Showing off

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mariah Tolbert
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE, N.C. --  Airmen across the Air Force are constantly encouraged to better themselves and their relationship with the local community.

Two Airmen from Seymour Johnson exceed these standards by not only bettering themselves and their relationship with the community, but by working with the community to provide entertainment and life experience to those in all stages of life.

"I've been stationed here for the past nine years, and I hear a lot of people on base tell me there is nothing to do in the area," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Ruffino, 4th Fighter Wing NCO in charge of wing plans. "I believe when you see things that way you need to really look around the community and find something you have never done. That's what I did. I found a new experience I had never tried and I realized I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, now I am hooked."

Ruffino and Senior Airman Erica Winfield, 4th Maintenance Operations Squadron supply Airman, both participate in a local theater company, that has members from all walks of life.

Ruffino got involved with acting when he returned from a deployment in 2012. He never acted before but wanted to give it a try, and since his wife and child were involved he thought it would be a great opportunity to spread his story as a United States Air Force Airman.

Winfield become involved in acting her sophomore year in high school. While in high school she attended the Governors' School of the Arts in Norfolk, Va., where she performed in theater for a year.

"The thing I love most about acting is getting to walk in someone else's shoes," Winfield said. "It is fun getting to be someone else and tell their story. Having the ability to use your imagination and embody another person makes being an actress easier."

According to both Ruffino and Winfield, being an actor, or actress, is an enjoyable experience that allows room for fun, structure and a somewhat out of body experience.

"I really enjoy interacting with my fellow actors and the reactions of the audience," Ruffino said. "My director always says, 'When you have fun, so does the audience' and that's what I enjoy."

Balancing the lifestyles of acting and being a military member is challenging without the support of a squadron, supervision, friends and family.

"Since I cannot just pick up or run away to act, the local community theater was the perfect outlet for me," Winfield said. "It's fairly easy to balance the Air Force and acting. Leadership finds it very interesting that I am involved in acting, but think it's good that I am getting out in the community and doing something constructive."

Whether it is sacrificing some personal time to complete the mission, or practicing nonstop and having to balance more than one thing, being a servicemember and an actor involve many of the same values.

"Acting involves a lot of sacrifice to be at rehearsals, commitment to the team, participation to help with props or sets and the want to listen and learn from others," Ruffino explained. "Overall I think the skills, knowledge and lessons learned from being in stage production can help in not only being an actor but also as an Air Force wingman."