MacDill sergeant rubs people the right way

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • Thunderbolt Staff Writer
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  Staff Sgt. Kenny Marrero is good with his hands, and that makes him a popular guy around the office over at the 6th Communications Squadron. They like him a lot at the Health and Wellness Center, too, and at the base gym.

The voice network tech's talent is massage therapy, and doing it for free the first and third Wednesday of every month makes him much in demand. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers even want to get to know him a little better.

Sergeant Marrero began volunteering at the HAWC about a year ago, offering up his skills during the lunch hour a couple of days a month. He brings his portable massage tables, sets up and takes walk-bys. He recent completed his professional training and received his massage therapy license.

"I do it to help people," he said. "I've always been interested in the health care field."

The work is rewarding, he notes, as it not only helps people with their range of motion, but also their emotions.

"Stress from work or at home creates a lot of tension and you really have to relieve that," he said.

The reviews are glowing. Whether the recipient is a perfect physical specimen, or a desk jockey, the results are always positive.

"They feel the difference," Sergeant Marrero said. "They can feel it in their bodies and their minds; their blood pressure drops and the tension goes away."

One client who was suffering from a headache all morning came by for a lunchtime rub down, he recalls.

"She had been taking pills all morning trying to get rid of it (the headache), and when she got done (with the massage) she was so grateful because the headache was gone."

So much of the ache, pain and mental anguish people suffer can be relieved through massage, said Sergeant Marrero. Those who work out a lot or lift weights are prone to tighten up and need the relief so that they can properly relax. Mental power lifters may need massage even more.

"Stress, whether it is from work or managing home life really can get to you," said Sergeant Marrero. "If you don't deal with it, it can really affect you."

Joan Craft, director of the HAWC, said Sergeant Marrero has been a great addition, and applauds his volunteerism.

"He's just been great," she said. "He gives his time to help others, and offers a service a lot of people really benefit from."

It was at the gym that Sergeant Marrero ran into a physical therapist who does some work for the Buccaneers. They got to talking and it lead to a meeting with team staff. He will interview next week for the Bucs, and he is hopeful they will bring him on board to help with therapy for the team.

"We'll see," he said. "I think they like what I do - my approach."

Meanwhile, Sergeant Marrero can be found at the lunch hour the first and third Wednesday of each month in the gym lobby. Get there early, as sometimes the demand is high.

"I've been doing this for a year now and I've never had a day without clients," he said, adding customer satisfaction is very high.

That's no trick; it's just real magic, and it's all in the hands.