SAPR intern aims to prove ‘service before self’

Published Jan. 7, 2010
By Howdy Stout
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Service before self is a cornerstone of Air Force culture. Lisa Jimenez wants to make it her career.

A logistics officer for the 327th Maintenance Wing supporting the B-1 bomber, Ms. Jimenez is working toward a master's degree in social work and, as part of her education, is serving as an intern with Tinker's Sexual Assault and Response program -- the first for the office and for the 72nd Air Base Wing.

"This is what I really wanted to do," she explains. "There is such a need out there and I'm hoping that I can make a difference in the lives of others. I feel like I've been called to do this."

That calling to change her career came after participating in the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center's Employee Enhancement Program in 2001. The program is designed to broaden employee's perspectives of work at the ALC, allowing employees to expand their professional scope. For Ms. Jimenez, it did more than that.

"It was the first time that I started realizing that I was interested in serving others, in helping others," she said.

Finishing her master's degree in human relations a year later sealed the deal.

"That's when I knew I wanted to help others," she said. "I believe that each of us has the duty to make the world a better place and the most personal way is treating each person I engage with, with respect and dignity."

But the road to becoming a social worker is anything but smooth. The University of Oklahoma's masters program in social work -- the only one available in the state -- includes 460 hours of practical work as an intern with a service providing some form of social welfare. But finding a charity or service willing to take on and teach an intern proved a challenge.

"There was a list of about seven," Ms. Jimenez says.

And they all said no. The last name on the list was Michelle Loughlin, Sexual Assault and Response coordinator at Tinker. With nothing to lose, Ms. Jimenez asked to be an intern.

"She was my last hope," Ms. Jimenez said. "And she said yes. This would provide me an opportunity to give back and share my knowledge, experiences and education from obtaining my master's degree in social work from the University of Oklahoma."

Starting in September, she became the office's first intern, working an average of 20 to 25 hours a week at the office, attending workshops and learning what it takes to be a counselor, teacher and victim advocate. Although not allowed to do one-on-one counseling as a student, Ms. Jimenez is already giving sexual awareness and wingman training to groups of Tinker Airmen and civilian employees.

"I'm learning so much more about sexual assault," she says. "I'm more aware and I'm sharing that with others."

Working at Family Advocacy with the outreach manager Joyce Atlee, Ms. Jimenez is learning everything from child development, the affects of domestic violence on family members, and programs and services available to Tinker military and civilian personnel. She has also traveled outside Tinker to see available resources in the county who have developed partnerships with Tinker Family Advocacy office.

"I've really grown from this experience," she says. "I'm really having a great time in my practical ... This has been an opportunity for me to work in the community. I think this experience here has really helped me. And the people I have met have been really open to me to share their knowledge."

This is her third year in the social worker degree program and by May she will have completed her foundation curriculum with 460 hours during her two-semester internship.

But balancing work and school can be tough. Ms. Jimenez says she works an average of 12 hours a day. Fortunately, she has the support of her supervisors, family and friends.

"Without their support, I wouldn't have been able to do this," Ms. Jimenez said. "It's my opportunity to give back to Tinker for what they've given to me. It's my opportunity to give back."

She has also received tremendous support from Ms. Loughlin, SARC Assistant Robyn Crowder and Ms. Atlee.

"These three women have provided me a wonderful practicum experience and I am truly gratefully for their support," she added.

Ms. Jimenez says she is drawing on her 20 years of B-1 experience in coordinating activities with a diverse group of people to help her in her social work. Supporting the B-1 often involves resolving issues among multiple stakeholders.

"As a logistics officer, I serve as a liaison working with different groups every day," she says. "You have to adapt to different situations. You have to know your audience."

But where keeping airplanes flying is a common goal, dealing with issues such as sexual assault and prevention are not as easily handled, especially when discussion of it is still somewhat taboo.

"It's more prevalent than you think," she said. "Some people don't want to hear about it. But I think education is the key."

Ms. Jimenez says she, too, will continue her education beyond her social worker's degree, perhaps earning a pastoral degree or working as a hospice volunteer.

"To find where I can best serve," she says. "I'm not done yet."