Goodfellow 17th Training Wing Spotlight

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Scott Jackson
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Master Sgt. Anthony J. Soupley, 312th Training Squadron Special Instruments Training superintendent, is the newest 17th Training Wing Spotlight, a series highlighting Goodfellow Team members.

Airman 1st Class Scott Jackson, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs photojournalist: What led you to join the Air Force?

Soupley: I wish I had a cool story about a turning point that caused me to enlist. Unfortunately, I do not. I honestly woke up one morning on February 1st, 1993, and thought, "Hey, I think I want to talk to an Air Force recruiter." I have no clue why I did it, especially since I was not the type of person that liked to try new things, let alone talk to a new person. I spoke to my guidance counselor and recruiter that day, took the ASVAB [armed forces aptitude test] the next day, and was sworn into DEP [delayed entry program] a week later.

Why do you still serve?

For starters, I still serve because I'm still having a good time! I love the career field I'm in; I love the people I work with; I love the mission that I'm training our new Airmen for. I figure that as soon as I no longer enjoy it, it will be time to retire.

What's been the most impactful moment in your career?

During the summer of 2012, I was the full-time, acting first sergeant for the GEOINT [Geospatial Intelligence]/MASINT [Measurement and Signature Intelligence] Production Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Sadly, one of my Airmen was killed while riding his bicycle to work. My commander and I, as well as 21 other military members, hopped on a bus and rode 13 hours to Minnesota so that we could attend the funeral.  When we arrived, the family greeted us with open arms, much like they would have greeted any family member. At the funeral, we formed up away from the family so that we would not get in the way. We were not there to be the center of attention, but merely there to show our support. Before the funeral, the father comes and asks us if we would like to be part of their family tradition of putting dirt in the grave towards the end of the funeral. Honored that the family wished to include us, we agree. Having spent 3 1/2 years on the Honor Guard, I thought I had seen it all.

What did the family have you do?

We all expected to walk by the open grave, like we have seen at many funerals, and drop a handful of dirt into the grave. Not at this funeral. The family brought eight shovels out, and asked us to help. I know that this sounds very odd, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized what an amazing tradition this was. Here is this family, saying goodbye to their son, and they asked us to help them do the one final act they can do for him; lay him to rest. They didn't just want us to help put his casket in the ground, they wanted us to bury him. To say I was honored would be an understatement. To say it was impactful would not do it justice. I had known this family all of 4 hours, and they wanted to share their final moments with their son... with us! Not because we told them how well we knew him. Not because we shared all of our stories about him, we hadn't done that yet. They wanted to share with us simply because we were his brothers!  

What is your life like off duty?

Life off work for me is pretty simple. It revolves around my wife, and my 15-year-old twin daughters. You can find me either attending [my daughter's] basketball or softball games, practicing guitar with [my other daughter], out on a date with [my wife], or even on horseback with all three of them.

What do you want to accomplish during your time here at Goodfellow Air Force Base?

Professionally, I would like to ensure that I leave my current job in better shape than the way I found it. I do not want to be irreplaceable. On a personal level, I would like to finish my Bachelors in Information Technology. I'm on schedule to graduate next spring.

Is there any advice or anything extra you would like to share?

Go to school! Do not wait until later in your career to think about school. I wasted too many years without taking any classes. Also, get out from behind your computer. They don't write books or make movies about "email leaders." Leadership is done face-to-face. Leadership is done by example.