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Show Nov. 12,1998 What is a vet? Exercise exercise exercise Veterans continue service as everday heroes among us, deserve thanks of grateful nation Chap. Denis Edward O'Brien U.S. Marine Corps Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg; or perhaps another sort of inner steel - the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet? He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five y behavior is wooden planks, whose overgrown outweighed a hundred times in cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel. She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. He is the prisoner of war who went away one person and earnebaek: another or didnVt come back at all. He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning rednecks and gang members into slouchy, Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs. He is the parade-ridin- g Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. He is the three anonymous heroes in the Tomb of frat-bo- nt the Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep. He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the night- "fciftfff J2 y1 mares come. He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say "Thank you." That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded - or were awarded. Two little words that mean a lot, "Thank you." Remember Nov, 1 1 is Veterans Day. "It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protestor to burn the flag." photo by Senior Airman Sara Banda A 34th Fighter Squadron weapons load crew removes guidance controls from a bomb during the Phase II Operational Readiness Exercise held Nov. The 75th Air Base Wing joined the 388th Fighter Wing in the exercise 2-- 6. to prepare for a combined Operational Readiness Inspection next year. nsignia ushers in new era of enlisted representation ' T Lommand chief master sergeant title provides interservice recognition; increases visibility, distinction By Chief Master Sgt.T.J. Love 388th FW Command Chief Master Sergeant On Nov. my duty title changed from senior enlisted advisor to command chief master sergeant as did every other senior enlisted advisor throughout the Air Force; thus beginning a new era of enlisted representation. But, what has changed? When Chief Master Sergeant of the 1 , Air Force (CMSAF) Eric Benken approached Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Mike Ryan, with the proposal to change the duty title and develop a distinctive stripe, he framed his rationale as being beneficial for us as a service. The change would allow us to interface more easily with our sister service counterparts, each of whom have a distinctive title already. Our title of senior enlisted advisor did not connote a set of job responsibilities that was familiar to our counterparts. Today's total force concept more frequently provides us opportunities to interact with our Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard brethren so familiarity is key to facilitat ing a smooth integration. General Ryan considered that rationale sufficiently compelling to immediately approve CMSAF Benken's proposal. As a command chief master sergeant, I am extremely pleased with General Ryan's approval because in addition to joint service recognition, it benefits the people I represent. It identifies me as the chief master sergeant responsible for expressing the concerns of the 388th Fighter Wing enlisted men and women to our commander, and when warranted, elevate those concerns to the command chief master sergeants at 12th Air Force, and Air Combat Command. On rare occasion, I have had direct communication with our Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. In addition, I am exposed to a great deal of information on a variety of is sues ranging from local to Air Force levels. This includes initiatives and hot topics concerning all Department of Defense forces. Each TDY affords me the opportunity to discuss our policies, programs, and issues with other command chief master sergeants to ensure we are consistent I also seize the opportunity to adopt their best practices. On a personal level, the distinctive stripe offers more advantages than just the title. It provides an immediate, introduction; a name tag, stripe, and wing patch tells the whole story. It identifies me as a representative of more than 1,800 enlisted men and women ... a conduit that flows information in both directions. Hopefully the men and women of the 388th Fighter Wing now have a better understanding of my role and will view me as a chief who has access to vast amounts of information and points of contact for referral. The stripe should be available around the first of the new year. Take advantage of this outward sign and keep me abreast of your concerns. I encourage open communication with supervisors and first sergeant as well because they too need to stay informed. So, "what bas changed?" Not our commitment, nor how we're referred to (chief), nor our responsibilities, nor our pay. Just a new title and stripe that should pay big dividends of recognition for our sister services but more importantly those we represent everyday. I i, FIGHTER COUNTRY is published for people like FIGHTER COUNTRY First place, small commercial-enterpris- e 997 Air Combat Command Name: Capt. Joe Jezairian Job: Squadron Weapons Officer Unit: 42 1 st Fighter Squadron Hometown: San Diego, Calif. Family: wife, Kris Time in Service: 9 years Hobbies: hikffTg, camping, and skiing Most recent accomplishment: "I graduated from weapons school last December." What would I change at Hill Air Force Base: "I would give Hill Air Force Base jets higher priority for range air space." Media ' newspaper Contest Editorial Staff Col. Mikt Hostage Commander -- Chief, Capt. Jamts R. Wilson Public Affairs Staff Sgt. Jamts A. Rush Edtor Senior Airman Sara Banda......... Chief, Community Relations Airman Cindy Richards Staff Writer Fifhur Comln n supplement lo die Hilltop Tina. published by NtorMcdu. Inc.. perme Am no ay connected nh the V 5 An-- Force, under ctclniw mtmm contract nk the Oiden An logistics Center Public Affairs Office Thii commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper n m d publication for members of the C.s. military senices. Contents of Ftfhur Cowim are not necessarily the official iiras of. or endorsed by die C.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of Inc Air force, tales otherwise indicated all photos are S An Force photos. fithm Cmmn is edited, prepared and pros lord bs ihe Fithter mf Public Affairs Office. - D 5sAn.. Suite 113. Hill AFB l"F. Siory submissions for Cowitn can be brought bs the office, e.ftailed paedjnnfn uhill.pot hill af mil or fated to Deadline for submission, to fitrer Comirr, is no latet than Wednesday a m. cifht days prior to poblicatioa For more mfortnatioa. can die public affairs office ai ?200 m t 3ra Flhitr ::! |