With the task of keeping helicopter crews flying in a war zone, this Air Force mom tells in her own words why she chose this career and how she manages stress on an extreme job. 

Emily's Story:

I'm stationed in Afghanistan–away from my son, William, for the first time. I left when he was just 18 months. I missed my son's birthday. He just turned 2. My husband, Bobby, got him a Thomas the Tank Engine cake.

Read about more military moms here! I work with the U.S. Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter Crew. I maintain the search and rescue helicopters and all the equipment for those who go out on rescue missions. I don't see the bodies. The rescue crew takes care of the fallen. But I see the looks on the crews' faces. I'm like a worried mom when the rescue teams leave on a mission. While they go out, I sit back here and hope they all come back alive. I work because I love my job. I'm proud to be in the Air Force and an aircrew flight equipment craftsman. And my career provides for my family. My home base has been Japan for the past four years.

We live on Okinaola, an amazing tropical island. I got involved in the military when I was 18. My senior year, the recruiter did his job and sold me on it. Growing up I thought I'd be a chef who owned her own restaurant, a veterinarian or a nurse. What appealed to me about the Air Force was the travel. I initially joined to do four years. I was first stationed in South Carolina and got to go to Turkey. I signed up for another six years when my four years were up. I enjoyed what I was doing and what I was learning. Plus, once you hit ten years, you're halfway to retirement. I could retire before I'm 40. I'm 29 now. My husband is in the military and could retire in four years. My husband knows that deployments are the norm. He's been home with William playing dad and mom. I'm at the tail end of a six-month deployment. There are moments when the danger and risk become very real. But I can't focus on that. I believe if it's your time, it's your time. I put my heart and soul into everything I do out here.

While SSgt Horner is in Afghanistan, her husband and little boy are living in Okinaola, Japan. (2010)