Page 2 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, July 6 2018

2 July 2018 Desert Lightning News

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Don’t underestimate importance of sacrificesFacebook.com/DesertLightningNews

C O M M E N TA R Y by Chief Master Sgt. were the numerous sacrifices that my fend the United States, against all en- don’t think any of us would change a
MATTHEW LUSSON wife and two children have made. emies foreign and domestic. We signed thing, but I simply wanted to let them
on the dotted line vowing to give our know how much they are loved and
6th Air Mobility Wing command chief Throughout the journey, my kids have lives in its defense, if needed, but no- appreciated and that I understand the
been asked to change schools six times, where on that contract does it say that sacrifices they have made.
Editor’s note: This commentary was each time giving up old friends to make our families should do the same.
first published Feb. 19, 2015. new ones. Some of those transitions Two things I ask: First, don’t ever
were easy, but some have been difficult. Whether you have a wife, husband, underestimate how much the support
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. The resiliency they have shown each partner, children or simply family back and sacrifice of our families means to
— As I was reviewing some enlisted and every time though, inspires me. In in your home town, we all have some- our success. Second, please ensure you
performance reports and decorations some instances, they have actually been one, somewhere along the journey with go home tonight and thank those that
today, I started contemplating a huge the ones itching to move, long before I us that didn’t sign that contract. They you love, give them a call if they are not
event in my life that occurred almost ever was. My wife has been asked to endure the ups and downs, the uncer- here with you, or give them a big hug
20 years ago. give up two different jobs along the tainties of deployments and the joy of if they are.
way as well, not really ever getting the reuniting with one another after those
In April of 1995, I asked my then opportunity to start a career. Addition- separations. I can think of no greater thing than
girlfriend Tiffani, a fellow Airman at the ally, my family has had to deal with me serving in the world’s greatest Air Force
time, to be my wife, for better or worse. missing many birthdays, anniversaries, My family has sacrificed so much alongside the world’s greatest Airmen,
We were married later that year and etc., due to my temporary duties and over these years to allow me to do what but without my family and their sup-
along our journey these past 20 years, deployments. I love, which is taking care of our Air- port and sacrifices, none of it would
we have seen many places, been blessed men. I cannot say “thank you” enough have been possible. We all look forward
with two wonderful children and made We, as service members, raise our or rewind time to make up for those to seeing where the journey continues
many friends. right hand and solemnly swear to de- missed birthdays and anniversaries. I to take us.

What really got me thinking though,

‘I really shouldn’t be here’

by Capt.
DAVID LIAPIS

92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs to squeeze out of that tight spot just in time to avoid having the pallet pin me
against the wall at my midsection. He was too tired and didn’t react quickly
Editor’s note: This commentary was first published Jan. 31, 2015. enough to my signal — again it was fatigue.
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. — A couple of feet and a half a
second. These may seem like insignificant measurements; but when combined The Air Force Safety Program is nothing new. All the right rules and guide-
with fatigue, a couple of feet almost cost me my career, and that half a second lines existed that night as they had for years prior and have for years since. We
almost ended my life. just got so wrapped up in what we were doing that we failed to consider and
There was a time when I was an enlisted aircraft electrical and environ- put into practice what we had been taught and what common sense told us.
mental systems specialist and was part of the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Unit,
at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. In the summer of 2008, while I We knew better, but the mission needed to be accomplished — or did it? Did
was assigned to work in the support section, my supervisor and I were tasked it really all have to be done that night?
to move much of the equipment from the 19th AMU hangar to the 12th AMU
hangar because of renovation. It’s true, getting the job done is what we are all about; however, we need to
We had a tight deadline and the NCO I was working for was determined to make appropriate risk assessments and ensure we’ll be here to take on the next
complete the task during our shift that night, even if it meant working more mission. Our line of work has inherent risks, but most can be easily mitigated.
than 12 hours. That night wore on and turned into morning and I knew it
would not be long before the recently set sun would peak up again over the The goal, rather the quest, is for zero — zero fatalities, zero mishaps, zero
Chugach Mountains. dollars spent to repair or replace needlessly damaged resources. That night,
Things were going well for the first few hours. I remember gawking at Elmen- failure to appropriately address fatigue almost cost me a whole lot ... times two.
dorf ’s very first F-22 Raptor that had arrived only days prior as I hauled load
after load of pallets and equipment across the hangar floor. I felt privileged to
be able to get up close to this jet named after a Jurassic Park antagonist that
all manner of military and civilian men and women of rank and position had
been flocking to the base to see in the preceding days.
Then, unexpectedly, I got a closer look than I had ever hoped for.
I wasn’t sure how I deviated so far off my well-established path down the
centerline of the hangar. However, I was sure I saw the half-ton of palletized
equipment I was backing into the hangar pass less than a yard from the nose
tip of the $150 million pride of the base.
I didn’t say a word to anyone about it at the time. All I could do was imagine
what my fate would have been if I had destroyed the pointy end of that beauti-
ful fighter jet. The thought made me sick to my stomach. My line number for
staff sergeant — gone. My future in the Air Force — shot.
Can you imagine being “that Airman” who smashed up Elmendorf’s first
F-22?
If I had still managed to promote and apply for officer training school, I can
picture the conversation at the officer accessioning board going something like
this: “and next up is a sergeant David Liapis ... wait, I know that name from
somewhere. Oh, yeah, he’s the guy that cost the Air Force millions of dollars
because he was an idiot -- next applicant.”
As you might have guessed, fatigue was the main contributing factor in the
previously related incident; however, I was not the only one suffering from too
much work and too little rest that night.
My supervisor was stacking some pallets with a forklift as I guided him
forward. I’m not sure how I ended up between a moving pallet and a wall, but
I did. I gave the hand signal for the sergeant to stop, but he didn’t. I managed