MDS commander secures free swimming classes for his Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Sometimes tragedies inspire people to do great things for others, and the story behind six teens drowning moved the 482nd Medical Squadron commander here to give his Airmen opportunities to learn to swim – for free.

Col. (Dr.) Kenneth Wright was driven to make a difference for his Airmen after hearing about six teens who drowned in the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana, all because they did not know how to swim in 2010.

Having been a swimmer his entire life the story shocked him, and Wright wanted to know if any of his Airmen would be vulnerable in a similar situation.

“I asked my unit, ‘how many guys know how to swim?’” Wright said. At the time, he was serving as the chief medical officer for the 476th Aerospace Medicine Flight at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. “I came to find out that 25 percent of our unit admitted that they didn’t know how to swim.”

From that moment on, Wright has been finding ways to ensure his Airmen are given the opportunity to learn how to swim, often paying for classes out of his own pocket.

With the help of Corey Gold, the 482nd MDS honorary commander, Wright arranged for the classes to be held at the Homestead YMCA Family Center during lunch hours on Unit Training Assembly weekends.

“When the opportunity arose I took advantage,” said Tech. Sgt. Erica Daniels, the 482nd MDS NCO in charge of commander support who has attended three of the classes. “It’s limiting living here and having to avoid so many of the water activities. I’m so grateful to be given this opportunity.”

Wright’s goal is simple. He wants to ensure his Airmen have the ability to swim, plans to keep the classes going for the foreseeable future.