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Show Spio Commentary Quality of military life a matter of perspective by Senior Airman Jess Harvey 81st Training Wing Public Affairs Imcon-stantl- y KEESLERAFB, Miss. (AFPN) I reminded of why choose to stay in the military and why others don't. It's a matter of perspective. I hear young and old airmen say things like the medical care isn't as good as it used to be or our benefits are going down the drain. I have even found myself grumbling from time to time. Then, I remember my mother. My mother raised three children on her own off minimum wage. We had no benefits. If it wasn't an absolute emergency, we didn't see a doctor. If the pain wasn't unbearable, we didn't see a dentist We never had cable and sometimes didn't have a phone. If my mother had to take time off from work, she got paid less. There was no such thing as annual leave for her. There were times when peanut butter and jelly sandwiches seemed like pure heaven to three children who knew no better. Thanks to a motivated mother, creative budgeting and a strong immune system, we made it through. Compared to that, the benefits I enjoy as a military member are too many to count. At 18, 1 enlisted in the Air Force. Upon completing my technical training, the military moved my belong ings and me toTyndaH AFB, Fla. I started receiving paychecks that were more than my mother' s monthly income. To top it off, I started seeing a dentist every six months. If I had a cold, I made an appointment to see a doctor and didn't even have to pay for it If I needed an extra hour at lunch for the medical appointment I wasn't paid less, fired or charged leave. Some still say that on the outside I'd be paid enough to make up for it I could afford my own health care and more. I say those benefits are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the important things in life. Now that I'm used to the tangible benefits and am starting my own family, I see things from a new perspective. I'm looking more and more at the entire Air Force package. Take, for instance, the sense of kinship. If I have a problem, my workmates do everything in their power to help. If I'm on temporary duty overseas and my wife's car breaks down, someone in my office will help her take care of it If I break my leg and need to be out of work for a couple of days, it's not a problem and someone from the office will call to see if I need anything. If I get transferred to another base, I can count on the fact that someone will be waiting at the airport to pick me and my family up 13, 200 4. ft September 18, 2001 and show me the way to the nearest shopping center. I can't think of a single company that offers benefits like that Nowhere have I seen job of fers that include a statement like, "Here, well treat you like family" and back it up like the military. I also have yet to see a single job offer that includes 30 days paid leave a year or where I wouldn't have to worry about being told not to come to work the next day due to budget cuts. When I joined the Air Force, I never expected to get rich, and anyone who does is obviously not connected with reality. I just expected to get my most basic needs met. What I got was much more than that I got tangible benefits like medical, dental and vacation time, and intangible ones like friends, family and inclusion in a group of people committed to serving and protecting our country. When I overhear others talking bad about military benefits, I wonder where their perspective comes from. Are they concerned mainly with dollar signs, or are they looking at it as a lifestyle? Military life is just that a lifestyle. In order to size up he quality of benefits, you have to look at the entire picture. Colonel's daughter reflects on 'wonderful experience' Next comes, "Where did you graduate from college?" I tell them Florida, but I was only there for four years, so that doesn't really constitute being from there either. In fact, I've never lived anywhere longer than four years. by Kelly Kirsteatter Kirtland AFB, NM Children of military families, LANGLEYAFB.Va. (AFPN) also known as "military brats," know the one question in life that's probably the hardest to answer. It's not, "What's for dinner?" or "What am I going to do today?" It's "Where are you from?" For most people, the answer comes right out, no hesitation, no thought required, just a simple "Florida" or "California." But for us brats, it takes time and thought to decide how to answer it. My answer is usually something like, "I grew up in an Air Force family, so I've lived many places." The asker, who's trying to help me figure out where I'm from, says, "Well then, where were you born?" I answer Nebraska but must explain that I only lived there for three months of my life, so how could I be from there? Next comes, "Well, were did you graduate from high school?" I say Panama, which normally gets a response of "Oh, Panama City, Fla.?" to which I must reply, "No, Panama, the country." I can't really be from there either, because I'm not Panamanian. A seemingly simple question requires quite a lengthy response from me. And they don't hear about the places in between that I had the wonderful opportunity to experience. Maybe I'm from one of those states. For instance, maybe I'm from Delaware, where I spent the first four years of my life, where I learned that my dad was an Air Force pilot and his office was in the sky. My mom says every time I saw a plane I would say, "There goes Daddy's office!" Or maybe I'm from Illinois where I learned to ride my bike with my dad holding on to my belt, of course. Then again, maybe I'm from Alabama, where I lost my first tooth. Or it could be Virginia, where I was able to pick the color of my room in our new house. I picked sunshine yellow, and my dad painted my yellow room so that it was waiting for me when I arrived. Living a military life was the best thing that could have happened to me. I have moved J 1 times and experienced seven different states, two different countries, and I won't even count how many different schools. I was given the opportunity to experience the world and meet many people. I learned to make friends, say good bye, keep memories and appreciate differences. I learned the importance of family when you move to a new place, they're all you've got! Mom and Dad were always positive when it came to moving. The fun, new, exciting things were always emphasized, like a new house, new school, new friends and, of course, a new room color! Their upbeat attitude shaped the way I felt about moving. It made me look forward to my next challenge rather than dreading the fact that we were once again leaving. All of my moving experiences made me who I am. I consider myself to be an outgoing person, someone who can adapt quickly. I had to become these things. These are the traits that I carry today and will need in the future as I begin to start my own Air Force family. You see, I liked it so much that I chose to do it all over again! (Editor's note: This article is adapted from comments Kirsteatter made at her father's retirement ceremony. Col. Gary Kirsteatter was chief of the combat support division at the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Center, LangleyAFB, Va., before retiring after 27 years of service. Kelly Kirsteatter is the deputy director of the child development center at Kirtland AFB, N.M.) ActtioirD Lome bers, as well as retirees, the survey determined that AAFES has the potential for pumping an additional 338,000 gallons per month. At the time of the study, 380,000 gallons were pumped h at existing facilities. The projected facility will include a car wash and a fast food establishment. Regarding another easement onto the base, another gate is proposed in the Base General Plan. It will be built only if planned development occurs on the east side of the runway. Should an industrial complex be built there, it will be necessary to have a gate on the east side so traffic isn't funneled into the existing intersection at the south gate. Funds to build the gas station aren't the same as those used to build the new AAFES funds could only be used to gate. build the gas station and appropriated Air Force dollars can only be used to construct the gate. For more questions or comments about AAFES facilities, call the general manager, Tom Fredin, at Ext. Emissions policy clarified car registrations from counties requiring QCan testing serve as proof of passing the required emission test Instead of requiring a separate emissions certificate? drive-throug- Effective immediately, owners with current vehicle registrations from Davis, Weber, Salt Lake, and Utah counties are not required to show additional proof of emissions compliance. All others, including owners with vehicles registered are still required to show proof of Davis County Emissions Compliance per Federal Regulation to obtain a DD Form 2220. For more details, call Staff Sgt Michael Fries at Pass and ID, Ext A out-of-sta-te IDs Commissary seen people purchase items In the commissary QI've showing an ID. To me, this is against the law. If we aren't checking IDs at the commissary cash register and I'm certain the store manager has fixed we should be done only at the point of purchase, followID now checks are it effective Nov. 1, 1999. Our commisDoD in a policy ing change sary sales store checkers ask for an ID card from patrons who purchase items. Visitors aren't authorized to make commissary purchases. If you think this policy is being violated, call Ray managGardea, the store director, at Ext 64861, or the er. A Closed cafeteria QWhy p.m. The Bldg. 225 restaurant is open from 5:30 a.m.-- l p.m., then closes to change shifts and count money. It reopens and stays at 1:30 p.m. the prime break time in Bldg. 225 open until 8 p.m. On the day you called, shift change problems delayed the reopening. We apologize for any inconvenience. The restaurant will post a sign indicating it is closed from p.m. For more information, call Eric Smith, Base Restaurant manager, at Ext. A Station location station will be built Inside read that another QI've South Gate. I usegas the gas station on the East Side where there are ten pumps and there never seems to be a lot of traffic. Do we really need this? Wouldn't another easement onto the base benefit the base more than another gas pump that only charges five cents less than what Is right outside the gate? According to a survey, AAFES pumps 60,000 gallons per and 30,000 at the West Gate-gadispenser at the the station, exceeding industry and AAFES of 20,000 gallons per month. Considering Hill's huge customer base of active duty, Reserve, Guard and family mem A Mini-Ma- ll er in Bldg. 225 1 on-du- ty This year's Hill AFB Rod Run is the best I have ever seen. My thanks to David Ovard and his staff for putting on a really good show at Centennial Park. The folks at the Skills Development Center are the proud sponsors of this event. For the last 13 years they have worked to make each event better than the year before and your comments tell us they're succeeding. Your kind words will be greatly appreciated by David and his Auto Skills staff. 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