Peterson instructor shapes Iraqi Air Force PME Published May 10, 2010 By Master Sgt. Kimberley Harrison U.S. AFCENT Combat Camera CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Sitting at a picnic table cooling down from working out at one of the camp's fitness centers, Master Sgt. Javier Lorenzo, 821st Expeditionary Training Squadron NCOIC, Professional Military Training, talks openly about deployments, opportunity and family. "I was security forces before I became an instructor," Sergeant Lorenzo said. "I'm used to deploying, but as a PME instructor, I felt I was missing those (deployment) opportunities." Filling a special-duty position has its rewards, but deploying is part of today's military environment and coming from a military family he's all in. "My dad is retired Coast Guard and my older brother is retired Air Force," said the 17-year Air Force veteran. Joining the military seemed a natural fit once out of high school and the decision to join the U.S. Air Force was an easy one. "My dad said it would be the smartest thing for me to do," Sergeant Lorenzo said, smiling. It was the opportunity to join the Air Force that gave him the chance to deploy and make a difference -- but opportunities aren't as available in some specialties as they are in security forces, so when the deployment presented itself, he happily volunteered. "This is validation for what we do, as a deployer and as an instructor," Sergeant Lorenzo said. "That's what our mission is now; our entire mission is AEF and it's joint. It validates everything we teach at the NCO academy." Happy that he's able to do his part, once again, he's also happy to know he's had a hand in overseeing the Iraqi professional military education and training programs. "I like to know I left my fingerprint in a part of the development of the Iraqi Air Force," Sergeant Lorenzo said. Currently, the Iraqi Air Force Training School offers a total of nine PME courses, from leadership responsibilities to stress management and problem solving adapted from the NCOA. "These courses were basically from the NCOA itself and then pared down for comprehension levels of the Iraqi Air Force students," said Sergeant Lorenzo. The position he fills at Camp Taji is different than his position as a flight instructor at the Vosler NCO Academy at Peterson Air Force Base. "My responsibility here is to provide over watch for the professional military education for Iraqi warrant officers," he said. Coming from a background as an instructor, he finds it challenging -- sometimes -- to act as an advisor instead of taking over the class. "I have to keep my mind busy when I'm overseeing a class because so often I want to jump in and instruct... there are things you're just accustomed to doing," he said. "As an instructor, you're a Type A personality and to sit back and bite your tongue at times is tough." As tough as it may be to sit back and observe, Sergeant Lorenzo has learned from his experience. "I've enjoyed learning that dealing with the Iraqi individuals is like dealing with any other individual in the world," said Sergeant Lorenzo. "We all have our own commonalities and we all have our differences, but we're all people in this thing." There are many opportunities to be had while being in a deployed environment and Sergeant Lorenzo made sure to enjoy his time here, accomplishing goals outside his primary duties. "I've taken some college courses and volunteered for the local chaplain at the Mudhouse," he said. The Mudhouse is a coffee house that offers all military members a place to relax, enjoy horseshoes, and free Internet and coffee. "You name it, we made it," he said with a smile. "This place isn't bad and the (dining facility) has the best peanut butter cookies I've had," he said. He said he misses the view of the mountains from Peterson AFB, however, it's his family he misses the most. "I have enjoyed my deployment," said Sergeant Lorenzo, "but I am looking forward to going back home and seeing my family. I miss my family. "You don't really realize how important you are to your kid's life until they actually tell you and when you're gone, it really hits you. What I miss most this year is being able to go to my son's baseball games," he said. He plans to make the most of spending time with his family when he returns because he never knows when the opportunity to deploy again will be available. Until then, Sergeant Lorenzo will keep doing it until it's no longer fun.