Making the right impersonation: his name may be short, but when it comes to relieving combat stress, this Airman stands tall

Airman, June, 2004 by Sean E. Cobb

The commander steps up before guardmount, encouraging the security forces flight to check weapons, keep the base secure and be safe--and everyone laughs.

Except it's not really the commander, it's Senior Airman Johnnie Short, trying to get the troops smiling while they arm up for another graveyard shift of guarding Camp Sather, near Baghdad, Iraq.

Members of this unit know the 26-year-old fire team leader's ability to impersonate the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's leadership.

"He's got the commander nailed," said Staff Sgt. Lance Curb, a squadron fire team leader. "He can do the chief, the superintendent and he's working on the operations officer. If you weren't looking right at who was talking, you would swear it wasn't [Airman Short]."

After enduring daily rocket and mortar attacks and several convoy ambushes on the unit, the squadron's leadership appreciates Airman Short's ability to lighten the war zone atmosphere. "The commander can't keep a straight face when he sees me coming," Airman Short said. "I know they're thinking, 'What's he going to do next?'"

Inevitably, Airman Short's shenanigans become the talk of the squadron, sometimes the entire camp. "I do what I do because I care about people," he said. "I also have tremendous respect for people, so everyone knows I can be funny without getting out of line."

While growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, Airman Shaft's family always believed he had a career as a comedian. As class clown, practical joker and always on the lookout for the next laugh, he took naturally to the slapstick spotlight. However, Airman Short believes in situational humor, so he looked around for a likely vocation with plenty of material.

Swearing it wasn't about the coffee and donuts, and with a genuine interest in law enforcement, he applied for a corrections officer position advertised in an El Paso, Texas, newspaper.

While going through a corrections academy at Tucson, Ariz., he spotted his future wife, Rosa, during the first day of class. "I knew from the get-go when I met my wife that I was going to marry her."

The courtship continued for a year as they became guards at the Kaibab Unit Correctional Facility in Winslow, Ariz. However, as their love blossomed, for Johnnie, the prison walls closed in.

Believing there was more to law enforcement than what he saw behind the iron bars, Airman Short walked into an Air Force recruiter's office in July 1999. "I told the recruiter I wanted to be in law enforcement, and he told me security forces was the way to go."

With his career kicking off, Airman Short felt it was time to take care of his love for Rosa. The two were married in March 2000 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in the lull between basic training and the Security Force's Academy.

His new family came complete with two kids, 16-year-old Demonessa and 15-year-old David, and a ready-made opportunity to temper his wit through one of the world's oldest professions--fatherhood. Their relationship has grown strong, and the teens miss him when he's away.

"I love my kids," Airman Short said. "We really get along well together."

For now, Airman Short's time in Iraq means he has a job to do before returning to his family. "Every night we protect the people behind that wire over there," he said as he pointed to the camp behind him. "Anyone who wants to mess with them has to go through us first," he said.

Looking toward the outer perimeter, he grips his weapon tighter. Softly he adds. "And that's no joke."

Career Field Stats

3POX1--Security Forces

Assigned: 23,619

Duties: One of the main duties is to maintain the rule of law on base and ensure the safely of all base weapons, property and personnel from hostile forces. All police activities associated with an Air Force base, from securing the perimeter to being a dog handler, fall under this career field.

Civilian application: Civilian law enforcement officer, security personnel and related government security agencies. College credits awarded through Community College of the Air Force can be applied toward a law enforcement degree.

Senior Airman Johnnie Short

Fire team leader, 822nd Security Forces Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., deployed to 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Sather, Iraq

Years In Air Force: 4 years, 5 months

Reason for enlisting: "It was a family thing. My father and all my brothers, my father's brothers, my grandfather--pretty much all of us--have been in the military. It's basically family tradition."

Assignments: Holloman AFB, N.M., 2000 to 2002; Moody AFB, Ga., 2002 to present, including a five-month deployment to Tallil Air Base, Iraq, and a three-month deployment to Camp Sather, Iraq.

Coming up: Working on a degree in aviation business management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "I plan on crass-training into physical therapy or paralegal assistant until I get my degree and then get into aviation business management," he said. "I would like to settle down in the Colorado Springs [Colo.] area, maybe work at a major airline there."