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Show HILLTOP TIMES 9 111\4Es April 26, 2012 Kids Deployment Day a family affair BY STAFF SGT. ERIC BURKS 2nd Combat Camera Squadron T At left, students from Hill Field Elementary School take a close look at an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot during the annual Kid's Deployment Day at Hill Air Force Base, April 12. Below, Tristan Schanke (right) sits behind the wheel of an M1083 five-ton truck during Kids Deployment Day. STAFF SGT. ERIC BURKS U.S. Air Force At left, Tech. Sgt. Esperanza Aviles, 729th Air Control Squadron (right), helps Nathaniel Peterson Jr. try on mobility gear. -,- •• -"---- See KIDS I page 11 ‘ : ' P 41 '!ce8. 4f t ‘111 4i f ' `• +- . 4 iry 17" 4611. '1 ' - • . - I' .# 4 _ . * t l$ .. - 1'. ! • , _ - -.: - • - ! ' ' , i - . • :, A t- . , i, -•.• , . - ' lit' I I PL: '' I ¥ '' f t • i '• . b _ ¥ I P . 1.. 4 • r. .4 ... N. -, , . . . • l '-. ?... - i •-•- 44, .' . . •,. -- a i. .... i, ‘li t .: i. NS111SphIP IR1.. , 11110 U1 S11111MO ISMO 111110 11111111 11111 1111111 11i111 111111111 11 1111- ... __ — Lar____ 00_6Z _ - . ,lc:. -tikr ib eita -I ' --I -. - . ... . XIX ' - -.. .. -... .. ..-.. p-r - r/.6..... , • -- IMMEZIernalli'IL _ .. _., .. . - - 111..111111) . - - ¥¥ "I would get so discouraged when they would look at the test results and say, `Well, because of these results, we have to do some more examinations,'" Coleman said. "There was a lot of stumbling along the way, and many times when I could have just given up." But after all the long hours, the assessments paid off. "I was baffled and elated when I got in," she said. "I'm now very honored to be in the Reserve." Coleman said she is enthusiastic about her future. "I like everything about the Reserve," she said. "I like it because I get to work with people with different backgrounds, and we come together as a team doing something totally different and protecting our country." ..-7:7 7:: ";i1IL:.... "- .4-L--- Coleman's family moved to Utah in July 2006 when her active-duty husband was assigned here. "When we came to Utah, I decided I should go in the Reserve because I wanted to finish what I had started," Coleman said. "I would see service members on the news and I thought, 'Those are the kind of people I want to work with — people who are maintaining my freedom.' Coleman said she asked herself, "If they can do it for me, why can't I do it for them?" She then began the process of re-enlisting at age 45. Normally, the cutoff for joining the Air Force is age 35. Because she exceeded the age limit, Coleman had to undergo several intensive medical tests to make sure she was in the physical condition to join again. .=. -..A def 24.1 SENIOR AIRMAN TRACY COLEMAN, 419th Medical Squadron ---.- --. . ¥v. S enior Airman Tracy Coleman began her Air Force career in a Delaware mall in 1986 at age 19. She separated in 1991 and never thought she'd again be wearing the uniform 18 years later as a reservist in the 419th Fighter Wing. Coleman now serves as a health services manager in the 419th Medical Squadron, maintaining the medical records of everyone in the wing. She is in charge of making sure member records are up to date and all Airmen are physically ready to deploy if needed. Coleman is also a civilian budget analyst and mother of 20-year-old twin daughters. When Coleman first enlisted on active duty 26 years ago, she initially worked in supply and later retrained into medical. "I got out in '92 because I honestly believed it was time for me to do something else, and I was very torn because I didn't know what I was going to do," she said. "But I knew I wanted to raise my children." #-- .......ti&VPS11.1:0/. 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs "When we came to Utah, I decided I should go in the Reserve because I wanted to finish what I had started. I would see service members on the news and I thought, 'Those are the kind of people I want to work with — people who are maintaining my freedom.m Mili 11 11 111 1 1 111 111 1111 ii iiii1111i11i1it1liM MIMINIMUMMV"""""" '"''' BY SENIOR AIRMAN CRYSTAL CHARRIERE tions throughout base and has brought a steadiness to the Key Spouses program, to the point that family members trust her with issues that can be very personal for them." He added, "During deployments, some of the spouses are sometimes hesitant to contact their husband or checks in on the families of deployed squadron members, ensures they are aware of base resources, and points them in the right direction when they need help. Master Sgt. James Mueller, 75th LRS first sergeant, said, "Mrs. Schanke is a vital part of this squadron. She's constantly involved in func- ealmow Airman back in uniform after 18 years band's squadron. Along with three other spouses, she . entire half of what I do is now falling on her." "As adults, we can adjust to that," Bill continued. "But kids have a harder time adjusting, and it's tough on them." After working through such challenges during her husband's deployments, Jessica now extends a helping hand to others as the lead "Key Spouse" for her hus- - Bill said the term "opposites attract" was true in their relationship. "And if that's the case, when one of those opposites is gone, it throws the balance off in the family." "I'm more of the disciplinarian, and keep up on the house and yard work, while Jess manages our finances and things of that nature," he said. "When I'm gone, that 4 1 rtimmw 1111 1 1-1.6 1111111 4111111m earn Hill hosted its annual Kids Deployment Day April 12, giving about 800 children in the military community a closer look at many of the moving pieces involved in overseas contingency operations. By design, the scene resembled a deployment processing line: as children from each "chalk" — a group meeting at a designated time and place — arrived and stepped off a bus, they formed a line and were issued dog tags before proceeding to a variety of stations. However, instead of receiving last-minute vaccinations and theater of operation briefings, the kids observed explosive ordnance disposal and military working dog demonstrations, and had the opportunity to try on gas masks, flak vests and other mobility gear. A variety of weapons, vehicles and aircraft were also on display, giving the children a good look into their parents' deployed working environment. While a majority of the young participants attend Hill Field Elementary School, the event was also open to children of military families who live off-base or are enrolled in another school, such as Jordan and Tristan Schanke. The siblings, students at Quest Academy in West Haven could be considered "deployment veterans" ... their father, Master Sgt. Bill Schanke, a quality assurance evaluator from the 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron, will soon be leaving for his seventh deployment in the last decade. Deployed Airmen face many stressors related to the mission itself, but the toughest part for many is the family separation. "It's hard," said Jordan, regarding the times her father is away on Air Force business. "He's not there to spend time with us, or play sports with us, or anything else." Jessica Schanke — Bill's wife, and mother to Jordan and Tristan — has learned to fill multiple roles during the deployments. SENIOR AIRMAN CRYSTAL CHARRIER/U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tracy Coleman, 419th Medical Squadron health services manager, checks medical records to verify they are current and complete. Coleman's job is to make sure every member is battle-ready. |