Page 8 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 10-23-15

Desert Wings October 23, 2015

8 www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb facebook.com/EdwardsDesertWings

EM delivers Halloween treats to local victims

by Rebecca Amber nel written materials about domestic violence relationships. Among them, threats against happen to anyone and that it’s important to
Staff writer and purple ribbons to wear to show support IDPLO\PHPEHUV¿QDQFLDOGHSHQGHQFHDQG
for victims. fear of losing their children. know the signs and symptoms of abuse.
(DFK+DOORZHHQFKLOGUHQDOORYHUWKH8QLW-
ed States dress up in costumes and go trick- The National Coalition Against Domestic Domestic violence does not know cultural, If you or someone you know is being
or-treating. Violence defines domestic violence as the racial, socioeconomic, age or gender bound-
willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, aries. abused, call the National Domestic Violence
At the neighbors’ houses, they may see sexual assault and other abusive behavior
ghosts, witches, skeletons and all kinds of as part of a systematic pattern of power and Natalie hopes that by sharing her story, Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).
images that evoke fear. control perpetrated by one intimate partner others will realize that domestic violence can )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQYLVLWWKH86'HSDUW-
against the other. It encompasses physical
But for the ones who have experienced and and sexual violence, threats and emotional or PHQWRI-XVWLFH2I¿FHRQ9LROHQFH$JDLQVW
witnessed domestic violence, it’s their own psychological abuse.
home that is truly scary. Women at www.ovw.usdoj.gov.
Domestic violence survivor “Natalie”
October is recognized as Domestic Vio- shared that the month is about reminding Air Force photograph by Rebecca Amber
lence Awareness Month. This Year, Edwards people that “you should be safe, always, in
AFB Emergency Management decided to your own home.” Looking back, Natalie be- (GZDUGV$)%(PHUJHQF\0DQDJHPHQW¿OOHGDQGGRQDWHGJRRGLHEDJVFRPSOHWHZLWKFDQG\
donate goodie bags, complete with candy, to lieves that of all the warning signs, the biggest to local children who have been victims of domestic violence and will not be able to go trick or
local children who have been victims of do- was isolation. treating this year. The items included Air Force Be Ready coloring books, Frisbees, whistles
mestic violence. The items included Air Force and more.
Be Ready coloring books, Frisbees, whistles “[The perpetrator’s] main thing is to get
and more. Donations of candy came in from you isolated so you have no support. You lose
various individuals in the Emergency Man- your identity,” she recalled. “To me, being a
DJHPHQW2I¿FH survivor is I made it out alive and I was able
to protect my [child] and break the cycle of
“These kids don’t get to go trick-or-treat- violence.”
ing,” said Russell Warner, 812th Civil Engi-
neering Squadron, Emergency Management During her time in an abusive home, Natalie
specialist. experienced a fractured skull, a bulging disk
in her neck and had stitches ripped out after a
Stefanie Warner, 812th Test Support Squad- trip to the hospital. Her husband even threat-
ron, Engineering Development Flight, volun- ened to end her life. After several attempts she
teered to pack bags with the EM folks and ZDV¿QDOO\DEOHWRHVFDSHDQGHYHQWXDOO\UH
went with the group to deliver them through- united with her family.
out the local area. Even before the children
saw what was in the bags, “they were just so For most domestic violence victims, it
excited that there was something, anything takes several attempts to leave an abusive
new coming through the door for them.” relationship. According to the NCADV there
are many reasons that victims stay in abusive
The Warners have also given base person-

Airman Spotlight

Airman 1st Class Sarah Mehalic

Aviation Resource Management apprentice
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Job description and its impact their example of military service. ¿FDWLRQDQGVNLOOVLQRUGHUWRFDUH Courtesy photograph
on the overall mission: Avia- for others.
tion Resource Management Air- Where do you see yourself in 10
men coordinate flight operations or 20 years? Caring for others as a What does you like most about
resources, which include schedul- registered nurse. Edwards? The view and access of
ing, standardization and evalua- the surrounding mountains.
tion, training, and aircrew flight What do you do for fun around
records. They are gatekeepers here? I enjoy visiting new places If you won a million dollars,
ZKRHQVXUHDLUFUHZDUHTXDOL¿HG around California. ZKDWLVWKH¿UVWWKLQJVKHZRXOG
trained and medically cleared to buy? A trip to Hawaii for my par-
À\PLVVLRQV:LWKLQÀ\LQJVTXDG- What’s your favorite Air Force ents.
rons, they primarily work at the memory or story? Technical
operations desk, which puts them school. What distinguishes A1C Me-
in the key command, control and halic from her peers?
FRPPXQLFDWLRQQRGHGXULQJÀLJKW What accomplishments are you
operations. most proud of? Hemo-dialysis “Airman 1st Class Mehalic
WHFKQLFLDQFHUWL¿FDWLRQ works in an excessively challeng-
Time in the military: 1.5 years. ing squadron for a [Aviation Re-
Who is your role model? Ma- source Management Airmen]. She
Time at Edwards AFB: Arrived jor Rollins PDQDJHVWUDLQLQJSUR¿OHVIRUMRLQW
during the summer of 2014. civilian, and contractor aircrew
How does your job help support ZKRDUHGXDOTXDOL¿HGLQWKH)
Family: Married with a daugh- the test and evaluation mission and all variants of the F-35. She
ter here at Edwards? Without our ex- tracks the specialized qualifica-
pertise, the F-35 test pilots would tions associated with these diverse
Hometown: Lee’s Summit, near not have the resources necessary aircraft and missions. Though it
Kansas City, Mo. to accomplish their missions and would be a challenge even for a
ultimately deliver the F-35 to the seasoned 1C0, she’s learned the
Hobbies: Hiking, camping and ZDU¿JKWHUV task quickly and performs it very
the outdoors well.”
What is her dream job and
Why did you join the military? why? To become a registered nurse Tech. Sgt. Maudraguine Mul-
My family encouraged me through someday so I can utilize my certi- holland, supervisor