Warrior of the Week: Senior Airman Kaleea Benjamin

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachiah Roberson
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  

Name & rank: Senior Airman Kaleea Benjamin

Unit & job: 319th Security Forces Squadron, commander's executive

Time in service: 4 years, 11 months

Time at Grand Forks AFB: 4 years, 3 months

Hometown: Asbury Park, N.J.

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?
Serving in the United States Air Force is important to me because it not only allows me to be a great leader for my country, but also to my younger brothers and sisters.

What moment or accomplishment as a Warrior of the North are you most proud of and why?
When most people get here they instantly think: "This place sucks because there is nothing to do." Well, I can and will be the first to reply back to say that there is plenty to do. Education is very important and my mother always said that knowledge is power. From hard work -- and more dedication than I knew I had -- I am proud to say that I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice by the end of next year.

What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy helping and interacting with people. Not only that, but I have had the opportunity to learn from them, which helps me to be knowledgeable in other Air Force duties as well as my own.

Who Inspires you and why?
My family, close friends and supervisors without a doubt play a major role in my life and career every day. But my biggest inspiration has been my four-month-old son, Kaden Lee. From the time I found out I was expecting I knew my "best" was no longer enough. He inspired me even before his arrival and continues to do so. Everything I do; I can definitely say I do it for him

What's the first thing that made you think Grand Forks AFB was a cool place other than the temperature or weather?
When I first got here in 2008 we had Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Vitale as the Security Forces squadron manager and he not only let the Airmen know that we were important to him, but went out of his way to show us every chance he got. He would come out to the gates on the coldest days of the winter months and holidays when most people were with their families to check identifications. He would sit for hours with us, and that alone would take our minds off the fact that we are so far away from home.