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Show Hilltop HILLTOP TIMES TIMES March 20, 2014 5 ALEX R. LLOYD/U.S. Air Force DANA RIMINGTON/Hilltop Times correspondent Honorary guests enjoyed a buffet breakfast and a speech given by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, James Cody (bottom right), on March 14 in the Hill Aerospace Museum on March 14th, at the 2014 Team Hill Annual Awards Breakfast. Awards From page 1 speech, noting: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." Congratulations to the 2014 Team Hill Annual Awards Breakfast nominees. Winners Airman: Senior Airman Lei Yang NCO: Master Sgt. David Clark SNCO: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Woods First Sergeant: Master Sgt. Christopher Gibson CGO: Capt. Alexander Turner Team: 775th Explosive Ordnance and Disposal Flight Team (75 ABW) & Ground Radar Evaluation and Optimization Team (84 RADES) Honor Guard Airman: Senior Airman Michael Ford Honor Guard NCO: Technical Sgt. Brendan Reilly Civilian Cat 1: Hailee Johnson Civilian Cat 2: Jonathan Powell Civilian Cat 3: Scott Gerber Civilian Cat 4: Monte Capener Civilian Cat 5: John Perry Volunteer: Senior Airman Tiffany DeNault DANA RIMINGTON/Hilltop Times correspondent DANA RIMINGTON/Hilltop Times correspondent Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody (right) visits with Col. Kathryn Kolbe, 75th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, who said the retreat is critical for families enduring deployments. Retreat From page 1 critical for families enduring deployments. "There are some things in life that are difficult to grasp if you haven't been there, and deployment is one of those things," Kolbe said. "This retreat addresses being separated from their spouse for six months, and how to work together in spite of the challenges." In addition to taking classes at the retreat, families also spent time playing together skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and dancing. "Families come together here, sometimes for the first time in months, away from work, school, and just stop and hear from each other, said Chaplain (Maj.) Eric Whitmore. "Maybe kids need to talk, and can't do that at home. Often couples tell me weeks later that the time they spent together changed their lives and marriages, or they learned how to talk to their kids. There is something about being away from everyday life and creating new memories that makes is almost magical here." Sue Munson, Executive Director of Wolf Creek agreed, saying she has seen the magic happen DANA RIMINGTON/Hilltop Times correspondent Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody and his wife, retired Chief Master Sgt. Athena Cody, visited with more than 50 families who were attending the Air Expeditionary Force Family Resiliency Retreat at the Wolf Creek Resort in Eden. The retreat is for families facing deployment soon, or just returned from a deployment, to learn how to endure the challenges of military service, focus on resiliency, marriage communication, and coping strategies for PTSD. DANA RIMINGTON/Hilltop Times correspondent Tech. Sgt. Tyler Hand has been deployed seven times in the last 11 years, and was attending the retreat with his wife, Katy. The couple have been to a couple retreats, one of them conveniently timed right before one of his deployments. The couple said the retreats have taught them to value their time with one another. just from one weekend. "I see all of them come in on Friday, some who don't want to be here, and their walls are up, and you can just see the tension," Munson said. "By Sunday, there is a complete trans- formation in families who are happy to be with one another." Last weekend's retreat was the 26th one the resort has hosted in the last seven years. "We want to help preserve families, and if this is a way to keep families together, then it's worth it for us to do," Munson said. Tech. Sgt. Tyler Hand has been deployed seven times in the last 11 years, and was attending the retreat with his wife, Katy. The couple have been to a couple retreats, one of them conveniently timed right before one of his deployments. "We felt more equipped to make the time we have together more valuable and also made us realize what is really important," Tyler Hand said. "It's almost like a terminal disease because you live differently and you don't want to waste your time together." Whitmore attributes the success of the retreats to the community support in the 27 years he has worked in the air force. "I've never seen this level of support and care from the local community. They are the ones who make this happen," said Whitmore, referring to the numerous local companies who donate their time and funds, as well as orchestrating fundraisers throughout the year for the families to attend the retreats. "For these families, coming here to rebuild positive emotions might just offset other issues. It's not a cureall, but is a platform for families to build on." |