Retiring Ottman fought nation’s battles in Air Force

Senior Master Sgt. Rochelle Ottman has seen plenty of things during a 22-year career in the Air Force, including many conflicts the United States has been involved in.

She can’t discuss some of the missions she has been a part of, but according to the operations intelligence superintendent, her tenure includes several major attacks for our country. And her list of promotions, accomplishments and accommodations make her look like the Tiger Woods of the units she has served on.

Yet after a flag-folding ceremony Wednesday at TPC Summerlin, the 42-year-old reflected on a military career that revealed the one thing she’s most proud of and will miss the most: relationships.

“I’ve always been one of those people that gives 110 percent all the time, but I don’t think of it enough to make a big deal, accomplishing all these things,” said Ottman, whose retirement from the Air Force will take effect Jan. 1. “It was always just about making sure the people under me were happy.”

The ceremony was part of the weeklong festivities at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, including today’s Military Appreciation Day.

For Ottman, there’s been nothing more appreciative for her — on the giving and receiving end — than being a first sergeant for three years, something she calls one of her biggest accomplishments since it’s not the easiest thing to do when specializing in the intelligence field. According to Ottman, those in that area of expertise are not encouraged to branch out, but she loved being able to help a lot of officers through hard times while building morale.

“As a supervisor, your main concern is making sure the mission gets done,” said Ottman, who is stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs. “A lot of times you don’t have the opportunity to take care of the personal things. And as a first sergeant, that’s my main concern, is to make sure everybody’s personal life, work life — all those things — were in order. Just being able to do that was probably the best thing I did in the Air Force and personally my most favorite job that I’ve had.”

Which is saying something since she has had a laundry list of jobs and 12 assignments since Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

Before landing in Indian Springs, Ottman has been from New Mexico to Korea to Japan to South Carolina and to California, just to name a few. After cross-training in 1999 to become an intelligence journeyman, she served in five major commands and one unified command, and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (the War in Afghanistan) and the Overseas Contingency Operations (the War on Terror).

Throughout her intelligence career, she served as an aircrew intelligence liaison, global terrorism analyst, information operations analyst, senior indications and warning analyst, a Middle East regional analyst and a mission support analyst.

Ottman said even though her titles, jobs and missions might seem overwhelming to those outside the military, to her it has been a way of life for 22 years. As an intelligence expert, her everyday plate includes battling terrorism, taking out the bad guy and fighting for freedom.

“The only reason I’ve ever put that into perspective is when I hear other people bring it up, those not in the military, or unaware of the impact of 9/11,” she said. “They don’t understand what our country went through. That makes me think, ‘Wow, I was really a part of all of this stuff.’ Yet to me, it seems like a fight that we’ve had to do, in terms of just taking care of business. I just think of it as I had to get the mission done, and this is what we had to do, and I’m part of the Air Force and that’s part of my military job. I just don’t think about it, I guess.”

Again, she’s not at liberty to comment on any of the bigger attacks she has been a part of, but did reflect on two of the biggest deaths of this century: the capture and killings of Saddam Hussein on Dec. 30, 2006, and Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011.

“I’ve been, over my career, involved with a lot. One way or another they affected everything that we’ve done over the years,” she said. “But we looked at those as huge victories for not just us as the U.S., or not just us as the military, but a victory toward world peace. They were things that needed to happen. Things that, at the time, affected the whole world.

“Just being in the military during that time, you got good and bad feedback from people. Obviously there are people that don’t believe we should be in a war, that we shouldn’t be over there. And then there are those of us who are fighting for our freedom. So being a part of that ... those were good days. Those were good reports we were able to give to our commanders.”

Now, as Ottman approaches retirement, her underlings continue to dwell on her departure, knowing they’re losing a major inspiration of the 91st Attack Squadron.

“I’ve had a lot of people come to me and say, ‘I wouldn’t have gotten this far had it not been for you,’ or, ‘I wouldn’t have been able to do this had it not been for you,’ ” she said. “For me, that has been the best takeaway from the Air Force that I’ve ever had. People look up to me and actually say, ‘I’m sad that you’re leaving because now I’m not sure what I’m gonna do. Now I’m not sure who I’m gonna go to.’ ”

But, she said, she has assured those she mentors that she still will be around, will be reachable and will stay in contact. She has encouraged them to stay in touch and to contact her at any time.

“Even though I’m retired, I’m not done with the Air Force,” she said. “I’m not done mentoring. I’m not done being a part of this life. Things will change, obviously, I may not be (enlisted), but I’m going to try to be in these people’s lives.”

After all, her No. 1 passion and biggest satisfaction after an illustrious military career is what she believes has kept this country together: relationships.