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Life comes full circle

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly MacDonald
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  For Lt. Col. Tommy Haynes, 20th Fighter Wing Command Post chief, the end of his 30 years of Air Force service will leave him right where he started. 

Once a JROTC cadet at Berkley High School in Moncks Corner, S.C., Col. Haynes will soon be returning to teach JROTC as a senior instructor after his retirement on July 27.
Colonel Haynes was the first cadet from his JROTC program to earn a commission to the Air Force. 

"I'm really looking forward to returning. I can't believe I'm getting the chance to teach where I started my whole Air Force career," said Colonel Haynes. 

Full of ambition and determination to fly in the Air Force, Colonel Haynes joined the JROTC program and then continued his journey in the ROTC program at the Charleston Southern University. 

"I loved airplanes," he said. "I grew up next to a small municipal airport where I used to sit and watch the airplanes. I knew from then I wanted to fly." 

Although Colonel Haynes came extremely close to becoming a pilot in the Air Force, he said the cards weren't dealt in that direction. 

Without any regrets, Colonel Haynes separated from active-duty service after working four years in aircraft maintenance before becoming a reservist. 

In 1987, he became an Individual Mobilization Augmentee here. And for the past five years, he has been serving on active duty. 

Colonel Haynes said he has gained many experiences during his time in service. He specifically recalled his 90-day tour in Balad, Iraq, in 2004. For his tour in Iraq, he was awarded the Bronze Star. 

"One of the best feelings is being so afraid to make an error and then finding out everyone thought you did a really good job," Colonel Haynes said. 

"I hope to be remembered for really caring about the mission, about the people who worked for me and the people who I worked for," he said. "I always did my best to make sure my folks were taken care of and I always did my best to reflect greatly upon my leaders." 

With all of his experiences, Colonel Haynes said he feels like he is ready to take on the challenge of being a senior instructor. 

He said it will be a big change to instruct high school students verses leading Airmen, but he sees it as a great opportunity. 

"It's a different perspective, but I think at their age, it's a time in there lives where I can have a great influence on them," Colonel Haynes said. 

"Lt. Colonel Haynes is going to be leading, teaching and training the next generation of Airmen who will fight our wars and win," said. Col. Michael Byrne, 20th Fighter Wing vice commander.