Master Sergeants retire in dual ceremony

  • Published
  • By Dan Galindo
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Master Sergeants Tammy Mobley and Danielle Lintz retired in a dual ceremony here June 9 after serving more than 20 years each in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve.

Both were members of the 482nd Operations group, working for more than seven years together as traditional reservists.

"We are great buddies and for both of us we basically had the same amount of time in [the Air Force Reserve] and we thought 'why not a double ceremony?'" said Master Sgt. Mobley, Group Career Assistance Advisor.

In addition to being close friends, the Airmen share a lot in common. Both entered the military at age 17, requiring the approval of their parents. And both were influenced by family to serve in the Air Force.

Sergeant Mobley's grandfather inspired her to join the Air Force, where she served five years before switching to the Reserve.

"I was ten-years-old when my older cousin joined active-duty," said Master Sgt. Lintz, NCO in charge of the orderly room and a Deputy with the Broward Sherriff's Office as a correction officer. "He was in Germany and we used to correspond. I thought it was the coolest thing. I wanted to join as soon as I could."

While Sergeant Lintz served her entire Air Force Reserve career at Homestead, Germany was where Sergeant Mobley began here active-duty service with her first assignment at Hahn Air Base. Her second and last active-duty assignment was in Grand Forks, N.D.

"I loved being stationed in Europe," said Sergeant Mobley. "It was one of the best times of my life."

Of course, Sergeant Lintz's career with the 482nd Fighter Wing would take her around the world as well. "I've been to Italy, Austria, Panama, Turkey - places I would have never been able to go and experience [as a civilian]," she said.

But it was at Homestead where both Airmen spent the majority of their military careers, making an impact at more than one unit.

Sergeant Mobley originally started as a personnel specialist with the 70th Aerial Port Squadron in 1992 and later become the Squadron Career Advisor. In 1999, she became the Group Career Advisor with the Operations Group.

Sergeant Lintz started in the orderly room of what was then called the 482nd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron where she stayed for 12 years. After moving to the Civil Engineering Squadron for a year, she transferred to the Operations Group.

"We're going to have a difficult void to fill," said Col. Scott "Foot" Goodfellow, 482nd Operations Group Commander. "It's certainly not going to be the same here without them."

"Us pilots liked to refer to their guidance as the 'pilot-harassment-program'," Lt. Col. Mike "Frosty" Hohman said, humorously referring to how they were both always on top of everyone, making sure things got done.

"I have very mixed feelings on retiring," Sergeant Lintz said. "I love the Air Force and everything it stands for, and I will miss it dearly."

"All of the long-life friends I've made... the camaraderie. I will definitely miss the Air Force Reserve," Sergeant Mobley said. "It has been a wonderful experience!"

Both reservists plan on spending more time with their families. Sergeant Mobley is married to Eugene, a former Airman, and has two girls, Tamia and Cierra, and two boys, Eugene and Justin. Sergeant Lintz is married to Jody, a retired Navy Reserve corpsman, and has two girls, Gabrielle and Ariana. Her 20-year-old stepson is currently serving a one-year tour in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.