No connection like the bond made with fellow Airmen Published Sept. 18, 2012 By Maj. Melissa G. Brown 436th Security Forces Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Twenty-four years ago, I would have told you I was joining the military, specifically the Air Force, because a close church family took me to an air show at Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga., when I was 12 years old and I was immediately captivated. The beautiful base, the shiny aircraft, the uniforms and most of all: the charged atmosphere - I instantly knew I wanted to be part of it. As soon as I had my high school diploma in hand, I went to the Air Force recruiter and signed up. I realize now I joined the Air Force on a quest for self-discovery, an unknown concept to me more than two decades ago. Many people jump to the conclusion that I have remained in the Air Force for the education, training, travel, medical and dental benefits, and the retirement. I have enjoyed being challenged by education and training, seeing the world and being secure in my health, and retirement benefits, but none of those are the reason I remained in the Air Force beyond my initial enlistment. I have stayed for the Airmen. Every day I interact with the most energetic Airmen who continually amaze me with their innovation and drive to take care of other Dover AFB Airmen and our missions. The civil engineers maintaining our facilities and base infrastructure; communications professionals ensuring we remain connected; force support providers caring for the human elements; contracting specialists sustaining the products and services we need to operate; logistics technicians providing vehicle, fuel and supply services to keep us rolling; and defenders maintaining a safe living and working environment. Of course this support officer cannot forget the operators who fly; the maintainers who fix; and the medics who care for us all. Dover AFB's Airmen like Master Sgt. Cobbs, Master Sgt. Doyle, Tech. Sgt. Mann, Senior Airman Pherigo, Ms. Frazier and Ms. Henry motivate me! There is no connection like the bond you make with our fellow Airmen. We appreciate a love of country, the price of freedom, and a desire to improve our world unknown to most people. I have enjoyed serving with people from very diverse backgrounds. Though we have different values, beliefs, religious convictions, ethnic ties, social classes and economic status, we are all dedicated to the Air Force. Our bonds are made tighter through training and exercises that test our self discipline; long hours that tax us emotionally, mentally and physically; the sacrifices of family separations; and deployments in austere conditions in war-torn countries. Because of our diversity we are stronger. We are Airmen; we live our core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do. I love my life, I love the Air Force, I love leading and caring for the Airmen who are dedicated to the Air Force's mission to Fly, Fight and Win. I serve in the United States Air Force because of the extraordinary people who serve with me. I serve because of the incredible feeling of being one small part of something so huge and amazing. I serve to protect our nation and to defend our way of life. But mostly I serve to serve my fellow Airmen.