BEHIND THE PHOTO- The Intoxicating Middle East

I drafted this piece as a deployed airman in 2017. At the time it was penned and when it published by an small online media outlet in the U.S. as a Letter from Abroad, the base I was on was still considered "an undisclosed location." However, shortly after publication, the US was able to acknowledge a decades-old relationship that included having servicemembers stationed at an air base outside Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

I found the UAE to be intoxicating: the climate, the culture, the architecture, the diversity of people- all of it. My fascination with my surroundings was my motivation for the Letter from Abroad, below.

Summer 2017

Before deploying, I had never seen “dust” as part of a weather forecast; and my mainly mid-Atlantic upbringing had defined “excessively hot” as anything hovering around the 100 degree-mark -- when in order to survive you resort to shorts and a tank top even in the sanctuary of air conditioning.

Here, at an undisclosed location in southwest Asia, where I walk a path of rock and sand to the dining facility in uniform twice a day, my new threshold for “uncomfortably warm” has risen to 110 degrees -- 109 is hot, but 110 can be stifling. Sometimes when leaving the cool comfort of a restaurant or a sparkling shopping mall off base, the heat hits you like you’ve marched into a wall of humidity.

But even with the intense temperature and nonstop bustle, there is a serene charm to this region that envelops you. Hearing the call to prayer echo across the city as the sun slips behind the horizon is a beautiful representation of the culture that defines this nation and is very different from my own.

While loyal to deep-rooted tradition, this nation is also relentless in its evolution: shaping contemporary architecture and influencing worldwide cuisine - each with unmatched luxury.

But I don’t have to leave base for personally enriching experiences. Here at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, we embody both the definition and the spirit of joint and coalition operations. We work, live, and relax alongside our coalition partners, as well as our Army, Navy, and Marine Corps brethren. The Air Force contingent itself epitomizes Total Force Integration, where active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen collaborate seamlessly every day when planning, preparing and executing missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Whether it is grabbing a meal at the Army-operated DFAC or exchanging best practices with our multinational counterparts over coffee, here at the 380th we know we are one team regardless of uniform; and that no matter our job description we contribute to the 24/7 cadence that defines the Wing.

The 380 AEW’s day-to-day rhythm is an example of what fuels missions across the US Air Force. Delivering decisive airpower, defending the region and developing partnerships, the 380th is one of the few Wings to perform each of the Air Force’s five core missions.

Acclimating to that rhythm, and discovering where you fit can be challenging, yet fulfilling; and while there is a pattern to each day, each day is different.

So while deploying can be an uncomfortable, demanding, and even an intimidating experience, there is nothing healthier or more satisfying than defying the boundaries of your personal comfort zone, while contributing to a noble and necessary mission bigger than yourself.