Airman Finds True Calling as Part of 'Best Force'

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2...004091007.html.

{EXCERPT} By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2004 -- "I guess this was a calling," said Air
Force Senior Airman Stephanie Henry, of the 1st Communications
Squadron based at Langley Air Force Base, Va. "As soon as I signed the
papers and I came in, I knew I'm going to make this a career."

As a high school student, the thought of military service hadn't even
crossed Henry's mind, until a classmate announced her intent to join
the Army. Still, Henry said, she didn't get serious about military
service until college. Then it was her husband's (then-boyfriend)
mention of the Air Force that prompted Henry to aim high.

"I really liked the mission. It was a little low key, different from
the Army, and that's basically what I was looking for," Henry said.

After nearly four years at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, her mission
has changed a bit. Henry recently transferred from personnel at
Laughlin to her current job in network security at Langley.

While she is proud that her position allows her to assist in providing
network security for the entire base, she is even prouder of being a
part of the "the best force out there."

"That's basically why I serve,to protect our country, to protect our
nation," Henry said. "Whether the job I do here is big or small, I
still feel that I'm providing the country safety with the little I
do."

Sept. 11, 2001, was just before the one-year anniversary of Henry's
enlistment. The events that unfolded after the attacks put the airman
into the one position that had made her hesitate about enlisting in
the first place. The country went to war.

Still, she said, she will always remember the events surrounding the
attacks and how everyone in and out of the military reacted.

"Everyone just protected each other, basically just consoled each
other when everything happened," Henry said recalling the immediate
aftermath of the attacks. "Everything, basically from the time we got
notice, everything fell into place to help out those who needed
(help)."

She also realized that, though the country was at war, there were
alternate ways to protect the country's freedoms, includeing what she
does in network security. Henry said she is grateful to those who are
fighting terrorism overseas.

"There are ways to protect the country and to serve rather than being
out there," Henry said. "But, I'm very proud of what our troops are
out there doing. I really appreciate that, because they're providing
freedom for us in a different way (than I do)."

NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK, the
official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2...004091007.html.

---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com
(310) 532-0634