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Show HILLTOP TIMES Heart Link connects spouses with needed resources and information Hillm 4 rEin BY CATHERINE MCNALLY Hilltop Times writer C ome learn about the Air Force, its traditions and base resources as well as meet new friends at the Airman and Family Readiness Center's Heart Link program on Tuesday, March 8. The program, which will start at 5 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. at the A&FRC, is open to all military spouses, military members and key spouses. Even if you think you might know all there is to know about the Air Force and Hill, you might be in for a surprise. Attendees will be treated to a The program will not only cover military protocol, traditions, acronyms and general information, but will also include representatives and information for TriWest, special needs programs, local schools and youth education opportunities, on-base clubs — including spouses clubs — and financial resources. free dinner and will have time to mingle and meet other spouses, military members, A&FRC staff and more. The program will feature the 388th Fighter Wing cornmander and 75th Air Base Wing commander as guest speakers and will also offer an opportunity for attendees to be officially coined in the Air Force tradition. * SWAP MEET ALL YEAR ROUND * A son's commitment to his father kept through CCAF BY SENIOR MASTER SGT. TERRY MASTIN 388th Component Maintenance Squadron G rowing up in Kentucky and loving college basketball, I aspired to play for the Kentucky Wildcats. The only problem was that I never prepared myself academically. Although never studious, I considered myself average in school. As my senior year in high school approached, thoughts of my future raced through my head. Then my world fell apart: My father was diagnosed with cancer and was given less than a year to live. On many nights I would sit with my father and talk. He told me how proud he was of me and that he wished the best in whatever life had in store for me. As he succumbed to this disease, I promised that I would better myself — I would get a college degree. I entered college the following spring but my mind was not there. Over the next six years I was in and out of school with no clear direction. Life was hard as I didn't have my father to guide me. As I pondered life I decided that I needed to get busy living and follow through with my promise. As I considered my options I decided that I would speak to an Air Force recruiter; one thing I said I would NEVER do. In the end, it was the BEST move I could have ever made. I entered active duty on May 3 1988 at age 24 and began the uphill challenge to making good on my promise to my father. At first I struggled with leaving my civilian life and adapting to my new life as an Airman. My first supervisors spent a lot of time getting me on track, for which I'm truly thankful. If it wasn't for them I believe that I would have never been able to keep my promise. As an Airman I began to earn Community College of the Air Force credits by completing my Career Development Courses and upgrade requirements. I continued to earn CCAF credits through Non-Commissioned Officer Preparatory, Airmen Leadership School and NCOA. But I was still missing the big picture and was not committed to getting my degree. In 1990 I was re-assigned to Soesterberg Air Base, The Netherlands, a BHMH From page 1 open house featuring the newest generation of on-base homes available for military members and their families. "The demolition of the final Capehart homes represents a significant milestone in the effort to improve the housing for Hill Air Force Base's military families," said Mark Pace, Boyer Hill president. "Once the staple of on-base housing, the Capehart units have been systematically replaced with a variety of two-level and rambler style homes with modern features." An Air Force contractor built 500 Capehart housing units on base in the mid1960s, according to Harry Briesmaster, 75th Civil Engineer Group director. "With large shade trees, quiet streets and pleasant surroundings, these units provided excellent housing for several generations of military families; however, through the years and with overarching budget constraints these original homes began to show their age," Briesmaster said. place that changed my life forever. I met and married my soul mate, and in 1994 we were re-assigned to Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and welcomed our son into the world. Life was good but still not complete. At that time I was hit with major surgery and came close to medical retirement. I looked back over my life and realized that I was missing the promise of a college degree. At that time I re-committed myself to education. I volunteered to become a tech school instructor which required a CCAF degree. That was the beginning of my serious commitment to education and I have not looked back. I completed my first CCAF in 1997. Now I have two CCAF degrees and one CCAF certificate. I will add two additional certificates this spring, but I didn't stop there. I continued my education with Embry-Riddle and completed my undergraduate degree in professional aeronautics with minors in management and safety in 2007. I will complete my master's degree in aeronautical science with Embry-Riddle this spring. As I look back over my life, I still miss my father but I know that he is with me and is proud of what I have accomplished. It may have taken me an extended time to realize my place in life but I'm truly grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the accomplishments that I have achieved. Through education I have super charged my military career and feel that it has given me an edge I otherwise wouldn't have. It has strengthened my knowledge, leadership and management capabilities. Every day I strive to give back to each Airman that I come in contact with the valuable lessons that I have learned. I want them to understand that education can be in their future no matter what limiting factors that they may have. I want them to understand that with increased rank comes increased responsibility. By increasing your education through CCAF and beyond you increase your abilities to be the supervisor, mentor, manager and leader that the Air Force needs and requires for the next generation of Airmen. It is my duty and your duty to educate these Airmen. Are you up to the challenge? The Air Force entered into a 50-year housing privatization contract in September 2005 with BHMH to improve on-base military family housing. Since then, BHMH has made substantial improvements to the on-base housing, and later this year will complete the new construction and remodel of the base's final 102 housing units. The new military family housing units feature several amenities including Energy Star qualified construction, enclosed two-car garages, large covered front porches, central air conditioning, carpet and wood flooring, private master baths with double sinks, and ceiling fans just to name a few. When BHMH completes the construction project the final housing count will be: historic housing, 21 units; renovated housing, 562 units; and newly constructed housing, 437 units. BHMH, which is a subsidiary of Salt Lake City-based developer The Boyer Company, provides the financing, design, construction, and property management of 1,020 on-base housing units under contract with Hill AFB. It AMP ' Fine Din ng; " Online Ordering " Take Out - Catering i MOTOR VII 53R0k DRIVE-IN & SWAP MEET Child care will be offered by the A&FRC through Family Child Care, licensed home daycare providers. The cost of the child care is free if arrangements are made through the A&FRC beforehand. To learn more or to RSVP by Monday, March 7, please contact the A&FRC at (801) 777-4681. 394-1768 SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8 AM -1 PM BUYERS FREE ON SAE! Visit Our Indoor Heated Shops! A Great Place for Those Hard to Find Bargains! 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Goddard School of Business and Economics announces the WSU Contract Management PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM Contract Law course starts March 23, 2011 • Expand and certify your professional knowledge and competence available HYBRID COURSES Each class just eight weeks long. • Designed for public and private sector professionals. • Non-credit certificate program provides both a theoretical and practical problem-solving approach. 801-626-8544 I weber.edu/contracts mss , |