"...I'm going to miss the camaraderie..." Published Jan. 30, 2017 By Staff Sgt. Bobby Cummings 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- "I think what I'll miss most is definitely the structure of the Air Force and the direction. That's a big reason why I joined. I didn't join for college money or anything like that. As for my shop I'm going to miss the camaraderie. For a group of Airmen to work this closely, to live with each other during a deployment and still get along speaks volumes for the brotherhood the Air Force fosters and that's something I am going to miss. I loved working on the U-2 because it's such a specialized mission and unique aircraft. There are F-16s all over the world, but the U-2 airframe is unique to Beale Air Force Base and it brought me a great sense of pride working on these aircraft and telling my friends and family I work on the U-2. I am a history buff, and the history behind this mission is unparalleled. The confidence and the abilities I am going to take away from this I couldn't have gotten anywhere else. If you would have told me I would be working on a U-2 Dragon Lady ten years ago I would have said you're crazy; I could never do that. Now I'll always have that in the back of mind whenever a challenging situation arises in my future." Staff Sgt. Ryan Raggio, 9th Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion technician Hometown: New York, New York