I haven’t written
much about TJ’s “comings and goings” this year, and it isn’t because he hasn’t
done a lot of it. He has kept quite busy and has made me one proud Mama! I just
didn’t keep up on the blog as well as I could have and should have. Therefore,
as 2012 becomes history, I decided to provide a look back at his year. And I’d
better warn you - TJ did a lot this year, so this review has become a lengthy
blog!
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| TJ signs the papers for another four years. |
TJ was assigned to
Malmstrom AFB when he completed his tech training in 2007. Throughout his years
on the base he has “applied” (the layman’s term) to other positions and jobs,
all in an effort to allow him to “see the world”. In the spring he requested
the opportunity to shadow other MTLs. “MTL” stands for “Military Training
Leader.” TJ described the position as being a “dormitory manager”. He said the
MTLs oversee the lodging for the Airmen attending tech school and, if needed,
some Airmen may regard an MTL as a counselor. TJ was allowed to go for an
entire week at the end of May. (Just a side note: To shadow someone, somewhere
else in the Air Force, he pays for everything: his plane ticket, transportation
to and from the airports, any lodging needed, etc.).
He arrived for his
week of “shadowing” just as a new group of Airmen were coming for their tech
training, so the base had him work with this particular flight. TJ spent time
drilling them with their PT (physical training) and seeing to other needs they
may have. He also found time to talk
with three Sergeants he was shadowing. One Master Sgt that TJ worked with and
spent time talking to was extremely impressed with TJ and the questions TJ had
for him. As TJ’s week drew to an end the Master Sgt. told him, “When you put in your application you let me
know. I want to tell them about you and how they can’t afford not to have you
as an MTL.”
On his last day
shadowing, TJ pulled together the flight group he had been working with to say
good-bye to them. The Airmen had not realized that TJ was only there
temporarily, so they were extremely upset and disappointed when he explained
all of this to them. He gave them a final challenge to excel and to serve with
pride. (It’s the only way TJ knows how to serve.)
Since being assigned
to Malmstrom, TJ has been keenly aware of the Security Force Airmen from this
base that have paid the ultimate price for our safety. But to the best of his knowledge the base had
never honored or recognized them. This does not sit well with TJ. He is not
only very patriotic, but he is the best example I’ve ever met of someone who
wants to show his gratitude for those who are serving or have served. This year
TJ was finally inspired and felt God leading him to organize and conduct a
Memorial Service for these Airmen. Because he would be gone on Memorial Day
(his week of MTL shadowing), he scheduled the service for the Thursday prior. I
wrote about this service in my blog on Memorial Day and encourage you to read
it.
However, that service
of remembrance was not all he did for Memorial Day. Prior to this service he recruited
a few of his friends to join him at the local cemetery where they placed flags
at all of the gravesites. I believe they placed about 800 flags that morning.
(He paid for all of this - the things done for the Memorial Service and the
flags for the cemetery - on his own).
During the summer, he
completed his application for a position as an MTL. And then the infamous
“waiting” began. Finally, he sent a text that said, “I’ve got new orders!” He
was sure that it was the orders for his new MTL position. But alas, it was not.
He had received orders to go to Turkey for eighteen months. (Whenever he is
given orders, like this, he has approximately two weeks to accept or refuse
them.) He was thrilled with the idea of heading to Turkey, but he wanted to
know what had happened with the MTL request. Another Sgt began helping him look
into the matter and could only figure out that someone, somewhere along the
line, “dropped the ball” and the whole application was still in limbo. He had
to make the choice of accepting the orders to Turkey, which he now knew would
become eighteen months in Turkey and then three years in England, or decline
them with the hope that his application as an MTL would still come through. He
chose not to wait and accepted the orders for Turkey. He was scheduled to
report on base in January, 2013.
Then in October he wrote,
“Well, I’ve been thrown another curveball.” This prompted a phone call from Mom
to find out what this all meant! His orders to Turkey and then England had been
cancelled. He was now being ordered to report to duty at Vandenberg AFB on June
1, 2013, as an MTL. It is still unclear who or what happened to change the
orders, but this is all just part of military life and it apparently happens
quite often. TJ will actually leave Malmstrom in May, moving to California and
getting himself settled there, and then travel to Lackland AFB in San Antonio,
TX for two weeks of training before he actually begins at Vandenberg. We know
he was disappointed with the change of plans – he has always been about
“action!” But, we told him, “You are so good at leading and encouraging those
under you. The position of MTL is who
you are.”
If all of this were
not enough, TJ continues to organize/plan leadership seminars for younger
Airmen. This is all done voluntarily on his part. It is just something that he
believes needs to be done to assist and train the others. After his first
seminar, word spread so quickly about what he had done and how well it was
conducted, that when he posted information about his next one, the class was
filled within the first day and still other officers came asking if he couldn’t
please open up a place for one of their Airmen to attend. He has developed quite the reputation of - well,
of doing things according to the Air Force’s motto – with excellence.
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| TJ's 2012 AFS Chapter 1156 NCO of the Year Award |
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| "Playing" War Games |
TJ’s year has
included many other highlights such as completing his associate’s degree (only
to begin studying for his Tech Sgt test which he will take in February),
spending a month in Wyoming to be part of a training program where he played
the part of the terrorist, serving as an Honor Guard, and by no means the least
of which was deciding to “re-up” for another four years of service! His Dad and
I are extremely proud of his accomplishments and his continued dedication to
all that he does.
As we bid good-bye to
2012 and welcome in 2013 I know that TJ will continue to excel in whatever
endeavors lie ahead of him. He tells me that he has several very rough months ahead
of him before heading to his new assignment. The cutbacks to our military are
being felt as our troops are reduced in numbers. Within his own particular area
of responsibility, duties and jobs that were handled by two sections of
thirteen Airmen each, have just been reduced to one section of about ten to
twelve. His desire to serve with excellence causes him to be concerned with how
to meet the demands, deadlines, and responsibilities of this section. Yet, knowing
TJ, he will continue to persevere, giving his very best and continuing to make
me one very proud Mom.
TJ, may you continue
to know God’s richest blessing upon you as you serve Him and your country in
2013.
