â Oct. 14, 2010: By Army Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger- U.S. Division Center