Meet your Wingman Advocates Published Dec. 29, 2011 By Anne Morrison and Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Beginning in October 2007 with one Wingman Advocate, the Hill Air Force Base program grew to 13 advocates by October 2009. Wingman Advocates provide resources, referrals and support to employees. The advocates are embedded within the organizations to allow ready access and availability to anyone who might not know where to turn for valuable information, especially in times of crisis. "Overwhelmingly, they (are) chosen for their genuineness and authenticity," said Rita Roybal, Wingman Advocate director, of the people she leads. She attributes much of the progress of the program to their emotional intelligence and the advocates' willingness to make a difference in the lives of those they touch. "I admire them so much and feel so proud of the many unnoticed and unsung acts of kindness and heroism," Roybal said. "More people need to know just how much of the time they go above and beyond the call of duty in what they call a regular day." The Wingman Advocates are constantly expanding the number of resources and tightening the safety net for employees on the base and their families, said Roybal. "Knowing your Wingman Advocate gives you first-hand knowledge and access to these resources and to peer-to-peer nonclinical support. Even if you don't have issues with which you need help, it's still good to know who your Wingman Advocate is so you can get some help for a friend if a time ever comes." Knowing who your Wingman Advocate is can be one of your most important tools in the workplace. The Wingman Advocates include: PAUL ASHCRAFT, 75th Air Base Wing Where are you from originally? I grew up in Southern California but was born in Chicago, and went in the Navy when I was young. What's your favorite part about Hill Air Force Base? The job I have is phenomenal. It makes it so that I can help people, and I've got a passion to help. And I love the outdoors. I'm a hiker, biker, skiing, I do it all. I have a passion for that too. What's your favorite part about being a Wingman Advocate? The day-to-day interaction with people, and that I can actually help people change their lives; the ability to have some chance of changing the culture here. LEON SHELTON, 309th Commodities Maintenance Group Where are you from originally? Southeast Texas. What brought you to Utah? I was an associate pastor in Ogden for about 19 years. What do you love most about your job? Being able to see people come into my office or engage with people on the floor that have a sense of hopelessness and watch them leave with a glimmer of hope. That's fun. A lot of fun. Anything else? I just think that this program is first of all, extremely unique. It's the only program like it in the entire Air Force. And not to boast on myself but in the whole group, I think they make an amazing difference on this base as far as moral goes, about communicating to people. TRINA MCDONALD, 309th Software Maintenance Group Where are you originally from? I was born in California, but was raised in Alabama. My dad worked for NASA in Hartselle, Ala., so he worked out of the Marshall Space Flight Center there. What brought you to Utah? Hurricane Andrew, actually. My husband was active duty at the time and was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base. We'd only been there for a little over a year when Hurricane Andrew visited us and as a result of that, we ended up here in Utah. How did you become a Wingman Advocate? Well, I was working in the A-10 Systems Office and I had realized at a point that flight chief management was never a real passion of mine. And so I started looking for something else, even though I loved where I was working ... I had done some social work in the past for the State of Utah and I clicked on the job and it seemed like a good fit. (Rita) was looking for someone who was a good fit for software. And the stars just all lined up. What's your favorite part about being a Wingman Advocate? I think you'll hear this from most of the Wingman Advocates, but it's the opportunity. It's a hard job, believe it or not, but it's very rewarding, and you can help make a difference in people's lives. What's the hardest part about the job? Well, there's a lot of sadness in people's lives and it's hard because you hurt with them. So I think that's the hard part. What's your favorite part about Hill Air Force Base? I think Hill Air Force Base is the best kept secret in the United States and the state of Utah is the best kept secret in the entire world. Utah is fabulous ... I'm so thankful I'm here. MICHAEL GHENON, Aerospace Sustainment Directorate (ASD) What brought you over to the advocate program? It's my calling, for sure. My training, my experience, everything I've done up to (this point in) my job has prepared me for exactly what I'm doing right now. What's your favorite part about Utah? Probably the weather. I've been all over the world. There's no place I've been that has this weather right here. This is premier ideal weather if you're a person who likes all four seasons. I'm from New England so I have New England weather here but without the humidity. I love the mountains, the cost of living is the best, and there's virtually no crime compared to where I come from. Where are you from? Brockton, Mass., -- New England. I left there when I was 18 years old, joined the military and 24 years later, here I am. What's your favorite part about your job as a Wingman Advocate? My favorite part of my job is knowing that you're the somebody that helped someone get back on their feet. Everybody has a roller coaster life. Everybody's going to have their ups and downs, everybody's going to have their trials and tribulations, everybody's going to experience grief, so I'm a fortunate and blessed person to be in a position to help somebody get through their stuff. And I know that there will always be someone there to help me get through my stuff, but not everybody knows that there's somebody out there. This program has really made a difference in lives. To know that you were there for some guy whose kids were killed, you were there for some lady whose kids are hooked on drugs and she didn't know where to turn and where to get help for them. We were there for someone to just vent and they felt a lot better because they could just vent and get stuff off their shoulders. I get involved in a lot of suicide prevention stuff ... We do a suicide greet group with Caring Connections and Weber State (University) on Thursday nights and people come in with a lot of pain. And to hear them say, "I'm glad this program exists," or "I don't know what to do if this wasn't here," that's the payoff. LARUE 'SOUP' CAMPBELL, 748th Supply Chain Management Group Where are you from originally? I am originally from New Haven, Conn. I came into the Air Force when I was 17, I had Mom and Dad sign for me. After 26 years in the Air Force, I retired as a senior master sergeant and turned down Hawaii to come here. I've been here 16 years total. I got an opportunity to work as a Sexual Assault Response coordinator, got to help start the program here at Hill and did that for three and a half years and decided I wanted to change jobs. I was asked if I wanted to become a Wingman Advocate and here I am. What's your favorite part about Hill AFB and Utah? For Utah, it's the mountains. My wife likes the cold weather and I'm a summer guy myself. So one of the reasons we came here was because she wanted more seasons and we came here for that. We like the four seasons, the boys like to ski, I like it, it's a very nice place to bring your children. What's your favorite part of being a Wingman Advocate? Helping people is very important. I've always been able to talk to people and to put them at ease. When I was a supervisor, I thought I did a pretty good job taking care of my people, looking out for them and that's what we do as far as Wingman Advocates. It's not our job, it's our duty to help out. We came to make your lives a little better, whether that be at home or at work. And it's very important to us to take it seriously. Some people say, "You know I don't want to have anything to do with you guys because you're just going to go visit my supervisor," but only in situations that we have to do so do we go to the supervisors. NATALIE PEACE 309th Electronic Maintenance Group Where are you originally from? I was born in Arizona, and have lived in New Mexico and Utah. What's your favorite part about Hill Air Force Base? I have to tell you I love the benefits of being a civilian employee and I love the community of Hill. It's neat that we have such a cool place to come, it's almost like it is it's own little city. It's cool to come to work and have so much opportunity What's your favorite part of being a Wingman Advocate? I think my favorite part is when I get to see people go from crisis or stress or everything is going crappy, to "Wow, I didn't know this would be better," and they actually find the solution to their success. And they're like, "Oh, wow that was just a little bump in the road," and when they get to the point where that was just a little bump instead of a huge mountain, I just love that. JOHN FRANCO, 309th Missile Maintenance Group Where are you from originally? Englewood, Calif. What brought you out to Utah? The military for four years; I got out and now I am a reservist in the Air Force. What's your favorite part about Utah and Hill AFB? The mountains. I love to run. What's your favorite part of job as a Wingman Advocate? Hope. Instilling hope, giving hope. And to listen; being open to any stress they're having and being able to filter it through positive lenses. DENISE ELBERT, 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Where are you from originally? Queens, N.Y. What's your favorite part about Utah? I have to be honest, I love the scenery. I will stand off the road here by the Log Cabin and just look out and take it all in. I told my family it's my favorite view. I drive to the top of Hill Field Road and stand there and look down. I love the sight of Antelope Island on a clear day. What's your favorite part about being a Wingman Advocate? Meeting people. I love people. People are almost a hobby for me. I will actually sit at the airport and look at people go by. I make friends everywhere I go. I people watch, I don't know any strangers. DAVID HIPP, 309th Commodities Maintenance Group Where are you from originally? Long Beach, Calif.; I moved to Heber City, Utah, in high school. What's your favorite part about Hill AFB and Utah? The weather's great, the people are easy to get along with, lots of activities. How did you get your Wingman Advocate job? I was working as the chief of supervisor training for the center, and saw a lot of reoccurring issues. And I was familiar with the program, and thought that would be a lot more fun than teaching how to deal with it, as (per se) actually getting out there and dealing with people. Plus, all the people in that group all seemed like they were enjoying it. What's your favorite part about being a Wingman Advocate? Watching people realize that there are programs and individuals that are there that can help them work out their own issues with the resources out there and you see them realize, "Hey there's some kind of help I can get," -- you just see them light up. KEVIN PADBERB, 522nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, aircraft maintenance group representative for the staff and 309th Maintenance Wing staff Where are you originally from? San Diego, Calif. What's your favorite part about this job? I think my favorite part is the potential to influence the regimented tradition in the military environment for rigidity and roughness-toughness. We sometimes forget the human side, and if we could nudge the human side when it's appropriate and see a change in the way people react for the better, that's the good part of it -- it's the opportunity to influence others for the better. BETH FREITAS, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group Where are you from originally? The south suburbs of Chicago and Denver. How did you end up in Utah? I married my husband in the Air Force and was never stationed here, but decided to retire here, and the job my husband was offered was here. What's your favorite part about being a Wingman Advocate? Probably knowing that you helped someone get back on the right track, and get the resources they need. For me, it's instant gratification. This is the best job on base.