Weather 3 5 8-9 - Whiteman Air Force Base

The Warrior
Feature May 18, 2012 5
U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
Kurt Yaeger, BMX rider and actor, and Erin Simmons Nemec, X Games silver medalist and Olympic athlete, visited Team Whiteman with the Air Force Global Strike Command
“Never Quit” series May 11. Yaeger and Nemec visited with Airmen at their duty stations to discuss resiliency. Yaeger and Nemec took part in judging a barbecue contest and
Yaeger gave a BMX bike demonstration at the skate park.
By Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
American300 returned here May 11 for the third time after
bringing Team Whiteman the resilient stories of Tom Whittaker,
Dan Beery and Sean Colgan.
This time accompanying American300 founder, Robi Powers,
on the Air Force Global Strike Command “Never Quit”
series was Erin Simmons Nemec and Kurt Yeager. Nemac is
a three-time X Games silver medalist and 2006 Olympics participant
in Snowboard Cross. Yeager was an X Games Bicycle
Motocross rider before a motorcycle accident left him as a leg
amputee. He is currently the number one adaptive BMXer.
Nemec became the first female to appear with the AFGSC
“Never Quit” series. After winning three X Games silver medals,
Nemec joined the Canadian Olympic Team for the 2006 Olympic
Games in Torino, Italy. In what was supposed to be the highlight
of her career, Nemec felt her team turned their backs on her.
The 'Getting Back Up' Tour
“They never tried picking me up when I was down or congratulating
me when I was doing well, they never had my
back,” Nemec said. “It wrecked me mentally and emotionally,
I was never able to bounce back during the Winter Games.”
Nemec failed to qualify for the finals of Snowboard Cross,
thus ending her Olympic dream in 2006.
“Coming to Whiteman gives me a chance to tell my story,
as well as hearing the Airmen’s stories,” Nemec said. “I hope
we can all take a piece from our experiences home and use it
as future advice.”
Yaeger led a different path to Whiteman AFB. Yaeger fell
in love with BMX riding when he was young. He pursued
his passion and garnered numerous sponsorships, to include
Etnies.
Eventually, injuries started to take their toll and he decided
to go back to college to pursue a master’s degree in hydrogeology.
While attending school, he was in a motorcycle accident
which permanently altered the course of his life.
‘Wingman Day’ helps foster resiliency
By Lt. Col. Jeffrey Schreiner
509th Bomb Wing Safety Chief
Whiteman AFB is hosting the spring
Wingman Day and Critical Days of Summer
kickoff Thursday. This all-day event
is designed to provide Airmen with the opportunity
to choose briefings that interest
them or meet their needs.
Gen. Philip Breedlove, Air Force vice
chief of staff, has set the tone for the Whiteman
Wingman Day schedule. The expectation
is that units will participate in the allday
events, twice a year.
Throughout the day Airmen can choose
to attend briefing topics that include: financial
management, stress management,
parenting for young children, couples communication,
and an interactive seminar on
alcohol awareness and myths.
Both officer and enlisted will have the
opportunity to sit down in a town-hall style
meeting with senior mentors to discuss career
progression and voice issues and concerns
from across the base.
Previous Whiteman Wingman days
have utilized guest speakers and small
group breakouts to help get the message
of resiliency across. The upcoming event
takes a new spin and allows Airmen to
choose from a menu of interactive briefings
instead of using a one size fits all approach.
Team Whiteman is strongly encouraged
to take advantage of the briefings.
Seats will be limited in some venues so arrive
early and try again later in the day if
the rooms fill up. In honor of Memorial
Day, the entire wing will participate in a
retreat ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Thursday,
which will include a missing-man formation
if weather permits.
7 a.m. -- Free Zone opens to Hangar T-9
for kickoff event
8-8:30 a.m. -- Vice Wing Commander Kickoff in T-9
9-10 a.m. -- Squadron level Critical Days of
Summer Brief
His left leg was amputated; his right anterior cruciate ligament
and medial collateral ligament were torn, which are two
of the four major ligaments of the human knee. His pelvis was
torn in half along with his bladder, seven vertebras were broken,
his lungs collapsed, his ribs broken and he suffered a severe
concussion.
“I was at an all-time low and in complete pain,” Yaeger said.
“I didn’t want to take it anymore. If it wasn’t for my family and
friends picking me up and supporting me I wouldn’t be here
today.”
Yaeger has made a full recovery and continues his BMX
riding.
“I’m talking about riding kids bikes,” Yaeger added. “But
what these Airmen do is real, they are true heroes. I hope they
can take something from me and help anyone who is down
because they can really save a life.”
The “Never Quit” series continues to bring stories of resilient
people throughout the year to all the AFGSC bases.
Schedule of Events:
11 a.m. - noon -- Breakout Sessions
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. -- Breakout Sessions
2:45 - 3:45 p.m. -- Breakout Sessions
4:15 p.m. -- First call for the Wing Retreat
4:30 p.m. -- Wing Retreat
Briefings and Venues—All will be offered during all three breakout sessions
Financial Management/Budgeting Education Center Room 213
Stress Management Techniques Mission’s End Ballroom A
Parenting and Discipline for Young Children Airmen & Family Readiness Center
Alcohol Awareness and Myths Education Center Room 212
Couples Communication Chapel Annex
*Mike Domitrz presents “Can I Kiss You?” Base Theatre
Enlisted Career Progression Town hall Education Center Ford Auditorium
Officer Career Progression Town hall OSS Upstairs Conference Room
*Military members, who are 23-years old and younger, will attend a special briefing by nationally
renowned guest speaker, Mike Domitrz, who will speak about healthy dating and sexual assault
awareness.