Airman of the Week: Staff Sgt. Sue Bostic

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  • By 436th Airlift Wing
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  

Name/rank: Staff Sgt. Sue Bostic

Squadron: 436th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal

Job description: Emergency response team leader; assess ordnance conditions and neutralize improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction and remove explosive hazard. Deploy worldwide as Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force member in support of contingency operations. Provides essential EOD support to U.S. Secret Service for the president, the vice president and foreign dignitaries.

Previous assignments: Dover Air Force Base, Del., and Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Family: My mother and younger sister currently reside in my hometown of Dixon, Mo.

Favorite movie: "McClintock"

Favorite food: I love home cooked comfort foods. The more bacon the better.

Favorite book: "The Outsiders"

Dream assignment, why? Any location in Alaska. I would love to be able to see "the last frontier" and I love cold weather.

Who inspires you? The EOD technicians I work with daily. They sacrifice so much in order to accomplish any mission set before them. No matter how short of notice or how daunting the task may be, they are truly amazing and I couldn't be more honored to have met them and call them "family." I trust them whole heartedly, without any doubt, with my life and love them all more than they will ever know.

What is your best deployment story? I have been deployed three times; two in combat locations. I am also tasked to leave again at the end of the year. My favorite experience was on my last deployment to Afghanistan when we were on a mission and had inadvertently ended up in the middle of five roadside bombs. My team and I worked nonstop to clear them. In just under two hours we safely mitigated all hazards in that particular area and the convoy of more than 100 vehicles continued to our destination. Seeing all of the time we put into training when we are stateside come together and knowing that you are playing an active part in something far larger than you is the best feeling ever.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? So many factors change who we are. I just hope that in 10 years I will be happy with where I am and where I have been. I think the best thing we can plan for is to be the best person we can be and give it 110 percent always. Hopefully, in doing that we can make a positive difference in other people's lives along the way.