96 AMU celebrates first "Devil Day"

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Micaiah Anthony
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit "Red Devils" celebrated their first quarterly "Devil Day" on Friday, March 23.

The unit came together to celebrate the history of the 96 AMU, recognize the unit's outstanding Airmen and christen the unit's new heritage room.

"The whole idea of Devil Day is to bring the maintainers together to celebrate our Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Roy Hess, 96 AMU superintendent. "It's a time for us to step back and reflect on where we came from, who we are, what we do and where we are going."

The 96 AMU started the celebration at 12:36 p.m.; 96 minutes after 11 a.m.

"Everything here is either 96 or red," said Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Sternod, 96 AMU assistant superintendent . "We celebrated with 96 pizzas and gave away 96 red reflective belts that bear our squadron symbol and the recipient's name on it."

During the event Lt. Col. John Edwards, 96th Bomb Squadron commander, recognized Airmen for their accomplishments during the Air Force Global Strike Challenge and for the past quarter.

After recognition, the Airmen celebrated with pizza, beverages and a game called the parachute roll where the 96 AMU Airmen rolled a 185-pound aircraft parachute 96 feet.

"We wanted a fun team competition," said Hess. "We wanted to take the Airmen out of their element and challenge them."

Once the parachute roll was finished, Airmen from the 96 AMU returned to the heritage room to watch their departing officer-in-charge Capt. Katherine Schifani leave her mark, a red hand print and signature, on a pillar in the heritage room.

"The red represents our AMU and the hand prints signify everyone who has had a hand in building the AMU, making it what it is today," said 1st Lt. Joshua Barela, 96 AMU assistant OIC.

After the pillar ceremony, 96 AMU Airmen were able to enjoy refreshments and reminisce about the 96 AMU's heritage.