AETC civilian volunteers for AEF military deployment Published Aug. 25, 2006 By Megan Orton Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) -- When asked why he decided to volunteer for military deployment, he joked, "I'm crazy!" Meet Hank Polk, Air Education and Training Command Communications and Information planner and project manager, a civilian volunteer who will deploy with Air Expeditionary Force 1-2 in May for four months at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Mr. Polk is the first Air Force communications and information civilian to volunteer for a required AEF deployment position usually filled by a military member. "I can't pinpoint exactly the reason I want to go," he said. "If a civilian can get part of the job done instead of sending a military member again and again, it is just a part of the teamwork." As a prior soldier who has been with the Air Force since 1998, Mr. Polk said he has wanted to get "over there" for a long time. He sees Department of Defense civil servants as an important asset to the Air Force as it gradually reduces its number of active duty servicemen. Because of this reduction in forces, Airmen are deploying to remote locations far more often, Mr. Polk said. Although 40 or 50 years ago the makeup of the military would have fit these demands well, at that time average military members were in their mid-20s and single, he explained. Today we've incorporated such a strong family value system in the military that deploying can be more difficult for active duty military members. "We live in a world of an expeditionary force, where military members are constantly on the road," he said. "If we can get civil servants into some of those positions to give military members a break from deployment, why not? We have a giant civil service population in the Air Force, it's about time we start diving into it." Currently, Mr. Polk orchestrates major command-level plans for AETC base planners to implement at their installations. One of his projects is the implementation of public key infrastructure, the programming associated with the common access card, to give all AETC personnel the ability to access computers using their CAC. Mr. Polk said he is taking the necessary steps to make sure all of his projects run smoothly while he's away by spreading out his workload and incorporating backup managers into the projects he manages now. At Al Udeid, he will be working similar types of plans, but at base level in a supervisory role. "This is the fun part," he said. "I'm excited to get back into a tactical mentality and hopefully bring some of that back to Air Education and Training Command." Mr. Polk's preparation for deployment as a civilian is very similar to that of a military member. Within the next few months, he will get a deployment physical, receive chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear explosive (CBRNE) training, qualify on the M-9 or M-16, and be issued a gas mask and desert battle dress uniforms. Since AEF deployments are relatively new for civilians, Mr. Polk said he and the Air Force are learning as they go. "Anything that comes up as a hurdle, we find a way to get around it," Mr. Polk said. Even after his 21 years as an "Air Force brat" followed by five years in the Army, Mr. Polk said he doesn't think it is any easier for him to deploy than any other civilian. "I might have fewer surprises or an easier adjustment because of my background, but this is something that anyone with enough motivation can get done," he said. Mr. Polk said he thinks that as the Air Force continues operations in the Middle East, more and more civil servants will choose to deploy. Just the opportunity to deploy is enough to be a driving force for many civilians, he said, because it is an opportunity that few have had. "If I can go over there and do a pretty decent job, folks that are more qualified might follow me, and then we're improving our operations overseas," he said. "That's what it's all about." There are nine remaining positions open for AEF 1-2 civilian volunteers. For more information, contact Tim Kelley at (757) 764-4510.