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Show Amfcome. ROVer promote helps Busy by Mary Gatbrarth Htop Times staff It's got a Winnebago back, a Volkswagen front, named ROVer and headquartered here. Four of the newest vehicles in the Air Force inventory are drawing a lot of attention and second looks as they tour the country. The RO Vers, short for Recruiter .TT J - .J Outreach Vehicles, are traveling recruiting vehicles shrink-wrappe- d Air Force graphin bright ics. They're a little larger than most vans. Their smaller size and simple setup makes them easier to transport than the Air Force Experience (which travels on a semi eye-catchi- f ng f X truck). John Houston, 372nd Recruiting Group Resource Advisor, said the ROVer gives the Air Force an increased public appearance at venues like county fairs, basketball games, career fairs and other events where there are people in the recruiter's target age bracket. "It gives the public an exposure to the Air Force that we hope will peak their interest especially among the year old age group of men and women who would consider making the Air Force a career," he said. The ROVer, is handled by an event management agency. The Air Force will lease the vehicles for oneyear the newest toot In the recruiting arsenal. The Air force will use four vehiand if they prove successful, permanently assign as The ROVer, short for Recrutter Outreach Vehicle, is come sound system and portable dog tag this equipped with a year. They cles to draw attention to recruiting many as 28 to groups and individual squadrons. machine. While one of the ROVers is assigned to Hill, don't were primarily due to user error and corexpect to see it parked on base anytime soon. Because ilar to the SAT exam form), the information is fed lems (that rected with training), the ROVers have proved to be the group has one vehicle, and the 372nd's range extends into a computer and a personalized tag is created Air Force lqjjo. very successful during their inaugural two months. from Kansas west to Korea, it's in high demand for with the new the front end is Volkswagen "It's basically an RV They fill out a form and put it into a computer sysmajor events. Houston said the ROVer has a packed van that's been customized of Ford a and the back is sort schedule. In fact, Hill's ROVer is booked through most tems that spits out a tag with a chain and everything," for the recruiting mission," he said. "It s just like driof this fiscal year and into the first few months of the Witt said. "It's really a great recruiting tool." ving an RV. Think of it as a big van." next one. Houston said the ROVer program is experimental, "At the rate we're going I'd say we could definitely but he expects the Air Force will receive positive results. use one for each of the squadrons because we've had "I can't see how it would be anything but positive," a couple of conflicts where two or more were wanted said. "If we can raise public awareness with a few he will it for the same date," he said. "We're hoping that the exposure public gives people in high school and community colleges that the raise awareness to bring some more people into the Air Force could be a possible career, then I think we've Air Force and to reconnect with the American public. we hope to the Force been successful." And if that's the case, then I think we'll have a favorStaff Sgt. Chris Thode, a recruiter who's Marketing ROVer." own its each for able argument will peak their interest. squadron getting at McChord AFB, Wash., has had an opporNCOIC KO Vers are equipped with a TV, premier sound tunity to take the ROVer on the road and meet some of system and a dog tag machine. A canopy can be pitched those students and young adults. outside to provide shade for spectators as they watch "It's pretty fun. When you're driving it you get a lot videos highlighting Air Force career fields and techHouston looks and people coming up to you," he said. "We of on screens. outdoor Maj. John nology large Inside the ROVer is promotional literature and enough just used it for a career fair. All the kids came up. They an essential can watch the video while they're filling out the dog recruiting supplies for 5,000 visitors Houston agrees the machine is one of the most use- tag form. It's loud it's got a great speaker system on convenience in remote locations. The RVs have kids from age it. That day we had between 350-40- 0 space for four recruiters, although they can be manned ful concepts. 16-21 saw a lot of kids that were interested about the "I think the big thing is being able to pass out dog tags with as few as two. Senior Airman Dean Witt, 368th Recruiting Squadron so you can give each visitor a custom, personalized souAir Force and the ROVer was a big hit." Public Affairs NCOI, said one of the vehicle's unique venir," he said. "We're trying to get a special type of tag The ROVer will be set up at the Hill AFB Air Show on and popular features is the dog tag machine. While with the Air Force Web site on the reverse side." June 9. For details on the ROVer or Air Force recruitHouston said other than a few mechanical prob ing, visit www.airforce.com. touring the ROVer, visitors fill out a bubble form (sim- Maj. 18-2- 6 state-of-the-- art u It Air 36-inc- an that h 0. Classes help prepare parents for baby's arrival by Gary Boyle Hilltop Times staff Though small in size a baby's arrival is grand in stature and creates a lifestyle change few can predict. The Parents Program offered by Family Advocacy at Hill is a series of classes designed to help new parents embrace their new responsibilities and also act as a go between the hospital and their home with a registered nurse to guide them. Classes such as OB Orientation, Baby Bare Necessities and Baby Basics teach how to bathe their baby, parents-to-b- e change a diaper, set up a nursery, exercise and nutrition, and familiarize them with base and community services, and self care during pregnancy. Once thought just for women, it's realized now how important it is for both parents to get involved. "Any guy can make a baby, but it takes a real man to be a dad," said Jenny a barrier easily overcome with instant benefits, according to McFarland. "Babies hear really well in the tummy and they can feel too. They know their dad is out there. When he massages mommy's tummy and talks or sings to the baby it gives her reassurance that he is excited about this baby too and mom releases all these positive endorphins that go to the, baby," McFarland said. "Since a lot of the dads go TDY during the pregnancy, I tell them to make tapes of them reading stories or singing songs that mommy can play on her tummy while he's away. She can even put the phone on her tummy when he calls. When he gets back the bond is there, these two have really gotten to know each other." The proof is when a baby is born and the parents call the child's name and the newborn turns toward the familiar voices, according to McFarland. Touching the baby shouldn't end after birth either and McFarland's Baby Massage class shows parents how to open a little known avenue for continuous com-- , munication. "I think it's one of the most important classes. It opens a communication both ways for parents and baby and can last a lifetime. Even during McFarland, New Parent Nurse at Family Advocacy. "We've left dads out for so many years, we're trying to get them involved now too. Dad needs to get involved prenatal. It benefits mommy, baby and dad. It begins the bonding at the beginning." Getting involved before a baby is born for a dad can seem tough. He is sepa- the teen years when kids don't like rated physically from his child, but it's their parents very much. When a teen closes up the parent can give them a massage and a lot of times all the teen is feeling will just come out," McFarland said. "The instructor who taught me had a teen with Attention Deficit Disorder. When he got out of control at home or in the classroom all that had to be done was to touch him on the shoulder and say 'relax' and he would calm down. It was a conditioned response." Creating a bond for a lifetime between parents and child also helps decrease the chance for abuse. Some men can even become jealous of their newborn who they feel is receiving too much attention from the mother. "When the dads get involved they'll step right in and help take care of the baby. They want to baby-si- t and pay attention to the baby too," said Daryl Sondrup, Family Advocacy Outreach okay. He put on the gloves and robe and delivered that child, he's been close to that baby ever since and is a great dad," McFarland said. "I think the dad is pregnant and goes into labor too. Not physically, but emotionally he shares what the mom is going through. If he wants to help deliver the baby there is no reason if everything is okay with mom, the doctor and there are no complications during the birth, why he can't People just need to get a birth plan together." McFarland suggests that dads get as . involved as they want in the entire process. Years ago men were all but excluded during a child's birth. "When my oldest was born 30 years ago, I wasn't allowed to touch him until we took him home three days later. I wasn't even allowed in the same room, I had to look at him behind glass when he was born," Sondrup said. "When Manager. At first some men don't seem ready my third was born it was tofally difor even willing to assume their new ferent. The staff checked him out to make sure he was all right then handed parental role. "We had a guy in my childbirth class him to me. I was standing there next who hated the films and thought they to my wife and the bonding with that were gross. He only came to class baby was instant and incredible." because his wife made him and was not For more information on the New Parinvolved. But when she laborwas super ent Program and the variety of classes ing and got ready to push something for parents and their babies call Faminside of him snapped and said 'I want ily Advocacy at Ext. ; 1 to deliver this baby' and the doctor said OOR |