Chief recalls being 'weird Airman' Published July 3, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When Chief Master Sgt. Ericka Kelly, 349th Air Mobility Wing command chief, first came to the United States when she was 12, her first question was, "Where is all the military?" Growing up in a poverty-stricken area of Guatemala, she was used to only seeing the military as the primary means of law enforcement. "I was surprised to learn they were here to protect and defend, not to enforce the law," she said. She always knew she wanted to wear the uniform of a United States service member and looked into the Marine Corps thoroughly first. As the time to enlist came closer though, she realized the Air Force was right for her. "I was a weird Airman," she said. "I was excited to do every detail I was assigned and always gave 100 percent. I always had a great attitude and that helped my leadership see the potential in me." Her dedication to the Air Force was tested early in her career when she was a ground medic stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. She was pursuing her degree in criminal justice in Las Vegas and had to drive five and a half hours each month to Luke do her reserve time, all while working full time in a doctor's office to pay the bills. She later changed her job to air evacuation and moved to March Air Reserve Base, California. She then deployed to Somalia. "It was an extremely difficult deployment," she said. "I did a lot of work with Marine intelligence and Army (explosive ordnance disposal). Looking back, it was dangerous." Even though Somalia was tough, Kelly learned a lot about the unity of teamwork and trusting in her leadership. She did miss out on an important opportunity, however. Kelly had always wanted to be a special agent in the Drug Enforcement Agency, but the phone call came while she was deployed and could not take them up on the opportunity, so her Air Force career marched on. She went on multiple deployments around the world while constantly learning and progressing her Air Force career. "I always knew that I wanted to be a command chief," she said. "While every deployment I was on was different, I learned from all of them. They helped me see the big picture while learning to accept and adapt to change." The role of a command chief is special. It takes the traits of a mentor, adviser and professional to represent their wing and Air Force. Kelly learned all of these on her civilian side of life. "I love it," she said. "I am in a very trusted position." While she was at March, she worked as an immigration inspector at the Immigration and Naturalization service at Los Angeles International Airport. After attending the Law Enforcement Academy, Kelly finally received and opportunity for a position she wanted within the INS. She became a special agent. Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series on Chief Master Sgt. Ericka Kelly.