Rank/Name – Staff Sgt. Walter Owzarski
Duty Title/Directorate – Communications Officer, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Executive Communications (J624)
Hometown – Hoquiam, Wash.
Time in Service – 7 years
Q: How does your job support USSTRATCOM and our missions?
A: I travel to provide direct communications support to the commander and deputy commander of USSTRATCOM, ensuring 24/7 availability for communications across multiple vectors and devices.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about your work at USSTRATCOM?
A: Finding creative and new ways to meet operational travel requirements so that the commander can conduct day-to-day and incidental communications with little to no disruption.
Q: What has been a challenge for you regarding your work at USSTRATCOM and how have you overcome that challenge?
A: The joint environment provides different daily priorities than the Marine Corps field operations. The challenge for me has been finding ways to stand out as a Marine through leadership, martial and technical knowledge skills against such a diverse group of command professionals. Participating in the Joint Color Guard, teaching combatives and going to the range during weekends are just a few of the ways I have grown outside of my normal duties to the command.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience in the military?
A: The thirteen weeks of recruit training still stand as the most formative memory thus far, but there is still time for new experiences and memories. Overall, it has been a great, if not challenging, run.
Q: What is the one piece of information or advice about working at USSTRATCOM that you'd pass on to new members of the USSTRATCOM team?
A: Take advantage of the unique structure and opportunities provided by this command. It can be a wonderful chance to interface with and learn from, your peers and leaders in the Joint community, or a tour in which you do your job, head down in your cubicle, and largely let time pass. Get to know your civilian counterparts, their responsibilities, and their interests, and you will enjoy your time here all the more.