From Colonel to Coach

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Washburn
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Col. David Uselman, 355th Fighter Wing Mission Support Group commander, is a busy man. His job objectives are various, which guarantees that there is no daily routine for him.

"My job is a mixed bag. You don't know what you're going to get," Colonel Uselman said. "There may be a security forces issue or a meeting or issue with the fire department, so there is never really a typical day."

Recently, Colonel Uselman has taken on another job. One that comes with its own set of difficulties and rewards. He started coaching his six-year-old daughter Alex's tee ball team here, the D-M Dodgers.

"It was my decision to be the coach," Colonel Uselman said. "I wanted to be with my daughter. I know two days out of the week we're going to practice, and on the weekend we can throw the ball around. It's just that time we get to spend together. I ask her how she likes Daddy being the coach and she says, 'I love it.'"

When asked if she likes her dad coaching the team and why, Alex replied, "yes, because he teaches us a lot of things like the monkey and the alligator." The monkey and alligator refers to the different positions the kids make to catch the balls.

Colonel Uselman knows from experience how precious time with family can be and how fast children grow up.

"Time with your children goes by so quick and before you know it, they're gone," Colonel Uselman said. "I have two older daughters as well, and that has helped me realize that you only have a small amount of time to develop a relationship. However I can get quality time with my daughter, that's what I'm going to do. I get so much in return. When I look at my daughter's face and see that she's so proud that her daddy is the coach, it's a very neat thing."

Much like his job as the 355th MSG commander, coaching his daughter's tee ball team comes with its own unique challenges.

"Coaching five and six year olds at tee ball is kind of like herding cats," Colonel Uselman said. "I try to keep them focused. At ages five and six, I'm not trying to build a World Series team, I want these kids to have a positive experience and have fun together. That's what you build with tee ball."

Even though six-year-old tee ball players differ greatly from Airmen, there are similarities between leading Airmen and coaching children.

"One of the parallels between leading Airmen and kids is patience," Colonel Uselman said. "Sometimes you know what you want and need, but you need to let it develop. In a child five or six years old, patience is key. So the parallel is understanding what we're there for. An Airman may be focused on his or her job specifically, and my goal is to let the Airman understand what the big picture is and why we're here. As a child, it's how they develop and become a part of an organization. It's not about them as an individual; it's about everyone as a team."