Community Corner
South Tampa Reservist Does 'The Hard Stuff' For His Country And Family
Maj. Bret Wedding willingly serves his country to ensure his family's freedoms.
By Tech. Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
A parent never forgets his child’s first steps. For Maj. Bret Wedding, commander of the 927th Logistics Readiness Squadron out of Tampa, the memory is bittersweet.
His 1-year-old daughter Lorelei’s first steps were to hand him an American flag as he left for war.
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“It’s a serious business, serving my country,” said Wedding as he prepared to depart for his fifth deployment. “I can’t have a family as beautiful as mine if I’m not willing to do the hard stuff.”
Wedding is a reservist with the 927th Air Refueling Wing, stationed in South Tampa. Like many reservists, he is familiar with leaving his business and family for frequent deployments. Since he and his wife Cindy were married, Wedding has been all over the world. Fortunately for him, this time his family is in good hands.
“I’ve been all over the country in the military, and Tampa is the most supportive community I’ve ever seen,” Wedding said. “There’s no way we could do what we needed to without people supporting us and our families.”
While reservists accomplish their country’s mission in every clime and place, families have to adjust to life without them. Cindy, like many spouses, understands the importance of what her service member does.
“I appreciate that he doesn’t take his responsibility to his troops lightly,” Cindy said. “I can’t look at it like he’s choosing to leave. He’s choosing to go because of who he is and what he feels called to do.”
As commander of the 927th LRS, Wedding is responsible for ensuring all his fellow Airmen have the equipment they’ll need to accomplish their missions during their deployments. Many employers worry about what would happen if their managers quit – in the military, all ranks are trained to do the job above them. As part of his duties, Wedding has to ensure that his unit continues to do what’s needed during his absence.
“As a commander, I have an awesome responsibility to ensure the members and families of the team are cared for so we can focus on and accomplish our mission and be ready to defend against any foe. I have a lot of trust and faith in the people I’m leaving behind,” Wedding said. “I trust they’ll be able to keep things running when I’m gone.”
“Any time a leader is taken from his team, you’re going to miss him,” said John Sykes, 927th LRS honorary commander and well-known Tampa business owner. “Wedding’s people like and respect him, and they’ll do what they need to do to get the job done.”
Sykes believes a lot can be determined about a person by how he acts. When he first met Wedding, he was immediately impressed by his honest and personable nature.
“Wedding impressed me as a young man who knows what he wants to accomplish and you don’t have to second guess his word,” Sykes said of their first meeting. “That’s a very important quality to have in business and in life.”
It was that same outgoing quality that attracted Cindy when she and Wedding attended university together. Years later, she watches as her husband loads his last bag into his car and prepares to leave for months. Her children stand at her feet outside their picket fence, waving small American flags and telling their dad to return home safe.
“I hope the kids continue with their lives and keep growing,” Cindy said as she looks down at her 1- and-3-year-olds. She added, “Grow, but not too much.”
As Wedding looked into the rear-view mirror for one last glimpse of his family, he focused on the months ahead that would undoubtedly be lonely and challenge his resolve.
“I love serving my country,” he said. “I’m grateful for the life it’s allowed me and my family to live. At the heart of it all I am merely a fellow Citizen Airman who is privileged to serve.”
Wedding is a reservist with the 927th Air Refueling Wing, stationed in South Tampa. Like many reservists, he is familiar with leaving his business and family for frequent deployments. Since he and his wife Cindy were married, Wedding has been all over the world. Fortunately for him, this time his family is in good hands.
“I’ve been all over the country in the military, and Tampa is the most supportive community I’ve ever seen,” Wedding said. “There’s no way we could do what we needed to without people supporting us and our families.”
While reservists accomplish their country’s mission in every clime and place, families have to adjust to life without them. Cindy, like many spouses, understands the importance of what her service member does.
“I appreciate that he doesn’t take his responsibility to his troops lightly,” Cindy said. “I can’t look at it like he’s choosing to leave. He’s choosing to go because of who he is and what he feels called to do.”
As commander of the 927th LRS, Wedding is responsible for ensuring all his fellow Airmen have the equipment they’ll need to accomplish their missions during their deployments. Many employers worry about what would happen if their managers quit – in the military, all ranks are trained to do the job above them. As part of his duties, Wedding has to ensure that his unit continues to do what’s needed during his absence.
“As a commander, I have an awesome responsibility to ensure the members and families of the team are cared for so we can focus on and accomplish our mission and be ready to defend against any foe. I have a lot of trust and faith in the people I’m leaving behind,” Wedding said. “I trust they’ll be able to keep things running when I’m gone.”
“Any time a leader is taken from his team, you’re going to miss him,” said John Sykes, 927th LRS honorary commander and well-known Tampa business owner. “Wedding’s people like and respect him, and they’ll do what they need to do to get the job done.”
Sykes believes a lot can be determined about a person by how he acts. When he first met Wedding, he was immediately impressed by his honest and personable nature.
“Wedding impressed me as a young man who knows what he wants to accomplish and you don’t have to second guess his word,” Sykes said of their first meeting. “That’s a very important quality to have in business and in life.”
It was that same outgoing quality that attracted Cindy when she and Wedding attended university together. Years later, she watches as her husband loads his last bag into his car and prepares to leave for months. Her children stand at her feet outside their picket fence, waving small American flags and telling their dad to return home safe.
“I hope the kids continue with their lives and keep growing,” Cindy said as she looks down at her 1- and-3-year-olds. She added, “Grow, but not too much.”
As Wedding looked into the rear-view mirror for one last glimpse of his family, he focused on the months ahead that would undoubtedly be lonely and challenge his resolve.
“I love serving my country,” he said. “I’m grateful for the life it’s allowed me and my family to live. At the heart of it all I am merely a fellow Citizen Airman who is privileged to serve.”
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