Face of Defense: Air Force Pilot Chases Olympic Dreams

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Christopher Thornbury DoD News Features, Defense Media Activity

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan., September 4, 2015 — It's early morning and the sun is bright and warm but the air is still cool. Sitting on the maroon-colored track, he slides his bright red running shoes onto his feet, grabbing each lace and tying a knot. After preparation, he begins his workout.

Air Force Capt. Daniel Castle, a 349th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, is one of five airmen selected from throughout the Air Force to participate in the World Class Athlete Program, which allows service members of all branches to train as their primary duty.

Castle will spend the next year training to run the men’s 1,500-meter in the 2016 Olympics.

Olympic Dreams

Competing for a spot on an Olympic team is one of Castle’s lifelong dreams, he said.

Castle will be heading back to his alma mater, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to train at the U.S. Olympic Complex with his former coach. Juli Benson, an academy cross country head coach and track and field assistant coach, specializes in middle and distance runners.

Over the next year, Castle will run nine to 10 times a week, an hour to an hour and a half at a time, totaling 70 to 80 miles each week. He will combine long runs ranging from 15-18 miles, shorter four- to five-mile runs at his aerobic threshold and sprints of 200 to 400 meters with weightlifting three to four times a week.

More Than a Friendly Competition

Running has been a part of Castle’s daily routine for several years now. Even with the hectic duty day of a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, he made sure he ran each day. He often ran during lunch breaks or at 10 and 11 p.m. if the day didn't flex to his schedule.

His highly competitive running career started in college. His senior year, he set the academy record and placed 15th in the NCAA and 20th in the U.S.

Running is more than just a friendly competition, he said.

"Running is something I'm very passionate about, not only for the chance to compete," Castle said. "It's my conduit to decompress from all the stresses in life and I believe in being world class by pushing myself to do the best in everything that I do."

After graduating college, he didn't slow down. Within a year, he completed his master's degree while running 40 to 60 miles each week.

Air Force Core Values

"Determination, the idea of chasing dreams and the Air Force core values have built Castle into the airman he is today," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Shalamar Coleman, the 22nd Mission Support Group noncommissioned officer in charge of group administration.

The Olympics are a year away, but in the meantime, Castle will represent the U.S. this October in Mungyeong, Korea, at the 6th CISM World Military Games, an international military competition held every four years.

Aside from his goals as a runner, Castle said he plans to continue his Air Force career by becoming an instructor at the academy so he can inspire younger airmen to chase their dreams.

"I would love to be able to teach and mentor the next generation of Air Force officers," Castle said. "[I want] to fuel the fire of living passionately."

His drive and desire to improve himself and others comes from his beliefs in the Air Force core values, he said.

'"Excellence in all we do.' I really believe in that," Castle said. "I believe that it is the foundation to a life that is worth living, which has helped drive me to continue running despite five deployments [and] many temporary duty assignments. ... Making time to work out and run every day under the foundation of excellence is what has allowed me this chance, six years later."

Pilot chases Olympic dreams

by Airman 1st Class Christopher Thornbury
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

8/19/2015 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.  -- It's early morning, the sun is bright and warm but the air is still cool. Sitting on the maroon colored track, he slides his bright-red running shoes over his foot, grabbing each lace and begins to tie a knot. After preparation, he begins his workout.

Capt. Daniel Castle, 349th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, is one of five Airmen selected throughout the Air Force to participate in the World Class Athlete Program, which allows service members of all branches to train as their primary duty.

Castle will be spending the next year to training for the 2016 Olympics 1500 meter race.

"One of my dreams that I have always had is to try and make it to an Olympic team," said Castle.

Castle graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2009 and will be heading back to train at the Olympic training center. He will train with his former coach Juli Benson, U.S. Air Force Academy cross country head coach and track and field assistant coach, who specializes in middle and distance runners.

During the yearlong training, Castle will be running nine to 10 times a week, an hour to an hour and a half at a time totaling 70 to 80 miles each week. Some days will consist of long runs ranging from 15-18 miles; relatively short distances, such as four to five miles at his aerobic threshold; sprinting different lengths from 200 to 400 meters; as well as lift weights three to four times a week.

Running has been a part of Castles daily routine for several years now. Even with the hectic duty day as a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot he makes sure he contributes to his goal each day. He often runs during lunch breaks or at 10 and 11 p.m. if the day doesn't flex to his schedule.

His highly competitive running career started in college. His senior year, he set the Air Force Academy record, placed 15th in the NCAA and 20th in the U.S. However, running is more than just a friendly competition to Castle.

"Running is something I'm very passionate about, not only for the chance to compete," said Castle. "It's my conduit to decompress from all the stresses in life and I believe in being world class by pushing myself to do the best in everything that I do."

After graduating college, he didn't slow down. Within a year, he completed his Master's degree and continued running 40 to 60 miles each week.

"Determination, the idea of chasing dreams and the Air Force core values have built Castle into the Airman he is today," said Staff Sgt. Shalamar Coleman, 22nd Mission Support Group group administration NCO in charge.

The Olympics are a year away, and in the meantime, Castle will represent the U.S. in the World Military Games, a competition between the countries across the world service members form a team to compete against each other, this October, in South Korea.

Aside from his goals as a runner, he plans to continue his Air Force career by becoming an instructor at the Academy, so he can inspire younger Airmen to chase their dreams.

"I would love to be able to teach and mentor the next generation of Air Force officers," said Castle. "To fuel the fire of living passionately."

His drive and desire to improve himself and others comes from his beliefs in the Air Force core values.

'"Excellence in all we do,' I really believe in that," said Castle. "I believe that it is the foundation to a life that is worth living, which has helped driven me to continue running; despite five deployments; many temporary duty assignments; being my best as an officer, leader and Airman. Making time to work out and run every day under the foundation of excellence is what has allowed me this chance, six years later."

SEAC visits McConnell

by Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

8/3/2015 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The Department of Defense's top enlisted member and the senior enlisted Soldier in the Kansas National Guard visited here July 30 - 31 to speak with military members about important issues and learn about Team McConnell.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Moberly, visited with Airmen from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, 931st Air Refueling Group and 184th Intelligence Wing, touring multiple squadrons, learning about the active duty and reserve refueling mission and the Air National Guard cyber intelligence mission.

"Seeing the Airmen and talking to them through town halls, during chow, [commander] calls, and physical training gives me an opportunity to thank troops and share information," Battaglia said.

During a town hall, Battaglia discussed the future of the health care system and benefits within the Department of Defense with Airmen, Soldiers and Marines from the local area.

One of the most important purposes of the visit was to express thanks towards the junior members of the McConnell community and their families from top military officials, said Moberly.

Chief master sergeants and U.S. Army sergeants major from around the local McConnell area were able to meet with Battaglia to discuss issues facing senior enlisted leaders.

"It's not every day that an Airman working out on the flightline is given the chance to talk to the senior enlisted member of the armed forces," said Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Hughes, 22nd ARW command chief. "I think the advice our Airmen received from Sgt. Maj. Battaglia will go a long way to helping them through their careers, and hopefully hearing about their concerns will help him and the chairman [of the joint chiefs of staff] address existing issues."

Some of the places Battaglia visited included the 22nd Maintenance Group complex, where he spoke with maintenance Airmen working the swing shift, the KC-135 Stratotanker Boom Operator Weapons System Trainer, and the 184th IW's 299th Network Operations Security Squadron.

"We are extremely grateful to Sgt. Maj. Battaglia and Sgt. Maj. Moberly for visiting Team McConnell," said Hughes. "Our Airmen did a great job showcasing the variety of missions we have here, and hopefully word of the quality and pride they take in their work will make it all the way back to the Pentagon."

Vehicle management innovation saves Air Force thousands

by Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

7/20/2015 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- A member of the 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight saved the Air Force more than $60,000 through the use of in-house fabrication.

C.J. Slifko, 22nd LRS vehicle management flight allied trades mechanic, identified the possibility of replacing the entire back assembly of a street-sweeper truck with pieces made on-station.

"I've always thought that if we could do it ourselves, I would much rather do it here," said Slifko, a retired senior master sergeant who worked in vehicle management his whole career. "Sometimes you can't help what happens when a truck breaks, so our whole chain very strongly encourages us to come up with new ideas and new ways to save money, and I'm all for that."

Maintenance personnel noticed that the truck wasn't sucking dirt and debris off the flightline at desired levels, so it was brought to the vehicle maintenance shop. Slifko and his coworkers inspected the sweeper and discovered the entire roof was about to collapse due to rust.

"The manufacturer actually sells a kit to replace the entire hopper assembly, and it ran in the neighborhood of $65,000," said Slifko. "It would not have been cost effective to buy that part; it would have actually made the truck considered unserviceable, leaving [the 22nd CES] with only two sweepers."

Slifko proposed they fabricate the piece in-house instead, and he immediately started coordinating with various shops across base, including the 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental element and 22nd CES welders to help safely assemble the large amounts of metal used in the process.

The assembly took approximately 200 man-hours of labor between Slifko and his coworker to complete, and ultimately cost $3,000, saving more than $60,000 and exemplifying the innovative mindset inside the 22nd LRS.

"We encourage the ability to come up with new ideas and challenge what we typically do," said 2nd Lt. Kathryn Gossner, 22nd LRS vehicle management flight commander. "We are extremely proud that our Airmen [and] our civilians are taking that extra step to see think about how we can make this better, how can we do things better."

This in-house fabrication not only saved the Air Force thousands of dollars, it also showed how Airmen at all levels, whether uniformed or civilian, are constantly innovating in their fields.

"People are our priority," said Gossner. "Our people make the mission happen. When they are able to make decisions, to take ownership of their job and come to work inspired, things happen."