News

Airman proud of service at home and abroad

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The number 13 is thought to be a rather unlucky number to some people. But the year ending in 2013 was definitely one to remember for one young Airman stationed at Robins.

With a country at war for more than a decade, there are young yet talented members such as Senior Airman Maresa Miessler who feel the call to serve early on, ultimately volunteering their lives for something greater.

"The Air Force gave me that amazing opportunity - and I'm grateful for it," she said.

At just 21 years old, the Irvine, Calif., native is humbled by the wealth of that opportunity the world has afforded her in just over two years of military service.

Miessler enlisted in the Air Force while still a senior at Churchill County High School in Fallon, Nev.

She completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in January 2012, and prepared for her new career with aircrew fundamentals and airborne operations technician training until April.

In May of the same year she arrived at Robins, beginning training before assuming her new role in the fall as an airborne operations technician with the 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, 461st Air Control Wing at Robins.

She's part of a one-of-a-kind platform, responsible with surveillance and tracking data on the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System.

Her career onboard the unique weapon system has already taken her to corners of the world when peers back home are just now graduating from college.

That thought is not lost on Miessler. At the time she could have been buried in a favorite English or history book, subjects she loved in school, or studying for finals like her friends.

Instead she was beginning her first deployment in 2013 in support of U.S. Central Command as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"I learned on my first deployment a lot on the tactical side of missions," she said. "At the same time, it was so nice to explore another place, see another culture."

While she admits she even ran into some high school friends who were also serving downrange, she recalled, "I was pretty nervous because I'd never travelled overseas before. Excited and scared. I just didn't know what to expect. Things like the climate were definitely different."

Once she returned after being away for several months, she was able to stay home for a short amount of time before having to leave again.

She deployed a second time in 2013, this time in support of U.S. Pacific Command, spending memorable moments in countries like Japan.

"It was during that deployment that I learned about our coordination efforts and saw things from a big-picture Air Force perspective," she said.

In addition, she has deployed to areas in support of U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command, accumulating more than 200 days of deployment or temporary duty since joining the service over two years ago.

For a young Airman with plans to make the Air Force a lifelong journey, her travels have made her appreciate every bit of home, whether it's on the east or west coast.

Her duty assignments only take up about three lines on her official biography, but her awards and decorations speak for themselves.

"As a team, the 16th ACCS works hard in developing our Airmen, and we are extremely proud of our teamwork and everything Senior Airman Miessler has accomplished in her short career in our Air Force," said Lt. Col. Bert Jean, 16th ACCS commander.

Miessler was the 2013 Airman of the Year for Robins Air Force Base, and was notably Airman of the Quarter and 2013 Airborne Operations Technician for the 16th ACCS.

"So much has happened so far," she said. "I just wonder what else lies ahead."