Celebrate - And Arrive Home Safely

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The holidays are a time of much deserved downtime and celebration for Sailors and their families, but also a time to stay alert, Navy officials said Dec. 27.

"If you are planning to drink during your celebration it is essential to understand how to drink responsibly and stay within your alcohol tolerance level," said Dorice Favorite, director, Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Office (NADAP).

"Maintaining a level of self-control and staying responsible while drinking alcohol is within everyone's ability, whether at a party, at the bar, or anywhere else. Drinking responsibly is about enjoying alcohol rather than letting it take control of you," Favorite added.

There are things you can do to prolong your evening and make the next day enjoyable as well. Stay hydrated. Alcohol dehydrates and draws vitamins and minerals out of your body. Drink water or juice to restore your lost fluids and vitamins. Drinking a 1-to-1 ratio of non-alcoholic to alcoholic beverages is a good practice.

Know your limits, it doesn't take long to learn how little or how much alcohol you can tolerate, and everybody is unique in their ability to tolerate alcohol. Always remember that the guidance you read is just guidance. You don't need to "keep up," or engage in competitions that could ruin the night, a friendships or your life.

Choose a designated driver. If you decide to go out to the bar with your friends, it is imperative that you have someone that will forgo drinking any alcohol that night. This ensures that you all get home safely. If you don't drive or have access to a car, regardless of the circumstance, never get into a car driven by someone else who has had too much to drink.

"Take simple precautions to have a good night out," said Favorite. "Take along a friend with you who is your designated driver and does not drink. If you are unable to regulate how much you drink, choose a friend who has the ability to 'put their foot down' and regulate the amount that you drink. You want to have a good time but not make a fool out of yourself."

Stennis Sailors Have What It Takes To Be COOL

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Fred Gray IV, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) are taking advantage of Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL), a program that helps Sailors find information on certifications and licenses related to their enlisted or officer jobs, rates, designators, or collateral duties.

Navy COOL outlines how Sailors can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides links to numerous resources on how to pay for training and testing.

"I think Navy COOL is great," said Navy Counselor 1st Class Preston Rodgers, a career counselor aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Stennis, from Odessa, Texas. "The best part is that certain credentials are paid for by the Navy, and it gives you the chance to put actual certifications or licenses on your resume instead of just experience."

Navy COOL can assist with goal setting within the command and furthering a Sailor's education.

"It looks very good on a Sailor's record," said Chief Navy Counselor Jean-Hero Lamy, command career counselor aboard Stennis, from Miami, Fla. "It shows initiative and the ability to go above and beyond to stand out among their peers."

Sailors can benefit from Navy COOL whether they have been in for a couple of months or a couple of decades.

"We [Navy counselors] offer a pre-separation brief, which we encourage Sailors who are getting out of the Navy to attend so that they can find out about programs and entitlements such as Navy COOL," said Lamy. "It can play a vital role to their success in the civilian job market."

Navy COOL has multiple benefits for Sailors still serving and for Sailors who are about to separate.

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, consisting of Stennis, Carrier Air Wing 9, Destroyer Squadron 21, and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) are forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility to strengthen regional partnerships, sustain maritime security, and support combatant commander requirements for assets in the area.

Naval Base Guam Breaks Ground on New, Energy-Efficient Facility

By Shaina Marie Santos, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, GUAM (NNS) -- The Navy held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new, energy-efficient Navy Exchange (NEX) Guam Mini-mart and Gas Station on board U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) Dec. 19.

Capt. Mike Ward, NBG commanding officer, said the groundbreaking of the facility is a component in moving the base forward and making it a premier installation in the Navy enterprise.

Overall, the building will provide a one-stop station made more convenient for base patrons.

"It symbolizes the Navy's commitment not only here on Naval Base Guam, but across the board, the impact (on) our families' and service members' quality of life on our Navy bases, and I'm very proud of that," he said.

As part of the secretary of the Navy's energy goals to ensure energy-efficient acquisitions, the facility, after completion, will obtain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification.

"LEED certification is the Navy's way of ensuring that we are building to the maximum opportunity for energy savings," said NEX Guam District Facilities Manager Bill Ward. "We have such a high dependency on oil and our usage here on Guam. So anything we can do to cut back on energy savings is a plus."

Thad Gabryszewski, design project manager for the project's engineer firm, AMEC, shared Bill Ward's sentiments and explained ways the building will save energy.

"We have a well-insulated building with high-efficiency windows, sunshade eyebrows over the windows which block the sunlight in, water-saving fixtures, reflecting colored roof membrane, and we anticipate energy savings of at least 30 percent better than the actuary's baseline for facilities," he said.

The $7.4 million, 11,000-square-foot facility will replace the existing mini-mart and fast-food franchise in Barracks 20, and the existing gas station and Autoport on NBG.

"It allows us to consolidate Barracks 20 and take some of the departments out of the main (NEX) store," said NEX Guam District Vice President Phil Harrison. "The current (gas station) does over $14 million annually, Barracks 20 does $2.5 million annually, so I figure that the potential for this site is going to be over $20 million annually when we complete it."

According to Harrison, NEX gives $1 million to Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs aimed to provide adequate programs, activities and facilities to service members and their dependents.

The project was awarded by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas to P&S Construction July 12, 2010, and is designed to provide a new adequately sized and configured concrete mini-mart and gas station. It is expected to be completed in December 2013.

One Marine, 100 Years of Marine Corps Aviation

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sarah Wolff
Camp Pendleton Public Affairs

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Dec. 28, 2012 – “Putt! Putt! Putt! Putt!”

Former Marine Pvt. Frank Baron Jr. stands with Marines assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 39 during a tour of the air station at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 11, 2012. Baron served as an active duty Marine from 1933 to 1937. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Imitating the sound of a Curtiss Condor’s engines failing, Frank Baron Jr. mimics the tumbling motions of the aircraft falling from the sky. His hands rush to his shoulders as if grabbing for parachute straps.

“I thought, ‘This is it,’ and then all of a sudden, brrrr!” he said, describing the sound of the engines returning to life as he sinks into the back of the couch, grinning, but sighing with relief.

“That’s the most scared I ever was, and I love to fly,” said Baron, 98, who’d served as an airplane rigger during a crucial period in the evolution of Marine aviation.

Baron’s love for the Marine Corps was sparked in Glen Burnie, Md., where he was born April 18, 1914.

“I liked the Marines, I’d known them from the time I was just a kid,” Baron explained. He grew up three blocks from a training area used by a Marine unit.

There was no grass, only leaves from the shade trees, Baron said of the training grounds. He said would often visit and ask the Marines if they wanted anything from the commissary.

“‘Yeah, get me a pack of cigarettes,’ or ‘Get me some soda pop,’ or this or that,” he said in a forced, gruff voice, pulling his eyebrows together. “I’d get it, and they’d give me a nickel or a dime.”

These experiences inspired his trip to Parris Island, S.C., in 1933, which marked the beginning of his four-year enlistment as a military police officer in the Marine Corps.

Baron’s first assignment was to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, where he and his friends, after standing guard at the Presidential Palace, would go to Gonaives Bay and dive from a five-story-tall platform.

“We would climb up, and dive off like swans,” Baron chuckled at the memory. “We would be up there looking down, and about a block from us there were sharks.”

After nine months in Haiti, Baron was briefly brought back to Parris Island before being sent to San Diego in California.

When he arrived in San Diego, then-Pvt. Baron saw the military pilots flying and immediately requested a transfer, he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed being around planes,” Baron said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “When I was a kid, planes used to fly over, and we would wave. You’d never believe it, but they would wave back!”
In 1935, Baron was transferred to North Coronado Island, officially recognized by the House Armed Services Committee as the birthplace of Marine Corps Aviation.

“I was working in the wings section. We would pull the canvas over the wings and goop it up with sealant,” Baron said as he made pulling and stretching motions with his hands, simulating the repairs.

Every day after work, Baron said he would look for space-availability flights. For the next two years, he would board planes for the pure joy of flying.

The flights would go almost anywhere; from out over the ocean to down to the border of Mexico, he said.
After his enlistment ended, Baron joined the San Diego fire department, and once his two granddaughters were born, he said he knew he wanted to share his passion with them.

“When my sister and I were young, he would take us to the San Diego airport to watch the planes land and take off,” said Teri Juybari, one of Baron’s granddaughters. “We would watch for what seemed like hours, and as little kids, that was pretty exciting.”

This year, Marine Corps aviation is celebrating its centennial, which was made possible through the efforts and dedication of Marines like Baron.

The time he spent in the Marines and working on the planes he loved made such an impact on his life, Juybari said. After 75 years, Baron is still proud of being a Marine.

Outstanding Airman of the Year visits Malmstrom

by Senior Airman Cortney Paxton
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

12/26/2012 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Team Malmstrom members had a chance to visit with Air Force Global Strike Command's Outstanding Airman of the Year this past week.

Senior Airman Bryenna Brooks, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron aerospace medical services technician, travelled here from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to meet with Airmen and share her experiences and journey to the top of AFGSC.

"I just found out in September that I was chosen as one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year and with that I found out that it's a year-long thing," Brooks said. "There are 12 of us that sit on an enlisted council and each of us is in charge of our MAJCOM and there's also Guard and Reserve members on the board as well. We're supposed to go around our MAJCOMs and speak with everyone about any issues, concerns or ways to improve the Air Force. It has been a lot to take in. I'm still learning what all of this means. I honestly didn't know this even existed."

Brooks deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 in support of a joint service effort of Operation Enduring Freedom. She also has hands-on and in-depth experience as a medical technician, emergency medical technician and a combat medic. But, her volunteer work is just as outstanding. She's volunteered to fill sandbags, served as a STARBASE youth mentor, volunteered with the Special Olympics, is a First Four Airman and is also the Hispanic Heritage Secretary.

Her one-day visit on Dec. 18 started with a breakfast with members of Malmstrom's 5/6 Alliance at the dining facility. From there she visited the 40th Helicopter Squadron where she was able to get a ride on one of the squadron's helicopters.

A 40th HS UH-1N Huey crew flew her to a remote training area on Arrow Creek, giving her a chance to experience Great Falls and Malmstrom AFB from above.

Following her flight, she sat in on a Big Sky Top 3 Association general membership meeting at the Grizzly Bend, and from there was able to meet with members of the Airman's Council during a lunch at the dining facility.

She discussed issues or concerns on the minds of the Airmen, including physical training, enlisted performance reports, supervision and leadership, and goals. She also mentioned the main part of her career that she believed helped her gain her spot as one of the Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

"I guess a lot of it had to do with my deployment," she said. "I'm not saying that you need a deployment to get this - there are only two of us out of the 12 that did have a deployment - but that's what helped me. I was deployed to Afghanistan and I was attached to the Army; we were doing convoy missions. There were seven of us - Air Force members - that were medical and attached to them. We did a lot of volunteer work over there on our off time. We'd help out at the [emergency room] and go out to the Afghan hospital and do a lot of volunteer work there."

After her lunch she toured one of Malmstrom's dormitories to experience the living quarters of the base's Airmen.

Her final event during her visit was pretty significant for herself, as well as other members of Team Malmstrom. She had a chance to speak to the graduates of Airmen Leadership School during their graduation ceremony that night.

Brooks brought with her to Malmstrom a different perspective and a vast respect for the Air Force and its Airmen. As one of 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, she's focused on making the Air Force better both in mission aspects and quality of life. She encouraged every Airman she met to expand their careers and to look out for each other.

4th AS's newest C-17 pilot is only 8 years old

by Staff Sgt. Sean Tobin
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/20/2012 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Tommy McGraw, an 8-year-old from University Place, Wash., who is currently recovering from an operation to remove a brain tumor, got the opportunity to tour McChord Field Monday as a participant in the Pilot for a Day program.

The purpose of the program, run by the 4th Airlift Squadron, is to give local children with serious illnesses a day completely devoted to them and their interest in aviation.

"The Pilot for a Day program is something we all love," said Lt. Col. T.J. O'Connell, 4th AS commander. "It a great opportunity to give the children a fun-filled day with some unique experiences, and give them a much needed break."

Fitted with his own flight suit, complete with official patches, nametag and ascot, Tommy was treated to a host of hands-on activities and demonstrations around base. Maj. Michael Masuda, 313th Airlift Squadron pilot, guided Tommy through his adventures.

Tommy's parents, Army Lt. Col. Joe McGraw, 2nd Battalion commander, and Army Lt. Col. Leigh McGraw, chief of consolidated education at Madigan Army Medical Center, also joined in on the tour.

After getting suited up, Tommy's first activity was to guide a remotely controlled bomb disposal robot, provided by the 627th Civil Engineer Squadron's explosive ordnance disposal team. The EOD team also showed Tommy various weapons and explosives that are often recovered by EOD teams.

From there, they headed over to the 627th Security Forces Squadron military working dog kennels, where the family had a chance to see how the dogs are trained to help take hostile suspects into custody.

After seeing the dogs in action, the crew headed over to the 10th AS building where Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists gave Tommy a parachute demonstration. The SERE team hooked him into a parachute simulator complete with a helmet fitted with virtual reality glasses. Tommy made two virtual jumps, one onto an aircraft carrier at sea and one into a jungle.

Tommy nailed the drop zones on both jumps.

Once his 4,000-foot jumps were completed, Tommy and his parents headed to the control tower for a bird's-eye view of the airfield.

From there, the group headed to the Heritage Room at the 4th AS building for pizza and sodas.

During lunch, Tommy's parents reflected on having the opportunity to spend quality time with their son, and watching him take part in such unique experiences.

"This is almost as beneficial for my husband and me as it is for Tommy," said Tommy's mother. "It's important that we spend quality time together when we can because there are so many unknowns. On top of everything else, his father is deploying next year."

After lunch, Tommy received his intelligence briefing which detailed the mission he was about to undertake, "Operation U-Place XMAS."

Flying in the C-17 flight simulator under the call sign "Shadow," Tommy's mission was to help Santa defeat the Grinch and airdrop gifts to his neighbors in University Place.

Tommy's day at McChord Field culminated in mission success.

The 4th AS runs the Pilot for a Day program, which is sponsored in part by the Air Force Association. Anyone wishing to nominate a candidate for the program should contact Robert Branscomb, AFA vice president of the Community Partnership Program, at (800) 209-6845.

621 CRW Airmen help support weapon school

by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

12/18/2012 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.  -- More than 60 Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing got a chance to hone their skills and help train Weapons School students at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Dec. 2, 2012.

The 621st CRW from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., helped support the Mission Employment Exercise 12B of weapon school. It's a capstone exercise and part of the Weapons School Graduate Course, an opportunity to apply everything learned during the six-month course.

During the ME phase, a joint assessment team traveled to five locations where many different scenarios played out to give students the most realistic training experience possible.

"The Contingency Response Element portion of our exercise participated in six flight training days by providing aerial port, command and control, communications, and maintenance support," said Maj. Brad Bowyer, CRE commander from the 817th Contingency Response Group.

"Additionally, we took this opportunity to practice our own internal training requirements for Joint Task Force-Port Opening (JTF-PO) verification," he said.

The JTF-PO is a command and control expeditionary capability designed to rapidly establish an initial theater port of debarkation aiding in deployment and distribution operations supporting military contingencies, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief operations.

"To further facilitate our mission capabilities, the 817 CRG invited four members from the 690th Rapid Port Opening Element to practice joint assessment team procedures," Bowyer said.

According to Senior Airmen Timmothy McKinny, 817th CRG radio frequency transmission journeyman, the exercise was a great experience with great opportunities to advantage of expeditionary training.

"I have benefitted from this exercise by being able to see exactly how I contribute to the mission, and also learning how I can improve for the next exercise or real world situation," he said.

"This exercise has gone amazingly well, and is a true testament to the flexibility of our versatile, mobility Airmen." added Bowyer.

The ME phase ended Dec. 12.

115th Fighter Wing mission continues despite Winter Storm Draco

by Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDue
115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

12/20/2012 - MADISON -- Wisconsin is no stranger to snow.

But when a snow storm is big enough to merit its own name, Wisconsinites tend to listen.

Winter Storm Draco has already produced heavy amounts of snowfall across the Northern Midwest. The anticipation itself was enough for many businesses and nearly every school in the Madison area to close their doors Dec. 20.

But for Airmen of the 115th Fighter Wing, the mission must go on.

Part of that mission is being ready around-the-clock to respond to emergencies.
"The Wisconsin Air National Guard stands ready to execute our state mission, including domestic operations, by supporting relief efforts during natural disasters -- such as severe blizzards," said 115th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Jeffrey Wiegand.

Helping to make that happen are twelve members of the 115th's Civil Engineer Squadron who are working diligently to remove the snow around the base to ensure functionality and readiness continues.

"In preparation for a major storm such as Draco we constantly keep an active eye on the weather fronts moving in and start our plans a 3-4 days out," said Chief Master Sgt. David Martin, 115th CES. "My plow operators put themselves in the mix of the storm to ensure the wing staff can make it to work and have relatively clear driving and walking conditions."

Martin said CE personnel began organizing, training and preparing for the snow removal mission in September. During the snow season, which typically runs through April 1, about 12-17 snow removal operators will be called upon at any given time -- depending on the severity of each storm.

"They fully understand they will be operating in the worst of weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day," Martin said. "My gratitude goes out to each and every one of our operators for putting themselves last - often missing family events around the holidays so they can fully support the snow operations here."

No matter what mother nature may have in store, one thing remains constant.

"Our Airmen are ready, trained and equipped to respond on a moment's notice," Wiegand said.

Pheonix Ravens go from 'zero to 100' once mission begins

by Lt. Col. Bill Walsh
315th Airlift Wing

12/27/2012 - PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Armed with their Colt M-4 carbine assault rifles, body armor and a can-do attitude, three Phoenix Ravens of the 315th Security Forces Squadron from Joint Base Charleston gear up as they approach Apiay, Colombia ready to protect a $200 million aircraft and the crew operating it.

"You go from zero to 100 once this aircraft lands and its time to go to work," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Boley experiencing his first real world Raven mission aboard the giant C-17.

The Phoenix Ravens aboard this flight and operating around the world on other Air Mobility Command aircraft train hard for this specialized mission. In addition to being a 5-level security forces member, Ravens have to complete a 24-day specialized school where the number of graduates is usually less than the number who start the program.

"The training is intense," said Staff Sgt. David Thomas. "I had a busted nose, cracked ribs and swollen ear." Students are put though rigorous, real life situations at the Fort Dix, N.J. schoolhouse including ground-fighting skills, hand combat and verbal judo.

For these selected security forces personnel, being a Raven means long days and long hours. "It's challenging when sometimes you end up staying overnight on the aircraft," said Tech. Sgt. Steve Smith who has been a Raven since 2007 and is currently the unit's training manager. "Our trips are usually four or five days, but we can deploy for 15 or more during A.E.F. (air expeditionary force) cycles."

For the aircrews that operate these huge jets, it adds another layer of security and lets them concentrate on the flying. "It feels good to have them around and it's easier for us," said Capt. Clinton Johnson, a pilot with the 300th Airlift Squadron.

Many Air Force Reserve Phoenix Ravens are law enforcement officers in their civilian lives. Staff Sgt. Boley is an officer with the Horry County Police in Myrtle Beach, S.C. "This is a great opportunity, as a Reservist, to fly missions that have an impact on people's lives like in Haiti," he said during one of the long flying legs these Ravens experience.
According to Smith, it's not just about jumping on a plane and flying to some austere location. "We have to research where we are going, what the threat level is, language barriers and more," he explained.

Those locations can be anywhere on Earth, literally. On this mission the Ravens are flying into South and Central America. Mental readiness along with physical readiness is a vital part of job for all of the men and women who make up the Phoenix Ravens.
"When we're on duty, we're constantly vigilant," Boley said as he loaded his weapon before landing.

Each Phoenix Raven is given a number upon graduation similar to a police officer's badge number. Each member wears it proudly on the nametags attached to their flight suites. The number that comes to mind when flying with these specialized security force members is clearly the number one.

Wisconsin Guardsman becomes citizen overseas

December 27, 2012

By 1st Lt. Joe Trovato

Wisconsin National Guard

A Wisconsin Soldier formally became an American citizen in a Nov. 2 ceremony thousands of miles away in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Luis Cortes-Avila of Oshkosh, Wis., a motor transport operator with the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1157th Transportation Company, was only a month old when his parents moved to California from their native Mexico. Twenty-four years later, he is officially an American citizen.

His path to citizenship wound from Mexico to California, then Wisconsin, and finally to Afghanistan where he deployed with his Oshkosh, Wis.-based unit.

Cortes-Avila's family moved to Wisconsin when he was 11, where he met a friend who joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard after high school. After hearing stories from his friend's deployment to Iraq, Cortes-Avila decided to join as well.

"I just decided to join, because I didn't want to regret [not joining the military] later on, and I love driving. So I decided to go to a [transportation] school," he said during a phone interview from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

Attaining his citizenship has been a long time coming. Cortes-Avila's parents began the process when he was still in high school. First his family had to officially establish residency; then came a waiting period before they could be considered for citizenship.

"I found out it was a quicker process when you are in the military," he said. "And since I already had my residency, I found out that I could do it here on post. So I decided I would just get that out of the way, so I wouldn't have to deal with it when I got back."

The 1157th left Wisconsin in February and arrived in Afghanistan in April. From then on, Cortes-Avila was hard at work studying for his citizenship exam. The questions were difficult, requiring him to reach back to lessons he learned in middle school civics classes.

"I created note cards, and I had different people from my platoon quiz me throughout times when we'd go to the motor pool," he said. "So it was really good to get the support from my platoon." Finally on Nov. 2, Cortes-Avila, now 24, took the oath and became a U.S. citizen.

"To me it means a lot, because my parents gave up pretty much their lives for my brothers and myself to be able to come to the U.S. in order to have the freedom that citizens have here," he said. "It means a lot to me, because this is what their goal in life was. They wanted their kids to grow up having a choice to do what they want to do in life."

While Cortes-Avila acknowledged the irony of becoming a U.S. citizen in Afghanistan, perhaps just as ironic is what he plans to do with his citizenship.

Already a graduate of Marion University in Fond Du Lac, Wis., he plans to go into ministry once his unit returns home to Wisconsin in mid-January. He hopes to begin by joining the staff of a campus ministry organization at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, but he also aims to use his citizenship to travel outside the United States for ministry.

"Being a citizen opens up a lot of windows in being able to go to different countries," he said. "I think that's a big thing for me personally, just having the freedom to be able to do that."

Growing up watching his parents struggle to find meaningful work in America as non-U.S. citizens, Cortes-Avila has an appreciation for the freedoms he now enjoys as both a citizen and a veteran.

"It's a big freedom," he said. "It's a big relief just to know that I don't have to worry about that anymore or my children don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm really thankful."