Page 10 - Aerotech News and Review, July 7 2017

Help available for those living with PTSD
by Linda KC Reynolds
staff writer
The Antelope Valley College held an event on campus to raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, where several organizations were available to talk with students and faculty.
PTSD can happen to anyone. It is a mental illness that can start after a traumatic event such as rape, a violent crime, abuse, military combat, accidents or natural disasters. Left untreated, it can lead to physical illness, social isola- tion, depression, anxiety, insomnia and other life alternating problems.
“Since June is ‘PTSD Awareness Month’ we invited these organizations here today to let students know they have many resources available, both on and off campus,” said Monteigne Long,
veteran program coordinator. Over 600 veterans are enrolled at the college. “We want all students to be successful. If they have PTSD or anxiety, it will af- fect their learning ability. We want all students to know that we are here to help them.”
Army veteran Ken Felton volunteers for Mental Health America as a peer advocate. Once homeless, Felton said he was helped by the organization and now his mission in life is to help other veterans. “PTSD, homelessness can happen to anyone. In a million years I never thought I would ever be a home- less person.”
Felton served in Germany from 1977- 1981. After returning to the United States, he went through a divorce and financial hardship. He was out on the street and did not want to be there. The
Photographs by Linda KC Reynolds
Organizations and veterans offered their services at the Antelope Valley College to help bring awareness to students living with PTSD. Tyler Morris, President of Vets Club at AVC, Army veteran Ken Felton of Mental Health America, Dennis Anderson of High Desert Medical Group, Jerry Lawrence and Jesse Robinson of Pro Care Hospice are all passionate about helping people with PTSD.
AVC student Khoa Pham is studying Computer Science and takes a break to have a little art therapy along with AVC Program Specialist Wynter Love during an PTSD Awareness month outreach.
organization helped him move into low- income housing and later, purchase a mobile home. They also helped him train to become a truck driver.
“V eterans have a bond, they can relate and open up to other vets. By sharing my story, it helps others share theirs.” He said his priority is to first get veterans stable housing, then a job.
Marine veteran Jerry Lawrence said he volunteers with Pro Care Hospice visiting terminally ill veterans.
“Sometimes veterans just want to share and they can’t do it with family members because they are too close to the situation,” said Lawrence. “Family members can become too emotional; of- ten they can’t relate to someone who is
dying or they don’t want to hear what a veteran wants to say. I tell them it is ok to die, you are going to a better place. We want them to know they will not be forgotten.” Lawrence said it is hard, especially when a veteran is young, but he is often the one receiving the blessing from a visit.
AVC Program Specialist Wynter Love said that there is a large popula- tion of foster students on campus.
“We have more than 900 students who were in the foster program — that is about one in every 15 students. Many have not had a great experience with foster families and it can affect their learning. They need to know that they can reach out if they need help.”
Counseling is often enough to help someone cope or conquer their PTSD, if not, medication may be needed.
According to Health 247, an estimat- ed 7.8 percent of Americans will experi- ence PTSD at some point in their lives, with women twice as likely as men to develop PTSD. About 3.6 percent of adults between the age of 18-54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year.
Everyone gets the blues and anxi- ety from time to time. However, if it lasts for an extended period of time, a person should reach out for help. Diet, exercise and a healthy social life also promote positive mental health.
ALS class graduates, returns to workforce with new tools
program designed to develop Airmen into effec- tive frontline supervisors. It is the first professional military education that enlisted Air Force members encounter. ALS focuses on building leadership and team development abilities as well as effective communication. Edwards ALS is open to all sister services, Air National Guard and Reserve, and has slots for civilian members.
Other graduates of ALS Class 17E are: Abigail M. Smith — 412th Aerospace Medicine
Squadron
Marcus Gohl — 412th Aircraft Maintenance
Squadron
Ryan Keith Lanier — 412th AMXS
Sean M. Matkosky — 31st Test and Evaluation
Squadron
Tequila D. Adams — 412th Security Forces
Squadron
Jedsen W. Nunes — 412th SFS
Trevor L. Thompson — 412th SFS
Bradley A. Hartnett — 812nd Civil Engineer
Squadron
Cody Troy Bandel — 912th Air Refueling
Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
Adam David Hurd — 912th Air Refueling
Squadron
Robert S. Dunn — 912th Aircraft Maintenance
Squadron
Caleb M. Swaby — VMX 22 United States
Marine Corps
Christian A. Sparks — VMX 22 USMC
Deana Butler (civilian) — 412th Test Wing Kerri Collins (civilian) — 412th Communica-
tions Squadron
Luis E. Lagunasavedra — 162nd Logistics
Readiness Squadron, California Air National Guard Nicholas A. Wessels — 142nd Security Forces
AFRC
Vanessa N. Corney — 452nd Maintenance
Group, AFRC
Estrada Angelica — 452nd Air Mobility Wing,
AFRC
Caleb J. Schlosser — 459th Aircraft Mainte-
nance Squadron, AFRC
Freddie Aaron Vargas — 452nd Security Forces
Squadron, AFRC
Chandavictoria L. Rand — 56th Aerial Port
Squadron, AFRC
Brian A. Benefield — 926th Force Support
Squadron, AFRC
Jose A. Cruz — 412th Operations Support
Squadron
Air Force photograph by Jennifer Correa
Airman Leadership School Class 17E pose for a group photo following their graduation ceremony at Club Muroc June 22, 2017.
by Kenji Thuloweit
Edwards AFB, Calif.
The 412th Test Wing’s Airman Leadership School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., held its latest graduation ceremony June 22, 2017, at Club Muroc.
Base leadership and attendees watched 25 senior airmen, two Marines and three civilians of Class 17E take another step in their careers.
Senior Airman Kristopher Arbogast, Detachment 2, 9th Operations Group, won the John L. Levitow Award.
The Levitow award is presented to the student that demonstrated the most outstanding leadership and scholastic qualities. Selection for the Levitow award is based on academic performance and as- signment of points by peers and instructors.
Myles Gregory, Detachment 2, 9th Operations Group, and Amanda Cleveland, 412th Test Wing, were distinguished graduates. Cleveland became the first civilian ALS graduate to win a distin- guished award since the ALS format was opened up to civilians.
Darrin S. Hurt, 412th Test Wing, received the Commandant’s Award, and Lucia Magadan, 752nd Medical Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, received the Academic Award.
The Distinguished Graduate Award is presented to the next (10 percent of graduates) person with the highest overall average in all graded areas, and demonstrated a high level of leadership skills. The Academic Achievement Award is presented to the student with highest overall average on all aca- demic evaluations.
ALS is a five-week United States Air Force
10
Squadron, California ANG
Michael M. Camarillo — 147th Combat Com-
munications Squadron, California ANG
Ashelle U. Acosta — 154th Civil Engineer
Squadron, California ANG
Jenna G. Ramirez — 162nd LRS, California
ANG
Verkeia C. Phillips — 127th Force Support
Squadron, California ANG
Cecilia Vargas — 50th Aerial Port Squadron, Air
Force Reserve Command
Juan A. Ajenhenry — 452nd Maintenance
Squadron, AFRC
Kelly R. Thatcher — 50th Aerial Port Squadron,
AFRC
Celia Barcenas — 50th Aerial Port Squadron,
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