Afghanistan AEF 2012

Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O'Leary, an ammo technician assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, prepares the ammunition rack for missiles that were downloaded from an F-16 Fighting Falcon May 3, 2012. A1C O'Leary is deployed from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Swamp Fox F-16's, pilots, and support personnel began their Air Expeditionary Force deployment early April to take over flying missions for the air tasking order and provide close air support for troops on the ground in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook)

Afghanistan AEF 2012

Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O'Leary, an ammo troop assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, interacts with the local children attending the bazaar school May 5, 2012. Personnel are deployed from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Swamp Fox F-16's, pilots, and support personnel began their Air Expeditionary Force deployment early April to take over flying missions for the air tasking order and provide close air support for troops on the ground in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook)

Afghanistan AEF 2012

Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O'Leary, an ammo technician assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, secures missiles downloaded from an F-16 Fighting Falcon to the ammo rack May 3, 2012. A1C O'Leary is deployed from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Swamp Fox F-16's, pilots, and support personnel began their Air Expeditionary Force deployment early April to take over flying missions for the air tasking order and provide close air support for troops on the ground in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook)

Afghanistan AEF 2012

Airman lives AF core values during first deployment

Published July 25, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Stephen Hudson
169th FW/PA-Deployed

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Just two months into her first deployment, Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O'Leary is staying busy. While assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron (EMXS) working in line delivery for munitions, O'Leary is living the Air Force's core values of Integrity, Excellence, and Service Before Self at work and off duty.

While her day-to-day mission is transporting munitions from the Tri-National Ammunition Supply Point located at Kandahar Airfield (KAF) to the flight line for loading; O'Leary has taken the opportunity to get involved in other activities going on at KAF.

On one of her first weekends, she visited the bazaar school located here and spent the afternoon playing with the boys at the school. Calling it an "eye opener," O'Leary heard about the opportunity and jumped on it.

"I love kids," said the mother of three. "It was an experience and puts things into perspective, because a soccer ball and a frisbee to play with brings them so much joy."
While volunteering, she played games and different activities with the students. She added that she plans on visiting again during her four-month deployment.

"I wish they lived in a better place," O'Leary said. "But kids are kids anywhere you go."

Volunteering at the Bazaar is not the only way O'Leary is exemplifying the Air Force Core Values. She is also working on becoming a victims' advocate with the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator's (SARC) office and has recently undergone litter carrying training at the Contingency Aero-medical Staging Facility (CASF) in order to carry wounded warriors to transport aircraft that takes them to other medical facilities.

"Airman O'Leary has showed great leadership and a sense of urgency to get the job done," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Prince, O'Leary's supervisor while deployed to KAF. "In this high pressure job, it's important to keep your military bearings. She exemplifies this every day. "

When O'Leary returns from her deployment, she will return to school at Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, S.C. where she is studying criminal justice.

O'Leary is a member of the SCANG's 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire JNGB, S.C., and is currently assigned to the 451st EMXS.