Seahawks' adopted military unit cheers them on to Super Bowl victory

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Feb. 2 is not a unit training assembly for 446th Airlift Wing Reservists, but most will be on 'duty' anyway cheering on the Seattle Seahawks when they play in the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks adopted Washington State's Air Force Reserve unit back in September and Reservists have been participating in pre-game ceremonies during the NFL team's home games at Century Link Field. Additionally, wing Airmen have been flying the 12th Man flag around the globe, including Antarctica, Afghanistan, Germany, South Korea, Hawaii, and the Mount Baker summit.

Support for the Seahawks run deep for many of the wing's Reservists. And just for fun, Airmen were asked to relate Seahawks players with Air Force aircraft. Here is a sampling of responses:

From Master Sgt. Rick Jackson, 446th Operations Support Flight:
"They are the young guns. They carry the swagger of a fighter pilot and throw caution to the wind."

Pete Carroll is like the E3A AWACS. Always keeping watch.

Marshawn Lynch is like the C-5 Galaxy. Always carries the heavy loads.

Richard Sherman is like the A-10 Warthog. It's not how you feel when he's coming at you; it's how you feel after he's delivered the "ordnance."

Russell Wilson is like the OV-10. That guy moves quick.

Percy Harvin is like the F-117. Stealth and quick strike.

From Senior Master Sgt. Derek Bryant, 446th Operations Group:
"So I would just say that the Seahawks have definitely opened up the eyes and awakened the thoughts of people all around the world. As a flyer, it's fun going through other states and (overseas) locations to have different folks admire our city and our team. I was just in Puerto Rico and had an exhilarating conversation about how well the Seahawks are doing and the well wishes for a Super Bowl victory!

"Marshawn Lynch is like a C-17 of course! He has that compact, solid structure, and just like the C-17 that can stick a shortfield dirt landing while carrying thousands of pounds of cargo. The C-17 can stop on a dime, back up, combat offload the cargo, bring the engines back up to full thrust for a standing take off, and be airborne within minutes! Liken that to Lynch powering out of the back field - stalling at the line of scrimmage to shake a few tacklers - then blasting through the linebackers into the secondary and home to the 12 man waiting in the end zone. And the crowd goes crazy!

"On my next airdrop mission, I just might throw out a few Skittles over the (drop zone)!"

Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Jones, 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron:
"I support the Seahawks because my Grandfather would sit with me in his 'football watching chair' to watch every Seahawks game growing up; a tradition that I have carried on with my own girls. The Seahawks feel like part of our family; nothing is more important than all of us getting together during football season to support our Hawks!

Russell Wilson is like the Rockwell B-1 Lancer. Both are strategic, powerful, quick and capable of going the distance to get the mission done!

Richard Sherman is like the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Player and aircraft share attributes of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, "air-to-air" combat capabilities, which makes both of them the best overall assets in my book.

Marshawn Lynch is like the Lockheed AC-130 Gunship. Much like this heavily-armed ground attack aircraft, "Beast Mode" is a tactical operator that affects events rapidly, usually disrupting and destroying "enemy" forces en route to the end zone.

Percy Harvin is like the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit; both are equipped with stealth technology designed for penetrating dense defenses, allowing Harvin to return kicks for incredible yardage.

Pete Carroll is like the Northrop T-38 Talon. Both are reliable, supersonic trainers, valuable assets to both of the Air Force and the Seahawks.

Master Sgt. Lyle Harvey, 446th Force Support Squadron:
"Being a long time resident of Seattle, I have always been a fan and supported the Seattle Seahawks, through the good and the bad times. But these last few years have been incredible to watch how Pete Carroll and John Schneider have developed this team of mainly undrafted players into being one of the most prolific teams today in the NFL. This team is changing the game of football. 12th Man for life" Go Hawks!"

Russell Wilson is like the F-22 Raptor. Super maneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology

Richard Sherman is like the A-10 Warthog. Designed solely for "close air support" of ground forces and also provides airborne "forward air control."

Marshawn Lynch is like the B-52 Stratofortress. Used for strategic attack, long-range, heavy bomber capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons.

Percy Harvin is like the B-1B Lancer. A multi- role, long range bomber that can perform a variety of missions.

Pete Carroll is like the C-17 Globemaster III. Rapid strategic delivery, the total airlift system that fulfills the worldwide air mobility requirements of the United States.