Some days, Air Force Airman 1st Class Kara Woods is practicing precision and bearing while holding a flag. Other days, she's greeting customers and sorting their mail. Regardless of what challenge Woods is taking on, she embraces it with full force.
Woods, a 27-year-old postal specialist with the 86th Communications Squadron here, said joining the military was something she had planned from a young age. Woods said she wanted the biggest challenge she could find, and for her that was joining the ranks of the world's greatest Air Force.
Long-Distance Relationship Results in Marriage
While pursuing a military career, Woods met her husband through mutual friends. He was stationed in Germany, and she was living in Washington. Their long-distance online friendship eventually became more serious, and he asked her to visit him in Germany.
"I went to visit him in September [2013], and we got married in Denmark two months later,” Woods said. “I've been here since."
After getting married, Woods said, she still had her heart set on joining the military.
"My husband is the reason I ultimately chose to join the Air Force, specifically," she said. "I decided to go in the direction [of joining the military] because I wanted the biggest challenge. I'm glad I joined, because of all of the opportunities I have."
Becoming an Airman
Woods spoke with an Air Force recruiter here, and in three short months had a contract for air traffic control training. Three months later, on April 7, 2015, she left for basic training.
"I started out in air traffic control when I joined, but I wasn't great at it," she said with a laugh. "It's very numbers-oriented. I'm very good at thinking and reacting quickly, but I didn't have the right mathematical mindset. At the time, I was really bummed I couldn't make it through training, but I'm glad things worked out for the best. I've had a lot of opportunities in my postal career field that I wouldn't have had in air traffic control. Besides being in administration, which is more flexible, I have really great leaders who allow me those opportunities."
Woods now works at the Ramstein Northside post office. Aside from her normal duty tasks, she has taken on multiple additional duties. Three months ago, Woods became a member of the base honor guard.
Joining the Honor Guard
"I joined honor guard because I wanted to [honor fallen service members] at their funerals," she said. "The idea of giving back to people who gave the ultimate sacrifice -- I feel like that's the most humbling thing I could do. I realize the chances of me being a part of someone's funeral that died in combat are extremely slim, but that's what initially attracted me to the program. Once I started practicing with them, I realized everything they do is really neat.
"Coordination is not my strong suit, but I'm getting better," she continued. "I knew honor guard would be a challenge for me, because you have to be sharp, crisp and motionless. I love what they do, stand for and represent. They're a very stable presence in ceremonies, and I think being part of that is such an honor. I absolutely love it."
Appreciates Leadership Support
Woods said support from her leadership has given her the opportunity to push herself.
"My favorite thing about my job is actually my leaders," she said. "As soon as I got here, they were very supportive of me wanting to help with the volunteer program we have at the post office as well as me wanting to join the honor guard and become a facilitator for the base.”
At this point in her military career, Woods said, she plans to stay in for at least 20 years. Through her desire to constantly strive to work hard and challenge herself, whether it's in her office or participating in honor guard, she added, she foresees her career being long and full of opportunities to better herself as a person and an airman.