Page 14 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, December2019

14 December 2019 news http://www.luke.af.mil Thunderbolt news Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt 15
December 2019
Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

DOD announces annual cost of Become a child care provider Chaplain’s thoughts ... ‘Your holiday bill is on

or concluded that you do not care. Either case
living increase to retired pay • Set your own schedule Servant leadership is a failure of leadership.” — Gen. Colin Powell. us’ sweepstakes is back
Caring for your Airmen requires time — time
by Master Sgt.
• Increase family income
that is precious, and there never seems to be
NORMA
they use their MILITARY STAR
teach, to show, to mentor.
Nov. 7, the Defense Department announced an- These cost of living adjustments are calculated • Stay home with your children JOHNSON enough of. Not enough time to listen, to talk, to into the sweepstakes every time
We have all seen the memes of the juggler
card at any military exchange,
nual cost of living adjustments that will benefit based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban • Become licensed 56th Fighter Wing Chapel trying to balance career, school, family, fitness, commissary, ShopMyExchange.
military retirees and survivors during calendar Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the four Servant leadership friends, etc., and we laugh because it is true. com, myNavyExchange.com,
year 2020. Most military retirees will receive a quarters ending with the third calendar quarter • Free training and supplies has a special place in Much is demanded of us because we are Airmen ShopCGX.com, Armed Forced
1.6% increase to their retired pay beginning with of 2019 (July, August and September 2019), and my heart. Through- and we can make it happen. Recreation Centers or Exchange
the pay they receive on Jan. 1, 2020. Likewise, generally go into effect for all pay received begin- • USDA reimbursement available for meals out my career I have I hope that in the midst of all the juggling, we Five winners will have MILITARY mall vendor. The more shoppers
survivors of members who died on active or inac- ning in January 2020. been blessed by many find the time to care for our Airmen, because if STAR® balances paid in full use their MILITARY STAR card,
tive duty, or survivors of military retirees who Those military retirees who retired during calen- served servant leaders who we all care for those within our reach, we can in 6th annual sweepstakes the more chances they have to
participated in the Survivor Benefit Plan will, in dar year 2019, and all military retirees who retired invested time in taking save more than one starfish.
most cases, see a 1.6% increase to their annuities under the REDUX retirement system receive a QUESTIONS? care of and developing As the parable goes: One day, an old man was DALLAS – The only thing that win.
beginning in January. slightly different annual cost of living adjustment. their Airmen. These leaders are strong senior walking along a beach that was littered with could make the holidays merrier “The Exchange is where heroes
Survivors who are eligible for the Special Sur- The complete list of updates to military retired and • Call Alicia Powers at 623-856-2684 NCOs who mentor thousands of Airmen across thousands of starfish that had been washed is having someone else pick up the shop, and our heroes make so
vivor Indemnity Allowance will also receive an retainer pay, and survivor annuities, allowances, multiple commands. They always have kind ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came tab. For the sixth year in a row, many sacrifices for their coun-
increase to their SSIA payments that reflects this and premiums can be found at https://militarypay. • Go to Facebook.com/Luke FCC words, smiles on their faces, a warm greeting, upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing that’s just what the Exchange try,” said Chief Master Sgt. Luis
1.6% adjustment. The maximum amount of SSIA defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/Cola.aspx. • Email alicia.powers@us.af.mil and a heartfelt question about your wellbeing, the starfish back into the ocean, one by one. Credit Program is doing. Reyes, Exchange senior enlisted
Five lucky grand-prize winners
payable will be $323 beginning in January. Courtesy of defense.gov and if you reach out to them, believe me, they Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked will have their entire MILITARY advisor. “It’s an honor to give a
holiday surprise to members of
will be there for you. what he was doing. Without looking up from his STAR® card balance paid in full the military family.”
These senior NCOs also demonstrate an iron task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these as part of the Your Holiday Bill MILITARY STAR has paid
fist when it comes to upholding standards, rules starfish, sir.” Is on Us sweepstakes. (Winners nearly $200,000 in holiday bills
REuNIoN (from Page 6) “I sat for a little bit and I thought ‘Wow, WISDoM (from Page 2) have, and things will work themselves and regulations, but this doesn’t mean they stop The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are whose balances do not meet the since the sweepstakes began in
it’s been a long time’, and he’s grown, he’s out. Just take care of yourself.” caring about you. If you have a setback, they hold thousands of starfish and only one of you. What
quick to get off the phone because he didn’t taller,” Ageyman-Prempeh said. “I was emo- petitive,” Robinson said. “There’s no Robinson said there’s no way a chief you accountable, they tell you the consequences minimum prize of $2,500 will 2014.
know who his dad was,” Ageyman-Prempeh tional because seeing him that big reminded competition with your spouse. If my can lead alone. difference can you make?” The boy picked up receive a statement credit for the Winners will be announced on
said. me of the last time I saw him when he was wife outranks me, cool. If I outrank They said there were times when one you will face and how you are going to overcome a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and difference.) Ten more shoppers or about Jan. 30, 2020. No pur-
While he tried to maintain the relation- so little.” my wife, cool. We still have that same would shine, and the other would be in them. One of my favorite leadership quotes is, turning to the man, said, “I made a difference will receive $1,000 statement chase is necessary to win. For of-
“The day Soldiers stop bringing you their prob-
ship, Ageyman-Prempeh also wanted Kofi The family spent a month in Accra vis- name tape on the right. We pushed a supportive role. lems is the day you stopped leading them. They to that one!”* credits, and 25 winners will re- ficial rules and alternate method
to build a relationship with Adrienne and iting parks, riding horses and exploring each other along and enjoyed each “You gotta have support,” Robinson have either lost confidence that you can help them *Adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren ceive $500 statement credits. of entry, visit MyECP.com/Cus-
James. Separated by thousands of miles, the city getting to know one another. But, other’s success.” said. “I get a chance to go home and Eiseley (1907 — 1977) Through Dec. 31, military shop- tomerAds/Page/Exchange after
their only means of communication was Ageyman-Prempeh said he knew life in the Some military couples seemed as hash out ideas with another chief. When pers will automatically be entered Nov. 1.
through FaceTime calls. U.S. would be challenging for Kofi, his wife though one spouse always has the spot- I bring it back to the unit, the ideas are
Ageyman-Prempeh said the time differ- and his other children. light, while the other feels a career sac- that much better.”
ence and young age of his children made it “My wife has handled it tremendously, rifice is needed for the other to do well. There were certainly hard times in
difficult for the siblings to connect. Nonethe- she’s really doing a good job and of course “We discovered early in our careers their years together, with deployments
less, as time passed, their relationship grew. there’s days when the connection isn’t that neither of us had to sacrifice,” being the biggest challenge.
As Ageyman-Prempeh’s life in the U.S. there,” Ageyman-Prempeh said. Leenette said. “There have been many times when
stabilized, he worked diligently on the pro- Shaye did everything she could to provide The couple never got promoted the we felt like single parents because one
cess to reunite with his son. a loving family for Kofi. same year, no matter how hard they of us was gone,” Leenette said. “I think
“They wanted so much from me and of “I thought I did everything to prepare for studied. Yet, their favorite memories of the most challenging time was when
course he’s my son so I was going to do Kofi’s arrival,” she said. “But just like any serving together were celebrating each both of us got deployed at the same
everything that I could. I sent paperwork, other kid or baby, once they get here, all of other’s accomplishments. time.”
and they would tell me that it’s not enough that is out the window, and you adjust to “My proudest moment of him was The Josephs had to send their three
proof, so I had to add even more documents being what they need you to be.” when he made chief,” Leenette said. “He children to family members, and getting
to support it. That was the hardest part. Now living in the U.S., Kofi still feels worked so hard. He was taking care of everyone on the phone at the same time
“The process was tedious,” he said. “You’d some of the pain of being “abandoned.” people, and just seeing his face when he was a logistical nightmare.
never think it would be so difficult to get “Sometimes my son asks, ‘Daddy why made chief was priceless.” Yet, they pushed through.
your own blood son into the U.S. It was a did you abandon me,” or “Why didn’t you Robinson reciprocated the sentiment. They learned there was a major fac-
two-year process.” bring me to the United States when I was “My proudest moment was when she tor in maintaining their relationships
While wading through the process, Agey- a baby?’” Ageyman-Prempeh said. “I had to was a (professional military education) over long distances: communication.
man-Prempeh’s resolve to reunite with his … tell him that I didn’t want to leave him instructor, and she won instructor of the Sometimes they got creative. One of
son solidified even more when he learned and, it wasn’t easy to bring him here.” year,” Robinson said. “I always had faith Robinson’s ways of communicating
that Kofi’s mother was neglecting their son. Over time, Kofi has grown to understand that she could do it.” was sending gifts to Leenette. While
“My friends called me saying they saw my the incredibly hard choice his father had When there were disappointments, deployed, he would find people pass-
son unattended and the mother had gone to make. such as not making the promotions they ing back through their home station to
[away],” said Ageyman-Prempeh. “My dad Even though they are burdened by the worked so hard for, being there to con- deliver gifts and notes.
confirmed that she wasn’t taking good care hardships they endured, Ageyman-Prem- sole and encourage each other carried At the Josephs’ retirement ceremony,
of my son, so he had to take custody of him.” peh is grateful for the help he received. them through, Robinson said. there was a scramble to add chairs be-
With Kofi now in a loving and supportive “I’m being honest,” he said. “Without the Though Robinson and Leenette go cause so many people showed up. Leen-
environment, he could finish the process of Air Force I don’t think the process would to such lengths for each other, their ette and Robinson received awards for
getting his son into the United States, and have been any smoother,” he said. “I had families, and their careers, the biggest their service and reminisced over their
that’s exactly what he did. to get a citizenship to petition for my son, thing Leenette would pass on to other careers and lives together. Robinson
On March 4, 2019, with his wife and which I was able to receive by joining the military couples is it’s impossible to be told the story of how he proposed to
kids in tow, Ageyman-Prempeh traveled to U.S. Air Force.” perfect. Leenette with an onion ring at a fast-
Ghana to reunite with Kofi. With the help of the Air Force, his family “I wanted to wake up early in the food restaurant. He said he wanted to
“It had been eight years, and I was ready in Ghana, his wife and younger children morning and be the perfect wife, the propose again, properly this time, and
to get my son,” he said. “I was thinking in the U.S., he finally accomplished his perfect mom and the perfect Airman,” surprised her by doing just that. He got
‘What is he going to think about me’ because ultimate dream. Leenette said. “For the longest time down on one knee and gave her a ring.
he only knew me from the phone, so I was “I think about the whole thing, and I’m I tried to do all three, and I failed. I They then renewed their vows, tears in
nervous.” like, ‘Wow, it was so worth it,’ and I look at wasn’t taking care of myself, and I their eyes.
No matter how prepared he thought he him and I can’t believe what I had to go wasn’t good with anything because I Ready to let the next bright minds
was, he said the sheer amount of emotions through to get him,” Ageyman-Prempeh was trying to be perfect at everything. take their place, Robinson and Leenette
he felt when he saw Kofi again was over- said. “I look at my life now, it’s how I en- You’re never going to be perfect at all are looking forward to spending more
whelming, but he didn’t care because he visioned it, with my family together, and I three things at the same time. I say do time with family — without name tapes,
finally had his son back. think it’s complete.” the best you can with the resources you boots and no rush.