TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --
Airmen serve for many reasons, from education benefits to serving
their country. For one Airman in the 325th Logistics Readiness Squadron, it was
all about seeing the world.
Tech. Sgt. David Ambrusko, the 325th fuels control center
NCO in charge, is from Eugene, Oregon, and the town of nearly 160,000 people
just was not big enough for him.
“I joined to travel,” he said. “I have been to Japan, Turkey
and Italy, so I have done my fair share.”
Ambrusko’s father also served in the Air Force from
1969-1974.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be the same Air Force that my
father served in, but I was definitely interested in getting in,” Ambrusko
said.
As Ambrusko rose through the ranks, his assignment at
Tyndall has brought its own set of rewards and challenges.
“Tyndall has been one of the most challenging experiences in
my military career,” he said. “The manning here has been rough, but I think
that is Air Force-wide. Overseas has always been 100-percent manned, so the
work is easily spread out to the entire flight. Here, you do multiple sections
no matter where you work.”
His two and a half years at Tyndall have played well for his
hobbies and his love for being on the water.
“I am a very outdoorsy person and the beach is very nice
here,” he said. “I want to invest in a boat of some sort, but I haven’t yet.”
Even through the challenges, there is little room for error
within the flight. The work Ambrusko, along with the entire fuels management
flight, does is critical to the mission at Tyndall.
“We have our finger attached to everything that happens on
base,” he said. “Whether it’s giving fuel to generators or aircraft.”
According to Ambrusko’s superintendent, he sets the standard
for the Airmen he works with.
“He is the heart of the fuels information service center,
wherever and whenever POL is called on,” said Master Sgt. Anthony Morris, fuels
information service center superintendent. “When asked to step up to the plate,
whether in our career field, outside of it helping within our squadron or base
or in the community, this young man sets the stage and is by far the example of
the type of Airmen our creed describes.”
As his service contract comes to end and his thirst for
traveling has been quenched, Ambrusko hopes to take his skills to the civilian
sector.
“I think I will to stick with the petroleum institute and
hopefully get a little closer to home,” he said. “I have been gone for far too
long.”