Kansas Air Force veteran achieved his dream of seeing the world

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A Kansas Air Force veteran enlisted so he could see the world.

David Sevart was born and raised in Walnut, a small town in southeast Kansas. He joined the Air Force to broaden his horizons, taking his first airplane ride in 1976 to San Antonio, Texas, for basic training and then to Champaign, Illinois, for tech school.

Soon, he found himself close to home at McConnell Air Force Base.

“I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to see the world here. I ended up in Wichita, Kansas, you know, two hours drive from my folks,” Sevart said.

After a few years away from the Air Force, he got back in, and his dream of traveling came true.

“We spent six years in England, and my kids went to British schools. They picked up the British accent,” Sevart said.

Sevart worked as an aircraft mechanic on KC 135s, the refueling tankers out of McConnell.

“Well, it’s like a flying gas station … The receiver would fly within about 20 feet of the aircraft. The boom operator would lower the boom and then hook up with the other aircraft,” Sevart said. “We would refuel the other aircraft while in flight.”

From repairs to maintenance, his job was to maintain aircraft so that they were always flight-ready.

“Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,” Sevart said.

As a staff sergeant, he served in the Gulf War.

“We would deploy to Qatar,” Sevart said. “We would work four to five hours on the flight line and then rotate because it’s just so hot and drink lots of water.”

Then, in 1992, he left the Air Force as part of a “Drawdown.”

“They basically said, ‘Here’s your package. We’ll pay, give you some money, and you’re no longer in the military,'” Sevart said.

After a few years working on the civilian side, he joined the reserves and eventually worked full-time at McConnell.

“Working out there wearing the uniform every day until 2017,” Sevart said.

After 23 years of service, he ended his service with the rank of tech sergeant. Sevart was able to fulfill his dream of seeing the world as a staff sergeant in the Air Force and a tech sergeant in the reserves.

“I’ve been to probably about 34 different countries and two U.S. territories,” Sevart said.

He now enjoys traveling with his wife, enjoying retirement after a fulfilling career of service.

“Once you’re in the military, sometimes you just can’t get away from it. It’s like a career you’re passionate about,” Sevart said.

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