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Show April 25, 1996 Page 3A Fighter Country 388th Fighter Wing speakers make a difference in lives of local youth By SrA. Aimee Groben Community Relations In struts the fearless his to respect themselves, because if they don't, nobody else is going to," said Gallegos, who grew up inLayton. Because of his heart for - sixth-grade- r, troubled teens, Gallegos has already black locks touch the top of his oversized visited Moweda Youth Corrections sweatshirt He nods his head to a Facility three times this year. passing classmate, as if to say, Gallegos says he lights a fire under "What's up dude?" He's young, a the teen's backsides by telling them little rebellious and has no chie what his future holds. These are the kids some 388th Fighter Wing pilots have 'on target' It's all a part of the wing's ongoing pursuit of reaching out to the local ' community. Many people in the 388th volunteer their time to speak at local schools and activities, which gives the community an look at the Air Force. A large portion of requests for speakers come from local schools and colleges looking for pilots to speak about their careers and the Air up-clo- se Force. "Each speaking engagement is different," said Capt Ron Beyes, a fighter pilot from the 34th Fighter Squadron. "But I hope what I can If you want to be impart is this something, you have to stay in school and off drugs." And he's not the only one playing that tune. Capt Kurt Gallegos, pilot for the 12th Air Force Demonstration Team here, spends much of his free time encouraging local youth to stay in school, off drugs and to respect not only themselves, but others, and those in authority. "One of the most valuable things I tell the kids is that they have that he can relate to what they're going through and knows what it's like. "I came from a tough upbringing where things didn't come easy. And I'm here to tell you that you don't have to stay there. It's a choice you have to make. You have to work hard in school and stay away from drugs and gangs," he said. Although the speaker's pro- gram aims at educating the community about why the 388th FW is here and what role it plays in the community, these pilots have taken it one step further. While finding a good balance ' And. apparently his visits have left an imprint on some. In one of his favorite letters, a sixth-gradfrom Franklin Elementary School writes: Dear Captain Beyes, Thank you for coming to our school on Monday. I was real excited to see you here. I told my mom what I learned, and she asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I said, "An artist " It would be cool to fly an airplane. Your helmet you showed us was real neat. Oh, and thank you again. The letter is just one way the pilots know they've made a difference. Gallegos' brother, who works at the correction facility, was approached by a girl who had been in some trouble. After she heard Gallegos talk, she approached his brother and said She really liked what the captain was doing. Later, after she was released from Moweda, she wrote to Gallegos to tell him she really wanted to become a pilot It may seem like a far off dream to some, but Gallegos remembers a time not too long ago when he had hopes of being a fighter pilot er can sometimes be a challenge, Beyes says his first love is his family and his second is flying. He says "I used to hear those same jets being a pilot is, "definitely not a thinks and off right by my house. And it's taking job," important to find time to reach out I would watch them go by. I remember thinking then that I wanted to kids. to fly one ofthose jets some day, I "I think it's great being in a profession where you can do what you just didn't know how I'd go about nine-to-fi- ,m tl...i..-fr- 1 ;;. 1 . -- jy , I ! - Tjlv. -- t .a f ve love and also serve as a role model," said Beyes. "Even if these kids don't want to be a pilot or in the Air Force, if something I said encourages them stay in school for another three or five years then I'm satisfied." doing it" The same thing he tells kids today got him where he is now. "I knew it was going to be tough, but I just set my goals, worked hard and studied hard in school. " Photo by SrA. Aimee Groben During a speaking engagement, Capt. Ron Beyes, 34th Fighter Squadron, lets a local student try on his helmet For more information or to join the 388th's Speaker's Bureau contact TSgt. Darla Ernst at 777-320- 0. Off duty work earns senior airman cash By SrA. J.C. Woodring Editor, Fighter Country Suggestion program pays $12,450 in three months January through March: , 388tti Logistics Group Capt John C. Heyrte SMSgt John P. Foran MSflt. Mark R. Bamette , MSgt. Richard M. Livingston MSgt Earl Minshew TSgt. James D. Barnes . , SSgt Gary Y.Hata SSgL James M. Juntunen Richard KIos ,- GregA-Strat- e Harold T. Stewart , Certificate $3,750 $50 $3,750 $495 and certificate $75 $35 , $525 $250 and certificate $375 and certificate , $75 388th Operations Support Squadron TSgt. Mark N. Johnson 4th Figrrter Squadron SSgL Gregory S. Davis SrA. Phillip B Bums SrA. Larry D. Moser Jr. , $63 $98 $60 $98 ' 388th Maintenance Squadron $165 MSgt. Reginald M. Sanders MSgt Kim L. Wagner TSgt Allen L, Taylor SSgt. Lewis W. Allison SrA. Chad D. McFariand SrA. Alvar O. Saborio SrA. David C. Trader SrA. Erik Wertz A1C Shawn W. Ellis A1C Max D. Guerra A1C Cart A. Hancock - . $225 $175 $63 $50 $125 $130 $1,055 $50, $63, $50 34th FS SSgt. Raymond P.McCreesh 729th Air Control Squadron SSgt. Robert S. Dubois II $375 SSgt. Craig A. Nielson $75 Certificate 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron For more on the suggestion program, contact CMSgt Ron Hinshaw or Tom Gates at 777- - CASH. When a senior airman in the 388th Maintenance Squadron began last fall, he never dreamed it would restoring his 1963 Chevy pick-u- p earn him money at work. Almost eight months later, SrA. Erik Wertz, a structural mainte-nantroop, got an extra $1,055 in his pocket for applying a new product he used in repairing the vehicle on 388th Fighter Wing aircraft. Wertz suggested changing the type of sandpaper used on the aircraft before painting. In the first year, the suggestion will save the wing more than $10,000. "Sanding the jets is the worst part of my job," said Wertz. "When I tried the new type of sandpaper on my truck, I couldn't believe we didn't use it at work." Among other things, the new sandpaper is backed with a fabric fastener instead of a sticky surface used previously. "If you dropped the sticky backed sandpaper, it would stick to or get dust on it making it not stick to the sander," said Wertz. The new paper is almost the opposite. "You can even crumple it into a ball and it'll still work," said Wertz. Changing the sandpaper isn't the only thing Wertz is looking at improving. "Now that I got this first suggestion approved, I'm not going to stop until I can't find anything else to fix," said Wertz. There are a few ideas that I already started working on," which Wertz estiAfter finishing the work on his classic pick-umates will take about another eight months, he plans on giving it to bis father. "He took care of me for 18 years. It's the least I can do," he said. What is Wertz going to do with his new found fortune? "It's already gone," he said. Wertz spent the money on a trampoline and toy race car for his daughter, Kinzie. ce -- p, |