Soldier in focus - Spc. George Hester

BAGHDAD -- Spc. George Hester, a network help desk representative with Company B, 30th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, stands on a six-foot-tall ladder, rewiring computer lines in the civil military operations office.

As multi-colored wires casually fall all around him, Hester navigates a blue wire across ceiling tiles to the other side of the room where a computer sits disconnected, waiting for power.

Hester always jumps at the chance to get out of the office to get into the grit and grime of the job at Forward Operating Base Falcon, on the southern edge of Baghdad.

"Each help desk ticket is challenging. When tickets come down, I don't mind knocking them out," said Hester. "And one advantage of the job is getting to meet new people from all walks of life: different ranks, other branches, civilians, and foreign nationals."

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Hester joined the military three years ago through the North Carolina Army National Guard's Detachment Six recruiting program in Sanford, N.C. His military occupational skill is an operation radio systems maintainer, but he has been assigned to the brigade's network help desk for this deployment.

"I joined the military to gain technical experience with computers, and to connect phone and computer lines," said Hester. "Working at the help desk falls right in line with that."

In his civilian job, Hester works in the field, traveling to sites to assess and digitally-mapping properties for an insurance company.

He said he looks at this deployment as an extended field journey. By working in the field in his job, he became accustomed to the heat. That, plus the pre-deployment training at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., helped him adjust to the climate and weather conditions since leaving home.

"The field training at NTC, and on-the-job fieldwork helped me deal with the heat and sandstorms," said Hester. "So I felt well prepared when I got here."

To adjust to life away from home during his first deployment, Hester integrates a little touch of his personal life here at Forward Operating Base Falcon by utilizing his skills as a disc jockey. He volunteers for Hip-Hop night and established a dance contest to boost morale.

"I just want everybody to be safe, keep their morale up, and stay focused during this deployment," said Hester.

When Hester returns, He plans to complete his bachelor's degree at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., where he enjoys performing and producing music.

Whether it is work or play, Hester's main focus is getting results.

"Spc. Hester is a Soldier's Soldier," said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Ready, of Charlotte. "His dedication to the job and his detail-oriented approach have greatly aided in the overall success of the company and brigade missions."

Hester said he feels he has chosen the right path by coming into the military and incorporating the Army values into his life.

"The training and hands-on experience that I receive on this deployment should help me at work, in school, and probably all aspects of my life," said Hester. "I didn't always take the right path in life...now I feel like I'm on it."