Staff Sergeant Amanda Stephens makes important job fun Published May 13, 2009 By Airman Brian McGloin 433 AW BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas -- Walking in to the clean, organized office of the 710th Information Operations Flight, an Air Force Reserve unit at Brooks City-Base, it's difficult not to notice something unusual about the motivational posters adorning the walls. The face in many of the posters looks like the person at the desk, Staff Sergeant Amanda Stephens, a knowledge operations manager for the 710th IOF. Sergeant Stephens' job isn't just making creative and funny motivational posters. It's not just filling the candy bowl in her commander' s office. It's neither refueling the flight's government vehicle nor helping Chief Master Sergeant Johnnie Almon, the electronic systems security assessment chief, with his annual physical training evaluation. No, her job is more than the sum of these little things; It's about making sure the 710th IOF Airmen are always ready. "I love what I do," Sergeant Stephens said . The 710th IOF is an intelligence unit charged with the task of monitoring electronic systems to keep government secrets and information out of the hands of the wrong people. The flight must be ready to deploy anywhere at any time. It is Sergeant Stephen's job to make sure that can happen by keeping everything, such as travel orders and other important information, filed and in order. Until recently, the 433rd Airlift Wing acted as the military personnel flight for the 710th IOF and ensured they were medically qualified and ready to deploy at any time. Although the Alamo Wing is no longer the MPF for the 710th IOF, it still provides medical support and mission-essential training. Those MPF customer service issues, not available through the Air Force Portal, fall to Sergeant Stephens and that is just fine by her. "I'm a customer service kind of person," Sergeant Stephens said . What she likes most about her job are the people. During the unit training assembly weekends, the office can have as many as 40 people working in it. Normally there are only three, she said. Chief Almon said, with a laugh, that Sergeant Stephens was always in "goof-off mode" and later added that she never has a bad attitude. Her demeanor is all about having fun while getting the job done. Sergeant Stephens didn't help Chief Almon with his PT evaluation by pencil-whipping some forms or cheering from a distant sideline. She went a few steps further. After she finished her own running assessment, Sergeant Stephens walked in front of Chief Almon and paced him as he walked, helping him improve his time with each lap of his required three miles. Chief Almon has to walk for his PT evaluation instead of running due to back problems. "She was out there pacing me, keeping me going," Chief Almon said . "She is the type of person to get the job done without having to ask," Chief Almon said . "I can't ask for a better troop." Sergeant Stephens said she could have chosen any job in the Air Force; but she chose the knowledge operations manager position because life isn't always about the glamour and fame. She said it is important to remember that the greatest reward in life is true happiness, and she wouldn't trade what she does for the world.