Airman’s love for music contributes to ‘whole Airman concept’ Published Feb. 4, 2015 By Senior Airman Jake Eckhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- To the customers of the 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron, Airman 1st Class Linh Phan seems like another camouflage-clad employee, but it's what he does in his free time that sets him apart. Phan's dorm room is filled with mandatory items, such as a bed, desk, and a cabinet. What little space is left in his room is filled with a piano and acoustic guitar. "I love music," he said. "I remember singing as a kid. I would see people playing a guitar, and I would think how awesome that was." Growing up, his father used guitar while his mother used her voice to instill a method of maintaining resilience and stability. He began playing guitar in the eighth grade while living in Vietnam. He continued to fine-tune his craft throughout a move to Wisconsin in 2007 and enlistment into the Air Force. "When I play, I don't think about anything else. You just play it. It is the best tool to overcome stress," he said. After getting to Scott Air Force Base, he expanded his artistic reach by buying an electric piano that came with lifetime lessons. He attends these lessons every Saturday for an hour. "I like piano. It's really sophisticated. I wanted to learn something new, and the more I played, the more I realized that it's really relaxing," he said. Phan has taken the traits he's learned and applied them to his professional setting as well. Staff Sgt. Alexis Kennedy, 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron C-135 Stock Control, and Phan's supervisor, said, "Airman Phan is a very likeable person. He is kind, intelligent, and a team player. He always displays a positive attitude in the work center. He is an example for his peers and above. He has the whole Airman concept down. "It's refreshing to see someone submerge themselves in a craft that is as expressive as music is. Music is all around us and when you can create or play music for yourself that's as relaxing as it can get. I'm happy to see Airman Phan use music as an outlet to regroup himself. Not only is it positive but it's beautiful as well." Phan believes everyone should learn how to play an instrument. He said, "Music is a world language. You may not understand the lyrics, but you understand the music and the beat."