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Dancing with a dragon: A pilot’s tale
Friday, January 8, 2016 | Vol. 4 No. 1
Combat veterans find solace at Boulder Crest Retreat By Bobby Jones
By Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) — Gliding more than 13 miles above the Earth’s surface, the U-2S reconnaissance aircraft, also nicknamed Dragon Lady, flies unnoticed and silent to all but a select few. The U-2S is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude, reconnaissance, and surveillance aircraft capable of providing signals, imagery, electronic measurements, and signature intelligence to U.S. and coalition forces. Despite the variety of manned and unmanned aircraft that have been proposed to take over the U-2S ISR role in the 60 years since its activation, it still remains a primary reconnaissance aircraft for the Air Force because of the men and women at the controls. The preflight preparations for a U-2S pilot starts the night before with dinner and a good night’s rest. “You don’t want go out and try something for the first time the night before a 10-hour sortie and not know how your body will react to it,” Capt. Jacob, a 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron U-2S pilot said. “I usually wake up an hour before I have
see Tale, page 3
Staff Photographer
A sprawling 37-acre landscape located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains serves as a tranquil and picturesque backdrop for recovering combat veterans and their families at the Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness (BCR) in Bluemont, Va. With only two years under its belt, BCR is steadily becoming the proving ground for therapeutic and mental wellness of wounded warriors and their families to start healing from the hardships and terror of war. Ken Falke, BCR chairman and founder, has a kindred spirit with the veterans and families passing through the doors of his facility. Falke is a retired Navy combat veteran who served nearly 22 years as an Explosive Ordnance Detachment Bomb Disposal Technician during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He retired in 2002. In 2010, Falke took a year off to work on a master’s degree from Georgetown, which just happened to be a hard year for bomb disposal service members — 71 people were medivaced to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. Falke felt the need to do something. “We started bringing in their families to our home in Bluemont, Va., just
Courtesy Photo
Combat stressed veterans team up to navigate out of a labyrinth on the retreat’s spacious grounds.
to get them away from the hospital,” Falke said. “We had a 200-acre family home and we would bring people out for barbecues, weekend stays, and I had one dad spend a weekend out here deer hunting with me,” Falke said. “Ultimately, we decided to donate 37 acres of our land which was on its own tax parcel to create Boulder Crest Retreat.” The retreat integrates alternative medicine therapies, such as yoga,
meditation, music therapy, equine therapy, culinary and gardening. Additionally, recreational therapies like archery and kayaking are available. Since its creation in Sept. 2013, more than 1,700 veterans and their families have gone through the program. There are two options for those visiting the retreat. Firstly, six months out of the year, young enlisted families can stay on the property for various
see RETREAT, page 3
Disabled vets benefit from “Healthy Minds, Health Bodies” Program By Bobby Jones
Staff Photojournalist
Bobby Jones
Rotunda Mobley, personal trainer and fitness instructor, assists assist a regular attendee in performing triceps pull-downs during an exercise session.
The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission is offering retiring military veterans with disabilities the opportunity to participate in its “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” (HMHB) fitness program to assist in transitioning from military to civilian life. Anthony Broxton, “Healthy Minds Healthy, Bodies” program director, said qualified veterans will receive a free full year membership at either the Wayne K. Curry Sports or Learning Complex in Landover or the Fairland Sports and Aquatics Complex in Laurel. “Maryland Parks and Recreation started the program three years ago. Initially we didn’t have any programs that housed veterans,” Broxton said. “While on a trip to Chicago, we learned (about) the HMHB program and thought it was way to house
our veterans.” Currently, 55 to 60 veterans participate in the program. The membership includes 15 personal training sessions by a certified trainer and fitness instructor experienced in post-rehabilitation training. The trainers receive their certification from the American Fitness Professional and Associates. Broxton stated there are currently a total of four trainers — two at each facility. The one-year membership is also extended to a spouse or a companion, which includes monthly socials and networking possibilities. While the program is a “year-round transitioning program with open enrollment,” interested persons must meet certain criteria to qualify. Veterans must have at least a 10 percent disability received during a military conflict, achieved an honorable discharge,
see HEALTHY, page 4
Andrews Gazette
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Friday, January 8, 2016
Hot tickets Commentary Around Town New year, new you? Tips for successful resolutions January 8-31, weekends Twelfth Night at Laurel Playhouse Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main Street, Laurel This is the William Shakespeare’s play that centers on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola (who is disguised as a boy) falls in love with Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with the Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man. Tickets are $20 for general admission; Admission for 12 and younger, active duty military and seniors is $15. Call 301-617-9906 or email maureencrogers @gmail.com. January 8-23, weekends Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike The Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Dr., Bowie Middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house. Also on the scene are sassy maid Cassandra, who can predict the future, and a lovely young aspiring actress named Nina, whose prettiness somewhat worries the imperious Masha. Presented by Prince George’s Little Theatre. ($) Call 301-937-7458 or visit www.pglt.org January 9-February 28 Black History Month Exhibit: “Narrative In Black Identity” 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel Montpelier Arts Center is proud to honor Black History Month through this exhibition celebrating African American heritage and identity. Antonio McAfee, Tiffany Jones and Stephen Towns share their insights about identity through the media of painting and photography. Using historic photos, personal journeys and portraits, these Baltimore-based artists help the viewer understand the importance of history and identity in contemporary times. Call 301-377-7800 or visit www.arts.pgparks. com For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,
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Comprint Military Publications Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military. The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.
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By Airman 1st Class Denise Nevins
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Have you ever gone into the new year certain this will be the year you change your life for the better, but after just a few weeks, you fall right back into the same habits? Well, you are not alone. According to John Norcross, a distinguished professor of clinical psychology at the University of Scranton, approximately 40 to 45 percent of Americans make resolutions to better themselves in some way. However, only small percentages actually stick with their goals. Statistics show about 75 percent of people stay on track for the first week, yet less than 46 percent are still on track after six months. There are many reasons a person might have trouble keeping up with their goals, such as stress or even just lack of motivation. To help prevent falling off track with your resolutions, here are some tips to start off your resolutions strong. 1. Be realistic: The quickest and surest way to fall short of your goals is to make them unattainable. For example, resolving you
will never eat fast food again is setting yourself up to fail. Instead, strive to be realistic, such as avoiding it more than you do now. Also, don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell family and friends who will support you, maybe even find a friend with the same goal and motivate each other. 2. Plan ahead: Don’t wait until the last minute to make your resolutions; otherwise, it will be based on the mindset of the particular day. It is best to have your resolutions planned well before the start of the new year. It is also wise to detail how you will avoid the temptation to break your resolution, such as talking to a friend or remembering how poorly it would affect your goal. 3. Keep a journal: Start a journal to track your progress. You can write a “pros” and “cons” list and track each small success. Shortterm goals are easier to keep, and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated toward achieving your long-term goal. 4. Reward yourself: Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something you enjoy that doesn’t contradict with your resolution. For example, if your goal is
to eat healthier, reward your success with new clothes or a trip to the movies with a friend. 5. Don’t beat yourself up: Do the best you can each and every day, taking it one day at a time. If you slip up, obsessing over it won’t get you anywhere. Some resolutions can be tough to accomplish, but the rewarding feeling you get when you succeed at meeting your goal is well worth it. 6. Keep trying: If you run out of motivation after a while, don’t give up. Experts say it takes 21 days for a new activity to become a habit, and six months for it to become a part of your personality. Recommit yourself for 24 hours, and soon the 24-hour increments will build up, ultimately putting you back on track. Success doesn’t happen overnight, so stay motivated and patient. There is a quote from Robert Foster Bennett that says, “A desire to be in charge of our own lives, a need for control, is born in each of us. It is essential to our mental health, and our success, that we take control.” The road to self-improvement is not an easy one, but in the end, it could very well be worth it.
Retiree Corner SBP Change A provision in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act prevents military retirees from losing Survivor Plan benefits when their ex-spouse dies before they do. The benefit can now be transferred to a current or future spouse. This was the procedure when SBP made its debut in 1972. However, in 2013 the Defense Finance and Accounting Service ended the benefit upon death of the ex-spouse. This was not well received by retired members who paid considerable sums of money into the program and wanted continuation of the benefit for a new spouse. Request for transfer must be made to DFAS within a year of the Nov. 25, 2015 enactment date or date of a new marriage. Tax Return Info Under the Affordable Care Act, all Americans and their eligible family members must have health care coverage that meets a minimum standard called minimum essential coverage or pay a fee.
Your Tricare overage meets the minimum essential coverage requirement. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) this month will provide IRS Form 1095-C to military members, and IRS Form 1095-B to retirees, annuitants, former spouses and other individuals having Tricare coverage during 2015. These forms will document information provided to the IRS. The forms will be required to be reported with your 2015 federal tax return. For more information, visit www.irs. gov/affordable-care-act. Scholarship Applications Base commissaries are accepting applications until Feb. 12 for the Scholarships for Military Children Program. There are 700 grants, each worth $2,000 for the 2016-17 school year. Selected students will join nearly 9,000 who have been awarded more than $13.9 million in scholarship grants over the last 15 years. At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary lo-
cation. Additional recipients will be selected based on a prorated basis, allowing more scholarships for larger commissaries. Applicants must be a dependent, unmarried child, younger than 21 – or 23 if enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university – of a service member on active duty, a reserve or guard member, retiree or survivor of a military member who died while on active duty or survivor of a retiree. Applications cannot be e-mailed or faxed. For more information, visit www.militaryscholar.org or call Scholarship Managers at 856616-9311. The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please consider joining the volunteer staff. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO website is www.andrews. af.mil.
For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,
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Friday, January 8, 2016
Andrews Gazette
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TALE, from page 1 to be at the squadron to get a good a breakfast with lots of protein to fill up my stomach.” Once at the squadron, pilots begin the process of suiting up before stepping out to fly what is known as the most difficult aircraft to land in the Air Force. “Some days you’ll go up and she’ll be perfectly well-behaved and she’ll be just like dancing with a lady,” Jacob said. “It’s going to be smooth and everything just goes great and it’s the best flight of your life, but then there are those days when (she’s) not a lady, she is a dragon, and you’re just trying to hold on while she tries to kill you. “A lot of it has to do with visibility,” he said. Normally, when a pilot lands an aircraft they have what’s referred to as a “ground rush” in their peripheral vision. As they’re flying along, the ground and runway comes into their peripheral vision, signaling when they should prepare to land. For U-2S pilots, their peripheral vision is severely limited by the full-pressure suit helmets worn during their flights. The helmet’s vision impairment is similar to a diving mask, not allowing for spotting objects to the left, right, up or down — only straight ahead. “You can tell you’re on the runway, but you can’t tell how high off the runway you are and that’s where the mobile comes in,” Jacob said. Mobile chase car drivers act as a second pair of eyes and ears for U-2 pilots during their launch and landings, making up for the pilot’s limited movement and vision. Once an aircraft nears the runway, chase cars speed off in pursuit close behind it, radioing adjustments to pilot until they are inches from the ground. “Ultimately, what we’re doing is helping the pilot land safely, which protects not only them, but the
Staff Sgt. Kentavist P. Brackin
Staff Sgt. Sigfred, Dragon Aircraft Unit maintainer for the U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft, removes aircraft blocks prior to the departure of a U-2 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 10, 2015.
assets as well,” Capt. Stephen, a 99th ERS operations officer and U-2S pilot said. “It’s a big balance of observing what the pilot is doing and providing real-time corrections so they can land as well as they possibly can and as safe as they possibly can.” Upon landing, pilots attempt to balance the aircraft’s 105-foot wingspan while slowing it down to a halt. It can be difficult because the aircraft’s landing gear set is similar to a bicycle’s, with no support for its long wings, while most planes have three sets of landing gear, according to Jacob. At any one time there are hundreds of people supporting U-2S operations, from the maintainers on the ground to the intelligence personnel who analyze the information, which is gathered and dissem-
inated by U-2S pilots during combat sorties, Stephen said. U-2S pilots also clarified what is the most difficult challenge they face when piloting the aircraft. “Most people think landing the U-2 is the hardest part,” Jacob said. “It might physically be the hardest part, but the hardest part overall is really being mentally ready to fly it.” The average length of a U-2S pilot’s combat sortie is approximately 10 hours, thousands of feet above the Earth, and with pilots unable to move more than an inch up or down in their seat, without hitting their head on the canopy. The uncomfortable solo flights are something potential U-2S pilots must mentally be ready to encounter, Jacob said. “You really have to ask yourself if you’re comfortable being uncomfortable,” he said. “My advice for anyone considering becoming a U-2 pilot would be to apply and do the interview, or put yourself in a chair, stick that chair in a broom closet and turn off the lights and sit there for a couple hours. If you’re still happy, then apply.” Despite flying solo for up to 10 hours and attempting to land, tired and hungry with limited visibility, Jacob and other pilots of the 99th ERS said they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. “I’ve got the coolest job in the Air Force. Other people may say they have coolest job, but those people are lying,” Jacob said. “The days I’m flying, I’m the highest person on Earth other than the International Space Station, and I can see the curvature of the Earth. The days I’m not, I get to drive a chase car down the runway with no speed limit. Who has a better job than that?” (Editor’s note: Last names were removed due to security and operational concerns.)
RETREAT, from page 1 amounts of time for a Family R&R or Rest and Reconnection stays. The other six months is dedicated to a combat stress recovery program called PATHH or Progressive and Alternative Therapies for Healing Heroes. The program is broken into seven-day, five-day and three-day programs. “It’s what we call a short duration, high-intensity retreat for combat veterans, couples, families, caregivers and Gold Star families,” Falke said. “It’s a combination of therapy and life coaching to help people come back from the war and get that recharge that they need to kind of get on to their lives and make that transition.” The Boulder Crest Retreat staff is a combination of licensed mental health therapists and life coaches, but a medical advisory committee of clinical psychologists is also available. Kevin Sakaki, a 10-year Marine veteran diagnosed with PTSD and traumatic brain injury, went through the seven-day program and is a staunch advocate. But, he wasn’t always keen on the idea even when he continually directed people to the program through his role as a veteran peer specialist at the Virginia Department of Veteran Services and Family Support Program. “I was stubborn like most veterans I refused to believe that I needed any help,” Sakaki said. “I finally realized that I needed to go through the program, too. Now having gone through it, I think it’s an amazing journey. Absolutely there’s nothing like it in the United States that I’m aware of.” Sakaki pointed out that while the retreat does
Courtesy Photo
The Boulder Crest Retreat is located on 37 acres of land at the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains in Bluemont, Va.
have benefits, it is not a “fix-all” solution. “You’re not going to come out of the program and not have the same problems. What they do is give you a different perspective on life,” Sakaki said. “They give you tools to cope and handle life.” BCR has certainly left an impression on Sakaki. He described BCR providers as “world class” and praised the fact that people from all over the U.S. facilitate the program – including highly decorated combat veterans. “They speak directly from having been in that dark place and overcoming and coming out the other side,” Sakaki said. “The providers are amazingly neat people in that they have overcome their own personal struggles and they’re all there because they care.” Opinions like Sakaki are not uncommon. In fact, Falke said his “five-star facility” model would become so successful it will be replicated across the country. His main goal is to make sure veterans feel welcomed when returning from combat. He also wants to promote the hope that combat veterans can come home and be productive members of society as they were on the battlefield.
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Coming from a family of veterans, Ken Falke, BCR chairman and founder, is a retired Navy combat veteran who served nearly 22 years as an Explosive Ordnance Detachment Bomb Disposal technician during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
In the few years the program as been in existence, Falke is not blind to the difference his team makes in veterans’ lives. Visits to the facility often result in endearing, powerful comments from participators. “The thing that keeps me going is when a combat veteran looks me in the eyes and says ‘you saved my life,’” Falke said. “That just sticks with you forever. We’ve also had spouses who have made comments. Things like ‘thank you for what you’ve done; you’ve saved my husband’s or wife’s life.’ Those testimonials are probably the most memorable moments in my mind. With 22-plus veterans a day committing suicide, those comments don’t get lost.” For more information about Boulder Crest Retreat, visit http://www.bouldercrestretreat.org.
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Friday, January 8, 2016
Green Dot to roll out New year, new golf across Air Force course procedures By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Airmen will take the first step of a five-year strategy to decrease interpersonal violence across the service in January when 1,500 Airman implementers attend one of 22 Green Dot prep sessions worldwide. The Air Force contracted the non-profit Green Dot organization to provide these violence prevention tools to the total Air Force over the next three years. “As a service, our number one priority has and will continue to be response. However, in order to stop violence before it occurs we must dedicate time to prevention,” Chief Master Sgt. Melanie Noel, the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response senior enlisted advisor said. “Helping our Airmen understand what they can do to prevent violence and how they can do it is the first step.” Green Dot prepares organizations to implement a strategy of violence prevention that reduces power-based interpersonal violence, which includes not only sexual violence, but also domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, child abuse, elder abuse and bullying. “Green Dot is the Air Force’s first step in arming Airmen for violence prevention using an evidence based public health model,” Dr. Andra Tharp, the Air Force’s highly qualified prevention expert said. “Although that sounds complicated, really what it means is that we know Airmen are a
vital part of the solution and we will use methods like this that have been subjected to rigorous scientific testing and were proven to be effective in reducing violence.” Reflective of Green Dot’s wider scope, command-designated Airmen at each installation will conduct 50-minute long sessions across the Air Force. Installation leadership will also have oversight of Green Dot through the Community Action Information Board and Integrated Delivery System, and track completion through the Advanced Distributed Learning System. “It’s on all of us to take responsibility to prevent interpersonal violence in our Air Force,” Air Force CAIB chair, Brig. Gen. Lenny Richoux said. “There are more good Airmen out there who want to take care of their wingman than there are predators seeking to inflict acts of violence inside our family, and I have confidence our Airmen won’t let me or each other stand-alone against this criminal behavior.” The 1,500 Airman implementers will complete training by March. They will return to their units to train peer leader Airmen at each base followed by training for all Airmen. “Taking care of one another requires an integrated approach using the expertise of the medical community, sexual assault prevention and the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence,” Richoux said. “Old-school analog leadership from commanders and supervisors and between Airmen is the key to our success.”
Senior Airman Ryan J. Sonnier
Joint Base Andrews is implementing new entry procedures involving a national Criminal Information Center Background Check for non-base affiliated personnel visiting the Courses at Andrews. By 11th Wing Security Forces
Starting Jan. 1, Joint Base Andrews is implementing new entry procedures for non-base affiliated personnel visiting the Courses at Andrews. The entry procedures for non-base affiliated golfing guests require them to submit information for a National Criminal Information Center background check. Visiting golfers (non-base affiliated) can be preannounced by a DOD ID card holder or an authorized golf course patron by sending an Unofficial Visitor Entry Request Form from an encrypted email (.mil) account to the Visitor Control Center organizational email box. Otherwise, sponsors may hand carry the form into the VCC 72 hours prior to the start date. If the form is received 72 hours in advance, the sponsor will be notified if and when the request is approved or denied. Once approved, guest will be
HEALTHY, from page 1
Bobby Jones
Rotunda Mobley, personal trainer and fitness instructor, performs a set of shoulder, chest and arm exercises for a group of her civilian students. Mobley is one of four certified trainers and fitness instructor experienced in post-rehabilitation training. The trainers receive their certification from the American Fitness Professional and Associates.
being on non-active duty and must have served in the military between 2000-present. “All of our trainers are able to handle any veteran needs no matter what they’re disability might be,” Broxton said. “We push to have the trainers and veterans have a relationship to tailor a fluid personal training schedule based around their availability, because the vet might have doctor appointments or physical therapy.” Rotunda Mobley, a fitness instructor, professional body builder and veteran personal trainer of 10 years, said she has trained 14 or more veterans who have enjoyed the program. “I really enjoy my job and I like seeing the results in people, how their attitudes change while they’re working out and how their bodies have transformed from what it used to look like to now,” Mobley said. Overall, Broxton wants veterans across the county to know that the Parks and Recreation Department is
placed on the Base Access List with a unique identifier granting them access only through the Virginia Gate. The guest will arrive at the Virginia Gate and have their state-issued ID cross-referenced against the Base Access List by the gate sentry. Once verified, the guest will be allowed entry onto the golf course. If the request cannot be submitted 72 hours in advance, both the sponsor and guests must arrive at the VCC together, complete the request form and sign in until they can be serviced by one of the VCC clerks. If approved for access, guests will be given a pass indicating they have been vetted which authorizes them access through Virginia Gate and onto the golf course. The gate sentry will collect the pass for accountability by the VCC. The unofficial visitor entry request form can be found at http://www.andrews.af.mil. there to serve them. “We realize that our county has the largest population of veterans in any county in the nation so we’re making it our priority to service our vets and help them out with transition from military to civilian life or any way possible,” Broxton said. “With this specific program we’re doing that through fitness opportunities to promote strong, healthy living to them.” “We just want to get them out there as far as doing a variety of things, whether it’s sports, recreation or leisure events, such as the upcoming Motown the Musical we’re offering free to them,” Broxton said. If you are interested in learning more about the “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” fitness initiative or are interested in participating in the program, complete the online Interest Form at: http://mncppcapps.org/pgparks/personal_ interest_form/. An M-NCPPC staff member will contact you; Jessica Crosier Adaptive Aquatics and fitness Coordinator for Prince George’s Parks and Recreation or Anthony Broxton can be reached at 301-446-3436.
Andrews Gazette
Friday, January 8, 2016
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Early adversity tests Airman’s resilience By Airman 1st Class Jake Carter, 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
(This feature is part of the “Through Airman’s Eyes” series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.) The alarm rings. Yelling is heard from the nearby hallway. As footsteps get closer, Vickie Tippitt knows she is in a world of trouble. Her grandmother bursts through the door. With a rope in hand, Tippitt feels the wrath of child abuse come down on her by her own flesh and blood. That was the life of one woman until she finally found her calling in the Air Force. Tippitt, now a master sergeant and member of the 926th Force Support Squadron and the Nellis Air Force Base Yellow Ribbon representative, said life wasn’t always easy growing up in Fort Worth, Texas. “I remember having a good childhood at 3-years-old all the way until I was seven. Once I turned seven, that’s when a lot of things changed for me,” Tippitt said. “That’s when my mother and father decided to separate. There was a lot of fighting, and my dad was very, very abusive to my mother. Then we moved to Arlington, Texas, into an apartment where it was my mother, four siblings and me. That’s when everything was just really confusing.” Tippitt’s mother worked the night shift every day and still holds the same job today. Tippitt and her siblings were often alone, before her grandmother came for them. “All of the sudden, I could remember being whisked away from school one day by my grandmother and when we left with her we never got to come back,” Tippitt said. “She took us to this house in Fort Worth, and all of a sudden we were in this house for at least a month or two, where all of us kids were alone. We had no lights, no gas,
Courtesy Photo
Master Sgt. Vickie Tippitt, a member of the 926th Force Support Squadron and the Nellis Air Force Base Yellow Ribbon representative, sheds a tear during an interview to discuss her rough childhood and how the Air Force saved her at Nellis AFB, Nev.
there was nothing really. We had to eat lemon cake mix.” With Tippitt’s grandmother scarcely around, the house became a wreck. “At that age, you do whatever you want. If there is no gas and no water, you are outside going to the bathroom, using the neighbor’s water. One time, my brother set the mattress on fire because he was upset,” Tippitt said. “More than anything, I remember my grandmother finally coming back to the house after being away for a while and she was very upset. She put us all in a row and beat the hell out of us with a very thick rope that they use to lasso horses or cows.” After being beat by her grandmother, Tippitt and the rest of her siblings moved from place to place before settling in the housing projects. “We moved to some apartments, and the abuse continued. Mean things were said and done. Then we moved
from the apartments to the Butler housing projects,” Tippitt said. “It was a chaotic home. I will say that there were a lot of drugs, alcohol, a lot of partying and drug addicts. There was always someone in the home.” With the house always full of people, Tippitt was counted on to clean up and serve guests while they were there. “When people came to the house, I always had to keep the house clean, wash the dishes, and basically be a servant to anyone that was there,” Tippitt said. “If it wasn’t done, I would get the hell beat out of me and also I wasn’t able to go to school. School for me was a great place to go.” Tippitt and her sister were often subjected to sexual passes made by the male guests. “There were several nights where men would try to come into me and my sister’s room and they would try to talk us into being with them or touching them,” Tippitt said. “I’m blessed that I never got molested. It was like that from 7 to 15-years-old.” When Tippitt was 15, she would sneak out of the house with her sister and see her mom to escape the harsh environment in which they lived in. “I finally ran away when I was 15-years-old. We piled our clothes into trash bags and threw them out of our window. When it was time to go to school, we were standing at the bus stop with our trash bags waiting to run away to our mom,” Tippitt said. When Tippitt was a teenager, she worked as a lifeguard in the summer and then, on a whim, she decided to check out an Air Force recruiter’s office. “I was a lifeguard and I was going for lunch one particular day, so I decided to go to the mall to go shopping and I went to a different area of the mall near the back where I noticed there were all these different recruit-
ing agencies,” Tippitt said. “They had Navy, Army and then I saw Air Force and I knew when summer time was over I had no idea what I would be doing. So I decided to go into the Air Force recruiting office and as soon as I walked in I told the recruiter I wanted to join the Air Force.” After joining, Tippitt found out how her grandmother had been able to take her and her siblings away from her mother. “My grandmother called the welfare office and had informed them that my mother had died. She told them that she wanted full guardianship of all of us kids. They told her she needed to produce a death certificate,” Tippitt said. “At one point, she used to be a mortician and that fell into her profession. However, she wasn’t able to produce a certificate and called back saying that she thought she was dead because she was a drug addict. They believed her and she took full guardianship. My mother spent time in jail for it, and she never did drugs.” Tippitt is part of a new Storytellers program at Nellis Air Force Base and hopes to connect with other Airmen who have experienced similar struggles. “When Airmen hear these stories, it’s going to transform lives,” said Lt. Col. Dwayne Jones, the 99th Air Base Wing chaplain. “We are going to hear that there is hope. We can be resilient in difficult times. If life dealt you a bad hand, there is always an opportunity for a new beginning.” Now that Tippitt has fully left her past behind, she looks back in astonishment. “I never thought I would be smart enough or courageous enough to leave that type of environment,” Tippitt said. “Today, I don’t consider myself a victim, I just consider myself being able to take care of myself.”
Installation leadership uses new tool to receive suggestions By Senior Airman Dylan Nuckolls 11th Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Andrews is set to activate a new tool on its base website Dec. 16, 2015, called, “QOLCOMM.” The Quality of Life Communication feedback tool allows users to make suggestions to base leadership that will improve the quality of life on JBA and track the progress of approved suggestions. “These are ideas from members of JBA, instead of ideas from leadership of JBA,” said Capt. Stephen Struber, 1st Helicopter Squadron chief of standardization and evaluations. “This tool allows all members of JBA to funnel their ideas to base leadership.” Once a person submits a suggestion, it will be pooled with other suggestions and reviewed during a monthly QOLCOMM board meeting. The board is made up of first sergeants or a representative from each of the wings on JBA, key spouses and a representative from the 11th Wing Judge Advocate and Public Affairs Office.
“We’ve got a lot of experience on the board, [who are] involved in adjudicating this process to ensure that we have a good fair look at what they are asking us to do,” said William Sanders, 11th Wing Community Outreach coordinator. Once the board narrows down the suggestions, it will present the ideas during the Integrated Delivery System meeting, according to Struber. The IDS meets monthly and consists of leadership from around JBA to discuss a variety of issues including trends, events and changes that effect installation personnel. If leadership decides to move forward with an idea, it will get assigned to the responsible unit for processing. The idea will be placed on the website for people to see what improvements the base will make, according to Struber. Approved ideas can be tracked from the approval to the completion. According to Sanders, the goal of the site is to hear
U.S. Air Force graphic by Tech. Sgt. Robert Cloys
QOLCOMM is a communication gateway to provide the Joint Base Andrews community a way to submit suggestions to improve the quality of life on base.
from everyone that lives and works on the installation and help to improve their quality of life. “This is a great opportunity for people to tell leadership about the base and quality of life issues that might need to be improved or things that are going well, but with minor tweaks could be better,” said Sanders. To view the QOLCOMM website, visit http://www. andrews.af.mil/library/qolcomm.asp.
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Imagine Andrews second lottery announced By Senior Airman Joshua Dewberry 11th Wing Public Affairs
The Imagine Andrews school is slated to conduct a second lottery for the military family population of the school’s yearly enrollment, starting Feb. 16. “We at the Imagine Schools Mid-Atlantic Regional Office have been working collaboratively with Joint Base Andrews to ensure that we align the proposal to the necessary accommodations needed to capture this population of students,” Dr. Andria McMichael, Imagine Mid-Atlantic Region regional director said. The adjustment for the enrollment application window for children of military personnel is set to be open from Feb. 16 to May 16. This second lottery
will allocate 65 percent of student seats to children of military personnel residing on JBA, assigned to JBA or reside in Prince George’s County. · Imagine Schools will conduct an independent application and lottery process for military dependents. · Active military personnel with a report date to Joint Base Andrews before the first day of school will be allowed to apply during the military personnel application period above. · Inbound military members must provide proof of Prince George’s County, Maryland or Joint Base Andrews residency prior to enrollment of students at Imagine Andrews. Contact the Imagine Mid-Atlantic Regional Office at (301) 316-1802 for more information.
Friday, January 8, 2016
TRICARE pharmacy copays change Feb. 1 By TRICARE.mil Staff
Military pharmacies and TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery will remain the lowest cost pharmacy option for TRICARE beneficiaries when some TRICARE pharmacy copays change Feb. 1. Most copays for prescription drugs in the home delivery program and retail network pharmacies will increase slightly. The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act requires TRICARE to change its prescription copays. All drugs at military pharmacies and generic drugs through home delivery are still available at no cost to beneficiaries. Copays for brand name drugs through home delivery increase from $16 to $20, for
up to a 90-day supply. At retail pharmacies, generic drug copays go from $8 to $10, and brand name drug copays go from $20 to $24, for up to a 30-day supply. Copays for non-formulary drugs and for drugs at non-network pharmacies will also change. Beneficiaries can save up to $208 in 2016 for each brand name prescription drug they switch from retail pharmacy to home delivery. Home delivery offers safe and convenient delivery of your prescription drugs right to your mailbox. To see the new TRICARE pharmacy copays, learn more about the TRICARE pharmacy benefit, or move your prescription to home delivery, visit http://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, January 8, 2016
Security Forces Police Blotter The Security Forces Blotter is intended to keep members of the Joint Base Andrews Community informed and aware of the crimes and offenses that occur throughout the base each week. If you have any information that may help Security Forces solve a crime or prevent a criminal act, please contact BDOC (Base Defense Operations Center) at (301) 9812001, CRIME STOP LINE 9812677 COPS or the investigations section at (301) 981-5656. Dec. 30 at 2:18 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a vehicle accident at the Commissary. Further investigation revealed the driver had reversed out of a parking spot and came in contact with a parked car causing minor damages. Dec. 30 at 6:32 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a vehicle accident involving government property. Further investigation revealed a driver departed the
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shoppette without removing the gas nozzle from the vehicle which in turn broke the pump. The driver returned the broken nozzle to the pump without reporting the incident. Security Forces made contact with the driver and the individual was charged accordingly. Jan. 3 at 2:45 p.m.: Security Forces responded to Virginia Avenue for a report of a driver possibly operating a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance. Security Forces searched the driver’s vehicle and located 2.5 grams of marijuana. The individual was charged accordingly and escorted off the installation. Jan. 4 at 5:33 a.m.: Security Forces responded to a vehicle accident on Arnold Avenue and Fairbanks Road. Further investigation revealed the driver turned on to Arnold Avenue and came in contact with another vehicle causing minor damages.
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As A Reminder Please remember, while driving on the installation you must have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, vehicle registration and proper Military Identification or approved installation access credentials. All credentials must be up to date and presented when requested. For reporting any emergencies or non-emergencies please feel free to utilize the “LiveSafe” App. “LiveSafe” is an anonymous reporting app that can be downloaded for free on your smart device. There has been an increase in attempts to enter the installation with a controlled dangerous substance in the vehicle. All vehicles entering the installation are subject to be searched; anyone caught attempting to bring controlled dangerous substances on the installation will be charged and may lose their base privileges.
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Andrews Gazette
8
Friday, January 8, 2016
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