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Show Figh ter ^ n try Airmen Defending our Nation at Home and Abroad... Liberty or Deach! Thursday, March 10, 2005 388th Fighter Wing supplement to the Hilltop Times Twice Monthly Operation Sole Train DFAS Web site moves ARLINGTON, Va.-TheDefense Finance and Accounting Service public Web site moved to a new location on ihe Internet, officials announced March 2. The old site, www.dfa.s.miI, will rcmain available through March 31. Then, users will be redirected lo the new site, www.dod.mil/dras, and links to pages on the previous site will generate an error message notifying users of the move, officials said. Webmasters who link to the site or pages within the site should review their links and update them accordingly, officials said. (Courtesy Air Force Print News) Active-duty Airmen can study full time The Air Force has a program that allows active-duty enlisted Airmen to attend college full time without loss of pay or benefits, and graduate with both a degree and a commission as a second lieutenant. The Airman Education and Commissioning Program gives Airmen up to three years to complete a degree. To qualify, applicants should have at least one year in service and on station, both of which are waiverable, and 45 college credit hours. For more information, go to the story on Air Force Link at http://www.af.mil/news/stor y.asp?storyID=l 23009780. February reenlistees The following 388th Fighter Wing members reenlisted in February. 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Master Sgt. Kevin Hagen Tech. Sgt. Keith Cravotta Staff Sgt. Charles Choate Staff Sgt. Thaddeus Hartlaub Staff Sgt. Justin Koch Staff Sgt. Brian Sells Staff Sgt. Charles Martin Senior Airman Latcisha Gamble Senior Airman James Schumacher Senior Airman Billy Sawyer 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Master Sgt. Michael Shane Tech. Sgt. David Wedow Staff Sgt. Caprice Mims Senior Airman Lance Leach 388th Range Squadron Staff Sgt. Esperanza Coffey 729th Air Control Squadron Tech. Sgt. Patrick Leath 421st Fighter Squadron Senior Airman Kathy Morgan DoO pfioio by Master Sgl. Mark Bucfror. U S. Atr Force Master Sgt. Terry Nelson fits a new pair of shoes on a young Bedouin girl in a village near Tallil Air Base, Iraq, on March 5. Sergeant Nelson, from the 388th Fighter Wing, is deployed with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group as the chief of group Public Affairs. The 388th Fighter Wing Association will participate in a collection drive called Operation Sole Train to provide new shoes, socks and school supplies to Iraqi children 12 years and younger. More than 4,000 new shoes and school supplies have already been delivered. Collections will be until March 25, during which time Airmen can donate new shoes, socks or school supplies. Squadron representatives should contact Tech. Sgt. Carrie Bolin or 1st Lt. Shawn Coil at 586-1096. Commitment to Caring Airman shares anguished story, gets support from AF Aid By Master Sgt. Sonja Whittington 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs and help comfort the young couple. The loan wasn't needed however; the families bought their own airline tickets. But, Sharon said, it was comforting to know that .if they needed the money, it was there. "My husband and I couldn't go back to our house after (Ashton died)." Sharon said. "So we stayed in (base lodging) for two weeks. Air Force Aid gave us a grant to pay for our room." Her number one concern was for her husband's wellbeing, she said. Financial details fell way low on her list of priorities. But, thankfully, the Air Force Aid Society was there to help. Sharon and Joel Newins suffered through the worst nightmare parents can have The Newins and their the death of their two-monthextended family were given old son Ashton Johnathan. rooms close to each other so they could comfort each other Shortly after Ashton was as needed. born on July 9. 2004, the young mother said she knew Following the memorial something was service, saaag wrong. He ^^= Ashton's ashes seemed fussy were flown to "It was comforting Oregon all the time to be and wasn't tO KnOW that if scattered on the gaining weight we needed the top of a mounlike he should. tain "so he can money, it was Despite see the whole numerous visworld," said there." its to the pediSharon. atrician, - Senior Airman Gradually Sharon Newin life is resuming "A.J.," as his 388th Aircraft Maintenance mother and Squadron journeyman for the Newins. father called Although him, died Sept. Sharon said they will probably never "get 16. After an autopsy, the couover" the loss of their son or ple discovered that their son forget the terrible heartache, suffered from a rare genetic they are slowly adjusting to disorder that affected his abililife without him. As a matter ty to digest fats. of fact, Sharon is expecting The Newins, who are both another child. There's about a senior airmen assigned to the 25 percent chance this child 388th Aircraft Maintenance will have the same genetic disSquadron, were consumed order but Sharon isn't afraid. with grief. Master Sgt. Brian Starr, the couple's first "We found out there's a sergeant, contacted Air Force screening test that can be done Aid as soon as he was told of right after he's born to deterthe death. "They took care of mine if he has the same disoreverything," said 22-year-old der," Sharon said. "If we had Sharon. known about A.J.'s disorder, we could have prevented his A memorial service was death. I've learned so much held at the base chapel for litabout the disorder and how to tle A.J. Sept. 22. Air Force Aid care for a baby who has it. took care of all the costs for the service, Sharon said. Air "If there's one thing I Force Aid Society offered an would want people to know interest-free loan to fly the it's to have the screening tests Newins' parents and other done. If your doctor doesn't family from Nebraska and tell you about it, make sure Oregon to share in the grief you ask." Supporting Airmen AFAF campaign is ongoing The 2005 Air Force Assistance Fund drive continues until April 8. Contributions to the fund go directly into four programs designed to support Airmen, their families and surviving spouses. The Air Force Aid Society is the official charitable organization of the Air Force and provides Airmen emergency financial assistance, education assistance and base-level community enhancement programs. The Air Force Enlisted Villages in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., provide rent subsidy and other support to indigent widows and widowers of retired enlisted Airmen older than 55. The Air Force Villages Indigent Widow's Fund is a life-care community in San Antonio for retired officers, spouses, widows or widowers and family members. The General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation provides rent and financial assistance to indigent widows and widowers of Airmen in their own homes and communities. All contributions are tax deductible and can be made in the form of cash, check, money order or payroll deduction. Contact your unit AFAF point of contact for more information or to make a donation. Remembering a hero Photo by Master Sgt. Sanja Whittington The base honor guard honors Tech. Sgt. Dale Greer, a 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron craftsman, at his memorial service held Friday at the base chapel. Sergeant Greer was born In Arkansas on Oct. 23, 1963, and entered the Air Force In the fall of 1985 as an aerospace ground equipment specialist. Sergeant Greer died of Hodgkin's disease on Feb. 22. He leaves behind his wife Julie, and children Robert and Crystal. |