OK, C-ya!
That trip back in 2006 changed my life. Within two years, I was married and had my first daughter on the way. I bought my first house, and I met some life long friends as well, some of which I consider close to family. By the time March of 2010 came around, I was on my way out of the state, never to return again...... Or so I thought.
I found out in April of 2012, after just about two years living in Aurora Colorado, and adding my 2nd daughter to my clan, that we'd be moving back to Oklahoma, and I'd be back working on Tinker AFB again. I get asked all the time, "Raf, why the hell did you come back to Tinker? You escaped! Why didn't you stay gone?" Well, the answer to that question is, it was best for business. I actually thank god for sending me back here. At that time in 2012, it was the best possible career move for me. I needed to be guided by my friend, and Air Force Mentor, TSgt Rodriguez, upon my return. I needed further guidance from another leader, TSgt Sweeting, to further teach me important lessons in my career. I needed to learn how to be a great leader, and also make work fun for your subordinates, as I was taught by TSgt Tucy. I needed the experience to have my own airmen to mentor, and hopefully I did that. Out of the four years that I've been back in Oklahoma, there's only a span of four months, from September 2013-December 2013, that I feel absolutely sucked. Beyond that, I've enjoyed every minute of it, and I've learned a lot.
After a total of nearly eight years living in the Oklahoma City area, it is time for me to say goodbye. While I am happy to be leaving and experiencing a new place and new culture, it's also kind of bittersweet for me. I'm a military brat, and moved around every few years as a child. The majority of my childhood was spent in Hardin County, Kentucky, which is where I call home. But, my adulthood, has been spent right here, in Oklahoma City, and I have grown to love the place. During my near 10 year career, the only place I've ever been promoted thus far, is right here in Oklahoma City/Tinker AFB. My 3rd (and final) daughter was born in the same hospital in Midwest City, as my oldest daughter was, right across the hallway. I'm a Charlotte Hornets fan by far, #1 favorite NBA team, but I really like the OKC Thunder and they've become my 2nd favorite team in the league (something the Denver Nuggets never did during my time there. Ooohhh, burn.) I've become comfortable here. It has sort of become...... home.
If I worked with you or for you over the past four years, thank you man. Thank you to all the friends that helped us and looked out for my family and I. Thank you to all my supervisors, and anybody else even higher than them, that took time out of their schedule to assist me and better me. I named most of those supervisors above, but again, thank you all. I truly appreciate it.
I'm gonna drop some names here, so bear with me. To Caton, Selby, Key, Norrell (even if for a little bit), Murillo (for a little bit as well) Vance, Miller, Ramos, Snivley, Farris, Epperson, Allen, and Kirkendoll, thank you all so much for allowing me to guide you all for however long I supervised you. I was probably happier to have all of you, than you were to have me, I'm sure of that. You all taught me a lot about myself, and about my career. I'm sure I bored you all with countless stories, and life lessons, but just know, I did it to try to prevent you from making some of the mistakes I made coming up in my career. I know I made mistakes, and I may not have been the best supervisor to you all, but it was truly my honor to be able to have that time with you all. I truly appreciate it.
For the past 10 months, I've been working with the Security Forces Squadron. I just want to say to TSgt Krantz, thank you for those candid, man to man talks, and for helping me grow as a man and an NCO. Even if some of the talks were in jest, there were still some truthful elements in them and I appreciate it. You're also the person who told me to HIT THAT BUTTON, when the location change happened, hahahaha. SSgt Gray, thanks for being a listening ear when I needed it, sister. You were sweet and kind from day one, and I appreciate that. SrA Loveland, dude, your gas is the worst gas I've ever smelt in my 31 years of life, and nearly took 6'3, 260 pounds of me to the ground gasping for air... But, you are also someone I'm glad to call a friend, and I'm glad I got to meet you brother. SSgt Jackson, my mans, we pretty much clicked immediately, and bonded like we had been friends for years. I'm glad to have met you brotha, and I'll see you soon overseas. To everyone else in the SFS, thank you if you ever read this. You all were great to me and made me feel appreciated every day I came to work. Coming to work with you all was the change of scenery I needed, and was right on time for my career. So thank you all. And please, take good care of Endres as well. With time, she will be even better than I ever was for you all.
To my man Ce Locke, dude, I apologize man. There was always something coming up at the wrong time which prevented me from working with you as much as I'd have liked to. But trust that I wasn't intentionally avoiding you, because when we got to do work, we did great work, brotha. If I ever have the chance to do it again in the future, we'll get it done. Believe that. But thank you at the same time for making the dream of filming my first music video, come true. It came out better than I could've expected.
To everyone else, thank you for being a friiieeeennnnnnddddd! *Golden Girls theme song voice* I was going to write this on my way out of the country and send it as I landed, but no better time than now to get these thoughts out. We sold our house, (which was the #1 reason we came back to Oklahoma City, for those who always asked the question.) so Tinker AFB will not be on any future dream sheets. So, that's it. If I see you around before I depart, that's cool. But beyond that, it's been real. And you all take care. Peace.
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