Capt. Damian Schlussel, operations officer for the 31st Security Forces Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Kent Harris / S&S)

Capt. Damian Schlussel, operations officer for the 31st Security Forces Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Kent Harris / S&S)

Damian Schlussel, operations officer for the 31st Security Forces Squadron at Aviano Air Base, braces himself before ascending further up the rock face during a recent foray into the mountains above Dardago, Italy. (Kent Harris / S&S)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Damian Schlussel will readily admit that he’s not the best mountain climber stationed in northern Italy.

But who knows? One of those who might some day lay claim to that mythical title could have to give some props to the 28-year-old Air Force captain.

After all, he’s been the main force behind the base’s fledging mountain climbing program.

“There are people out there who are a lot better climbers,” Schlussel said. “Because I’ve just got other stuff I’m doing.”

In an era where many athletes specialize from an early age in order to excel at their chosen sports, Schlussel is a throwback. He’s on the base’s volleyball team. He bikes several times a week. He’s a regular weight lifter. He’s played soccer since he was a little kid. In the winter, he straps on skis. He instructs fellow American and Italian security officers on skills such as repelling down buildings.

Schlussel changes sports faster than some couch potatoes change channels.

“I guess it’s because I enjoy different amounts and kinds of activities,” he said. He got up at 4:30 a.m. to work out on the day he was interviewed for this story. He then went about his duties as operations officer for the 31st Security Forces Squadron. After work, he went to volleyball practice.

“That’s pretty much a typical day,” he said.

He looked over his shoulder at a sunny sky during the interview and smiled.

“It’s hard to stay inside at my desk on a day like this.”

Not that a cloudy day would make him want to stay inside either. That’s good, because the weather at Aviano, with the Dolomites directly to the north, can change pretty quickly.

“You’ve got to be flexible,” he said of his activities. “Just because it’s raining here doesn’t mean that it’s not clear in the mountains. Or maybe it’s snowing in the mountains and you could grab some skis.”

Schlussel may have participated in many activities in three years at Aviano. But it’s his role as a volunteer for the base’s outdoor recreation department that could have the biggest impact. He’s run several classes on mountain climbing and has tried to get a solid program going.

“I like working with people,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Penny Looney, an outdoor rec program coordinator who has left for Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., said Schlussel is a good instructor.

“I think it’s the way he makes people feel comfortable,” she said. “He definitely knows what he’s doing. And I think he goes above and beyond.”

Looney was one of those who took a class he taught in August. Many of those signed up again in October.

“I don’t think I would have done it if I hadn’t worked at outdoor rec,” she said. “But I enjoyed it. I’d do it again.”

Of course, it would be hard to find another base with as easy access to mountains — and lots of rock faces — as Aviano. A 15-minute drive and a slightly longer hike and Schlussel was climbing a mountain face on a recent weekend with two former students.

In a few months he’ll be stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Ramstein is surrounded by hills, not mountains, so finding high peaks to climb won’t be as easy as it is for him now. But why climb up a mountain at all?

“It’s a puzzle you have to solve,” Schlussel says. “Mentally and physically. It’s a personal challenge. And I have trouble when people tell me I can’t do something.”