OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. —
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bennett Miller, intelligence analyst in the plans and policy directorate, hails from Sissonville, West Virginia, and has served in the military for seven years.
Q: How does your job support USSTRATCOM and our missions?
A: I work as the enlisted administrative assistant as part of the strategic targeting intelligence division (J5N2) administration team. Our team is responsible for ensuring the organization leadership-to-service member communication chain is in place and flowing, as well as budget, facility management and member travel. I also manage the manpower and personnel acquisitions for J5N2.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about your work at USSTRATCOM?
A: Many folks struggle to see the end result or understand the product of their work here. However, I find it rewarding because my work ends with a solution to a problem or a future process that can now be worked through. Being the person that everyone calls for problems, between the Defense Travel System and a broken water fountain, can be challenging but it’s never bad to be that person.
Q: What has been a challenge for you regarding your work at USSTRATCOM and how have you overcome that challenge?
A: The greatest challenges have come while I was serving as an intelligence analyst. Coming from a very tactical unit, prior to USSTRATCOM, was very eye opening and required me to change my entire way of thinking and analyze problem sets in entirely different ways than before.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience in the military?
A: When I was stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, I had the opportunity to work as the special operations forces/joint tactical air controller liaison for the 353rd Combat Training Squadron’s Red Flag-Alaska exercises. This position brought with it extensive additional training opportunities and the ability to work in a joint special operations force environment, which provided the knowledge and skills that I have been able to apply in and out of the work environment.
Q: What is the one piece of information or advice about working at USSTRATCOM that you would pass on to new members of the USSTRATCOM team?
A: Leverage the knowledge and skills of the senior civilians and military leadership that you brush shoulders with every day. Embrace the “jointness” and learn everything you can about all services, their history, and their rank and promotion requirements. As a leader and follower, you will be better equipped if you do these things.