December 2009 Portrait of a Professional: Staff Sgt. Emanual Matsamura Published Nov. 25, 2009 MOFFETT FEDERAL AIFIELD, Calif. -- Portrait of a Professional is a monthly profile of an outstanding Staff Sgt. and below. Staff Sgt. Emanuel Matsamura, 129th Operation Support Flight NCOIC of intelligence training, is this month's Portrait of a Professional. What is your favorite memory in the AF? I really enjoyed Basic Training. I think it was a good transition from being a civilian to being part of something that is beyond myself. Filling various leadership positions such as Dorm Chief allowed me to build on leadership skills early in my career. What motivated you to enlist in the AF? I wanted to challenge myself, get out of Los Angeles and move on to something bigger and better in my life. I used to work with kids at a youth center; I had young kids looking up to me at a young age. I had to set a good example which prepped me into transitioning over to the military. How has being an Airman changed your outlook on life? Since joining the military I've visited and lived in many states in the U.S. and countries around the world. This has allowed me to see how other people in this world live and view life. What's the most important lesson you've learned in the military? I always appreciated everything I had growing up, but now that I've had the opportunity to see how people around the world live, I take fewer things for granted. If you could deploy anywhere in the world, where would you go? I want to go to Iraq. I've yet to deploy to that location. I've always wanted to go to Iraq because that was where the initial fighting in the war on terror began. If you could choose any AF job, which would it be? Why? I would like to be a Joint Terminal Attack Controller. Those are the airmen that forward deploy directing close air support to the guys on the ground and other offensive air operations. I initially wanted to join the Army as an Infantryman like my older brother. So providing support to the guys on the ground like my brother would be rewarding. What are your hobbies? Spending time with my family, playing hockey, basketball and baseball, working out, and messing around a little bit with the guitar and piano. What would people be surprised to know about you? I play golf and have a 15 handicap.