Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Susan Davis
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  

Name and Rank: Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn

Unit and job: 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs specialist

Time in Service: 2 years, 4 months

Time at Grand Forks: 1 year, 11 months

Hometown: Paw Paw, Mich.

Why is serving in the Air Force important to you?

Serving in the Air Force is important to me because it provided an outlet to a career field I love, along with providing the opportunity to continue my education, create new friendships and work with great people.

What accomplishment as a Warrior of the North are you most proud of and why?

The accomplishment I am most proud of during my time here at Grand Forks was being selected for promotion to senior airman Below the Zone, for which I give much of the credit for that to the superior leadership at my unit. They are always looking out for the best interest of the Airmen in our shop.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is learning things about people I would have never guessed. As a military journalist, I get the opportunity to interview and interact with many different people from many different career fields, and some of the things you learn about people behind the rank and uniform can be really eye-opening and enlightening. There are genuinely interesting people in the Air Force who have a lot of great attributes to offer.

Who inspires you and why?

My parents, Mark and Laurie, inspire me more than anyone else in my life. They're a good example of overcoming adversity, and never allow things to get them down, no matter the severity of their circumstances.

What's the first thing that made you think Grand Forks Air Force Base was a cool place other than the temperature or weather?

I wasn't very thrilled when I first read my orders to Grand Forks because I was hoping for somewhere warm. But after you get to know the people and the lifestyle up here, it's hard to want to be anywhere else. The coolest thing besides the weather is the camaraderie of the people stationed and working here. By the time you get orders out of here, you feel like you know everyone on base by first name.