From Planes to Trains

by Senior Airman Jared Duhon
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

4/15/2014 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Retiring after 20 years of service may seem like a far off dream for some, but one enthusiastic Team Dover loadmaster has not only accomplished this dream, but has also landed his life-long dream job once he retires.

Tech. Sgt. Doug Beish, 436th Operations Support Squadron C-5M Super Galaxy loadmaster trainer, will retire April 25, 2014. He has accrued 5,872 flight hours during his 20 years of service and will soon be transitioning into a career as a railroad conductor.

"It is an exciting time for me," said Beish. "It has been exciting being a loadmaster. I've been able to work with the other military branches, helping out on an international scale, and even earned a bronze star from it. But, I can't wait to get on the train."

Beish's love affair with trains began when he was a young boy growing up in Dover. His grandfather and great-grandfather worked as welders for train manufacturers and while growing up he would spend many summers with his grandfather and the trains he worked on. This sparked a passion in his heart for not only real size trains, but model trains as well. He currently owns, works on and plays with more than 200 model train engines, train cars and train accessories.

"I remember always having model trains setup around the holidays," said Beish. "I liked being able to fix them and customize them to match the trains I saw running up and down the Delaware tracks. The first train set I bought, while in the military, was an Operation Iraqi Freedom set when the war started."

During Beish's childhood, many of his friends were the children of military members which drove his passion for his first career.

"I originally wanted to be a pilot," said Beish. "Luckily, a few of my neighbors were loadmasters and I was able to see the job they did. I decided I wanted to be a loadmaster after that."

Beish joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1994 and switched to active duty in 1996. During his first eight years Beish was stationed at Dover AFB. After a tour at the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, he returned to Dover in 2008 when he started working with Master Sgt. Padoyable Greaves, 436th OSS loadmaster training manager.

"He is a good person, very energetic and a hard worker," said Greaves. "I am very happy for him and his new chapter in life. It is a loss for the Air Force, but it is a good opportunity to do something else he loves."

Retirement will not only allow Beish to pursue his dream job, but he will also be able to spend more time with his family. He is married and has four kids.

"We were married in April 2004 and moved to Germany that June," said Tanya. "The past 10 years I have watched him grow and succeed in everything he has set his mind to. I am very proud of my husband. I am glad to not have to worry about him every time he deploys. And I'm glad he was able to pursue his dream of being a train conductor."

Beish said he feels like a kid waiting to look under the Christmas tree as his retirement date approaches. He said he is brimming with anticipation.

"My family and I are extremely excited that I will be retiring soon," said Beish. "I have grown quite a bit since joining the military; learning about responsibility, drive, and determination as well as demanding perfection out of myself. How many people can say they were able to retire from their dream job and go into another dream job? Or even get their dream job in the first place."