Misawa Airman to join elite Thunderbirds

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vann Miller
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Exceptional dreams require noteworthy pursuits and a Misawa Airman learned firsthand that no matter how long the chase, some dreams are worth following.

Being the first in his family to ever serve in the armed forces gave this F-16 crew chief a limited knowledge of what it means to be an Airman in today's Air Force. But that didn't stop Senior Airman Brian Emerson from dreaming big.

Although Airman Emerson had only served the military for less than three years, he received a line number for staff sergeant, performed exemplary at his job and has even been on some remarkable temporary duty deployments. When stacked up against his latest accomplishment, however, all of that dulls in comparison, he says, because he was recently selected to serve with the Thunderbirds.

The native of Rockledge, Fla., found himself stationed at Misawa for his first duty assignment where he served as an F-16 crew chief.

Airman Emerson said he has known early on that he wanted to work with the Thunderbirds.

"When I was in tech. school at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., the Thunderbirds came to do a weekend air show," Airman Emerson said. "While we (other students) were on the flight line, our instructor took us over to meet the Thunderbirds. I remember thinking, 'wow' they look really sharp and really cool."

This introduction was all it took to leave a lasting impression with Airman Emerson.

Over the next few years his tenacity and research into how to become a Thunderbird paid off.

But as luck would have it, it was during a training exercise to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. that Airman Emerson would actually get to sit down at a meal with some of the Thunderbird crew chiefs.

"In January last year we were TDY at Nellis and my chief, Chief Master Sgt. Duane Slater, introduced me to a friend of his, Chief (Master Sgt.) Robert Thiel," he said. "They let me know the process of what I needed to do in order to join."

Chief Slater said that Airman Emerson has always been a top performer here.

"He has always been mature," said Chief Slater. "For this being his first assignment, he has been recognized a lot here. When he expressed an interest in the Thunderbirds, I just pointed him in the right direction."

It took two application submissions and a request to extend here at Misawa to land the position with the aerial acrobatic show team, but in the end the news came back with an approval.

Finding out the news didn't hit him the way most would have expected, the Airman said. It was a bit surreal.

Prior to getting the news, Airman Emerson said he would check his e-mail two or three times per day. There were even moments when he felt as if being selected for the team was not going to happen.

"When I finally got it, it was not real to me," he said. "I told my OIC and she made an announcement on the loud speaker."

Airman Emerson left a strong impression with his team of maintainers, according to his supervisor.

"He is the complete package and a supervisor's dream," said Master Sgt. Clarence Glascock, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, aircraft section chief. "He has consistently displayed the highest standards and his confidence, dedication, and work ethics will be a tremendous asset to the Thunderbirds."

Since 1953, the Air Force's demonstration team has impressed audiences with their performances, and now Airman Emerson can say with pride he contributes to a team that showcases some of the best talent of the Air Force.