Meet Team Andersen beyond the mission Published July 20, 2020 By Senior Airman Helena Owens 36 Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- “I am 19 years old and I’m from right outside of Houston, Texas. The beginning of my junior year I knew exactly what I wanted to do, join the Air Force. I wanted to be apart of something with structure and organization. I thrive on having a plan. I wanted to have a family to go to and be a part of. When I got the news that I received Command Post as my job I was skeptical, but excited. It’s challenging and not what I’m used to, but I enjoy learning something new everyday. In our career field we can do lots of things. It all varies from base to base and you’ll never be doing the same thing. Our duties range from notifying the base about emergencies, facilitating aircrew missions, and reporting to higher headquarters. We are the liaison for the entire base’s information dissemination. Andersen was my first choice to get stationed at. I have family on island that have lived here for 30 years. They travel a lot, but some holidays I get to spend with them here. It’s nice having familiar faces around me being that I’m so far from home. I’m super fortunate that the Air Force decided this would be my first assignment. My whole life I had to figure out how to set an example for my younger siblings. I’m really close to my family. Leaving them was the hardest thing I had to do. I will never forget that feeling, but it was what I was supposed to do. If I could give someone thinking about joining the military one piece of advice, I’d say, keep a positive attitude and open mind. The effort you put in is what you’ll get back. You can do anything you put your mind to.” Airman 1st Class Alexis Copeland, 36th Wing Command Post Controller, Andersen AFB, Guam. Meeting Team Andersen beyond the mission will be an ongoing series to show the person behind the uniform.