Score one for the good guys

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kelley Jeter
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  They say good guys finish last, but at least 134 recently deployed Elmendorf members heartily disagreed, and put their belief on paper last week to do right by one of their best.
Capt. Matthew Hummel of the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron wrapped up his Guam deployment on the receiving end of a highly organized goodwill gesture from enlisted members who wanted to send him off in style, when he leaves active duty later this month. He finally got the ride of his life: an F-15E flight. 

Many people who worked for Captain Hummel knew he always deferred the offer of incentive flights to the junior-ranking Airmen, despite his desire to have one himself. As officer in charge of maintenance for the 90th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, he had many chances to take to the skies, but always insisted if the opportunity existed, it should go to the folks who turn the wrenches and otherwise make the mission happen.
What he didn't know is how insistent everyone else could be. 

"We drew up a letter for his flight, and got the signatures of 134 Airmen, mostly the people who could have had a flight, but who insisted it go to him," said Senior Master Sgt. Scott Dorler, superintendent of maintenance for the deployed 90th AMU. "He wouldn't take it as long as it could go to someone else, so we made it so it couldn't."
A non transferable ticket, you might say. 

Sergeant Dorler, along with Senior Master Sgt. Russ Edwards and 2nd Lt. Luke Stover, both deployed with the 90th, worked with operations and got a special fifth aircraft added to what would have been a four-ship, if Capt. Hummel refused the flight. 

"Lt. Col. (Colin) Wright (90th Fighter Squadron commander) set it up so that the backseat of the fifth aircraft was reserved just for him." 

And was it worth all that work? 

"It was incredible," said Captain Hummel. "I'd always wanted to do that, but there's always guys you want to get rides for; you don't want to take anything away from anybody." 

His pilot, Capt. Jason "Stinger" Houston, took him for a great spin over the Pacific, flying over islands and their bombing range, demonstrating dog-fighting and all manner of different maneuvers a fighter pilot needs to master. He showed him the working end of the aircraft that drives the long days and nights, the blood, sweat and tears of the maintainers. 

"It was great to get to see the other side of what we do every day," explained Captain Hummel. "I got to see how they employ the systems that our guys repair and maintain."
When asked what made everyone so motivated to give such a great farewell "gift" to Captain Hummel, Sergeant Dorler didn't hesitate. 

"He's not just your average officer." 

Describing him as a "perfect blend between mission and people," Sergeant Dorler says the captain spends a lot of time thinking about how to do things right by the people. 

"Probably only half the people who got incentive flights (while we were in Guam) would have gotten them, if it weren't for the captain working so hard on it." 

As Captain Hummel understands so well, incentive flights aren't just joy-rides: they're educational and meant to renew the enthusiasm, enrich the understanding, and reward the hard work of those who get them. 

As the captain packs his bags later this month to jump the fence and become a maintenance officer for the Virginia National Guard, he will carry the experience with him, and won't forget the 134 Airmen who thought he should appreciate it first-hand.