Places Air Force has taken me during my time active duty!
- K P
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The places the Air Force has taken me during my time active duty!
The day I graduated Basic Military Training February 2016
Basic Military Training 391st Squadron
Lackland, Texas 2015-2016
This picture was the day I graduated from Basic Military Training (BMT). I had to grab myself a white girl Starbees (Starbucks) after a rough 3 months before I head to Security Forces Tech School Training for another 3-4 months. I joined the Military at the age of 23, in my opinion was a great age to join because I have already had Life experience with working civilian jobs before the military and living on my own before I joined. When my battle buddies on my team were ages spread from 17-26; A lot of the young women had never left their parents’ house, never lived on their own, and have never done their own laundry so being in BMT was a bit of a struggle when we had to work together as a team and they didn’t know anything else but what we were being taught and learned from each other.
We had a WIDE variety of personalities and as you know 37 women the barracks together for three months; there is going to be disagreements, misunderstandings, culture shocks, fear, sadness, loneliness in all these women. Some missed their parents, home sick, regretted their decision to join, and some embraced the training, learned to understand why our Military Training Instructors (MTI’s) and why they would make us do certain things. For example: our Female MTI loved to have us drop our bags, pick them up, drop them again and repeat this over and over until she felt we had enough.
Our Male MTI loved to march and sing Jody’s as he wanted our female flight to be excellent when marching and being in cadence with his songs to match our steps. This was a life changing experience for me and set my whole future up for success and taught me so many amazing habits that I still follow to this day. Like Making my bed every morning, say yes sir’ and yes ma’am, always have integrity and honor about how you carry yourself.
2016 Vandenberg, California
This was me in phase 1 at my first duty station being Pepper Sprayed and fighting the red man before and after being sprayed.
Me gaurding Air Force One while Vice President Mike Pence arrived with his wife
Vandenberg Air Force Base 30th Security Forces Squadron
Lompoc, California 2016-2020
This was my first Duty station and here at Vandenberg Air Force Base I am splitting this post into two sections since I worked two different jobs. I was a baby A1C Airmen (Rank) and had to complete more training at my first base like Pepper Spray training (Less than Lethal Weapons) The image to the right is me guarding and securing the Air Force One on the flight line, for Vice President Mike Pence and his Wife. I had so many amazing opportunities at this base, and I took full advantage of it. I got certified as a desk sergeant (911 Dispatch as an Airman) which was a Staff sergeant position and higher.
I tried to excel at everything I did, and it paid off. I had the pleasure of working with the one and only Conservation Unit in the entire Air Force. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity as now the Conservation Horses have retired and ended the Horse patrol unit after I left Vandenberg and came to Minot, North Dakota.
Vandenberg Air Force Base 30th Security Forces Squadron
Lompoc, California 2016-2020e
This image above is a daily chore mucking horse poop cleaning stables for our military horses. We hauled hay bales, grooming, shoe cleaning, and giving them all treats. This was by far the best job I have ever had the pleasure of being apart of.
Me with Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Buck All of our horses were Tech Sergeants and above the highest rnaking out of all of us working with them.
Mission Essential sent our four man Conservation Horse patrol Unit was quickly deployed to LonePine, California. Our mission was to locate parts of Beale Air Force base Aircraft Drone that crashed into a mountain and needed to locate and mark the parts with a red flag. I was the only female lowest ranking Airman First Class out of three NCO's who I worked with on this mission.
This picture is of me in my Blues Uniform before I am about to graduate from
Airmen Leadership School before I ranked up to Staff Sergeant (SSgt) 2021
This image above is me to the right who recently separated from Active duty and becoming a News Reporter for KMOT and being able to interview my old Flight Chief for a news package. JuneTeenth Segment
Deployment to Raf Fairford, 501st Combat Support Wing
Hurry Up and Wait!!! We were all checked in and ready to load on the aircraft but obviously we were waiting for about 3-4 hours before we even got on the plane. We were waiting to fly to Raf Fariford, United Kingdom for a quick deployment. This is how the military personnel can sleep anywhere and on any surface because this is what raw scene of what we basically do in the military. Arrive two-three hours early to make sure everyone has all mandatory gear and credentials before flying off base to another deployed location.
MidShifts are always a blast... Said nobody ever! This B-52 was located on Raf Fairdord, United Kingdom Flight line that is one of our Minot Air Force base Air crafts. We were there to show force to our enemies and also align with our allies and fly out together showing all our power.
Manual Transmission Military Vehicles and driving on the opposite side of the road than how stateside drives. We had to teach airman who had never driven stick shift before. We trained them on the vacant flightline and i have to say it was pretty fun. My team of 13 from Minot, ND made the best of a very shitty situation during the peak of Covid and tension between China and North Korea. This deployment was rough due to us all contracting Covid and being contained in our dorm room with three other sick roommates. We were protecting the B-2 and B-52 Aircrafts on the Flight Line. Our military vehicles were all manual transmission and the steering wheel on the left side of the vehicle. Do you think we were trained to drive a manual transmission or even driving on the opposite side of the road… NO! For the ones who already knew how to drive a manual transmission had trained hands on for the airman who did not know how to drive stick shift. We taught them on the flightline during mid shifts and eventually we all as a team were very proficient, I am driving and securing the aircrafts in a timely manner now everyone knows how to drive a stick shift.
Minot Air Force Base B-52 showing Force to our enemies
Giant Spider I saw at the bottom of my feet next to me while I was utillizing the latrine (Bathroom) and it's terrifyingly Huge for no reason. Why is it so big? In the Flightline latrines at Raf Fairford Air Base. Keep eye Open!! 👀 #bigfuckingspiders #nope
2020 When you get deployed and run into your airman you trained at Vandenberg Air Force Base a few years back 2018. These guys were stationed at Raf Fairford, United Kingdom and my team were deployed to help this squadron secure and protect aircrafts on the flight line.
We thought we were ready for this mission, but we were very wrong... Covid hit our dorm once we arrived in the United Kingdom. We were all quarantined for 14 days.
My partner for mid-shifts he was fun to work with!
Kempsford, United Kingdom 2020
Deployment to Raf Fairford, 501st Combat Support Wing
Assigned to the Security Forces, 5th Side Squadron
Minot, North Dakota
This day was Women’s History Month, and this picture showcases maybe a 3rd of the women in the squadron. Minot is a unique place to live, I am from California and when I was stationed at Minot Air Force Base. I was not used to small town living, there is no traffic, everyone is so friendly, and much slower pace of living.
Pre-Deployment Training 2017
Taser Instructor and I was qualifying the entire Squadron and this was our Mascot for 30th Security Forces Squadron. 2017
Me with my Favorite Senior Master Sergeant (1st Shirt) 30th Securty Forces.
ATV Instructor 2019 Getting ready to sweep locations on Vandenberg Air Force Base to prepare for the Pre-Launch. Minute Man Launch!
Telling my story about when I tried to attempt a traffic stop off Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the vehicle came back stolen with two individuals in the vehicle who tried to flee when I turned my overhead lights on to urge them to pull over. They did not pull over and I was on a high-speed chase at this point.
I was pursuing this vehicle over 100mph before they eventually crashed into on coming traffic on highway 1 heading towards Santa Maria, California. Once I located the accident and secured the two lanes, I witnessed the driver crawl out of the vehicle and run into these thick bushes where we were located was on top of a cliff. This was the first time I pulled my M-9 Weapon out and challenged the individuals I could not physically see but I could hear footsteps in the brush for about 5 minutes until it went silent... To be continued.
Graduating Airman Leadership School (ALS) I also found out that day of graduation I made Staff Sergeant Rank upgrade from Senior Airman.
I had a passion for Law Enforcement and this picture I think depicts that. 2017 Vandenberg AFB.
Launch Sweeps Minute Man Rockets 2018 ATV Sweeping roads to make sure all are clear before the Launch.
My passion for Horse came at a very young age and all my training and lessons paid off when I was asked to join Conservation Horse Patrol.
Our entire Lives in these bags ready to transfer from BMT to Technical Training School 2016
Gas Mask training Gas exposure is not fun and its miserable
Airman Leadership School 2021 Giving commands for raising the Flag for the mornings.
My views on Minot, North Dakota… I separated from active duty in April 2022 ended up staying in Minot and pursuing a new career in broadcasting and production. I am still currently living here and will be graduating with my Bachelor of Arts degree here in May 2025 from Minot State University.
Minot is a unique small town in its own magic bubble full of opportunities and networking with the wonderful Minot Community. #Minotstateuniversity #Broadcasting #Newcareer
This is my military career in a nutshell and the places the Air Force has sent me.
"Stay Classy and Be Happy"
"TRAVELING PASSION"