Airman becomes 'Met for a Day'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley Casas
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (AFPN) --  One McGuire airman traded his flight suit for a baseball uniform June 22 and became an honorary member of the New York Mets for a day.

Senior Airman Chardo Richardson, a boom operator with the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron here, shadowed Mets left-handed pitcher Al Leiter in the second part of a job swap. The swap was organized by the Air Force, Major League Baseball and the Mets.

During his visit to Shea Stadium, Airman Richardson participated in batting practice, played catch with players and received a full Mets uniform, complete with his name on the back.

“The first thing Al had me do when I went into the locker room was take off my white shoes,” Airman Richardson said laughing. “He said I didn’t want to be known as Chardo ‘White Shoes’ Richardson.”

After suiting up and receiving a new pair of black cleats, Airman Richardson did a few stretches with the team and then went right into batting practice.

“I was so nervous,” Airman Richardson said. “I had been to the batting cages a few times, but I wanted to represent my fellow airmen well.”

With a small cheering crowd of fellow boom operators and KC-10 Extender crew chiefs behind him, and Mr. Leiter telling him what not to do, Airman Richardson was able to put the bat on the ball a few times.

“After watching him bat, I don’t know if he’s ready for the major leagues,” the Mets pitcher said jokingly. “But I hear they are looking for an area scout down in Mississippi.”

Mr. Leiter is in his seventh season with the Mets and the only pitcher in MLB history to beat all 30 teams in the league.

Airman Richardson accepted the razzing from his new friends and teammates; he also started to get a better understanding of what it is like to play a professional sport.

“I got tired so fast while I was batting,” Airman Richardson said. “Just getting the bat off my shoulder was tiring, and I am a pretty athletic guy. I can’t believe they do this everyday. It looks so easy on the television, but now I understand that it’s much harder then it looks."

“It may seem tiring, but just like Chardo said about operating the boom, it just becomes part of the job,” said Mr. Leiter.

When asked who has the cooler job both Airman Richardson and Mr. Leiter chimed in to say “he does!”

“It’s all relative on your life,” said Mr. Leiter. “My day at McGuire as an Airman is a day I will never forget. It’s like nothing else I had ever done.”

Airman Richardson has similar feelings about his day as a Met.

“I definitely got the better end of the deal,” he said. “I would never get opportunities like this if I wasn’t in the Air Force, so I am thankful for everything I get to do.”

During the first part of the job swap in May, Mr. Leiter was a KC-10 boom operator for the day. He shadowed Airman Richardson in the boom pod during the air refueling of six F-15 Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. The day was aired June 19 as a two-minute feature on the Fox television program “This Week in Baseball.”

Airman Richardson’s day with the Mets was also recorded. Video footage will air around Sept.11 as part of a special show remembering “9-11.” (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service)