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Show HILLTOP TIMES TimES 11 May 24, 2012 of enlistment May 15 at the Salt Lake City MEPS and "shipped out" the same day From page 10 for Air Force BMT at Lackland AFB, Texas. Before try in a facet that 99.9 percent leaving, he said there were of the country can't, said Tech. primarily two things on his Sgt. Christopher Kisse, 368th mind: mental preparation, RCS. After initially working and taking care of his famwith Jace, Hamby changed ily. "I think I'll be OK physijobs within the squadron and referred the recruit to Kisse. a cally," he said "but I'm With Jace, Kisse said, "We getting ready for the mental saw dedication, competitivechallenges of basic training. ness,perseverance, experiI need to be ready mentally ence — from EMT classes and more than anything and also make sure my family's in orphysical training related to his der before I leave." firefighter training — and his humble personality" Jace, the oldest son "Jace gets it done betamong eight siblings, said ter than everybody else and his wife and children would doesn't seek recognition," be in good hands while he Kisse said "Our (Air Force) was away at BMT and PJ special operators are asked to i training — they are staying with his family in Bountiful. do things most people can't do and we ask them to do it with"That's probably what out a ton of visibility. He was a makes it somewhat easier perfect fit for pararescue." to leave, because I know Jace said he didn't initially that everybody's going to STAFF SGT. ERIC BURKS/U.S. Air Force help each other," he said. know much about the para"I know that they're going rescue (PJ) career field. But af- Jace Wood hugs his wife Jessica and daughter i to be taken care of, so then ter looking into it and talking to Rya at the Salt Lake City Military Entrance people, he grew more excited I can focus on what I need Processing Station May 15. about the job. to do. That makes it a lot "It's a very rewarding job to be able to go out and easier knowing I've got support from home coming to have that opportunity to help other people that are either me and to everyone else as well." injured, or hurt and needing to be found," he said. "I'm Michelle Wood, Jace's mom, said he moved the family just happy to have the opportunity to even try to be pain at the beginning of March so everyone would have rarescue." time to adapt before he left for BMT. Any male that qualifies for the Air Force can try "I am just so thrilled we've had them here this long," out to be a PJ once they are in the Delayed Entrance she said. "His two little kids (five-year-old son Kellen, Program (DEP), Kisse said, as long as they medically and one-year-old daughter Rya) are just a delight and it's qualify during their Military Entrance Processing Stabeen fun. Jace finished his job that he'd had previously tion (MEPS) physical. and took all that time to just be with the kids." "The only way PJ can be listed on their job sheets is if "It has been the best thing to watch him be with those they pass the Physical Ability and Stamina Test (PAST) kids and how much they love him and what a good dad after they have sworn into the DEP," he continued. The he is," Michelle continued. "I'm so glad we get them, test involves underwater swimming, a 500 meter swim, and lucky for us, we have all these family members who 1.5 mile run, pull-ups, setups, and pushups. Each catego- will be able to love them and take care of them and talk ry has a minimum time limit or minimum numbers of to them about their dad. Everybody just loves Jace, so reps that must be attained. they'll know about their dad the whole time he's gone." "If the applicant passes the test, PJ will become his Michelle said, above all, she was extremely proud of top job choice," Kisse said. "If he books the job, the test her son. "As much as I'm hesitant to let him go, it's one will be readministered 60 days before leaving for Basic of those things where I feel like he was meant for this," Military 'fraining (BMT) to ensure continued qualificashe said. "I wanted to stop him, I wanted to say, 'No, tions. After that, the journey just begins — the applicant don't go, you can't do this,' but it was him, it's him to a 'T.' will go to BMT and start his two years of training to He has always been dedicated to doing the right thing become an Air Force PJ." and trying to be the best at whatever he does. And once Jace was a phenomenal applicant from the start, he sets his mind to something, he will do it." Kisse said. "His competitiveness and desire to persevere Jace's oldest sister, Bethany agreed. At an early helped him not only qualify as a PJ, but it also pushed age, she said, if he couldn't do something at first, he him to earn `Ironman' status for superior performance would never just give up or try something else. "Things on his PAST. that he felt like weren't his best, he turns them into "Jace couldn't even qualify the first time I tested things that he's really good at," she said. "He hated runhim," Kisse added. "That just shows how hard he works ning, but he ran a marathon a year ago, just because he to achieve his goals in the Air Force." wanted to do it." The recruiter noted that although the washout rate However, his sister said, she was not quick to jump on for PJ training is above 90 percent, he is confident Jace the Air Force bandwagon when Jace first announced his will succeed as an Airman, PJ, and family man. "He intention to enlist. doesn't allow anything to come between him and his "I knew that he wanted to do something fun," she goals. He has that combination of mental toughness and said. "He likes to do things that are hard and push himphysical ability that only Special Operators have. I can't self. But I thought he could do that here, I thought he wait to see Jace graduate from his training and start could find something close. changing lives." "But once he started training and I saw how dedicated That training officially began after Jace took the oath he was to it," Tina said, "I was a little bit more excited for him. I think that PJ is a good fit for him, because he has a compassionate side and he wants to help people — that's why he went into firefighting. But he's also tough as nails, so I think he'll do fantastic. "People that know him, if you could hand-pick somebody to defend your country ... they would hand-pick Jace," she continued. "He would be their number one pick. So if there was a draft, like the baseball or football draft, for the armed forces, he would be a first round draft pick." Nonetheless, Jace will definitely be missed as he completes BMT and begins PJ training — especially by Jessica, Kellen and Rya. "Overall, it's just totally so many emotions and I don't even know how to prepare for it," Jessica said. "Jace is an amazing, amazing father ... and a husband, and a brother and a son." "He's a one-of-a-kind guy and I just think I'll miss his spirit here," his wife added. "I'm just going to miss him so much, but we'll be together again. "It'll be hard without him," she continued, "but I have tons of people to help us and to help with my kids, and for him, to write letters. We're definitely not alone in this." The letters for Jace should be arriving at Lackland soon, and in great volume. Before Jace left for BMT, Michelle asked Kisse, "Is it OK if people write him? Because every person here will write him. "Just my husband and I, children and grandchildren, there are 21 of us," she said, adding that her mother and sister each live just blocks from the Wood residence, and on that side of the family she has six siblings, plus their spouses and children. "And my husband has 10 siblings and all of their kids." Kisse replied, "Well, maybe assign them days (to write)." "Everyone here will support him 100 percent," his mother concluded. "That's one of the things we just know will get him through — there's so many people behind him that love him." For more information about the PJ career field, visit: http://www.airforce.comicareers/detailipararescuemales-only/ To view a video on PJ Indoctrination Course training, visit: http://youtu.be/j3q6XrDf64k r AIRMAN I I I I I I I I I I I I Cool Cash Incentives of up to on Purchase of a new Evaporative Cooling System ask for details Expert Installation always Trict ihdes o ligog Motor Call Today For Parts W9EcriEung 0 ®JJ W Your Free Consultation 0 RIM WCZE Cabinet Tgara:cidag I I I I Kaisley SERVICE CENTER I I I I I 520 South State • Clearfield Davis/Morgan Weber County 801.773-4836 801.393-1265 www.KearsleyService.com Must Present Coupon At Time of Estimate. Offers Cannot Be Combined. 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