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McGuire Airmen show there's no place like home

  • Published
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --   Many military members have reasons for choosing the base or region they are stationed. For five McGuire Airmen who hail from the same hometown, a base close to home seemed like the right choice.

Who knew they would end up at McGuire AFB at the same time and in the same unit?

Staff Sgt. Joseph Maneen, Senior Airman Sarah Gonzalez, Tech. Sgt. Shane Earl, and Maj. Donald Brien, have two things in common -- they are assigned to the 621st Air Mobility Operations Group and they grew up in Ilion, N.Y.

Tech. Sgt. Scott Brownrigg, 305th Communications Squadron NCOIC of standards and evaluation of the network control center, is the oddball of the group. He is the only member of the group who is not assigned to the 621st AMOG; however, he works closely with his hometown friends and sees them often.

I came here to be closer to home after a remote [assignment] to Osan Air Base [Korea], said Sergeant Brownrigg. It doesnt surprise me to have all of us here. The Air Force is small and we were bound to cross paths at some point. Its nice to be close to New York.

The other Ilion natives agree with him.

I ended up at McGuire because I had been at numerous other bases and was looking to get close to home, said Sergeant Earl. Theres no place like upstate New York.

Just 300 miles form McGuire, and 80 miles west of Albany, N.Y., the town of Ilion has a population of around 9,000. And although the five hometown heroes didnt graduate together, the hometown connection is tight.

Sergeant Brownriggs brother graduated a year before I did, explained Sergeant Maneen, aircraft maintenance technician for the 821st Air Mobility Squadron. His brother and I played football and wrestled together for six years. I also grew up with Major Briens brother, Pat.

Some connections were even closer.

The first person I discover here from my hometown was Airman Gonzalez, said Sergeant Earl, 621st AMS air transportation craftsman. She dated my step-nephew, so I played a joke on her and started talking about my family until she realized who I was.

Sergeant Brownrigg ran into Major Brien at the commissary, and it only took them a few minutes to find their Ilion connection. Sergeant Maneen found out through word-of-mouth.

I knew before PCSing to McGuire that Sergeant Brownrigg and Major Brien were stationed here, said Sergeant Maneen. I learned of Sergeant Earl through word-of-mouth from another New Yorker. It was only a few weeks ago that I leaned about Airman Gonzalez.

No matter how they found out about the connection, these five people are happy to be working with familiar faces.

The advantage to working with other people from my hometown is to see faces you recognize -- not just from your hometown, but from other bases as well, said Sergeant Brownrigg. I remember when Sergeant Maneen arrived I had him over to my house for dinner and to watch football. Even though the Air Force is a family, and he had a sponsor, I thought it might be more comfortable for him to be around people he knew until he got settled in.

Ilion is a nice, close-knit town and its a great place to sit and talk about, Sergeant Maneen said.

Working with people from your hometown gives you a chance to remember the old times and where you come from, added Airman Gonzalez. Its nice to know that you can talk to someone about back home and they will know exactly what you are talking about.

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