Mother replaces son on Kirkuk's front lines

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  As many parents anxiously await the next phone call from their sons and daughters fighting the war on terrorism in Southwest Asia, one mother journeyed across the Atlantic to not only see her child, but also to replace him on the front line.

Staff Sgt. Tammi Johnson, a reservist with the 507th Security Forces Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., arrived to Kirkuk Air Base Jan. 20 and will receive a complete week of training from her son, Senior Airman Derrick Johnson, before he heads back to the U.S.

Atop a remote guard tower, mother and son stood post peering across the barbed wire into the desolate desert plains surrounding Kirkuk AB. In this setting, the role of the caretaker is reversed as Airman Johnson instructs his mother, Sergeant Johnson, on perimeter defense practices as both are assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.

"This is all just a big coincidence," said Airman Johnson, a reservist with the 610th Security Forces Squadron from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. "When I found out she was coming to replace me, my jaw dropped just wondering what the chances were of this occurring."

The coincidence of this pair choosing to serve in the same military branch and career field is only trumped by the fact that out of the thousands of Air Force security forces Airmen and numerous deployment locations -- Sergeant Johnson was randomly selected to relieve her son in the guard post.

This chain of events was put into play in March 2006 when Airman Johnson visited a local Air Force recruiter. His mother, who was a civilian at the time, accompanied him on the trip.

"My son was graduating from high school and talked to me about the Air Force, and as his mother, I naturally wanted to go to the recruiter with him," Sergeant Johnson said. "As a joke, the recruiter asked if I was interested in joining up. I laughed it off at first, but then he started asking questions about my age and how long I had previously served."

Sergeant Johnson initially joined the Air Force in 1983 and worked in the personnel career field for several years before separating.

"I gave it some real thought for a while and talked to the recruiter some more," she said. "When I previously served, I was always interested in the security forces career field. I'm an active person and don't enjoy doing paperwork.

"The recruiter said there were some openings in security forces, so I hemmed-and-hawed about it," she said. "My son was joining the same career field, but I knew we'd be stationed at different places, so I decided to just do it."

Both joined the Air Force Reserve that spring. Sergeant Johnson was able to keep her job for the local school district in their hometown of Moore, Okla., and Airman Johnson could serve his country while attending college full time.

"She always talked positively about her time in the military," Airman Johnson said about his mother. "I got the impression she really enjoyed life in the Air Force, and I thought that was the place she needed to be. The Reserve was a great option because she could keep her job at home.

"I was all for it, but when she chose the security forces career field, it was a little strange because that's what I do," he said. "But she knows I would support her doing whatever made her happy."

Sergeant Johnson found out she would replace her son in Iraq shortly before he left six months ago. As a mother would, Sergeant Johnson said she initially felt nervous about her son's deployment.

"At the time, I wished I could've deployed first," she said. "We received the same training, so I was aware of the various threats security forces Airmen can face while deployed. But at the same time, I know he is well-trained and intelligent, so that helped put my mind at ease."

Airman Johnson now spends most of his time preparing to leave Kirkuk AB and training his mother on the duties he performs from the guard post. This entails maintaining close surveillance of the base perimeter and beyond for suspicious activity. Security forces also conduct base patrols, anti-terrorism measures and identification checks.

"I've been asking Derrick tons of questions," she said. "A car rolled real slowly by the perimeter of the base today, and I started getting nervous. But Derrick was there to tell me it was the Iraqi police, and everything was all right. He knows right off-hand what to do, and I don't feel intimidated or stupid when I ask him the simplest questions."

They both said the deployment has given them time to bond and a shared experience that only draws their relationship closer. Without this short week together in Kirkuk AB, they would not see each other for more than a year.

"This just adds another layer to our relationship. How many mothers and sons can say they were together in the same place in a war zone?" Airman Johnson asked. "This is something we can always talk about in the future and have a very good idea of what the other went through."

As a staff sergeant, Airman Johnson's mother is just one rank above him, but she might as well be a four-star general. Airman Johnson said he feels hard-pressed to think of a time when he wouldn't take orders from her.

"You have to find the right balance because she is my mother and we are working side-by-side," he said. "She understands and listens to the experiences I've encountered, which will help her. But really, she outranks me on many different levels. You can never outrank your mother."

Sergeant and Airman Johnson sit in a Kirkuk AB guard tower shared a few laughs and the common bond of serving for their country. While a mother and son together in combat may sound unusual to some, this pair wouldn't have it any other way.

"This is what I originally joined for in 1983," Sergeant Johnson said. "I was young and an idealist, and felt serving was a responsibility for all citizens. Some of my friends back home think I'm crazy for leaving my job and doing this at the age I am. But I feel more complete as a person by serving for the Air Force and our country."

As for Airman Johnson, he said he took some light-hearted jabs from the guys every so often. But like any good Airman, he vowed to take on the wingman role and train his mother on the duties that helped keep Kirkuk AB safe for the past six months.

"I've heard some of the guys ask, 'Is your mommy here to replace you yet?'" he said. "My friends back home who serve in the military think it's strange to picture their mothers in Iraq with a helmet, weapon and flak vest. None of that bothers me though. It brings us closer together, which is what matters most."

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