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Show AWARD SUPPLEMENT TO THE HILLTOP TIMES THURSDAY, AUG. 1, 2013 7 Promotions 348th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Squadron: 419th Civil Engineer Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Christopher Young Staff Sgt. Jared Richardson, Staff Sgt. Timothy Stoneman 372nd U.S. Air Force Recruiting Squadron: Senior Master Sgt. Craig Pahrman 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: TECH. SGT. RICHARD GONZALES/U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ivan Velasquez, 419th Security Forces Squadron, stands guard during a base defense exercise at Fort Walters, Texas. Velasquez was one of more than 60 Airmen from units across the country participating in the Patriot Defender training, including 14 Reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing. The exercise keeps security forces Reservists knowledgeable on procedures used during deployments. 419th Security Forces Squadron Airmen tackle Patriot Defender BY TECH. SGT. RICHARD GONZALES 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs F ORT WOLTERS, Texas — Airmen from the 419th Security Forces Squadron spent two weeks here as part of Patriot Defender, a sustainment training course for security forces reservists. "Patriot Defender is basically to keep us prepared in case we have to go to war," said Tech. Sgt. Nathan Yeaman, security forces craftsman in the 419th SFS. "After this training, I have more confidence in myself to lead a squad if I had to." The wing sent 14 Airmen to Patriot Defender to train alongside Reservists from units across the country. More than 60 Reservists in all practiced firing weapons, patrol techniques and counter-IED tactics critical to security forces. "It's great hands-on experience and training," said Staff Sgt. Nick Bricker, 419th SFS fire team leader. Bricker is new to the Air Force. He spent seven years in the Navy Reserve as military police and also works for Utah Highway Patrol. Bricker said one of Fort Wolters' biggest assets for security forces is its massive 300-meter firing range. "The farthest we've shot in our indoor range at Hill Air Force Base is 25 feet," Bricker said. "Here, we're MORE: See photo package on page 9. engaging targets 25 meters to 300 meters and everywhere in between." "The range here brings a more realistic feeling to the training," Yeaman added. "With this range, we shot at pop-up targets, so the targets actually fall when you make contact. That way you know, for sure, your shots are good." Yeaman said he was at Fort Wolters seven years ago to prepare for his deployment to Iraq. "Everything I've been learning is different from seven years ago," Yeaman said. "We have to keep adapting to our enemy, and this Patriot Defender has changed from the last time around. We have to keep staying ahead of the enemy." The Reservists also had to adapt to local training conditions: Texas heat and humidity. "You're wet the second you put your clothes on," Bricker said. "The humidity is killer." "Take a shower and then go to work," said Master Sgt. Ron Beard, training NCOIC in the 419th SFS. "That's what it's like out here." More than 1,200 security forces Reservists train at Fort Wolters annually. Security forces Reservists typically go through the Patriot Defender course every three years. Master Sgt. Robert Schmuck, Master Sgt. Thomas Wolfe, Staff Sgt. Jared Burrus, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Jimenez, Staff Sgt. Joshua Roosa, Senior Airman Joseph Scott Dennis Jr., Senior Airman James Green, Airman 1st Class Michael Luna 388th Component Maintenance Squadron: Master Sgt. Erica Fox, Staff Sgt. Christopher Acosta, Staff Sgt. Suny Ly, Staff Sgt. Steven Warner, Senior Airman Samuel Antor, Airman 1st Class Yesivel Soto 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron: Master Sgt. Anthony Mastergeorge, Master Sgt. Michael Slattery, Staff Sgt. Tony Wiggins, Senior Airman Jacqueline Centeno, Senior Airman Noel Garofoloauxier, Senior Airman Hameed Seifuddin 388th Fighter Wing: Senior Airman Colton Dalley, Senior Airman Kevin Draper 388th Maintenance Group: Tech. Sgt. Jose Malaveortiz, Airman 1st Class Tiffany Hudson 4th Fighter Squadron: Maj. Shaun Cheema, Staff Sgt. Jillian Welch 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: Staff Sgt. Teague Baker 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs: Staff Sgt. Joshua Dager 75th Dental Squadron: Airman Darian Bruce, Airman Matthew McFarlane Tech. Sgt. Heather Skinkle 75th Force Support Squadron: 419th Logistics Readiness Squadron: 1st Lt. Ainslie Vizcarra, Staff Sgt. Cory Feehan, Senior Airman Elizabeth Cruz Senior Airman Adam Whearley 419th Maintenance Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Brandon Baldwin, Senior Airman Kacey Brazzeal 419th Medical Squadron: Senior Airman Brandi Hall 421st Fighter Squadron: 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron: Master Sgt. Christopher Stevens, Tech. Sgt. Benito Robles, Staff Sgt. Mark June 75th Medical Group: Chief Master Sgt. Jerry D. McClelland Jr. 75th Medical Operations Squadron: Capt. Austin Buller, Capt. Scott Portue Senior Airman Amanda Fawson, Senior Airman Lauren Martin 649th Munitions Squadron: 75th Medical Support Squadron: Staff Sgt. Westley Smith, Senior Airman Benjamin Decasas, Senior Airman Isaac Wesley Fairley Jr., Senior Airman Craig Freiwald, Senior Airman Mycheal Perry, Senior Airman Kevin Todd Staff Sgt. David Redding 67th Aerial Port Squadron: Master Sgt. Daniel Ryan, Master Sgt. Rachel Wright, Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Hurst, Tech. Sgt. Robert Kendrick, Staff Sgt. Ricardo De Paula 729th Air Control Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Tracey Collier, Staff Sgt. Christopher Giroir, Staff Sgt. Kevin Long, Staff Sgt. Jordan Lyon, Senior Airman Zachary Erickson, Senior Airman Jonathon Mosqueda, Senior Airman Benjamin Twamley 75th Operations Support Squadron: Staff Sgt. Zachary Hudson 75th Security Forces Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Thomas Sylvester, Staff Sgt. Dustin Cain, Staff Sgt. Brandon Gwaltney, Senior Airman Brandon Evans, Senior Airman Bobby Johnson, Senior Airman Austin Putnam Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, Det. 850: Lt. Col. Angelique Brown Air Force Life Cycle Management Center: 1st Lt. McKay Hansen Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center: Maj. Adam Rector 75th Air Base Wing: Help is a good thing: Colonel, sexual assault survivor recounts experience BY MASTER SGT. AMAANI LYLE "It was like this shot of cold air, the thought of talking about it Getting over panic attacks, sleep deprivation and sudden bursts of anger ... is all part of the healing." Headquarters Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Public Affairs W ASHINGTON — The first in a video series of survivor stories, an Air Force colonel shared her graphic, first-hand experience with sexual assault in 1988. After years of silence about the incident, Col. Pamela Lincoln voluntarily shared her experience with the hope that it might empower other survivors to come forward for the emotional, medical and legal support they need. Interestingly, the path to her participation in this video was not sexual assault, but post-traumatic stress disorder. Lincoln COLONEL OVERCOMES ASSAULT Shores story to help other survivors was assigned to Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., when she learned a senior NCO in her unit had survived the July 2012 Aurora theater shooting that left 12 people dead and 70 others injured. Among the dead was an Airman who, with the senior NCO, attended the movie that night. "He had this tremendous sense of guilt," Lincoln said of the NCO. "He was COL. PAMELA LINCOLN, Air Force colonel who voluntarily shared her experience in the hope it will help other sexual assault survivors open about the fact that he was suffering from PTSD and needed some time off to seek help." Lincoln said the NCO's sense of courage resonated with her. "That was so brave of him to come forward and say, 'I need help,' and that inspired me," the colonel said. "You don't have to be in combat to suffer from PTSD." So when the opportunity arose for her to discuss her own experience, the decision was easy, she said. "It was like this shot of cold air, the thought of talking about it," Lincoln said. "Getting over panic attacks, sleep deprivation and sudden bursts of anger ... is all part of the healing." The video refers to one night in 1988 three months before she left for Officer Training School. Lincoln worked late and proceeded to walk home when what she assumed was a jogger behind her ended up being the approach of a perpetrator, who viciously strangled, raped and left her unconscious. Lincoln's journey to healing has been long, but if even one Airman comes forward to report their experience after hearing her story, her participation will have been well worth it. "It's actually a strong thing to admit you need help," she said. To see the video and hear more about her reporting and healing process, visit http://afsapr. dodlive.mil/. |