Footprints...and Shoes Left on the Field: An Interview with Chief Master Sergeant Randall Doersch Published July 11, 2013 By Airman First Class Kevin Cerovich USAF Academy Band 11 July 2013 -- I had the pleasure of speaking with Chief Master Sergeant Randall Doersch about his nearly 30 years of meritorious service. He is the man who hired me for the USAF Academy Band a few months ago and has had an enormous impact on my life as an Airman. This comes only months before he retires from the Air Force. A few weekends back, I marched my first parade with the Academy Band. After the performance, I noticed that our band manager, Chief Doersch wasn't wearing any shoes. He had left them on the field, as is the tradition of Academy Band musicians on their last parade. The tradition dates back to a former musician from years ago who left their shoes on the field in protest of an unknown issue. It lives on today in a positive light through retiring musicians such as Doersch. This struck me seeing as how it was my first parade. I can only imagine the experience of a three decade career in the Air Force, so I spoke to a man who lived it. Doersch was born in Madison, WI in 1959. He attended the University of Wisconsin to study music and began dating another French Horn player. "She won an audition for the Colorado Springs Symphony in 1982," Doersch said of his wife of 30 years, Jenny Doersch. The couple moved to Colorado Springs and while here, Doersch auditioned for the Academy Band in 1983. "That girlfriend, Jenny, quickly became my wife," Doersch said of his wife of 29 years, Jenny Doersch. They are still married today with two children in college. Upon his acceptance into the band, Doersch's first thought was "Cool, a full time gig," he said. Since then, Doersch never imagined he would someday be promoted to chief master sergeant and become the Academy Band's manager. Doersch has a natural attitude of "above and beyond" as reflected in his 30 years of building achievements. For me this dedication has been felt every time I had the pleasure of interacting with him. After some bad news was broken to the band recently, Doersch took me and a few of the newest Airmen aside and offered words of advice and strength in these difficult economic times. Even before that, as I prepared to go to basic training, he called me and wished me luck and offered some of his own experiences for me to draw from. Some of his most memorable experiences have been in the service of military members and their families. "The best part of a concert for me was shaking hands afterwards and hearing how the music affected the audience," Doersch said. "Never did I feel more fulfilled as when we performed for families of POWs or MIA service members." Doersch described his thoughts after he earned a bachelor's degree in computer science in 1992 from Chapman University. "Well, I should do something!" From there, he made Chief Master Sergeant in September 2000. I asked Doersch his opinion on the band career field today. "When I came in, I wanted to play what I wanted to play,' he said. "You young guys today understand the mission much faster and the quality of musicianship has gone up." It became a personal goal of mine through watching him to pass on the same type of steadfast leadership and encouragement to my subordinates someday as a supervisor. "So what's next for Randall Doersch?" I asked. "I think there's a great next job out there for me; I just haven't figured it out yet," he said! With some prodding however, Doersch let it slip that he intends to spend some time at the golf course, go fishing and visit his children. He and Jenny Doersch are looking forward to their 30th wedding anniversary next year. As for Doersch's shoes, a cadet quickly scurried up the hill with them just before we boarded the bus. No matter what the chief finds himself doing after he retires, one thing is certain, he said, "My goal is to do the best I can." For more Academy Band news, visit www.usafacademyband.af.mil