Commentary: First-term airman describes deployment impact

When I first found out last August that I was deploying, I was absolutely thrilled.

USAF: Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom

Participants in the Senior Airman Jason Cunningham Remembrance Ruck March trudge along the perimeter of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan on March 4. Cunningham was a pararescueman who died in combat March 4, 2002, while saving 10 men's lives. The Air Force's Camp Cunningham at Bagram Airfield is named after him. The ruck march was one part of a three-part ceremony held in remembrance of the 10 year anniversary of his heroic sacrifice.

Ever since my days at the Defense Information School, Ft. George G. Meade, Md., I had been hearing stories of all the exciting things U.S. Air Force photographers, such as myself, got to see and do while overseas.

I was told I'd document Special Operations Forces as they took out terrorists, accompany security forces on patrols through hostile territory, and photograph local children as they went to school. From what I had heard, deployment was the pinnacle of a military photographer career and I was itching to be able to experience it for myself.

However, when I got to Bagram, Afghanistan, it wasn't nearly the glamorous or exciting time others' stories had led me to believe it would be. In fact, I wasn't even allowed to go off base, which surprised me a bit.

It took me a while, but eventually I got over my disappointment. I realized there were just as many interesting and exciting things happening inside of Bagram's boundaries, and being the only Air Force photographer on the base, I would have the chance to see them all.

I certainly did see my share of interesting things. During the six months I was in Afghanistan, I documented aircraft that I didn't know existed. I saw several squadrons stand up, people working on every kind of job imaginable and how important understanding other cultures can be.

I went everywhere on base. Soaking up the deployed experience like a sunbather soaks up sunshine. Though it wasn't anything like I thought it would be, it was definitely the adventure that I had been promised.

I remember one of the first photo shoots I went on to document volunteers that took wounded warriors from planes to the base hospital. It was a mind-blowing experience to see firsthand the human impact of a war that I've watched on the news for the past 10 years.

On another shoot, I followed a security forces member as they stood guard in a tower. By midnight, I was tired, cranky and feeling extremely sorry for the tower guards. Night after night they stood up in a cold dark box watching over Bagram and I don't think most people ever gave them a second thought. It helped me appreciate their hard work day after day.

Now that I'm back at Cannon Air Force Base I realize these experiences have helped me become a stronger person. Being deployed made me gain confidence I didn't have before. I used to be unsure of my ability if a really difficult shoot came along, usually passing it off to a more experienced person in the shop. After this deployment I feel like saying, "bring it on, I can handle anything you throw my way."

I am a better photographer and a better airman because of this adventure.