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Team McChord's 1st Sgt.'s host Airman's Feast

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Russ Jackson
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  McChord Field's First Sergeant Council hosted a feast for all unaccompanied and single Airmen, regardless of rank Dec. 5 here.

Airmen gathered at Fire Station 105 where they were treated to food catered by Dickey's Barbecue Pit restaurant. While they ate, McChord's first sergeants started raffling off donated prizes.

Prizes included gift certificates to numerous restaurants, motorcycle gear, a softball bat and gloves, workout equipment, and classic gaming systems like a Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. While the Airmen were excited to win some of those items, many were there for the grand prize.

"This is part of the job that we love to do to show that we appreciate you," Master Sgt. Calvin Oliver, 62nd Operations Support Squadron first sergeant told the Airmen. "Since you guys are still hanging around we have a fun little military game for you. If you're interested in winning the PlayStation 4, come up [to the front]."

The entire room of Airmen bolted to the front of the room to compete for a PlayStation 4 in front of an audience that included members from wing leadership, senior enlisted leaders, and the Pierce Military and Business Alliance.

"We just so happen to have on our First Sergeant Council a member that is a former [military training instructor]," Oliver continued. "What we're going do is play [drill] knockout. If you mess up, you're out. The last Airman standing wins the grand prize. Good luck to you all."

Grunts and groans could be heard coming from the group of Airmen as they realized the road to winning the PlayStation 4 was a test of drill and military bearing.

With that, Master Sgt. Curtis Davis, 627 Logistics Readiness Squadron first sergeant, made his way to the front of the room with the focus and intensity of a seasoned MTI.

"We're doing drill," Davis said. "If you screw it up and I see it or another Shirt sees it, you're out. Last one standing, guess what? You win."

Davis instructed the group to line up in a formation and then began barking out commands. He brought the group to parade rest and then commanded them to salute, without coming to attention first.

Immediately, half the group was disqualified and sat down to root for their peers who remained.

The Airmen impressed Davis and Oliver, who took turns calling out commands. They sped up their cadence as the group dwindled down to a dozen. Cheers echoed throughout the fire house from those watching the small group of Airmen as they correctly and sharply made every turn and every salute they were ordered to do.

Finally, Oliver threw a curveball. The command of dress right, dress helped thin out the contenders until the final two remained. Airman 1st Class Keoni Chavarria, 62nd Airlift Wing public affairs photojournalist and Airman 1st Class Cory McLellan, 627 Civil Engineering Squadron explosive ordinance disposal technician, were the last two standing.

Oliver had the Airmen face each other before quickly calling out commands. It did not take long before McLellan made the slightest incorrect twitch disqualifying him after an impressive display of military bearing and discipline.

The winner, Chavarria, had been decided.

Oliver hoisted Chavarria's hand high in the air and then the members of McChord's First Sergeant Council presented him with a brand new PlayStation 4.

"When I joined the game, I had no expectations of winning," said Chavarria. "When it came down to the last two, it was a rush. I didn't think I'd last that long and winning was like a dream.

"I want to say thank you to the First Sergeants Council for putting the lunch together. The food and atmosphere were great and I look forward to more events like this."