News>Past, present, future celebrated at inaugural Hurlburt Ball
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Brig. Gen. Michael Kinglsey, vice commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, right, and Airman Rycardo Folkes, a services specialist of 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron, cut a ceremonial cake at the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. Kingsley and Folkes were selected to serve in an Air Force tradition where the most senior- and junior-ranking active-duty Airmen in attendance cut the Air Force's birthday cake. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Members of the Hurlburt Field Honor Guard present the colors during the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. The ball's theme was "Reflecting on our Past, Sustaining our Future." (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Capt. Eric Cranford, an executive assistant of 1st Special Operations Wing, left, and Senior Airman Joe W. McFadden, a public affairs specialist of 1st SOW, serve as masters of ceremonies during the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. The ball was the first time in the base's history to have a ball to mark the Air Force's birthday. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
More than 1,200 Airmen and their guests attend the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. The event honored the contributions of Hurlburt Airmen throughout the years, with the ball themed "Reflecting on Our Past, Sustaining Our Future." (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
The service caps of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard rest on a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action table during the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. The ball honored the contributions of all service members who are still lost or missing in action. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Airmen raised their glasses for a ceremonial toast during the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. The ball honored the contributions of all Airmen who serve. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
U.S. Air Force Chaplain Jonathan Hurt, 1st Special Operations Wing, holds up a pair of his grandfather's U.S. Army fatigues before his invocation at the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. Hurt's invocation echoed the ball's theme "Reflecting on our Past, Sustaining our Future.' (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
More than 1,200 Airmen and their guests attended the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. Senior Airman Joe W. McFadden, a public affairs specialist of 1st Special Operations Wing, and Capt. Eric Cranford, an executive assistant of 1st SOW, served as masters of ceremonies for the evening. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth chief to serve as the Air Force's top enlisted Airman, speaks at the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. Gaylor reflected on his career and the future of the Air Force while at the ball, themed "Reflecting Our Past, Sustaining Our Future." (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth chief to serve as the Air Force's top enlisted Airman, speaks at the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. Gaylor emphasized how attitude, aptitude and motivation can create opportunity with an Airman's career. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing, left, and Chief Master Sgt. Ramon Colon-Lopez, command chief of 1st SOW, right, present a donation certificate to Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth chief to serve as the Air Force's top enlisted Airman, center, at the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. Gaylor was the guest speaker for the ceremony, themed "Reflecting Our Past, Sustaining Our Future." (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
Airmen and their guests party on the dance floor while at the inaugural Hurlburt Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Fla., Sept. 14, 2012. More than 1,200 Airmen attended the event, themed "Reflecting on Our Past, Sustaining Our Future." (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)
by Tech. Sgt. Vanessa Valentine
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
9/18/2012 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Hurlburt Field Airmen celebrated the Air Force's 65th anniversary with the first formal military ball in the base's history at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island Sept. 14.
Nearly 1,200 Air Commandos and their guests attended the black-tie event, themed "Reflecting on our Past, Sustaining our Future," hosted by Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special Operations Wing.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth chief to serve as the Air Force's top enlisted Airman, served as guest speaker for the night's ceremony.
"The ball is important because it recognizes and celebrates Hurlburt Field's unique and significant contributions to the Air Force," said Rhonda Gritsavage, director of 1st SOW protocol. "Our people should know that Hurlburt Field plays an important role in the Air Force mission."
Six months of planning and hard work by many made the ball a huge success, according to Gritsavage.
"Fundraising support came from the base and local community members," Gritsavage said. "Several door prizes, raffle items, and hundreds of gifts including an electronic tablet were given away."
Capt. Eric Cranford, an executive assistant at 1st SOW, and Senior Airman Joe W. McFadden a public affairs specialist of 1st SOW, served as the masters of ceremonies.
"The pages of the Air Force history book are filled with decisions and missions that took place from individuals and aircraft right here," McFadden said during his opening speech.
Historical images displayed across the length of the ballroom showcased Hurlburt Field's many contributions throughout the years.
While reflecting on their past, Hurlburt Airmen also looked to sustaining their future with a traditional cake-cutting shared by the most senior-ranking and junior-ranking active-duty Airmen in attendance at the ball.
Airman Rycardo Folkes, a food services specialist of 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron, cut the cake alongside Brig. Gen. Michael Kingsley, vice commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.
Folkes, who has only been in the Air Force for eight months, said it was a big honor to be selected.
"I'm also excited to meet Chief Gaylor," Folkes said. "It seems like just yesterday I was going to school in New York, and now here I am."
Gaylor, who still visits more than 40 Air Force installations each year, shared his secrets to success with just four words: aptitude, attitude, motivation and opportunity.
"Look around you-- these Airmen to your left and your right are our future chiefs," Gaylor said to the audience. "You could be the next future chief master sergeant of the Air Force."
At the end of the event, some Airmen said they felt encouraged and looked toward their future in the Air Force while they acknowledged the base's distinctive past.
"From all these successes and challenges of our past, you can see how our story continues, with many more pages recently penned with fresh ink or left remaining blank to be filled by our successors," McFadden said.
