1st SOMDG Airman lives volleyball dream

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Rhonda Hopping
  • 1st SODS
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Airman 1st Class Thomas Read from the 1st Special Operations Dental Squadron recently represented his squadron, the Air Force and the United States while living his dream. 

Airman Read had a goal of playing volleyball on the Air Force team. With the support of his commander, Col. James Schumacher, and coworkers, he left for training at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. After two weeks of training with 22 other athletes, he was selected to compete on the All Air Force team. The team of 10 practiced together for four weeks in preparation for the Armed Forces Challenge in Cherry Point, N.C. The Air Force team beat the Army and Navy, but finished second in the tournament to the Marine Corps. 

Airman Read's dream continued as he was selected to represent the United States on the All Armed Forces volleyball team. This time he was one of only two Air Force men selected for the team. He remained in North Carolina for training with his new team before traveling to Warendorf, Germany, where he competed in the 29th World Military Volleyball Championships. The competition hosted teams from 15 countries including the United States, South Korea, China, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Romania and Finland. 

"Many of the countries send athletes that train year round," Airman Read said. "Just to say that I competed against these athletes at such a young age is an honor in and of itself. To be able to represent my family, friends, wing, base, squadron and most of all, my country gave me a feeling that was indescribable. 

"In the end, it was noticeable that the better teams had more time to develop, unlike the U.S. and a few other countries," he added. "It was still a great experience, and it gave each country a chance to develop friendships, which essentially, was the main goal for the entire event -- military friendship through sports."