TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Military shoppers at Tra vis looking for exclusive savings in addition to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s always tax-free benefit will have 84 days to beat the holiday shopping rush as the Exchange continues its 12 Weeks of Black Friday Deals sav ings promotion.
Now through Nov. 23, authorized military exchange shoppers may pick up the hottest electronics, clothing, jew elry, sporting goods and more at Black Friday prices at the base Exchange and at ShopMyExchange.com. New, mil itary-exclusive deals and specials will be released every Friday through the week of Thanksgiving.
The campaign began Sept. 2.
“The Exchange is going all in to make it easy for military shoppers to get more, for less through their hard-earned military exchange benefit,” Travis Exchange General Man ager Phonda Bishop said in a press release. “Travis shop pers can start early and save more with military-exclusive pricing and tax-free savings.”
Twelve Weeks of Black Friday Deals are also available through the Exchange’s buy online, pick up in store option. Military shoppers with in-store shopping privileges may visit the Exchange’s shopping website, make their selec tions and pick up their order in-store. Curbside pickup is also available at select Exchange stores.
Honorably discharged veterans may shop the deals at Exchange’s shopping website. Veterans may find out more about their shopping benefits at Exchange’s community Hub page at shopmyexchange.com/vets.
The 12 Weeks of Black Friday Deals promotions and sneak-peek previews will be posted to ShopMyExchange. com/savings-center/weekly-ads at 12:01 a.m. Central each Friday. Shoppers may return to the site each week to shop the latest deals. New deals are effective beginning at mid night each Friday.
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Master Sgt. Tamara Dabney, 103rd Airlift Wing
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASEAir Force Lt. Col. Richard Paul Mastalerz II works as a pilot, fulltime for United Airlines and parttime for the Connecticut Air Na tional Guard, where he also serves as Deputy Group Commander of the 103rd Operations Group.
Mastalerz, a husband and father of two children, has always found ways to overcome the stress of maintaining his demanding work schedule and family life. Howev er, in the spring of 2020, when he began having digestive problems, Mastalerz thought that his busy lifestyle may have started to take a toll on his health.
“I was flying for the airline in ternationally and working on the backside of the clock sometimes, but it was totally manageable,” said Mastalerz, who, in 2020, also served as the 118th Airlift Squad ron commander. “I thought, may be my eating habits aren’t the best, but I noticed that my digestive sys tem wasn’t right. I would have to go to the bathroom eight or nine times a day. I always attributed it to that lifestyle – being a husband, a father of two, a squadron com mander, flying C-130s, and being a United Airlines pilot.”
Less than a month after Mas talerz began having digestive problems, Covid-19 infection rates
began to increase around the world. In response to the outbreak, United Airlines suspended more than half of its flights, and Mas talerz was unable to fly for the air line for several months. Since he was unable to fly for United, Mastalerz volunteered to be put on mil itary orders and fly for the Guard full-time. He assumed that hav ing a break from his job at Unit ed would decrease his stress lev el, and thus, alleviate his digestive problems.
“When I got on orders, I was able to kind of stabilize my life,
Travis Tailwind is a publication produced by the Daily Republic. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without written permission, is prohibited. Content published in Travis Tailwind is not necessarily the official view of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertising in the publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the Daily Republic of the products or services advertised.
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where I’m eating regularly, go ing to the gym, getting a good diet, and good sleep, but I noticed that my digestive issues were not get ting any better,” Mastalerz said. “I credit my wife — she said ‘may be you should go see your primary care doctor.’ ”
So, in August 2020, Mastalerz took his wife’s advice and went to see his primary care physi cian. His physician ordered lab work to test for common condi tions that could affect his diges tion. After his lab work returned
11 Puzzle 12-13 Worship services 14 Classifieds
Airmen assigned to the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron swap an engine on a KC-10 Extender at Travis Air Force Base, Oct. 25. Nicholas Pilch/U.S. Air Force
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Eight Team Travis airmen presented briefings covering a multitude of subjects at the base theater Oct. 24. The theme for the event was, “Igniting the Cross-Functional Airman of 2032.”
Topics included a wide spectrum of professional development focus areas highlighting U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.’s “Action Or ders” to “Accelerate Change or Lose.”
As part of the planning for the event, each presenter also received the oppor tunity to hone their communication skills. During the planning process, members received personalized training to develop a professional presentation that included one-on-one discussions to refine presen tations, rehearsals and speech coaching.
“These speakers have gone through a long journey refining the ideas that they want to share with you.” said Col. Ryan Garlow, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander. “What I challenge you to do, is to go along on their journey.”
The event, led by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Edward Todd, 60th Dental Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of ed ucation and training, included eight top ics designed to inspire creative solutions for current and future challenges, both personally and professionally.
Todd said the idea to organize the event came years prior to being stationed
at Travis Air Force Base. While stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, he was an audience member for a LIFTx summit (Leaders Inspiring for Tomorrow).
“In that moment, sitting in the audi ence listening to the amazing presenters, I thought I can do something like this,” Todd said.
As one of the presenters, Tech. Sgt. Victoria Baldwin, 60th Medical Group commander’s support staff flight chief, shared her advice on how to adapt and overcome loss, both personally and pro fessionally.
“Sometimes when you share what it is you’ve been dealing with, you might come to realize that you’re not as alone as you thought,” she said.
Baldwin shared her methods to prac tice adaptability and resiliency, even af ter suffering a devastating personal loss.
“I encourage you to seek connec tion and share what’s in your path, because sometimes that can help you find a way around it,” she said. “I hope you look back on what you survived and what you learned from it.”
Col. Steven Richardson, 60th Air Mo bility Wing chaplain, also presented dur ing the event. He shared his experienc es while deployed to Afghanistan and how he overcame uncertainty and inspired others. He used his experiences to high light finding a purpose.
“What do you do when you feel like your life doesn’t have a purpose?”
U.S. Air Force
titled, “When
Richardson asked. “Even if you don’t see the results, you got to put forth the pas sion to the purpose.”
Col. Derek Salmi, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, closed the event with a call for innovation.
“We need to take the thoughts, ideas, passion, focus, action and drive that
forward,” Salmi said. “We have heard that the clock is ticking. Make it matter. Our nation counts on us and Team Travis counts on us.”
To view the event in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OMWBVI6Bw4I.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
The Department of the Air Force has developed several products designed to assist aircrew in making the most informed deci sions about whether to fly during their pregnancy.
In April 2022, the Air Force issued a clarification of poli cies pertaining to aircrew dur
and health care professionals greater awareness of and trans parency around the process for submission and review of waiv ers to fly during pregnancy.
The Aircrew Voluntary Ac ceptance of Risk, or AVAR, is a three-part document (including a risk acknowledgment page, an outline of medical risks, and ac ceptable flight profiles) designed to ensure aircrew have access to the information that will al
pregnancy. Additionally, a set of frequently asked questions and answers were developed for additional assistance. Both the AVAR and FAQs may be found on the Air Force Medical Service’s Reproductive Health webpage at https://www.air forcemedicine.af.mil/Reproduc tive-Health/.
“At the end of the day, we need to balance operational readiness, safety, and our air crew’s agency, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to that
end,” Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones said.
Aircrew who want to be con sidered for crewed flight duty must personally request to con tinue flying during their preg nancy. The AVAR will help guide discussions with health care providers and inform mem bers of both known and poten tial, but unmeasured, risks to make an informed decision.
To return to flying duties after becoming pregnant, the service member must submit a waiver
for review by their flight sur geon, obstetrical care provider and commander, who must col laborate to determine whether to approve the waiver. All flights must meet approved flight profiles based on the commander’s discretion and safety consider ations.
Department of the Air Force leadership’s intent is that air crew are confident that the deci sion of whether to request to fly during pregnancy – or not – will
er to continue flying during their
have no impact on their military career. Aircrew who elect not to fly have other options to continue their career progression, such as maintaining currencies in the simulator, instructing ac ademics, supervisor of flying, top-3 and many other training opportunities and duties.
“It was a team effort to de velop these options for pregnant aircrew so they can continue carrying out the missions they are trained and ready to per form,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. said.
As with any medical condi tion, the the Air Force will con tinue to review aircrew preg nancy policy and practices, including an ongoing collection of health and safety data. The service remains focused on iden tifying, analyzing and appropri ately mitigating flight safety haz ards and exposures to facilitate the safe and successful accom plishment of the military mis sion. A continual review will also drive appropriate modifications to the AVAR to allow aircrew to make the most informed deci sion on whether to request the continuation of flight duties.
Tech. Sgt. Daniel Peterson 349TH AIR MOBILITY WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Corey L. Chance assumed leadership of the 349th Mission Support Group during an assumption of command ceremony Nov. 6 at Travis Air Force Base.
Col. Lee E. Merkle, 349th Air Mobility Wing commander, presid ed over the ceremony, handing the reins to Chance. The event was
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TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Military Star cardhold ers may stop by Travis Army & Air Force Exchange Service restaurants to eat, save and win during a worldwide sweepstakes sponsored by Subway.
Now through Nov. 30, Travis Air Force Base cardholders who make a purchase from partici pating Exchange restaurants us ing their Military Star card will automatically be entered to win one of 25 $1,000 Exchange gift cards. The chance to win comes on top of the everyday 10% dis count cardholders receive when ever they use Military Star at participating Exchange restau rants.
“Whether taking your lunch break or a shopping break, eat ing at an Exchange restaurant saves you money and now gives you a chance at a $1,000 bonus,” Travis Exchange General Man ager Phonda Bishop. said in a press release. “Exclusive sav ings and offers like these are part of the big value Military Star delivers to cardholders.”
Every Military Star purchase at an Exchange restaurant could be doubly lucky, as each card swipe from Now through Dec. 31 also automatically earns an entry into Military Star’s Your Holiday Bill Is on Us sweep stakes. Five grand-prize winners will have their entire card bal ance paid off, while 35 other win ners will receive statement cred its of $1,000 or $500.
For sweepstakes rules, vis it MyECP.com/CustomerAds/ Page/Exchange.
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JOINT BASE SAN AN TONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) — The Department of the Air Force announced the winners of the 2022 Air Force Photo Contest on Nov. 7.
With a theme for 2022 of “Celebrating Traditions,” program managers at the Air Force Ser vices Center honored the Air Force’s 75th birthday and gave photographers a chance to share their family and cultural tradi tions to highlight the diversity of military families, said Susan Lear, Air Force Services Center photo contest coordinator.
“Both the art contest (in the spring) and photo contest al low our military families to
experience different things by giving them an opportunity to learn something new or fine tune their craft or skill through cre ative expression,” Lear said.
“Art is a work in progress, al ways striving for perfection,” she said, “but it’s the flaws that give it beauty. Creating some thing reminds us we are a work in progress too, always learn ing new ways and accepting that some of our flaws are perfection in the end.”
James Compton, the Air Force Services Center’s Com munity and Leisure Programs Branch chief, sees photography from a different perspective.
“Anytime we’re able to see the world through someone else’s eyes, it not only helps us understand them, but it also al lows us the opportunity to be a
better, more rounded individu al,” Compton said. “I think pho tography is an excellent way of doing just that. I have seen many photos that were absolute ly beautiful, whether it was sad, moving or just truly beautiful.
“I have to admit, I doubt if I were in the moment that the pho to was taken, I wouldn’t have recognized the beauty for what it was. Seeing someone else’s views of the world through pho tography allows us to see things we might have missed other wise,” Compton said.
Nearly 400 photographers submitted entries to this year’s photo contest with each evalu ated by three judges for impact, creativity and technical excel lence before awarding first, sec ond and third place in five cate gories.
“We had a broad range of ar tistic and technical skill levels of participants from accomplished photographers to novices, with photographers as young as 6 years old,” Lear said.
Deciding on the winners wasn’t easy, said Kevin Watt,
one of this year’s judges.
“The quality varied but amongst those I judged to be the best in each category, I had to really look closely to separate the very best from the rest,” he said. “Many of the photos gave
you that ‘Oh wow!’ moment upon first seeing them and those pho tos immediately rose to the top of my scoring list.”
Here are this year’s winners:
First Place: Jackie Lundgren, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colora do, with “Rose with a Bee”
Second Place: Tech. Sgt. Amanda Schaefer, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, with “The Golden Tradition of Flight and Military Aviation”Third Place: Carl Grimaud, Hill AFB, Utah, with “Water Lantern”
First Place: Grace Hong,
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, with “Chumash Chief”
Second Place: Emmanuel Alba, Incirlik Air Base, Tur key, with “Incirlik Base Honor Guard”
Third Place: Sarah Anne Lu igi, Robins AFB, Georgia, with “Pilgrimage to Mezquita”
First Place: Lydia Brown, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, with “Family History”
Second Place: Elijah Hipolito, Eglin AFB, Florida, with “Anoth er Day the Sun Sets”
Third Place: Ellie Black, Mi not AFB, North Dakota, with “Pink Flowers”
First Place: Layne Knowles, Fairchild AFB with “The Hidden
Boot Tree”
Second Place: Phoebe Rain Strong, Fairchild with “Fishing with my Dad”
Third Place: Isaac Clement, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, with “Heroes Remembered”
First Place: Rylan Jack Mims, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, with “Sunshine in the Holy City”
Second Place: Brody Rector, Fairchild AFB, Washington, with “Lost but not Forgotten”
Third Place: Grace Elizabeth Greene, Eielson AFB, Alaska, with “The Strongest Bond”
With this year’s photo contest complete, the Air Force Services Center is planning the 2023 Air Force Art Contest that opens in March.
To prepare for that contest, and next year’s photo contest, Lear recommends checking out your installation’s arts and craft center.
“See what classes are offered and sign up,” she said. “Our cen ters offer wonderful instruc tional classes in fine arts, pho tography, ceramics, jewelry making, quilting, wood working
and more.”
Watt offered additional ad vice for next year’s photogra phers.
“Pay attention to the theme,” he said. “It’s important to not just take a great photo. Take a great photo that states the theme out loud, without a long explana tion.”
Jaimi Chafin HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE RESERVE COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) — The chief of the Air Force Reserve and com mander of Air Force Reserve Command spoke at the Airlift/ Tanker Association’s annual convention in Denver in late October about the Reserve’s role in the airlift and tanker world and how his priorities for the command line up with the future fight.
The theme of this year’s event was “The Fight to get to the Fight.”
“As we face new military threats in an era of renewed stra tegic competition, the tyranny of distance makes the fight to get to the fight all that much more challenging,” said Lt. Gen. John Healy. “As we proceed as a team, we need to ensure we lever age the unique strengths of each component of the Total Force to ensure the success of the Air Mo bility enterprise.”Healy said the Reserve brings an unparalleled level of expertise to the fight.
“The Air Force Reserve con tinues to provide a deep well of experience, with the aver age pilot having more than 2,500 military flight hours, 42% of our pilots being instructor pilots and 32% being evaluator pilots,” he said, adding that the Reserve experience was foundational to the mobility enterprise.
He went on to discuss how Re serve pilots were able to offset new pilot inexperience in World War II, specifically in the Ferry Command.
The command quickly learned that while its pilots were trained to fly, nothing had pre pared them for flying and surviv ing in austere environments. So, changes were made. The com mand added more crew rest and expeditionary skills training. Healy said the training fostered a sense of resilience and hope.
Now that the Air Force is fac ing newer threats, Healy said it’s time to continue training to meet the needs of modern warfare as a team.
“Gen. (Mike) Mini han (Air Mobility Command
commander), (Lt.) General (Mi chael) Loh, (Air National Guard director), and I are in agreement about the threats we face,” Healy said. “For the last three decades, our adversaries have studied us and explored every possible way to neutralize our strategic advantages, especially our mo bility enterprise. AMC’s Mo bility Manifesto is a clear-eyed
acknowledgment that we must be ready for the pacing threat by focusing on command and con trol, navigation, and maneuver ing under fire at speed.”
The general then highlighted his two priorities for Air Force Reserve Command: Ready Now! and Transforming for the Future.
“Ready Now! is vital because the frank reality is that our entire
enterprise as an Air Force is for naught if we can’t win today,” he said, providing examples of how the Reserve is transforming to enhance readiness.
Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts, for example, re cently completed an energy re silience exercise where the base was cut off from commercial
Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Army & Air Force Ex change Service shoppers have the chance to win a Wicked Thumb Destroyer 750 Elec tro Cycle in a worldwide sweep stakes sponsored by Jack Dan iel’s.
Now through Nov. 30, autho rized Travis Exchange shoppers 18 and older may enter at Shop MyExchange.com/sweepstakes
to win one of five electric bike prizes, each valued at $2,999.
“The Exchange is excited to give away these wicked cool Wicked Thumb e-bikes to five winners in the military commu nity,” Travis Exchange Gen eral Manager Phonda Bishop said in a press release. “Sweep stakes like this are one way the Exchange shows its gratitude to military members and their fam ilies for all they do.”
No purchase is necessary to enter or win. Honorably dis charged veterans who have confirmed their eligibility to shop online may enter, too. Veter ans may visit ShopMyExchange. com/vets to learn more.
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power for 18 consecutive hours. At the major command level, Air Force Reserve Command has de veloped exercises like Rally in the Valley and Rally in the Rock ies to build the skills necessary to operate in austere environments.
“In 2021, we began real ly building on agile combat support competencies and develop ing multi-capable Airmen with
the Rally in the Rockies exercise with our partners in the Air National Guard,” Healy said. “Us ing the Garfield County Airport in Rifle, Colorado, more than 100 airmen worked across Air Force specialty code stovepipes to operate a simulated austere expeditionary base.”
Meanwhile, aircrews were able to hone their combat airlift skills, culminating with landing on highways in rural Wyoming.
All of this is part of a stress in oculation program the command is implementing.
“Stress inoculation was devel oped to incorporate stress-inducing scenarios into AFSC-specif ic training and exercises,” Healy said. “Instead of being additive training, it is complimentary to job qualification standard tasks with pre-built training scenarios and feedback mechanisms tied directly back to Airman leader ship qualities.”
The general said that dur ing Operation Allies Refuge, the command was lucky to have a crew of five Total Force airmen who were resilient enough to
meet some of the direst circum stances imaginable, referencing the situation Maj. Dom Calderon and his crew found themselves in while aiding in the evacuation of approximately 124,000 peo ple out of Afghanistan in August 2021.
During the early days of Allies Refuge, the Air Force Re serve generated 86 volunteer air crews within 72 hours. In all, 20% of evacuees were taken to safety by Air Force Reserve assets.
“Many of these situations hinged on the ability of our
leaders at the lowest levels to act on commander’s intent, even when completely cut off from communications and air traffic control,” Healy said. “Resilience is not an accident. It’s a byprod uct of deliberate readiness train ing.
Healy closed by saying that Air Force Reserve Command’s investments in resilience will en sure that every Reserve citizen airmen is confident and ready to do their job when the time comes.
with no abnormal findings, Mastalerz’s doctor ordered a colonoscopy.
“I had just turned 45 and my doctor said, ‘Well, you’re at a prime age for when we do a colonoscopy,’” Mastalerz said. “So, in December 2020, I had my first colonoscopy, and the procedure was fine until I woke up and the doctor who per formed the procedure said, ‘Hey, I hate to break the bad news, it’s not confirmed yet, but we found what looks like a tumor in your colon. We’re gonna do a biopsy, but I’m just letting you know right now, it’s not normal and it doesn’t look right.’ ”
Two days later, at 9 a.m., Mastalerz got a phone call from his physician. Their fears had been confirmed.
“And that’s when my world totally shifted,” Mastalerz said. “They couldn’t stage it, but he said that they found a posi tive, cancerous tumor in my colon. That’s when my whole life kind of stopped.”
More than 20 years of military service, over 3,600 flight hours, and multiple over seas deployments had not prepared Mas talerz for the battle he was about to face.
“I was grappling with the immediate details of what was going on,” Mastalerz said. “My initial reaction was all the range of emotions — fear, anxiety, help lessness. After telling my wife and my kids, the next phone call I made was to the medical group and I said, ‘Hey, I just got diagnosed with cancer.’ ”
Mastalerz was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. According to the Cen ters for Disease Control and Prevention, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Mastalerz im mediately thought about how his diagno sis would impact his family and potential ly end his military career.
“The first thing that popped into my mind when I got diagnosed was being a husband and father,” Mastalerz said. “My son lives 30 minutes from me, but my daughter goes to college at the Universi ty of Utah, so we had to break the news to her over the phone, which was extreme ly difficult. With the reality of, not only the diagnosis, but so many questions that were not answered right away when they found the tumor, my mortality instantly came to mind. After processing that, with in a few hours, the next thought was, ‘OK, am I going to be able to serve in the mili tary?’ Even if I were to get healthy again,
I thought that maybe, because of my diag nosis, my military career would be over and that I’d already had my last official military flight.”
His career was not immediately over. Though Mastalerz would not be able to fly, Lt. Col. Neal Byrne, 103rd Operations Group commander, left the decision up to him as to whether he would continue to serve as a squadron commander while undergoing cancer treatment.
“[Byrne] supported me, without a doubt saying, ‘We’re here for you. We’re not going to leave you.’ ”
Mastalerz confided in several mem bers of the 103rd who were closest to him. Col. Howard Suls, former Chief of Aero medical Services for the 103rd Medical Group, as well as Chaplain (Col.) David Larsen and others, reinforced Mastalerz’s resilience by assuring him that he would not have to fight his cancer battle without the support of his fellow airmen.
“[Suls and Larsen] both told me, ‘This isn’t the end all, be all. We’re going to get through this. We’re going to battle this and we’ll offer whatever support we can give.’ ”
Mastalerz began his uphill bat tle against colorectal cancer at Mas sachusetts General Hospital in Janu ary 2021. It was during the height of the
Covid-19 pandemic, so for the safety of medical patients and staff, the cancer center did not allow people to accompa ny their family members as they received treatment. Mastalerz’s wife would drop him off at the cancer center for his radia tion and chemotherapy, then pick him up eight hours later when the sessions end ed.
Still, through the hardship, Mastalerz wanted life for himself and his family to be as normal as possible. It was the best way he knew how to deal with the diag nosis.
“My daughter would call very often because she was obviously concerned that her dad was diagnosed with cancer,” Mastalerz said. “She even talked about withdrawing from school that semester. We assured her that, if there was a down turn in my treatment, we would have that conversation, but she needed to go to school and continue living her life. That’s what you want for your kids. You don’t want to impede on your children’s growth and their life.”
Mastalerz also wanted the airmen un der his command to continue their lives as normal. Few airmen knew that he was battling cancer.
“I didn’t want the attention on me,” Mastalerz said. “I wanted to stay
squadron commander because when I was not feeling good at home, recovering from chemo at least it gave me something normal. I booted up my laptop and went through my emails and did all that stuff when I felt good enough because I wanted a sense of normalcy, instead of just looking at four walls and watching Netflix.”
Mastalerz received eight rounds of chemotherapy, then 28 rounds of radia tion therapy while taking chemotherapy pills. After a brief pause in treatment, he underwent a six-hour surgery to remove cancerous tissue and 9 inches of his large intestine.
“The first few days after each chemo treatment just felt terrible,” Mastalerz said. “I had neuropathy where my fingers were tingling. If I touched anything, it felt like needles. I was extremely sensitive to cold. If I drank anything, it had to be room temperature or warmer; anything oth er than that, it was like drinking ice and it would freeze my whole throat. That’s just a byproduct of one of the chemotherapies that I was undergoing.”
Mastalerz went through what many would consider a dark period, not knowing whether he would survive, much less be able to continue his career as a pi lot. Now, in 2022, nearly two years after his cancer diagnosis, Mastalerz is a can cer survivor, and he has taken to the skies again.
On June 24, the weather was clear and sunny, with a high temperature of 82 de grees. On that day, surrounded by mem bers of his aircrew who had helped him through some of his toughest days, Mas talerz piloted his first flight since his di agnosis.
“I became emotional as soon as I got airborne,” Mastalerz said. “I just felt this overwhelming joy inside that what I just encountered for the last 18 months is now behind me and I’m starting a new chap ter. Being able to physically do what I once was able to do without any restrictions and having the pure enjoyment of flying again was amazing. As I was flying, I got a little misty-eyed because I missed it so much. And the crew was fantastic.”
Mastalerz gives credit to his fami ly and fellow members of the 103rd Air lift Wing for helping him make a full re covery.
“The love and support of my kids, my wife, and, of course, my parents and my in-laws, that kept me resilient,” Mas talerz said. “The camaraderie on the mili tary side kept me resilient. And then, just trying to do things for the greater good, made me resilient, too.”
