Serving through the season: Staff Sgt. April Brown

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gene Lappe
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  This holiday season, it will be a sure bet that Staff Sgt. April Brown will be watching the skies over Iraq, ensure routing of aircraft over northern Iraq.

Of course, like other Airmen serving around the globe, she'd rather be home with her family, and not deployed half way around the world.

"I would much rather be relaxing at home with my husband, Fernando Brown, and my two dogs," said the Green Bay, Wis., native.

But she knows that isn't going to happen. She has a demanding job as an air traffic control watch supervisor for the 506th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron. She is responsible for supervising the safe operations of all civil and military aircraft transiting northern Iraq. While most Americans will be enjoying the Yuletide season, she will be here making the airspace around Kirkuk safe.

"I am used to being away from my parents and their families but it is hard to be away from my husband for the holidays," said Sergeant Brown, a 1999 Preble High School graduate. "I have met some really good people and formed some excellent friendships over here which makes it a little more bearable."

She said the support from her friends here and being able to hear from her husband is what will help her get through the holidays.

"That and knowing that my flight home is just around the corner is an excellent bonus as well," she added.

Like Airmen deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, other world hot spots and across the nation during the holiday season, Sergeant Brown knows about sacrifice. Airmen are warfighters. They are highly trained, skilled and valued members of the interdependent force fighting the war on terror. They are always ready to do their job -- whenever, wherever.

"I would like to he home, but it is important that we are here to ensure that everybody that is flying through Iraq here is allowed to fly here," she added. "It is also necessary that we keep the pilots advised of airspace restrictions and other traffic to make it as safe as possible."

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