Rock Solid Warrior

  • Published
  • By 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Editor's note: The following story was recently posted to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's Web site. It highlights Staff Sgt. Adam Niblock, a 100th Air Refueling Wing troop currently deployed to Southwest Asia.

The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has a diverse mission which canvases the United States Central Command's area of responsibility. The 386th AEW is the primary aerial hub for Operation Iraqi Freedom and provides airlift support for Operation Enduring Freedom and the Horn of Africa. The wing is comprised of the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance, Mission Support, Medical and Operations Groups and the 586th Air Expeditionary Group. 

Name: Staff Sgt. Adam Niblock

Unit: 424th Medium Truck Detachment

Home unit/base: 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall


How does your job differ in a deployed environment versus at home station? 
The difference is like night and day in many ways, and yet it's very similar in others. While deployed, specifically during this deployment, the experience in getting to work with our sister services is a dramatic difference. Getting used to the terms "company", "battalion", "brigade" and etc. and getting in the Army mind set has been a huge difference. At home station, it's all about getting the planes off the ground, and here it's all about getting cargo to all the troops up north in Iraq so they can get their mission accomplished. Doing the job here you can really see the difference that you're making to the troops downrange.

At home station ( the work hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here it's 24-7, whenever the cargo needs to get moved. Also, at home station you aren't getting shot at and having people try to blow you up. You never know what the next inch on the roads over here brings.

How many times have you deployed and how is this one unique? 
This is my second deployment. My first was to the United Arab Emirates. It was back in 2003 as the war was getting started.

This one is unique because I work for the Army and don't directly support the Air Force mission. We drive thousands of miles on the road in Iraq delivering cargo to various bases in Iraq. We see and experience many things over here that many Air Force personnel don't experience. It can honestly be scary.

How do you support the mission here? 
We support the mission by driving Army M-915 tractor trailers to various bases in Iraq delivering cargo. We travel all over the roads running the possibility that an IED, roadside bomb, small-arms fire or other enemy actions can be taken against our convoy. We transport cargo that allows Army units to rotate in and out of Iraq so the mission can be continued.