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Show ack to blue return to active duty Separated sergeants sible for taking care of the Stealth Fighter, she said. Campanella said that her military supervisors have been exceptional and when she had a rough time with her divorce, co workers supported her at and away from the office. You dont usually have that on the civilian side. The first sergeant is there at 2 a.m. if somebody needs him, she said. by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Some separating Air Force members are finding greener pastures lie in returning to their blue uniforms. During fiscal year 2000, the Air Force was at 350 percent of its prior service recruiting goal with members in all career fields considering reenlisting. Photos by Staff Sgt Sean Heup Staff Sgt. Victory Campanella In 1997, after six years in the Air Force, Staff Sgt Victory Campanella, now a trainer in the 75th Security Forces Squadron, sep- arated at the encouragement of her band, who she was married to at the time, said being part of the Air Force was what shed wanted to do since she was a little girl. But when her ex-hu- s- ex-husba-nd separated, she fol- lowed him out of the uniform. She immediately regretted her decision, but decided to make the best of her situation. When I got out I did numerous jobs, she said. 1 worked waitressing and as a cashier, "clerk, receptionist and truck driver. I did pretty much everything under the sun. I was making minimum wage and working 14 or days sometimes justto make ends meet and bring home money. f Staff Sgt. Sean Heup, who now works in the physical therapy office, was an active duty member for seven years when she decided to separate. Heup was disappointed when the officer in charge and non missioned officer in charge at her previous office would not granther permission to take part in a special duty assignment and Heup felt vfV, poor management was stifling her career growth opportunities. Heup said she didnt separate because of the Air Force, com-Campane- she separated because of - 1 lla TRI-separat- ed - . ment. poor management by people in the Air Force and in retrospect, she would do things differently. f 15-ho- ur kr- - I found myself working six days a week and I remembered some things I was doing in the Air Force and realized that there was a better way to take care of my family. The security was important to me, he said. After a year, the recruiter reenlisted and now has just over 20 years of service, Graydon said 17 years ago, If I were someone getting out really explore your options. I knew the day I signed the paperwork I made the wrong move and it took three years for me to be able to get back Staff Sgt. Victory in, she said. Making ends meet was Campanella Heup took advantage of complicated when the cou Air Force pie had to pay $6,000 out of pocketfor med- - her time out of service and as an ical treatment when her x - broke ex-husba- his hand. Campanella said besides the paycheck and security of having benefits, she missed the discipline of the military and sense of purpose and reen- listed about a year later. Theres not the sense of urgency to get the job done on the civilian side, whereas in the military thats what drives you. If you dont do it people end up getting killed or the mission is lacking, she said. Campanella said being away from family during deployments is tough, but the mil- itary has afforded her the opportunity to travel and see countries and cultures all over the world. The military has also provided her with other unique experiences. a senior airman I was the security liai-son for the Stealth Fighter. The Air Force to take care entrusted me, as a 22 year-olof this $40 million piece of equipment and sure security was setup. There isnt out there on the civil- another ls d, 22-year-- iansidethatcouldeversaytheywererespon- - he thought the grass was greener on the other side and after five years in the Reservist, she completed her education with the intention of earning her commis-stead- y sion when she reenlisted. Heup said she has several opportunities..., You cant just be here for a job. It was a sense of patriotism that made me come back. Jobs pay more on' the outside.Tts 7 more than being here for an occupation., ' Senior Master Sergeants Thomas Graydon and Steven Warren Two members of the military now tout-ing its praises were not always sold on the idea the Air Force was the right career choice. Senior Master Sgt. Steven Warren, 368th Air Force Recruiting Squadron super-- intendent, and Senior Master Sgt Thomas Graydon, 368th first sergeant, both sepa rated from the military as first term airmen and decided to reenlist less than ayear later, As a young airman, Warren spent an over- seas tour in Japan and returned to a state-mak- e side base in New York. Warren initially joined the Air Force to see different parts of the world and get some training. After Family, from page 1 dous growth in seminars and the type of training we do for the health and welfare we do for our families, Brian said. Marriage and depression seminars that we didnt have in place until last year are a tribute to the quality of life things theyve been focusing on. Family Support Center director Judy Maughan said Hill isnt just a base, its a community that takes care of its own whether its Boy ScoutTroops and units donating food to the base pantry so no one goes hungry, or linking families with services available in the surrounding H community. We take care of babies before theyre born and have - military went to work in the private sector as an EMT paramedic. I think in the civilian world its a whole lot more competitive because the way they promote people is based on performance only. If one of my coworkers taught me their secret on how they did something, then I can do it as well or better than they can, Graydon said. That makes me competition. In the Air Force were teach ing everybody everything we know because may not be there tomorrow. We teach everybody to be our replacement so the mission continues. Everyday were train- ing and teaching people. Teamwork is key. Graydon said medical insurance was another factor that influenced his decision to reenlist and the issue remains impor- tant to his family. His wife is a registered nurse who works at a local hospital. Recently the family compared her companys Quality Systems for Americas Air Force Hilltop Times Published by Moi Media, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication tor members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are med- - death. You hdar the nightmare stories. I went down and sat with the TRICARE folks here locally on the base. We figured out I that I was going to have a $1,000 could handle that when I was looking at a $100,000 bill, and everything went well, he said. Yes, I had to keep track of the bill and I had to match doctor statements with bills to make sure everything was taken care of, but it wasnt the nightmare that a lot of people claim they have. .. I paid $ 1 ,000 less than one percent of that co-pa- whole bill.- y. - While both men agreed benefits play a big part in their decision to stay in the Air Force past the mark, they said remaining in uniform is about more than a steady paycheck. 20-ye- ar Alot oftimes people miss that association with other people that have a common goal. The team factor is important everybody pulling together to accomplish the mis-w- e sion, Warren said. Sometimes those things get little attention when were in the midst of it, but when you dont have it its really important to you. I love my job. I dont think I could find a better job. I get to meet young people at the point I was 22 years ago, and help explain to them what the Air Force is all about, Graydon said. It s a whole lot bigger than just us or a paycheck. member attends a Right Decision briefing. Right Deci-i- s sion provides airmen with current information on pay, an elderly care support group, so all along the way Hill taking care of the Air Force family. No problem is too big or too small. We can always help people find a soluleadtion whether on or off base, said Maughan, adding ership has also helped the center improve its services strong support. All of the leadership sincerely cares about the personnel and families stationed here . benefits, assignments, retraining and quality of life issues, Master Sgt. J.D. Jennings, Hills newly appointed career assistance advisor, has two children and said all mem-throug- h bers of his family have made sacrifices for their country, Jennings said military members may take for granted the steps the Air Force takes to They really want people to succeed and families to be some benefits, including a happy. Theyre talking to me all the time about how we rush members home during family crisis, to backwards over will bend Air Force get you The can make things better. a In addition to classes offered at the Family Support where you need to be during family emergency , J that everything falls apart, the spouses are encouraged to attend and learn about nings said. In the event all the Air Force has to offer when the familys militaryAirForceisthereholding you up whenyou need it. en-Cent- r 2r. v Global, Powef 'aiid'Iieacli for America. Air Force people building the worlds most respected Air and Space Force znoozzz Mary Galbraith Lt. Col. Jeff Bowles, left, 368th Recruiting Squadron Commander, regularly discusses recruiting and retention issues with Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Graydon and Senior Master Sgt. Steven Warren. two duty stations, he felt hed done that. He ical plan with a major provider and with his wife and new child, to CARE. The TRICARE plan is better. It covers move home to West Virginia with plans more things and right now it doesnt cost to start an auto repair and painting busime anything. I dont have to pay up front ness. benall just for the privilege of having the policy, Long hours and taking care of the its included efits the military automatically included ' Thats part of my benefits said. he in base Warren toll. the time took a financial pay, my By Those benefits were appreciated when - recouped business costs, his profit was sim-ilar to what hed been making while in the his daughter was hospitalized with over a service. He said the big difference was the $100,000 bill. Wnhen if first hit that she was going to overhead and profits didnt include bene- fits like insurance, paid vacation and retire- - have to be hospitalized I was scared to not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Ail Force. 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