Reservist changes services, deploys twice following training

Published Sept. 28, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Megan Tomkins
910 AW/PA

Orlando, Fla. -- P-3. C-12. C-130 Hercules.

These are the aircraft Maj. David Marcinski has had the opportunity to fly during his 11-year service in the Navy, three years in the Navy Reserve and now two years in the Air Force Reserve.

Marcinski, a C-130H pilot with the 910th Operations Support Squadron out of Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, is about to embark on his second deployment with the Air Force Reserve. As part of his preparations, he attended a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program training event Sept. 20-22 in Orlando with 500 other reservists and family members.

"My first deployment was with Maxwell and Pope Air Force Bases immediately after I completed my initial training," said Marcinski. "It gave me a good chance for additional experience in several areas including tactics and scheduling, and it kept me flying."

Marcinski said he had a great opportunity to fly on his days off and believes that the deployment helped him become a better co-pilot.

"I have loved getting into tactical flying, flying with night vision glasses and flying in formation," Marcinski said. "Flying C-130s is a big change, but I love it."

Not only was he able to better himself through his piloting and scheduling skills, but he was able to better himself scholastically.

"When I was off I was able to work on Air Command and Staff College," said Marcinski. "I was never bored there and I accomplished a lot."

Marcinski said although he enjoyed his time in the Navy, he is thankful he finally gets to be a part of the Air Force.

"It was strange that I even ended up in the Navy," said Marcinski. "I tried to go to the Air Force Academy twice, but it didn't happen. Finally after years of determination I joined the Navy as a pilot. But ever since I was a kid I wanted to be an Air Force pilot."

As a first-time attendee at a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program event, he said there are many benefits he didn't realize he had access to as a Reservist. He also wishes he could have gone to one before his first deployment.

"It's good to come to these events," said Marcinski. "It revolves around networking and I have learned about some great opportunities about civilian jobs. I've been looking for a civilian job and the resume writing class was the most beneficial to me."

He continued with explaining how he believes Yellow Ribbon events are important for service members to attend.

"Yellow Ribbon helps you understand benefits and resources available to you, especially when you have the potential to be discriminated against while balancing your civilian and military careers," said Marcinski. "I look forward to attending the post-deployment classes when I return."

The YR Program promotes the well-being of reservists and their families by connecting them with resources before and after deployments. It began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members maintain resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles. Each year, the Air Force Reserve program trains 7,000 reservists and family members in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more.