Airman 1st Class Ty Temple: Seeing life through another lens

Photo By Alexx Pons | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ty Temple, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, leans against an irrigation system while sitting in an open field Dec. 18, 2015, in Clovis, N.M. The lens Temple is holding belonged to his grandfather, who passed it along to him some time ago. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexx Pons)  

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, NM, UNITED STATES

12.18.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Alexx Pons 

Air Force Special Operations Command

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - After just five short months here, Airman 1st Class Ty Temple, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, is a great example of an airman who knows how to make the best out of situations that are not the most ideal, and bouncing back from unexpected life situations.

The 21-year-old Franklin County, Virginia native got off to what some would consider a trying Air Force start, but has refused to let seemingly negative circumstances get the better of him.

So … Franklin County, Virginia – I am sorry, but I have never even heard of that. Could you tell me more about life growing up there?

[Laughs] Well you might not notice us on a map, but we are the moonshine capital of the world – the movie "Lawless" is based off my hometown and everything in it!

And when you say “moonshine” capital, you mean…?
The literal definition if you Google that; we are the moonshine capital of the world – moonshine, hooch, white lightning … the stuff people drink and then make horrible faces for [chuckles]. I am not a big drinker of that myself, but my hometown makes the stuff!

So you do not drink moonshine, which seems like a smart call, but tell me a little more about yourself.
[Doubles back and sighs] Help me out here … I am not good with open-ended questions!

Okay, why don’t you start with something simple like your job?

That one is easy; I work supply or material management for the 27th SOLRS.

So you are a supply troop; assuming I know nothing about your career field, in simplest terms, what do you do?

I work in the mobility section; I basically issue out all CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives) gear for training and deployments. Additionally, we issue any weapons needed for deployments and TDYs.

Do you enjoy your Air Force career field?
Honestly? I am still trying to learn how to enjoy it…

Well people do enjoy honest and candid. May I ask why you do not genuinely enjoy it yet?

Well my original career field was aircrew; I was a 1A3… my heart is in the sky.

What is a 1A3 and why are you no longer in that career field?

It is an airborne mission’s systems operator; nicknamed: “Best Buy in the sky.” They are basically geek squad for aircraft – monitoring patterns and other aircraft; communicating with other ground forces, offering protection, etc. Unfortunately, I did not finish technical training; I missed scoring on my final exams by 1 question.

I was going to ask you what one of your biggest regrets has been, would you consider not completing your original technical training yours?

I definitely would; it sometimes keeps me up at night.

Let’s shift gears for a second. What about Cannon… are you at least happy being stationed here?

Yes and no… I love the base, not so much how remote we are – looking around the area and at the friends I have made though, I realized how much there really is to do here if you just get out of the dorms and do it!

Well that is a great way of looking at this location. Is Cannon your first assignment?

Yes it is my first assignment.

When you heard you would be stationed at Cannon [probably from skeptics during tech school], what did you think?

Here goes my honesty again - I instantly tried to go to Korea. I actually had someone ready to swap; it just did not go through.

That might have been for the best though right? I have heard a lot of people say that being stationed at Cannon gives you a certain amount of time and opportunity to focus on other passions and hobbies, have you personally found that to be true?

Yes I have … not only do I have more time for fitness and studying, but I have free time to work on my photography.

Oh! Are you a freelance photographer?

[Modestly] Sure … why not. I mess around with all sorts of photography: portraits, landscape, even astrophotography. Anything that typically has to do with space or stars really interests me!

Astrophotography is something new to me! Do you just go out at night and photograph constellations?

Yes; and that is the great thing about being stationed here! We have incredibly low light pollution in this area. I have been able to capture clear images of the Milky Way and even the Andromeda galaxy! With New Mexico’s low light pollution, I am able to see my images in photographs the way I see them with my own eyes… it is definitely breathtaking!

Photography is not a cheap hobby, especially for an airman! Do you budget for this? I imagine you must if you are passionate about it…

Yeah it is not cheap and the camera is not the most expensive part, it is usually the lenses. I try to budget myself; I decide in the long run whether I really need the item and if it will benefit my photography skills.

So aside from photography, what are some of your other hobbies?

I enjoy playing the guitar, working out, film making, and I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd.

What else might people be surprised to learn about you?

I am also into men’s fashion; I reluctantly admit that I pay attention to labels and spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes. I am actually going for “best dressed” at our holiday party … here’s hoping I get it!

So we know a bit more about you now; let’s go back. This is your second Air Force-selected career… aside from what you are doing now, if you could pick any other career, what would you want to be doing?

Astronaut, hands-down! My original career field is one of the only on the enlisted side that works directly with NASA to find candidates to become astronauts [based off what my tech school instructor told me]. All that aside, I have an obsession with all things outer space. I plan on being one of the first people to land on Mars … aim high right?

Since landing on the red planet is still a bit away, where do you see yourself a year from now?

Ideally getting senior airman below-the-zone and being named Diamond Sharp; I always try to be the best I can be and I love leading – I was even a rope in tech school. I feel like these accomplishments would help establish me as a trusted and credible leader in my section.

Well those are two solid professional goals to set. In helping you toward those goals, what is the best career advice you have received and who gave that advice to you?

“Once you start paying attention to the people below you rather than yourself, that is when you will be a true leader;” Staff Sgt. Young told me that during tech school.

Here’s a fun random question… if you could have one superpower or superhuman ability, what would it be?

[Wide-eyed] That is like the hardest question in the world! Hmm… immortality! There is so much to do and just not enough time as a mortal. There is always something new to experience; you would get to do it all without having to worry about running out of time.

What if you could change something about yourself, what would that be?

My metabolism … it is SO slow! I was able to lose 75 pounds before I enlisted, but I have to constantly work out to maintain my current physique [sighs].

If I asked you to give some advice to fellow Cannon airmen, what would you tell them about this base to maybe change any negative perceptions they might have?

Get out of the dorms! Do not waste your time or day glued to a television; makes some friends and find something to do because there is actually plenty to do in our area!

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

You never know the road your life will ultimately take; you just have to be open to different possibilities. Do not close yourself off to anything because it is unknown, embrace that and take on different challenges – you will usually be happy you did!

• Date Taken: 12.18.2015
• Date Posted: 01.12.2016 17:04
• Story ID: 186155
• Location: CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, NM, US
• Hometown: FRANKLIN CITY, VA, US