A day in the life of bay-orderly Airmen

  • Published
  • By By Airman 1st Class Andrea F. Liechti
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Picking up trash and cleaning laundry rooms isn't a job everyone looks forward to, but someone has to do it. Those who pick up the responsibilities here are easily identified by fluorescent safety vests and blue latex gloves.

In an effort to keep the dorm areas sparkling, dorm management works with the squadrons and flights on base to organize a bay-orderly schedule.

This was the second time Airman 1st Class Ryan Beck, 2nd Comptroller Squadron customer service, and Airman 1st Class Dalton Clark, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance, were chosen for bay-orderly duty.

"We don't mind doing it," said Clark.

Bay-orderly is assigned to Airmen who currently live in the dorms. The Airmen are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Monday to assist in making the dorm areas look sharp.

The Airmen spend their day picking up trash around the dorms, cleaning the laundry rooms and making sure the day-rooms are kept tidy.

Cleaning up the dorm areas and keeping Barksdale looking great isn't the only benefit to having bay-orderly duties. While accomplishing these tasks, the Airmen can socialize with each other.

Clark and Beck, for example, were able to reconnect. They met each other almost two years ago at the First Term Airmen Center briefings.

"It feels like we went through FTAC so long ago," said Beck. "We don't get many opportunities to get together, so it has been nice catching up."

In addition to reminiscing about the beginning of their careers and the FTAC days, they've also had the opportunity to meet other Airmen currently living in the dorms.

"I've met some great people this week," Beck said. "Bay-orderly gives us a chance to meet people we wouldn't otherwise come in contact with. It never gets tiring to make an extra friend or two."