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Show November 18, 1999 Midden Heroes. . New program encourages volunteerism By Airman 1st Class Cindy Huston Editor, Fighter Country What is a hero? By definition in Webster's dictionary, a hero is a man noted for courageous acts or nobility of purpose. Throughout the 388th Fighter Wing and the United States Air Force, leaders have sought to recognize "Hidden Heroes," peo-pl- e who sacrifice time on a basis to help others through volunteering. "Volunteering is inherent in the military and is synonymous with serving our country," said Tech Sgt. Craig Nielsen, 388th Fighter Wing chief of personnel. "Being active in areas outside of normal duties makes for a person." Sergeant Nielsen has been appointed foreman of the Hidden Heroes program and is in the beginning stages of structuring the process. day-to-d- well-round- ay ed There are three parts to structuring the program, according to Sergeant. Nielsen. The first step is setting up the program and making a list of all the volunteer positions available. "Right now I am in touch with volunteer organizations both on and off base," said Sergeant Nielsen. "Once a list has been composed of all the volunteer opportunities, people interested in volunteering can go through me or their squadron volunteer managers. We will then match the person up with a volunteer position based on their skills and availability." The second step is lettingpeople know this program is out there. It is important for people at all levels of the military to volunteer, according to Sergeant Nielsen. . By letting people know this program exists, we are hoping to make it easier for them to step forward and volunteer. The third step of the program is recog- - Photo by Airman 1st Class Cindy Huston " GENERAL Gen. Robert Foglesong, 12th Air Force commander, talks to Staff Sgt. Tina Santos and her family before the presentation of Sergeant Santos' volunteer medal. Lt. nizing people for their efforts. "By recognizing people for their "I think people should volunteer for vol- unteer efforts, leadership is hoping to encour- age those already volunteering to keep up their efforts and get airmen who are not volunteering to step forward," added the sergeant. There are some people who have been volunteering who feel everyone should volunteer for something at least once. "The personal satisfaction I get from volunteering rates right up there with the good things I've accomplished in my life," said Staff Sgt. Tina Santos, 388th FW manpower analyst. - something, somewhere at least once," she added. Once the Hidden Heroes program is set to help match volunteers with jobs, Sergeant Nielson would like to see a volunteer-fes- t to kick off the program. "What I am envisioning is to invite all the different volunteer organizations to come out here in the morning to recruit and answer any questions people may have. "Then in the afternoon have the wing volunteer to do work out in the community, such as painting a church or disadvantaged or elderly peoples' houses. Then who volunteer in their communities to help others. "We have an unbelievable number of volunteers in 1 2th Air Force; most don't do it for recognition," General Foglesong said. "My initiative is to find those people and recognize them," he added. Another area the commander said deserves a special emphasis is education. "A better educated airman is a better citizen," he said. from Page A The commander has declared a 12 Air Force 'war on DUIs.' "I hate DUIs because of what they do to our people," he explained. "Our goal should be zero DUIs. That's the focus of our 'war on DUIs.'" The general also wants to find those "hidden heros' Mail brigh tens holidays of those serving overseas KELLY AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Thousands of service members will again be spending the holidays away from home, friends and family. And again, those in the United States have an by sendopportunity to brighten their holidays ing mail to "any service member." According to Defense Department officials, the "any service member" address protects individual service members deployed or stationed overseas from commercial exploitation. They also add that logistical and technical limitations prevent the department from providing direct ail to deployed troops. Several military missions continue in what is called the FRY, or Former Republic of Yugoslavia, following this year's Operation Allied Force. To letters weighing 13 ounces or less send First-Clato airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines there, as well as to family members in Europe, postal officials offer the following addresses: d forces: Member Service Operations in the FRY Any ss Land-base- APOAE 09397-000- 1 Ship-base- d forces: Any Service Member Operations in the FRY APO AE 09398-000- 1 Family members in Europe: Any Family Member Operations in the FRY APO AE 09399-000- 1 While the U.S. Post Office will only ship letters, the Defense Logistics Agency is accepting and transporting bulk donations. For more information, call To send aid to refugees in the area, people may call the U.S. Agency for International Develfor more inforopment at mation: For airmen and other military members stationed or deployed elsewhere overseas, people can send letters to the editors of Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper published for U.S. military members stationed in the European and Pacific theaters. Send letters to the following addresses: Pacific Stars and Stripes APO JA 96337 Europe Stars and Stripes APO AE 0921 1 ending the day with a banquet in the evening recognizing everyone's work and volunteer efforts," said the sergeant. For more information on the Hidden Heroes program, people can contact Tech. their Sgt. Craig Nielsen at first sergeants or, once the program has 777-227- 4, kicked off, their squadron volunteer man- agers. (Editor 's note- - The Fighter Country staff will be changing the format of the Publishedfor People Like section of the newspaper to highlight Hidden Heroes in the wing. Look for this change in this and future editions of Fighter Country.) "While the mission must go on and we also need to focus on our job skills, we need to be as flexible as we can in finding ways to help our airmen get their the general. The 388th Fighter Wing's position as a tenant unit and not having it's own resources for many functions can present challenges at times, the general admits, but "we're all in this together," he said. "We all support one mission and need to be working together as a team." educa-tion,"add- ed 388th Fighter Wing recognizes individuals The following individuals from the 388th Fighter Wing scored 90 percent or above on their career development course end of course test. Tech. Sgt. William J. Butler, Jr., Senior Airman Gregory A. Temple, Airman 1st Class Carmen M. Gebel, and Airman 1st Class Brian K. McCormick, 4th Fighter Squadron; Master Sgt. Keven H. Uitzi, Tech. Sgt. Frank S. Tren, Airman 1 st Class Matthew W. Newson, Airman 1 st Class Javier L. Ramos, and Airman 1 st Class Kimberly N. Robello, 34th FS; Staff Sgt.. Jay son G. Headrick, Airman 1st Class Keome L. Madden, and Airman 1st Class Vien Voraot-sad388th Maintenance Squadron; Staff Sgt. Clinton T.But1 ler, 388th Operations Support Squadron and Airman st Class Nicholas S. Wieder, 421st FS. y, |