Making a difference in Afghanistan: Airman Zachary has worked hard to help Afghan locals and her fellow Airmen during her deployment Published March 15, 2007 By Master Sgt. Vicki Johnson 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- How many Airmen do you know who were offered five camels and 20 goats in exchange for a permanent stay with a warlord in Afghanistan? That's just the offer Senior Airman Stacia Zachary, 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs, received while deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While her primary duty is photojournalism, she has supported many humanitarian efforts that have taken her outside the gates and into the villages of the local Afghans. She is making a tremendous difference in many lives and is doing it without ever losing a smile. Her attitude and professionalism are always impeccable, said Master Sgt. Shane Enos, accounting chief, Kabul, Afghanistan. "I was recently fortunate enough to lead volunteer efforts to an internally displaced person camp in the outskirts of Kabul, to hand out food, clothing, blankets, etc," said Sergeant Enos. "From the beginning I noticed Airman Zachary's outstanding attitude and professionalism. Not only did she do her job in an outstanding manner, she also spent much time holding, comforting..... the children. The impact she and others had that day is without measure. I have to say that in this joint environment with a low percentage of Air Force members, it is comforting to see outstanding members such as Airman Zachary are still part of our Air Force team." Since Airman Zachary has been deployed, she has initiated the mass distribution of Defense and Security Highlights, Afghanistan newsletters reaching more than 1 million Afghan people. "When these newsletters are sent out, they are picked up by Afghan and other international press agencies. They re-report the stories which, in turn, get the message out to all regions of the Afghan population and Pakistan and other surrounding countries. We are helping create confidence and support for the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police. The ANA has received much support from the people and recruitment levels are high," said Airman Zachary. She also updated the Web site and added Dari translations to it; the entire Afghan public has the ability to view and read about their progress. Airman Zachary also initiated the effort to add a Faces of Afghanistan presentation to Air Force Link and Defenselink, similar to the Faces of Iraq, highlighting the Afghan people. "Airman Zachary is the best Airman I've worked with in my 17 years in the Air Force and public affairs. She has an incredible work ethic and is highly motivated. The story of Afghan progress is getting out because of her work," said Tech. Sgt. John Asselin, deployed PA technician. "Watching her work is a joy -- she's like a kid in a candy shop when covering an event. She gets right down in the mud to get the best picture to tell the story. In fact, most of us have trouble keeping up with her -- she's tireless and fearless." While striving to make things better for the locals, she is also boosting morale for deployed Airmen as well. Airman Zachary sends out Hometown News Releases, providing families back home with information about their servicemember. In the last three months more than 200 releases have been sent to the Hometown News Service. She also planned birthday celebrations and going-away functions for deployed Airmen and even managed to make a coffee table book using Afghan water boxes as the binding and 550 cord to tie the pages together. When asked what her thoughts were on her deployment, this is what she had to say: "Reconstruction can build new offices and homes but it is the job of every American serving here to help foster hope among the Afghans. Soon, those buildings will be bursting at the seams with people who have rebuilt hope. The least I can do is offer my help and support, neither of which cost me more than time and compassion."