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Show COMBAT STRENGTH THROUGH LOGISTICS Around the Hill See what's happening on base. S Pages 26-2- 8. March 2, 1990 .15 Mi a v u u a a u v Kill COUP - msmm. ;v"o " AF CaucbanclG, wives 'Gompados ockds' Sen ' ' "r Tm by Debbie Christiansen Hilltop Times staff writer When you are a husband and wife team in the Air Force, the term "comrades in arms" takes on a whole new meaning For CMSgt. Timothy Byro, former chief cost analyst in the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, and his wife, SSgt. Connie Byro, former administrative assistant for the senior enlisted adviser, life as a military couple works well. "A joint spouse assignment makes it easier for a' spouse to find a job. It makes a move easier a civilian spouse may have a harder time finding a job,"; Chief Byro said. ''We're kind of in the same family. The military is an obvious common interest," said Sergeant Byro. The Byros have been married for five years. They met at Randolph AFB, Ga., where they worked in the same building. Both have two children, a boy and a girl, from previous marriages. He has been in the military for 23 years while she has been a member for 13. On Feb. 27, the Byros left for a new assignment at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Chief Byro will be the chief of economic analysis and field support for the Pacific Air Force comptroller. Sergeant Byro will be the administrative assistant for the senior enlisted adviser to PACAF. Recently, the couple was honored by the Layton Chamber of Commerce for their community service during their time at Hill. They said they look forward to their new assignment, which will be Chief Byro's 12th assignment and Sergeant Byro's third. It will be their second assignment together as husband and wife. Sergeant Byro's assignments are basically contingent on her husband's assignments. If he gets an assignment, she goes along. The difference in rank has helped. If they were both chiefs they'd have a hard time getting assignments together because there aren't very many assignments for chiefs, Chief Byro said. Sergeant Byro's career field and training also makes it easy for her to get an assignment with him, they said. "There is always the possibility of separation-o- ne of both of you may get an assignment in opposite directions," Chief Byro said. " a reality Separation becomes for Charles became That possibility reality TSgts. in the 388th Tactiworks He Basden. Rosario and officer in noncommissioned as cal Fighter Wing NCOIC of is the she and charge of development manning at the 388th. In April the couple will go their separate ways for a year. She leaves for Korea and he will go to Turkey. Afterwards, they will return to Hill. "Forus, the joint spouse assignment program has worked well, except for this time," he said. Understandably, she said the idea of separation is "not too hot." ; U.S. Air Force Photo by Sgt. Joy A. Joersz Hawaii bound SSgt. Connie Byro and her husband, CMSgt. Tim Byro, look over a book of Hawaiian sites as they ready for their second assignment to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. They left Hill Tuesday for their new assignment. The Basdens have been married for 10 years. They met while they were both on .assignment in England and now have two children, an boy and a girl, age 7. Their children will stay here with an aunt during the time the Basdens are in Korea and Turkey. This will allow them to stay in the same school and in a familiar environment, she said. She has been in the service for 16 years and had seven assignments, while he has served for 17 years and had eight assignments. Two of those assignments have been as husband and wife. Despite the separation, the couple can still see advantages of their lifestyle. "It's a steady income for both of us," he said. "When we move neither of us has to start off at the bottom of the totem pole in a civilian job." are there support Understanding, Like other Pedro and many military couples, SSgt. Gonzales Katie met on the job. She is NCOIC Sgt. of internal medicine at U.S. Air Force Hospital, Hill, and he works across the hall fiom his wife in the emergency room. They have been married for about four years, and now he jokes that because of their busy schedules the only time he sees her is when they are working at the hospital. Sharing a career field is a definite advantage because it is easier to place them together, she said. "Because we have similar work and both understand about the military, the support is there. We know what the other is going through," she said. Both sergeants said they enjoy the steady jobs and double income provided by being a military couple but list the disadvantages as the stress of working different shifts, going on mobility exercises and trying to schedule leaves together. She said they have to make sure to have a dependable baby sitter for their son,' Peter. rank also a for is challenge. "I someCompeting times get jealous of her if she does better than me in a certain area," he said. ... Hill is her first assignment since joining the Air Force almost five years ago. For him, a Utah native, Hill is his third assignment after joining the Air Force almost nine years ago. When they aren't at the hospital they enjoy sports such as softball and volleyball. "If they ever stopped having joint spouse ments, it would really hurt morale," she said. Her husband added, "If they didn't have it anymore, one of us would "rt out of the Air Force because personally it would be too hard for us and our kid to be separated." When officers marry Majs. Bronis and Susan Voveris haven't been separated during their Air Force careers but realize that may not last.' "We don't expect to stay together our whole Air Force careers," she said. "But the key is to be flexible and to make our time apart as short as possible." "Now that we are both majors, the challenge becomes harder to find jobs together," he said. "Being professional officers, we understand the calling is there, but the thought of separation always ' remains." He has been in the Air Force for almost 13 years and is the commander of the 2849th Security Police Squadron. She has been a member for IQV2 years and is a maintenance supervisor in the 388th Component Repair Squadron. The Voverises met while, they were serving at Hahn AB, West Germany, and have been married for nine years. The primary advantage of being a military couple is that both spouses understand the unexpect-e- d assignment changes, temporary duty assignments, the long days, emergencies and the need to be committed to the Air Force 24 hours a day,. 356 days of the year, they said. The fact that she is in maintenace and he is in security has given him more of a cross reference to the Air Force, and the team effort ha? brought their two career fields closer together, he said. "We can exchange war stories and are able to understand there is a lot more to the Air Force. It helps open my eyes to become more receptive, sympathetic and have a deeper appreciation for other career fields," he said. Their different career fields have also helped them get joint spouse assignments. Her assignments will be at installations with an aircraft mission and , where there is an aircraft mission, there is a heed ... for security police. : f" However, both majors have Had to take jobs which may not have been the best for their career progress in order to stay together. t ' But in the end, doing a good job, no matter what the assignment, is never a bad career move, she said. Another disadvantage is that because they are both officers, their social obligations have increased and they are expected to represent their squadrons at social functions. "That limits our personal, private time together," he said. The Voverises said they enjoy their military lifestyle even though it requires sacrifices even more in the future if they should decide to have children. "Would we do it again? Yes," he said. !! 3 E Suggestions Hill workers rake In cash Profile of a warrior Whiz battles computer nightmares 20 Sports Test flunks Army " 1 11 1 mm |