SAMURAI GATE JUNE 12, 2015 LGBT Pride Month – ‘Be You
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Vermont Air National Taking the Field Guard 158th Fighter Wing prepares for Kadena deployment By 18th Wing Public Affairs 6/9/2015 — Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing in Burling- ton, Vermont, will deploy this month in support of the Pacifi c Command Th eater Security Package. ment to the U.S.-Japan alliance Approximately 150 per- and the defense of Japan. sonnel and 10 F-16 Fighting According to Col. Patrick Falcons are set to deploy to the Guinee, 158th Fighter Wing (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Omari Bernard) ^1st Lt. Aaron Zendejas, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron air battle manager and mid-fi elder, shoots for a goal during an intramural soccer 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base commander, the Airmen of match at the Risner Fitness Center on Kadena Air Base, June 2. Zendejas played soccer for Kadena High School from 2002 to 2006 and also in Okinawa. Th e TSP deploy- the 158th are ready and well- played for Northern Illinois University. ment is designed to provide the trained for this deployment. PACOM region with forces ca- “Th e Green Mountain Boys By Senior Airman aff air, his mother played it and friends who had similar interests pable of a variety of operations, are both prepared and excited Omari Bernard his father coached, even though in soccer. One of those was 1st including disaster relief, global to help America fulfi ll its charge 18th Wing Public Affairs he was more into football. Lt. Andrew Stokes, 961 AACS situational awareness, combat- in the Asia-Pacifi c theater of 6/9/2015 — Stadium lights sil- Zendejas said, “Soccer wasn’t air weapons offi cer. Together ing piracy, active defense and operations,” Guinee said. “Our houette a checkered ball as it fl ies a thing in his mind until my they graduated in June 2012. power projection. Airmen are always ready and through the air and rolls along a mom forced him to coach us as “On and off the fi eld, two Air Combat Command rou- well-trained to engage in any green fi eld. Players in jerseys race kids. I guess I just learned from words come to mind to describe tinely deploys fi ghter aircraft to state or federal mission when up and down a fi eld in pursuit. all my coaches growing up.” Lt. Zendejas’ work ethic: dedica- the region to provide U.S. Pa- called.” A player wearing a white jersey As Zendejas grew up, so did tion and perseverance,” Stokes cifi c Command and Pacifi c Air Lt. Col. Daniel Finnegan, with the number nine on his his skills. He would go onto to explained. “When he doesn’t Forces with Th eater Security 134th Fighter Squadron com- back dribbles the ball. Th e ball play in the Olympic Develop- know the answer he will work Packages, which help maintain mander, will lead the deployed is passed to a teammate as he is ment Program, other middle until he fi nds one. Th en he will a deterrent against threats to members of the 158th. challenged, he races past and the school clubs and even at Kadena work until he fi nds the perfect regional security and stability. “I am proud to lead this ball is passed back. High School from 2002 - 2006. answer. If he fails at something, Movement of U.S. Air Force incredible team of Airmen on a Th e defender freezes, looking Aft er he graduated he went on he quickly dusts himself off and TSPs into the region has been mission that gives us the oppor- for the off side fl ag from the ref- to play at the college level for makes sure the same failure a routine and integral part of tunity to integrate with joint and eree, now there is only one last Northern Illinois University. never happens again.” U.S. Pacifi c Command’s force international forces,” Finnegan person between number nine “It’s one of the top 25 division Zendejas’ dedication on the posture since March 2004. said. “I have great confi dence in and the goal. one schools in Chicago,” Zendejas fi eld is mirrored in his drive Th is TSP demonstrates the the capabilities of the men and 1st Lt. Aaron Zendejas, 961st explained. “I had a blast there.” to be the best at execution and continuing U.S. commitment women of the Vermont National Airborne Air Control Squadron Aft er graduation, Zendejas strategy at work. to stability and security in the Guard in completing another air battle manager, shoots and found work like most of his peers. Stokes explained how soccer region and shows our commit- successful mission.” scores. As time at his job progressed, he relates to their work. Th e 27-year-old mid fi elder yearned for two things; to give “On the jet this means making has been in love with soccer back to his country and to play the perfect radio call at the right since childhood. the game he loved. time to drive the best weapons Heat conditions: “I have been playing soccer “I wanted to do something employment tactics,” Stokes since I was 2 feet tall,” said Ze- with my time, my youth and my said. “On the fi eld, it means ndejas. “As soon as I could walk leadership,” he said. “Something making the perfect pass or shot The breakdown for I had a ball at my feet.” that was bigger than me, so I while fi tting all players’ strengths Zendejas’ passion for the started looking at the military. and weakness into the best team Okinawa-based service game began in Germany. In I got my offi cer training school possible.” fact, he was born there and as a package together, submitted it Zendejas said air combat military brat he would play with and never looked back.” control is like playing soccer. members, families his three brothers. While waiting for the go- “A lot of what we do is about By Airman 1st Class However, along with the “Ever since I was a kid I al- ahead to go to work for the staying ahead of the timeline,” he Zackary A. Henry beautiful scenery Okinawa is ways had people to play with and Air Force, an opportunity of a said. “A good soccer player has to 18th Wing Public Affairs oft en home to fl ash fl oods, ty- against,” he continued. “We have lifetime appeared. Th e Chicago think four or fi ve passes ahead of 6/11/2015 — On the sunny phoons and what has been ris- a really tight family unit being a Fire, a men’s professional soccer the game to be eff ective. It defi - island of Okinawa, its inhabi- ing as the summer months take military family. I attribute a lot team, were hosting tryouts. Th is nitely helps with your teamwork. tants get to experience beach- hold, the heat. of my soccer to that.” was his chance to play profes- Like soccer, we need everyone es, great hiking or even scuba To try and help keep the While living there he was sional soccer. Unfortunately, it on that jet working as one to diving. people of Kadena safe during constantly surrounded by the ended because of an injury. make our mission successful.” SEE HEAT CONDITIONS, PAGE 2 national sport. It was a family At OTS, Zendejas made close SEE SOCCER, PAGE 3 2 SAMURAI GATE JUNE 12, 2015 LGBT Pride month – ‘Be You. Be Proud’ Commentary by Aja Trotter Military Spouse ll around the world LGBT pride is oft en trucks and actions fi gures (“boy toys”). In reality there celebrated with parties, parades, fun, and are so many varia-tions across and between gender Afestivities. expression and sexual orientation that it is impossible Th e LGBT community and its allies come together to box these identities into our own narrow limitations in support of equality, freedom, and the movement of what someone is supposed to do or should be. Some for civil rights. Nowadays pride events are largely fun- women are more tough than sweet, some young boys fi lled, colorful, recreational functions, but what some prefer the color pink and fl owers and some men are don’t know is that the fi rst LGBT pride demonstration married to men. Th e point is that there are spectrums/ was actually in-spired by a riot, displaying resistance continuums of gender, ex-pression, and sexuality to discrimination, and forward movement in the that we all fall somewhere on — there is no “one struggle toward liberation and fair treatment. size fi ts all.” Moreover, no one should be shunned or In 1969, in New York’s Greenwich Village, the police discriminated against because they do not fall on the raided a gay bar, harassing and arresting many of the spectrum where someone else thinks they should. patrons, simply for being patrons, as being openly Th is year, we celebrate its 2nd annual LGBT Pride gay was prohibited in many places like New York month, with the theme “Be You. Be Proud,” capturing City. Th ese raids were common, but on this particular enforced for all members of the U.S. military, but it the necessity of freedom and openness for truth. evening, the crowd fought back, leading to an intense only directly impacted LGBT members, implying a We all deserve the space to be our-selves, and to and violent struggle between the police and the public sense of deviance or “otherness” to members of that be seen and celebrated. Th e world provides us with who were fi ghting for their rights.