SPC Brown - Soldier Feature
December 30, 2010
Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Diane Smith
As requested by some of my readers I will be incorporating small Soldier features into the Updates page. Since a few questions were addressed directly to me, I will start the Soldier feature with myself and do other Soldiers in the future.
This January marks my sixth year in the Army. My first duty station was in Camp Humphreys, Korea. I have deployed twice to Iraq, and am currently supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
My official military occupational specialty is 92A - Automated Logistical Specialist. When I first got to Ft. Drum, I was assigned to D Company Tech Supply. In that position, I issued out aircraft parts, turned in aircraft parts, ordered parts, and maintained accountability - amongst many other tasks required for the job. I deployed to COB Speicher, Iraq with D Company last year. When we lost our noncomissioned officer I took over his position and was in charge of eight other Soldiers in the same rank - many of them with more years in the Army than myself. In May 2010, my knowledge was requested for the unit public affairs position available. Quite literally, I was in Tech Supply one day and moved to HHC the next day to do the UPAR job. I am currently up for promotion to sergeant on Jan. 1.
Many people inquire why I am always smiling so big. In truth, I am an optimistic at heart and love living life to the fullest. Don't get me wrong, I have my days just like everyone else. Overall, though, I am just a happy person. I am a perfectionist when it comes to any job I do so I always seek to learn as much as I can and do as much as I can. You never know where life is going to take you and what will come in handy later on in life. I live my life always thinking, "Go big!" That is enough to make me smile.
Keep Soldiers in mind. Is there a particular Soldier you would like to learn more about in a Soldier feature? Contact me and let me know!
Posted by AJ Brown. Posted In : Soldier Feature
Telling the TF Phoenix story has been very rewarding. While it is out of my Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) it is not out of my realm of knowledge. I am an English Literature major who has been writing and submitting pieces for publication for as long as I can remember. I took part in the school newspaper first as a photographer, then to a reporter/photographer, and finally to an editor in less than a year.
This job is a fantastic learning experience and has allowed me to get my writing into the post newspaper - which has been a dream come true in many aspects. My first publication happened on the day of my birthday this year. It was the best present ever! Photography is also one of my great passions as well. Ever since I could hold a camera I was taking photographs. I started with a Mickey Mouse 110 film format camera (don't laugh!) and ran around everywhere capturing life on film. It was liberating at the age of 5 to 6 to have such power at my fingertips!!! Over the years I upgraded, finally getting my first Single Lens Reflex (SLR - i.e. maual) camera when I was in sixth grade. Then, I started playing with a Minolta rangefinder 35mm camera. As the years went on, I continued upgrading until I got into the latest and greatest digital Canon SLR with all the bells and whistles I could have ever dreamed for in a camera. Put a camera in my hand and it feels like it has always been a part of me....