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Show IP ©Hilltop Times ™ September 16, 2004 Air Force News Tinker civilian employee marks 50 years of service "I wanted Tan Son Nhut Air Base," he said. "They sent me to the Mekong Delta in the south, and I worked on 'eyes and ears of the world' — radar and radio." As his second Vietnam tour wound down, Mr. Espinosa put in names of bases where he hoped to be assigned. "But they sent me to Altus [AFB, Okla.] instead," he said. It was there he drew his line in the Oklahoma soil, holding out for a Europe assignment in exchange for re-enlisting. When he got word he was headed for an Alaskan island instead, he put in his retirement papers. He took a job in shipping and receiving, and was there about a year when he spotted an item in the newspaper which said Tinker was opening jobs. "I took the test and came over here," he said. "They were the hardest jobs you could find — the motor pool, warehouse and wash rack." The work was challenging, but Mr. Espinosa was patient. Eventually, a job opened in sheet metal, and Mr. Espinosa received a promotion so he could accept it. In his locker, Mr. Espinosa keeps a paper sack filled with mementos of his lengthy career including certificates and letters — for 30 and 40 years federal service — and commanders' coins. May 18,2011, will be the 60th anniversary of Mr. Espinosa's odyssey with the Air Force. Will he try for that or will he retire? "I would rather be working here with friends than staying home," he said. "I just like to be with people and work with them." Then they told us, "You're going to mainOklahoma City Air Logistics Center Public Affairs tain these [F-106] aircraft atMinot,N.D.'" he TINKER AFB, Okla. (AFPN) — You might said. say the Air Force and Steve Espinosa grew up He endured fouryears together. of weather extremes at For a fact, the two have shared more than five the North Dakota base decades together. In uniform and as a civilian, before being told his Mr. Espinosa has served the Air Force for 54 unit was shipping out years, nearly as long as the service has existed. to Saudi Arabia. A small-parts sheet-metal worker at the Okla"But they changed homa City Air Logistics Center here, Mr. Espinosa their minds, and I went began his association with the Air Force on May to Vietnam instead," he 18,1950. The Air Force, incidentally, will mark said. "It was so beautiits 57th birthday Sept. 18. ful there — palm trees The country still drafted young men into miliand the blue sea and the tary service when Mr. Espinosa was growing up green grass that was cut in Kansas. Photo by Margo Wright just like a golf course. "I was working at a machine shop in Ottawa, In 1950, Steve Esplnoza became a member of the Air Force family. More than 50 It was a paradise, and Kan., and it went out of business," he recalled, years later, he still serves the Air Force as a sheet-metal mechanic for the Oklahoma I loved it. I wanted to adding he soon found machinist's work in another City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, Okla. extend another year." shop. "While I was there, I saw this Army sergeant because I've got a missing finger, they redlined come in and talk to my boss and then point at me." me," he said, waving his right hand. "So they sentHe did not get the extension and was ordered The sergeant came with an offer. me to electronics school at Keesler [AFB, Miss.]"to Patrick AFB, Fla. While there, he applied for "He said, Til give you a choice. You can go into Mr. Espinosa left the Mississipi base for here another tour in Vietnam. "They sent me to the Philippines," he said. "I the Air Force or the Army, [but] the Air Force where he worked on the F-94 radar. He subsehas got all the careers,'" Mr. Espinosa said. quently worked on gunsight development for the was supposed to take electrical parts to an area close to Cambodia; they told me I could go with He chose the Air Force and headed to Kansas F-84 at Brookley AFB, Ala. City for in-processing. From there, he went to "They said, 'It looks like you're going to Korea,'" an Army convoy... but I broke my foot." The injury was a lucky break for Mr. Espinosa, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for a two-week he recalled, "but they sent us to Japan. We lived who learned later that many on that convoy were orientation and then to Sheppard AFB, Texas, in the barracks where the kamikaze pilots had killed. for basic training. stayed." 'The Lord had something to do with it," he said. Air Force officials tested recruits to match jobs By then, Mr. Espinosa had worn the blue four his foot healed, the Air Force sent him When with the individual's skills. years. He re-enlisted and served at McGuire AFB, back to Saigon. "I was supposed to be [in] administration, but N.J., then Suffolk County AFB, N.Y by Jeanne Grimes Survey will measure how personnel services are delivered by Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski Air Force Print News WASHINGTON — Airmen can help make their personnel services delivery system better through survey feedback beginning Sept. 20. Air Force officials said they are transforming the way personnel services are delivered to make them more effective, efficient and timely. This PSD transformation uses technology to place the capability for conducting routine personnel and pay transactions into the hands of Airmen via a Web-based system and contact centers, while minimizing the need for face-to-face dealings in an office. "We must provide commanders the right people they need to accomplish the mission," said Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, "LeaveWeb" applications many Airmen are already using. deputy chief of staff for personnel. An important element of the PSD transformation effort "We are transforming how we provide service to our customers," he said. "This transformation will allow us to accom- is measuring customer perspectives as a baseline for the future improvement of service delivery methods, offiplish two major goals at the same time. cials said. "First, we will continue our path of using technology to our advantage and push our transactional work to the Web The first two surveys being fielded will solicit perceptions and contact centers as soon as possible. This will allow our on personal customer service satisfaction from military and civilian people of all ranks, and unit leadership percustomers to access our services 24/7. "Second, the remaining work will focus on supporting the spectives from commanders, first sergeants, command operational mission —developing Airmen and ensuring we chiefs and senior civilians. Each survey process will continue for several weeks. have the right people in the right place at the right time with the right skills and experiences. This realigns the perThe e-mail surveys sent to participants will be anonymous sonnel community from processing transactions to a more and responses will not be linked to e-mail addresses. While value-added, commander support role," he said. the participation in the survey is voluntary, a high response turnout from will enhance the study, officials said. Examples of this transformation are the "myPay" and - $$$ INSTAYlTiGASH! $$$ University K LI1.IN a Majop Accredited University with the Military Graduate and undergraduate degrees in business, technology and management. WE PAY YOUR NEXT PAYCH ANYTIME ANYWHERE EDUCATION Online I TODAY!" Build your professional foundation with a high-quality, technology-grounded education designed for your success. 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