CHABELLEY AIRFIELD, Djibouti -- Senior Airman Karla Alejandra Mata, a services Airman for the 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal for her outstanding efforts while deployed to Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti. Mata volunteered to assist in the Camp Lemonnier galley during a worker shortage where she worked 12 hour shifts for approximately two weeks to ensure service members were properly fed, maintaining mission readiness.
“I work in the dining facility stateside so this is what I do every day,” said Mata. “Most of the volunteers had zero food experience prior to working here, and it’s truly incredible to see the impact we can create when we all come together. I’m happy I had the opportunity to work alongside other branches. Being the only one representing the Air Force in that kitchen, I had to show out a little bit. I got plenty of chair force jokes to last the whole deployment. Regardless, I enjoyed the hustle.”
Her main mission is to provide meals and lodging for the service members and contractors at Chabelley Airfield. Mata also makes sure that tents and living quarters at CADJ are in living condition in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.