8th CES Airman defends AF Women’s Volleyball team for third year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  A Wolf Pack NCO helped defend the Air Force women's volleyball team during the 2011 Armed Forces Volleyball Tournament at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., April 5 to 15.

This was the third year as the defensive specialist on the team for Staff Sgt. Misty Mahlerwein, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron commander's support staff knowledge operations manager.

To be part of the team, Sergeant Mahlerwein had to complete a request to try out.

"You put in an Air Force Form 303 as an application," she said. "Then they review it and they select you for tryouts. You go to a camp at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where the first three days are tryouts, and if you are selected, you then have two weeks to practice with the team before you go on to the tournament."

The 29-year-old Cincinnati native has played volleyball since 5th grade and has played competitively since college, where she played on the Ohio Dominican University team.

"I just love volleyball," she said. "I'm really athletic; I played everything growing up and I've always known sports in my life, but I love volleyball."

Though the Air Force didn't take the gold for this year's tournament, Sergeant Mahlerwein still enjoyed being part of the team.

"The whole experience is awesome," she said. "In the five years I've been in the Air Force, volleyball has been my favorite part. The camaraderie I get from the group is amazing. Most of the time enlisted and officers can't hang out and can't bond and get to know each other, but in the Air Force (volleyball) group, it doesn't matter what rank you are or what position you hold ... everybody comes together. I hope I can keep doing this as long as I can. It's one of the greatest experiences I've had so far."

The only thing that could make the experience better for Sergeant Mahlerwein would be if she could play for the Armed Forces team at the Conseil International du Sport Militaire volleyball tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which takes place each June.

The Armed Forces team for the CISM tournament consists of 12 people hand-picked from the services' volleyball teams.

"They play Germany, Australia, China, the Netherlands -- they play everybody," Sergeant Mahlerwein said. "I haven't had a chance to go because I've been PCSing (permanently changing stations) during that time each year. I'm hoping that next year (after arriving at Ramstein AB, Germany) I'll be able to attend camp again and ... get selected for (the Air Force team and) CISM."

Her support from her friends, family and coworkers has been "awesome," she said.

"When I was stationed at Robins (AFB, Ga.), they were supportive all the way to the end," said Sergeant Mahlerwein. "Then when I got here I let my leadership know that I've done it before. My squadron commander pushed for me to go and was really supportive and understood how important it was to me, and to the wing, for me to go. He was really supportive, my chief was really supportive -- they've all stood behind me."

"Misty has been an invaluable member of the CE Red Devils," said Lt. Col. Gary Dorman, 8th CES commander. "She's a really great NCO and is very talented, and I'm tickled pink she got selected for the team. This is a testament to her outstanding physical skills, and shows she's got her stuff together."