Warrior of the Week: Airman 1st Class Rebecca Andrew

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  It's not often that you'll discover the U.S. Navy emblem on display on an Air Force Base.

But visit Airman 1st Class Rebecca Andrew at the 319th Contracting Flight, and that's exactly what you'll find. But it's family - not admiration for a sister service - behind the Navy coffee mug on her desk.

"My brother Ben is enlisted in the Navy, and we have a deal," she smiled. "I have to keep a Navy mug on me at all times and he has to keep an Air Force one with him."

The youngest of four, Airman Andrew keeps both her family and hobbies close to her heart.

"I love hunting deer, pheasants and turkey," said the Wisconsin native, whose hometown backyard in Sparta provides ample opportunity to make any hunting day a good one. "My family and I spend a lot of time together hunting, relaxing at bonfires and taking care of the farm."

Working in an office as a contracting specialist demands an inverse approach to what used to be her usual grind of tending to almost 50 head of beef cattle.

"I really enjoy this career field and have no interest to ever retrain," said the proud owner of "Stan" the beta fish. "The people in the office here are close-knit and we get along great."

Inside the office, Airman Andrew's main tasks are small commodity buys - items such as office furniture and appliances - but it is getting out of the office that makes the time most enjoyable.

"The best parts of the job are the site visits," she said. "I get to both get out and meet people and experience and learn a lot about how the process works behind the scenes."

As much as Airman Andrew loves learning, it is an ability she hopes to someday pass on to others down the road.

"When my career in the Air Force is finished I would like to become a teacher," said the welding enthusiast who is currently pursuing her CCAF. "I want to teach metals technology, which is machining and welding metals together. It would be fun to see how students change and improve over the years."

A self-proclaimed card game guru, Airman Andrew doesn't only use a deck of cards to keep you fooled.

"Most people don't know I'm not actually a ginger," said Andrew, whose red top has earned her the nickname, "Ginger." "They end up shocked that I am a natural blonde."