Play Ball!

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Regina Young
  • 116th Air Control Wing, Public Affairs
Georgia Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jasmine Mitchell, a medic with the 116th Air Control Wing' s Medical Group, experienced a first in her life when she gave the call to start the game during a recent Atlanta Braves home game.

Mitchell was chosen as team captain for the Georgia National Guard, among a group of more than 150 Airmen and Soldiers who took the field for the 3rd annual Tribute to the Troops to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

"Play Ball!" she shouted into the microphone as her picture shown on the Jumbotron overhead.

"Seeing my face on the Jumbotron and hearing my voice was terrifying," commented Mitchell. "I was so nervous I didn't even notice the crowd."

"It was a great honor for me to represent the Georgia National Guard that day," said Mitchell. "The respect and admiration from the fans and players made me realize I make a difference by wearing the uniform."

As a traditional Guardsman, Mitchell's job is to ensure Airmen in the Joint STARS wing are medically prepared to meet their mission providing command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to combatant commanders around the globe.

Working in a dual role, the Airman works fulltime supporting the 78th Homeland Response Force mission to man, train and equip a homeland response force that can provide a response capability to assist civil authorities in saving lives and mitigating suffering in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives incident.

"Joining the Air National Guard is the best decision I've made," said Mitchell. "It's enabled me to keep roots in Georgia and stay close to my family while still serving my country."