Elmendorf Airmen returns to work after volleyball tournament

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The crowd cheered as Staff Sgt. Stephen Osinski started off the volleyball match with a powerful serve that he would use to begin many tournament games with a spike of energy.

Sergeant Osinski a member of the 962nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit from Elmendorf Air Force Base. In 2006 and 2007 Sergeant Osinski tried out for the Air Force Men's Volleyball Team both times was denied.

"After they told me I was denied, I thought 'oh darn well I guess I'll be back next year.' I'm going to keep submitting because I just wouldn't stop playing," Sergeant Osinski said. "I just wouldn't stop trying. I kept telling myself 'I know I can do this."

The Phoenix native believed in himself saying it wasn't in his nature to admit defeat.

"I started getting into the game competitively when I was about 16 or 17," Sergeant Osinski said.

Sergeant Osinski never stopped playing the game he loved even after deciding to serve his nation.

"The Air Force was always an interesting branch to me," said Sergeant Osinski. "I always like planes and the idea of ruling the skies so I thought to myself I want to be a part in that. I never really got out of volleyball though."

Sergeant Osinski tried out again in 2009 and finally got the call he'd been waiting on.

"The second I found out I made the team I was in denial," he said. "I thought 'You're kidding me right.' I couldn't believe I'd made it. I was ecstatic."

From there, Sergeant Osinski traveled from game-to-game with his team competing and playing the sport he loves. The sergeant said he was amazed at not only how tough the competition was but how difficult traveling and playing could be.

"Traveling and playing definitely wares on you," Sergeant Osinski said. "We were driving a lot. You travel all these distances then you get out play your game and you leave the next day or in some occasions that same day."

It wasn't the love of the game or even the thrill of competition that kept the sergeant's spirits up, he admitted. It was the thought of his unit back home.

"If I had to thank anybody I would thank my unit, because for me to go over and do that they had to support me in it," said Sergeant Osinski. "There is no way I could have done this without my unit's support."

With his unit's backing, the sergeant and his team played their hardest returning volleys, blocking spikes and brought home the gold in the 2010 All Armed Forces Men's Volleyball Championship.

Sergeant Osinski brought back something much more valuable to him than the medal, he said.

"I brought back a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities not just on the court, but at my work too," said the sergeant. "It's like I have to switch gears now. I've got to go from competitive volleyball mode to know I have to focus on the mission more. Instead of second guessing myself and flinching being so nervous and tired it's just 'Ok this is what they want us to do, this is how we can do it."

The sergeant's co-workers noticed he brought back something else as well.

"He was very fired up, encouraged, ready to work with a very team strong attitude," said Master Sgt. Jerry Howard, 703rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron specialist section chief. "He's a good worker and I'm glad he had the opportunity to be a good representation of the Air Force."

Sergeant Osinski said he was glad to be back at work, but looking forward to try outs for next year's team.

"I plan to play next year, but we'll see how it goes. If the mission allows me, if the wife allows me," he said while he laughed.