One door closes, another opens at 179th

Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Harwood | Tyrell Shaw signs his enlistment papers and swears an oath of enlistment to Col. Michael J. Howard on March 26, 2015, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. Col. Howard is retiring from his position as the 179th Airlift Wing vice commander and will be the executive director of the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), an agency that Shaw was active in as well. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood\Released)  

MANSFIELD, OH, UNITED STATES

03.26.2015

Story by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Harwood 

179th Cyberspace Wing

MANSFIELD, Ohio - When Tyrell Shaw graduated from Mansfield High School in 2009, he didn’t have any intentions of joining the military. Shaw knew he wanted to make a difference and serve his community where his great grandmother, Gwendolyn Buck, had raised him to work hard and help others. He reached out by becoming an intern in the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), a program that focuses on improving his community. This is where he first heard the term “Air Guard” and met someone who would make a profound impact on his life.

The 179th Airlift Wing Vice Commander, Col. Michael J. Howard, pours his heart into this community as well. Throughout his career in the Air National Guard, Howard has seen a lot of the world in his service to this country but has always made time to give back to the place he calls home; Mansfield. Howard recently became the executive director of the NECIC but first met Shaw during the 2010 summer projects. This was where Shaw began to quietly notice Howard’s military involvement and wondered what the Air National Guard was all about. He began to research and asked questions about how to become a part of the Air Guard. Shaw has an uncle who served in the Air Force and a sister who is active duty, currently stationed in Japan. He had an idea of what the United States Air Force does and that it meant a commitment to leaving this area to serve the nation abroad. After noticing that Howard could be involved in the Air Force and still be involved with the NECIC here in Mansfield, he sought out the 179th Airlift Wing on his own.

Air National Guard recruiter, Staff Sgt. Lincoln Clark, began to answer those questions about the difference between what his sister is doing on active duty and what Howard does in the Air National Guard. He explained that joining the service doesn’t have to mean leaving the people he cares about in Mansfield. Shaw began to see that by following Howard's path, success can be obtained through hard work and a free education is offered to airmen right here in his community.

So it came to be, that on March 26, 2015, Tyrell Shaw raised his right hand and swore an oath to honor and defend the United States of America to his mentor from the NECIC, Col. Michael J. Howard. All of this happening to be during the final weeks of Howard’s long career with the 179th Airlift Wing. Howard was able to read the oath of enlistment swearing in Shaw as the newest member of the Ohio Air National Guard in front of his family. Howard reflected on the moment, “I remember how it felt, raising my hand all those years ago. My career in the Air Guard has been a blessing, this is all really an exciting time for me, I am excited for what this means for Tyrell and his family.”

Shaw has chosen to join the Force Support Squadron (FSS), in the services specialty career code. The FSS has a motto, “The Best, Serving the Best.” Shaw has the right intentions to fit that mold. After he completes Basic Military Training in Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, and his technical training with active duty to become proficient in his career field, he can come back home to serve Ohio, his community in Mansfield and even his grandma Gwendolyn.

“The NECIC is an agency that is about improving lives. This is a shining example of the good things that can come together when the people of the community do. It’s working.” Howard continued, “I’m happy to see this come full circle, as it should.”

Shaw working with the NECIC, in the spirit of service to his community, has inadvertently inspired him to become an airman. Youth like Shaw have fueled Howard’s drive to work with the NECIC. This may be the end of Howard’s military career, but it is far from the end of his service to this community. Howard said, “Being able to be here, to swear him in, as I am on my way out; it really is special. I am excited for retirement in that I’ll be able to get more involved with the NECIC and the future of this community.”

• Date Taken: 03.26.2015
• Date Posted: 03.27.2015 07:59
• Story ID: 158323
• Location: MANSFIELD, OH, US