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How to go bald in 60 days: Airmen beat challenge, shave chief's head

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Cans were counted and hair fell to the floor, Dec. 17, at a formation in the Base Theater as Airmen from the 383rd Training Squadron celebrated their longest streak free of zero alcohol-related incidents.

With help from wingmen and motivation from squadron leadership, Airmen made the push from 45 to 60 days with no alcohol-related incidents and were given a chance to be chosen to shave the head of 383rd TRS superintendent, Chief Master Sgt. John Trujillo.

Chief Trujillo said the squadron had struggled with alcohol-related incidents this year, and leadership decided they needed a new plan of action. Instead taking full control of all the Airmen in Training, the Airmen Leaders were given more responsibility over the other Airmen and a little extra incentive that combined a little good-natured getting even with giving. 

"I told them if they could make it to 60 days with no ARIs they could shave my head," the chief said. "If you think about the daily life ... and all the things they go through, what better way to get back at the leadership then make them bald."

"We tied in the canned food drive because it's close to the holidays and we can help those families in need," Lt. Col. Jennifer Kimmet, 383rd TRS commander said. "It also served the purpose to decide who would get to shave Chief Trujillo's head. Each of the classes were competing against each other to collect most canned food. The winning class puts their names in the hat and two of the members were chosen."

Colonel Kimmet, said it was remarkable how much food the friendly competition brought in.

There were more than 1,950 cans of food collected by the 383rd TRS classes. Class 11018 brought in the most cans of food and Airman 1st Class James Qureshi and Airman Jonathon Dominguez were the names picked from the hat.

Chief Trujillo said this accomplishment was credited to the Airmen, and he has seen change in their attitudes.

"The wingmanship has grown so much," Chief Trujillo said. "The AiT (Airm and student leaders are taking better care of each other. They don't let each other make bad decisions. I tell them that the Airman's Creed is not just something they say, it's something they do."

Master Sgt. Eric Mixon, 383rd TRS first sergeant, said the 383rd TRS is one of the largest squadrons at Sheppard, and have 21 Airman leaders and about 600 AiT on any given day.

"With the new responsibilities and empowerment, the (Airman leaders) would do what they called 'blue belt patrols,'" the first sergeant said. "It was a way to get them out there and empower them to make a difference."

Airman leader Airman 1st Class Nathan Barron, 383rd TRS Aerospace Medical Service apprentice, said the blue belt patrols were one of the most effective ways to cut down the alcohol-related incident numbers.

"A lot of our efforts were put toward policing the hot spots where Airmen would get in trouble the most," he said. "We made sure that we were checking the phase cards and checking ages on ID cards while walking around the base. It is such a great feeling to make it to the first mile stone, but if we make it to 120 days, we will get the chance to shave his head again plus the mustache."

Airman 1st Class Daniel McCraw, an Airman Leader and 383rd TRS AMS apprentice, said it made an impression when their chief offered to shave his head in front of the whole squadron. The chief wanted to make sure Airmen would remember what they have been given and what they could lose.

"I make sure I tell the Airmen before they go out to think about it before they take that drink," Airman McCraw said. "I would ask them 'Is it really worth it? Is one night worth your entire Air Force career?' What we are doing right now is so much bigger than one fun night out drinking."

Airman McCraw said this experience made a change in the Airmen of the 383rd TRS.

"Making it this far with zero incidents says a lot about how much better our wingmen are looking out for each other and the choices they are making," he said.

Colonel Kimmet said the Airmen made an astonishing turnaround in the squadron.

"We try to instill the core values from the very beginning," the colonel said. "Patients have to trust them, and their actions and behavior will directly reflect how much they can be trusted. We want them to practice that train of thought from the first day they arrive. I am unbelievably proud of how well the Airmen governed themselves, began helping each other make good decisions and being better wingmen to one another."