The world needs more clappers

  • Published
  • By Maj. Russ Carlisle
  • 512th Airlift Control Flight commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A few Saturdays ago, I was having lunch in Memphis, killing some time before a FedEx flight later in the afternoon. I came across an article in the sports section of the Memphis "Commercial Appeal" by sportswriter Geoff Calkins. 

The article contained a story about a little girl who came home from school one day with great news: 

"I'm going to be in the school play!" the little girl said. 

"Wonderful," said the little girl's mother. "Are you going to be a princess?" 

"No," said the little girl. 

"A fairy?" 

"No," said the little girl. 

"A butterfly?" 

"No." 

"A tree?" 

"No." 

"What are you going to be then?" asked her now exasperated mother. 

The little girl beamed. 

"I'm going to be a clapper!" she said. 

I was so moved by the story that I called Mr. Calkins and left a message on his machine, thanking him for writing such a terrific story-within-a-story. 

The world needs more clappers. That's the point. Everyone can't be the star of the production. Not all of us can be the prince or princess, a butterfly, or even a rock or tree. Every one of us has our role. 

Later this month, more than 700 512th and 436th Airlift Wing members will be deploying to a forward operating base to participate in our long-awaited, joint Operational Readiness Inspection. The number of folks deploying are but a small percentage of the Airmen in our two wings. 

Some unit commanders and Airmen that are used to being in key roles in the wing are deploying in support of the ORI; but, the majority of the folks going are our most junior folks, who under everyday circumstances, are our clappers. During the ORI, these roles will be reversed. A lot of us that are normally at the tip of the spear will be back at Dover, cheerfully supporting our deployed Airmen. 

Whether you're helping to run the Unit Control Center, launching ORI support aircraft, getting the ORI players through the Personnel Deployment Function or running the show from the Installation Control Center or Deployment Control Center, your job as a "clapper" has never been more critical. 

Ask your Unit Deployment Manager, your unit Air Reserve Technicians and your fellow unit members that are deploying what you can do to make their job easier. 

Whether you're an airman basic or the wing commander, be a good clapper.