Air Force military family of the year visits Washington

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Working together as a team is the advice the Air Force military family of the year has for coping with frequent deployments.
 
"Know your resources, such as key spouses," said Master Sgt. Wayne Ojala, the superintendent of the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. 

"And take advantage of them," added Tech. Sgt. Thane Ojala, a 99th Force Support Squadron food service accountant. "There are so many programs in place. You're never in it alone." 

The Ojala family should know. They've undergone six deployments since Sept. 11, 2001. Since that time, she has deployed once to Southwest Asia, twice to Afghanistan, and twice to Iraq. The native of Palm Springs, Calif., will leave early 2010 for her third deployment to Iraq. 

"We've deployed a whole bunch collectively," he said. But the native of Cloquet, Minn., admitted that, "Individually, she's done it." 

Even the Ojala children have advice for families when coping with deployments. 

Don't give up by looking at the negative, said 17-year-old Jari. "Look at the positive. Try new things." 

Katherine, 14, said writing has helped her cope with deployments. She added deployments do get easier. 

Kalie, 13, said, "There are other families whose parents are gone. You're never alone." 

Master Sergeant Ojala said if there was one word to describe his family it would be "resilient." 

"All of the kids have done a great job with deployments," he said. He credited the children with helping him keep the household running and maintaining good spirits while his wife was deployed. The senior NCO said programs for deployed families at the Nellis AFB Airman and Family Readiness Center helps him through the frequent separations from his wife. It's also a way for the family to cope. 

"Jari drags us to the gym pretty regularly," Master Sergeant Ojala said. "It motivates me." 

The Ojala family was in the National Capital Region to represent the Air Force in the National Military Family Association's Military Family of the Year competition. The NMFA named Marine Sgt. Dennis Leanes and Family from Camp Lejeune, N.C., as the family of the year. 

The NMFA's Military Family of the Year Award recognizes strong military families who embrace their service to the nation, are role models in their community and understand that together they are stronger, according to Cindy Jackson, NMFA communications associate. The NMFA provides families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and commissioned corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with information, work to get them the benefits they deserve and offer programs that improve their lives. 

The Ojala family left behind the dry heat of Las Vegas for a rain-soaked visit here. The weather didn't dampen Master Sergeant Ojala's enthusiasm though. 

"I'm really enjoying the rain," he said. "Being in the desert, I don't know the last time it rained." 

This was the first trip for the family to the nation's capital. They have spent their time visiting Smithsonian museums, Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. They even had a chance to see a hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 27. 

Becoming the Air Force military family of the year is a family achievement, according to Master Sergeant Ojala. Winning the title is very rewarding to share the experience together. 

"It's going to give us stories to talk about for many years," he said.