The DEFENDER T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F A L A M O C H A P T E R W W W. A L A M O A F A. O R G I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

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1 T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F A L A M O C H A P T E R W W W. A L A M O A F A. O R G The DEFENDER S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : V O L U M E 1 1 N O 4 OCT- D E C th Annual Alamo AFA/ AFROTC Golf Classic Roundup Ms. Veteran America visits Texas State University I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : CP Spotlight 2 Face of AFA-e 3 Alamo AFA/ 4 AFROTC Golf Classic Ms. Veteran 6 America visits Texas State University Upcoming 9 Events It s a new year and on 20 January we will welcome our new Commander-in-Chief. Regardless of which side you were on prior to 8 November, we are all on the same side now as Americans. The decision is made and we must all work together to keep America and our military strong. Our Air Force needs us more than ever these days as they try to increase end-strength back to a level that is commensurate with the missions. Our Association also needs our help. The staff has cut corners as much as possible and reduced support payments to the chapters to balance their budget. As you create your 2017 financial plan, please consider supporting AFA National with a monthly contribution. Airman & Family Programs is a great option the Wounded Airman Program falls under this umbrella and provides direct support to wounded Airmen. The Alamo Chapter could always use more enthusiastic volunteers to help with the many programs and activities we have on the horizon. Whether you are interested in technology, motorcycles, mentoring Airmen or helping high school and/or college students succeed, there are plenty of opportunities available to get involved. Check out the upcoming activities section later in this newsletter or send an with your area of interest to alamoafa.org@gmail.com had so much change, both for me personally and our Air Force. We witnessed the transfer of leadership from one phenomenal Airman to another phenomenal Airman. Gen Welsh retired and handed the Air Force flag to Gen Goldfein. If you don t know, Gen Goldfein s father is a long-time Alamo Chapter member. I was blessed to hear Gen Goldfein s philosophy at the Air & Space Conference in September. The Air Force is definitely in good hands. I also retired, which you probably read about in the last Defender. The Alamo Chapter had a great 2016! Our leadership also changed, with Paul completing an outstanding term as president and me and Rachel Samples taking the gavel. The AFA-e group held a second Heritage Ride, the annual Combat Breakfast and Awards Banquet were huge successes, we joined the BigGiveSA campaign for the first time, and CyberPatriot continued to break records for teams from San Antonio. Rachel and I would like to thank all of our Community Partners and members who participated and supported all our activities. It takes teamwork from everyone to Educate, Advocate and Support our Air Force. Now we focus on The annual plan and budget are published, but to execute we need your help. Please consider volunteering to help with an upcoming event or activity. We are also open to new ideas that support our Air Force and our Alamo Chapter members. May 2017 bring you happiness in whatever you do. Thank you for all you do for the Air Force Association.

2 P A G E 2 Alamo Chapter Community Partner Highlight In this edition of the Defender we are highlighting the dedication and support provided by Mr. Kyle Ashley. Kyle is a local Alamo Chapter member, and leads United SA Federal Credit Union in San Antonio as the organization s President & Chief Executive Officer. He has served in that capacity since 2014 and his dynamic, innovative and results-oriented leadership has guided the credit union to strong financial results each year of his tenure. In addition to his strong track record of performance, he has a passion for helping members achieve their financial goals and supporting the local community. Kyle previously served as President/CEO of Allied Federal Credit Union in Arlington, Texas, President/CEO of Alliance Federal Credit Union and Texas Plains Federal Credit Union in Lubbock, Texas. Kyle earned a Bachelor s of Business Administration from Texas Tech University. UNITED SA Credit Union is a proud sponsor of the Alamo Air Force Association sponsoring our golf benefit classic for the past 2 years.

3 P A G E 3 FACE OF AFA-e Due to his hard work and dedication to AFA-e, TSgt Phillips has been selected as this quarters Face of AFA-e. Technical Sergeant Steven M. Phillips serves as an Instructor, Recruiting School, 344th Training Squadron, 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland, Texas. TSgt Phillips grew up in Indianapolis Indiana and entered the Air Force in April Upon graduation from tech school, he was assigned to Maxwell AFB, AL where he worked as a heavy equipment operator. After 22 months at Maxwell AFB, TSgt Phillips was assigned as heavy equipment craftsman at Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC. Following deployments for both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom he applied for recruiting duty and graduated from recruiting school in What was your motivation to start AFA-e? Continuing the work from what others started before me. Took it as a personal challenge to lower the average age of AFA members. 2. What do you look for in a leader/mentor? Someone who is willing to get down and do the dirty work alongside of you rather than someone who just points and delegates. 3. What would you like to learn from AFA? Networking capabilities.

4 P A G E 4 5th Annual ALAMO AFA/AFROTC Benefit Golf Classic On Tuesday, November 15, 2016, the Alamo Chapter hosted the 5th Annual Alamo AFA AFROTC Benefit Golf Classic at beautiful TPC San Antonio. The weather was absolutely perfect for a fall day on the golf course raising funds for our deserving organizations. A field of over 104 golfers helped make this year's event the largest and most financially successful to date. We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all our participants and especially this year's sponsors. Proceeds from the tournament go to the Alamo Chapter s Wounded Airman program and the general scholarship funds of AFROTC Detachments 842 (UTSA) and 840 (TXState). SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2016 SPONSORS: SILVER SPONSOR: Blue Skies of Texas BRONZE SPONSORS: AFA S Aerospace Education Foundation Security Services FCU United SA FCU DINNER SPONSOR: Taco Cabana HOLE SPONSORS: KELLAC Uniforms and Tactical Fair Oaks Ranch Gaggle Salient CRGT CG Wealth Management of Raymond James Thomas Instrument Rudy s BBQ Mission Pharmacal See details for next year's event soon at afrotc-golfpcsa.com T H E D E F E N D E R

5 P A G E 5 The Alamo Chapter Air Force Association AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT AEROSPACE ORGANIZATION / IRS 501 (C) 3 AFA-AFROTC Benefit Golf Classic Sponsorship Form Company: Contact: Phone: Sponsor Level: Gold Silver Bronze Hole Sponsor Hole Sign Information - if you desire a logo on your sign please it to ddefendorf@gmail.com Line 1: Line 2: Team Information - indicate if you desire a wounded warrior as a fifth player: Yes No Gold/Silver Sponsors Only Player 1 Player 5 Player 2 Player 6 Player 3 Player 7 Player 4 Player 8 Payments can be made online at or by mail to: Darin Defendorf Red Bud Hill-Boerne-Texas ddefendorf@gmail.com Make checks payable to: Alamo Chapter AEF

6 P A G E 6 Ms. Veteran America Visits Texas State University If you ask most veterans or military personnel if they knew that Ms. Veteran America existed, you d likely get a resounding no. However, this past October, 25 finalists were selected among 120 contestants for this title at the competition for it in Washington DC. This competition benefits the Final Salute, Inc. nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide housing for homeless female veterans and their children. Ms. Molly Mae Potter was selected as Ms. Veteran America at this competition, and she s already become an inspiration for college students who are a part of the AFROTC-associated Arnold Air Society (AAS) and Silver Wings (SW) student organizations at Texas State University. Ms. Potter was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following an explosion that occurred when she was deployed as an Air Force flight test engineer to Afghanistan in Both her military experiences and performance at the Ms. Veteran America competition were recently highlighted in the Air Force Association s Air Force magazine. The students in the AAS and SW organizations at Texas State University hosted her on Tuesday, 6 Dec 2016, and were motivated by candid discussions with her on her resilient struggle with PTSD. They went away from the event with a little deeper understanding of some of the issues that many of our veterans contend with and were humbled by her willingness to come to interact with them at Texas State University. Whitney Abshier (Arnold Air Society), Ms. Molly Mae Potter, Emily Dunn (Silver Wings)

7 P A G E 7 Alamo #234 Alamo Chapter Air Force Association (AFA) T H E D E F E N D E R

8 P A G E 8 ALAMO CHAPTER LEADERSHIP President - Debbie Landry Executive VP - Rachel Samples Treasurer - Alan Beaty Secretary - Tom Peterson Defender Editor ~ Brett Hurley defenderalamo@gmail.com ~ events, photos w/description, and articles Community Partners...Join Us! The Alamo Chapter enjoys a robust relationship with its partners. These local firms go above and beyond for our members, providing sponsorship and assistance during our banquets and other events. They are the linchpin that helps hold our chapter together. If you have any questions about becoming an Alamo Community Partner please contact Darin Defendorf (ddefendorf@gmail.com).

9 P A G E 9 UPCOMING EVENTS Contact Douglas Nelson (dnelson004@outlook.com) to add events to the Alamo AFA Calendar. View the calendar at 28 Jan Free VA Home Loan Seminar by Veterans United Home Loans - Call (210) or visit SanAntonioVU.com/events to register 9 Feb NCOA Graduation Luncheon; JBSA-Lackland March Annual Kellogg-Loos Awards Banquet - Date is not set as of publication date Mar AFA Texas Spring Meeting; Austin, TX 25 Mar Mayor s CyberCup Awards Banquet 30 Mar San Antonio Aviation Hall of Fame - Hangar at Port San Antonio; more details soon 8 Apr Texas AFROTC Field Day Competition; UTSA Det 840 is hosting - We need volunteers for our hydration station! 8 Apr Randolph Retiree Appreciation Day - We need volunteers to staff an information booth Apr Valero Texas Open at TPC Golf Courses - Birdies for Charity donations being accepted now - (select Alamo Chapter in step 2) 4 May The BigGiveSA fundraising campaign - an easy way to make a donation to support our programs 28 Sep Fighter Aces Reunion; 3-day event with 20 of 52 living Aces expected to Attend; watch for more details in 4-5 Nov San Antonio Air Show AFJROTC Awards season is here. Check the chapter website and your for opportunities to present the National AFA Bronze medal at local high schools. If you have a particular school you want to support, send an to alamoafa.org@gmail.com to secure your spot. Find us on Facebook at Alamo Chapter Air Force Association and on the web at

10 Alamo Chapter, Air Force Association P.O. Box San Antonio, TX The Defender is going digital! It is too costly to produce copies and mail our newsletter to every member. You will receive the newsletter and any chapter updates at the address we have on file. Only those members for which we don t have an are receiving this issue via postal mail. Please send your address to us at alamoafa.org@gmail.com to receive future issues of the Defender. You can also download them from our chapter website: Alamoafa.org. NOTICE!