Experienced NCO mentors deploying Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Dover Air Force Base, Del. --  When he thinks back to his first deployment, the senior NCO remembers how difficult and nerve-wracking the experience was for him.

Master Sgt. Allen McKenna, a member of the 436th Aerial Port Squadron, said he remembers leaning on others to get through that time in his life.

"My peers really helped me get through my first deployment," he said. "They were there for me and it is definitely not a process that someone should go through alone."

Many years have passed and the sergeant is set to deploy yet again. He has now become accustomed to deploying, but he has not forgotten the stress he faced his first time.

The sergeant, who grew up at Marion, Iowa, is one of 20 436th APS Airmen who have recently deployed. They attended Combat Airman Skills Training together Oct. 17-26 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. McKenna said he and his fellow aerial port NCOs have made a concentrated effort to ease the first-time deploying Airmen through the process.

The helping hand started the instant that he learned they were deploying, McKenna said. He helped with everything from getting their personal affairs in order to helping them build 72-hour bags correctly in case they were held up in transit to their deployed location. He also briefed the Airmen about what to expect during the deployment.

Airman 1st Class Cullen McNally, 436th APS and a native of Kankakee, Ill., said he is excited for his first deployment and he appreciates the mentorship he has received.

"It has helped out a lot," he said. "I don't feel like I'm going in blind. If I have a question I know I can go to someone and they can guide me through the problem. They have been there and done that and they are sharing their experiences with me."

McNally said he has enjoyed the combat training and he really enjoys the opportunity to fire a rifle. He feels attending the training has helped him prepare for the challenge of deploying.

"It helps you get in the right mindset," he said. "You are not going to the safest place in the world. It highlights the seriousness of the situation you are going to be in."

McKenna said that the attention to detail will now pay big dividends during the deployment. He said a happy team is a better-performing team. He is proud to see the team gel during the combat training. The sergeant feels that the opportunity to attend training together is a great benefit.

"The most fun thing has been watching these young Airmen progress," he said. "They have been taking this great training from the cadre instructors and putting it to good use."

Now nearing the end of his career, McKenna said he takes the mentorship of his Airmen very seriously.

"They are our immortality as leaders," he said. "The little things we pass on to our young Airmen will live on in the Air Force long after we are gone."