Photo By Airman 1st Class Eli Rose | Senior Airman Rick St. Cyr balances an apple on his head while preparing to juggle...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Every U.S. Air Force Airman brings a different set of skills to the table, contributing to a more lethal and ready force. Senior Airman Richard St. Cyr, a 773d Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planner, serving on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, brings a particularly unique set of talents to the table: circus-level performance.
Through juggling knives, riding an 8-foot unicycle and breathing fire, St. Cyr has not only awed countless crowds, but he’s sharpened skills crucial to success as an Airmen, increasing his readiness.
St. Cyr has spent his free time throughout the past decade training and performing these circus-style stunts, performing independently at events such as the annual renaissance fair and even doing sporadic street performances.
“It’s an art I’ve just really fallen in love with,” said St. Cyr. “Performing and seeing kids and their families light up and laugh really fulfills something in me.”
After moving to Japan from the United States at 20 years old to pursue his passion for martial arts St. Cyr discovered performance juggling through a mentor and personal friend he trained with. Having had no experience in juggling, unicycling or any sort of performance St. Cyr claims it was extremely daunting at first, but through starting small and consistent practice his stunts slowly got more and more extreme eventually getting to the level of intensity he performs with today.
“I remember seeing that super tall unicycle and the flames and the knives and thinking "there's no way I could ever do that.” said St. Cyr. “But it starts small and you work your way up over years and years”.
Through juggling knives, riding an 8-foot unicycle and breathing fire, St. Cyr has not only awed countless crowds, but he’s sharpened skills crucial to success as an Airmen, increasing his readiness.
According to St. Cyr and his logistics team, his hobby, as amusing and unique as it is, holds more than entertainment value. On top of giving him an outlet to express his individuality, it gives him the emotional and behavioral tools to help succeed in his workplace. The pressure of performing in front of a crowd requires thinking quickly and efficiently, as well as reactive emotional intelligence.
Additionally St. Cyr claims that the discipline and attention to detail required to master juggling knives demand excellence. A small mistake carries immense consequences, similar to managing the logistics of a deployment. These traits are all tools that have been refined and sharpened through his performances and have carried into his mental resilience and readiness as an Airman.
“From the time I've known St. Cyr, I would say his quick wit and positive attitude as well as his problem-solving ability are all definitely staples of his personality,” said Tech. Sgt. Chelsea Kleen, St. Cyr’s supervisor with the 773d LRS. “To keep a good mindset is one of the most crucial aspects of the job, and his positive and sharp outlook consistently contributes to our office in a very noticeable way.”
St. Cyr prepares Airmen and squadrons for deployments across the world. Planning, executing, and supervising the movement, sustainment, and support of personnel and equipment for global missions, the life of a logistics planner at a high-traffic location such as JBER comes with a multitude of necessary traits for Airmen in this career field to succeed.
The 773rd LRS is a massive logistical hub. It supports more than 12,000 requests and processes roughly 53,000 tons of cargo annually. Operating across the Alaskan terrain, the squadron's vehicle fleet travels over 214,000 miles each year to move approximately 140,000 passengers making it a demanding and precise career field.
Airman readiness is essential for mission success, and mental readiness is a key aspect of keeping our force lethal and ready for anything. Through these awe-inspiring stunts, St. Cyr is not only following his passions and expressing himself, but equipping himself with the tools necessary to pursue excellence and be the best Airman he can be.
“Being an Airman constitutes plenty of unique challenges and requires a lot of quick problem-solving,” said St. Cyr. “Practicing these skills in my off time in a way that I’m passionate about has consistently given me a fresh perspective on my work-life.”
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.28.2026 19:57 |
| Story ID: | 556905 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 209 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Logistics Airman pursues readiness through circus-level performance, by A1C Eli Rose, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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