Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, Sept. 27, 2019
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vol. 3, no. 20 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR sept. 27, 2019
An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
INNEr fIrE: Nellis firefighter finds his strength, earns 12 OAY
By Airman 1st Class Bailee Darbasie a transfer from Spangdalem to Nellis in
March of 2018.
Nellis AFB, Nev.
“Coming to Nellis saved my life,†con-
It’s 7 a.m. on a warm Nevada morning. fessed Kehl. “I truly thought my career was
The bright desert sun is shining through over. I didn’t know what I was going to do.
the window as a towering 6’4†Airman But, Nellis gave me the second chance I
is snug on his couch, hunched over, nose desperately needed.â€
buried in a book.
Taking control
It’s part of his mandatory morning Since arriving at Nellis, Kehl has focused
ritual. He starts his day with a hot cup on improving and empowering himself
of coffee — no creamer. He strolls over through reading, prioritizing and effec-
to his crowded wooden bookshelf, grabs tively leading his Airmen.
whatever seems interesting to him that day To regain control of his mind despite
and begins his 20-minute reading session. the constant ringing in his ear, Kehl
It’s a tedious task for some, but it’s about Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bailee A. Darbasie Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bailee A. Darbasie
discipline for him. Reading is a method he
uses to feel in control of his body and mind. Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Kehl, 99th Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Kehl, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department deputy fire
Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department chief, leads an exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 29, 2019. The 99th CES provides
Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Kehl’s deputy fire chief, speaks with his Airmen design and construction support for facilities and infrastructure, fire protection, crash
gleaming smile and perfectly faded mili- at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 11, 2019. rescue, disaster preparedness and environmental compliance.
tary haircut make it difficult for the Air- Since arriving at Nellis in March 2018, Kehl
men at the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron has focused on improving and empowering peek through the dark clouds of his mind. started with a small habit — daily reading.
Fire Department to imagine their deputy himself through reading, prioritizing and “I recall thinking, Hey, you’re either “Reading has helped me tremendously,â€
fire chief as a man who struggles with effectively leading his Airmen.
anything, especially control. Even his of- going to be weak and let this overtake all he explained. “I read the types of books that
fice is decorated with awards and trophies, in his head to stop. But, it wouldn’t. The the great momentum in your life, or you’re I know will help me on my path.â€
and he was recently honored as one of ringing persisted, getting louder and louder going to get up and say, ‘No! I want to play
the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen the more he thought about it. football with my son. I want to see him When he first started training himself to
of the Year. grow up, and graduate high school and read every day, Kehl recalls not being able
Worried and confused, Kehl made an college,’†said Kehl. “That moment made to read for more than five minutes before
Living in darkness appointment with his doctor, who diag- me realize I needed to turn my life around he was distracted by the ringing in his ear.
Nearly two years ago, Kehl was in the nosed his ringing as tinnitus, which is and get back on track.†Drowning out the noise, he can now read
darkest part of his life. He was in a fierce the perception of sound when no actual for 20 minutes at a time. The bookshelf in
battle with the negative emotions revolv- external noise is present. After many phone calls and late nights his office is full of thick non-fiction books
ing around a dissolved marriage, which researching his options, Kehl found a way containing what he calls “all of the secrets
resulted in a geographical separation from “I was at the lowest point in my life,†said to reunite with his son and continue his written right there in front of you.â€
his son. He was mentally and emotionally Kehl. “I was someone who was so used to career in the Air Force. He contacted his See fire, on Page 3
exhausted. The normally carefree Kehl being able to control everything; and now career field manager, who arranged for
everyone knew at Spangdalem Air Base, that multiple aspects of my life were chang-
Germany, had become a sad shell of his ing and out of my control, I felt helpless and
former self. lost. I wasn’t able to get any work done, and
Gloomy grey skies of Germany hung I was letting a lot of people down.â€
overhead, mirroring the darkness that
ensued him within, as he struggled to see Finding hope
the silver lining of his situation. Succumbing to his depression, Kehl
“The sun didn’t come out for almost a stopped going to work and was facing seri-
month,†Kehl recalled. “My son was only ous consequences. He sought help through
one year old when his mom and I split. She the Military & Family Life Counseling
(moved) to Texas, and I stayed back. I was Program, which allowed him mentally
with him every day until that point.†and emotionally process the separation
Just when he thought it couldn’t get any from his son. After weeks of spiraling
worse, he woke up one morning to the downward in his personal and professional
sound of an irritating, constant ring in his life, he finally saw a glimmer of sunlight
left ear. His head hurt. He couldn’t think
straight. All he wanted was for the nuisance
INSIDE: Commentary – 2; News – 3-8; Nellis Living – 12-14; Lighter Side – 16
