Paralyzed vets recognize Tinker

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
Tinker Air Force Base personnel gave to the community and the community gave back to Tinker.
   The Mid-America Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America recently presented Bill Swigert on behalf of Tinker with a president's certificate of appreciation.
   Presented by MAPVA officials, whose mission is to serve the needs of local veterans with spinal cord injuries and all disabled people in the community, the certificate was presented Oct. 5, during Congress' designated National Disability Employment Awareness month.
   "To me, (this certificate) is recognition of the great work Tinker managers have done reaching out to the disabled community and giving individuals a chance to contribute to our mission," said Mr. Swigert, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center director of Personnel. Mr. Swigert also serves on the Governor's Advisory Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities.
   "I'm especially inspired that we can provide opportunities for continued service to those who have already given so much in service to this country," Mr. Swigert said.
   MAPVA President Bill Kokendoffer said, although the certificate wasn't presented for a single act, Tinker has made several contributions to the disabled community.
   "(The certificate is) important to us, paralyzed veterans, because it shows we're doing our job making people aware of disabled individuals out there," Mr. Kokendoffer said.
   Among Tinker's contributions is the Special Excepted Appointment project, which created in 1996, helps employ disabled people for all federal agencies in Oklahoma City.
   Since fiscal year 2003, Tinker has hired more than 750 disabled veterans and aims to increase the hiring of disabled people by 25 percent each fiscal year.
   The Air Force goal is only 2 percent a fiscal year, according to a slide presentation compiled by Mr. Swigert.