Robins spouse wins Joan Orr Award

  • Published
  • By Chris Zdrakas
  • 78th Air Base Wing
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  When her phone rang on an otherwise routine afternoon last week, Tammie Bocook was surprised at what she heard: "Please hold for General Wetekam."

In seconds, Maj. Gen. Donald Wetekam, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center commander, was congratulating Bocook on being named winner of the 2003 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year award. She is the wife of Master Sgt. Ray Bocook of the 78th Mission Support Squadron here.

"I never dreamed that I would win," she said. "I was proud to be nominated, but I didn't think I would win. The Lord blesses me, I guess."

The winner of the Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and Air Force Materiel Command Connie Yates Spouse of the Year awards, Bocook has immersed herself in Air Force life as a partner to her husband and a helping hand to many.

"I have served because I care about people," she said. "I always started out to make an impact on at least one person before we left any assignment."

Instead, she has made an impact on hundreds.

"I think for us the Air Force is part of our family, Bocook said. “If I did not take part, I would be missing out. When I'm working side by side with my husband, I understand exactly what's going on, and when he has to work nights or go (on temporary duty), I understand."

Her husband has observed that involved spouses "spell the difference between success and failure."

"You can hit higher levels and reach greater goals if your spouse is willing to be part of the Air Force team," he said. "I notice where spouses are really behind the member and where spouses are involved, the member excels."

"Tammie has been involved in the Air Force since our marriage more than 16 years ago," he said. "She likes to be active … helping anyone who needs it. She is a very giving person."

He said that each stripe he earns -- he just earned another -- means more responsibly and more work.

"Tammie always says 'okay, I'll help you.' Numerous times when I'm working late, she brings me dinner at work. For her, no job is too small, and no job is too big," he said.

Bocook manages a heavy schedule of volunteer service while raising a family and working part-time. The Bocooks have three children -- Courtney, 16, Steven, 14, and Micah, 6.

Her husband is flight chief of the Robins Airmen's Leadership School, where Tammie is a familiar presence. Among her long list of activities there, she organized the school's visit by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray, also acting as hostess to the chief's staff, the students and local media.

Bocook also worked closely with the Noncomissioned Officer’s Academy commandant to prepare for the chief's induction ceremony, including volunteering to watch children for visiting spouses unable to locate a babysitter in time to attend the ceremony.

In all, Bocook spent more than 560 hours as a volunteer staff member for the academy, performing a variety of duties. She answered telephones, filled in as an information manager and personnel specialist, helped with resource management and budget planning, ordered supplies and equipment, and filed paperwork.

Bocook also participated in charity car washes, First Sergeant's Association activities, the Robins Summer Base program, the base chapel’s Harvest Festival, a local school's fall festival, a military ministry to help members transition to the community and by preparing holiday gift bags for the Georgia Children's Home. She is also active in programs at her family’s church, including teaching preschool three mornings a week.

In the essay that earned Tammie the Robins' spouse award, Bocook said his wife reminded him of the biblical character Ruth because Ruth said, "Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. I will make your people my people and your God, my God."

"My wife decided to travel from base to base around the world, make the Air Force people her people and serve the Lord with all her heart," Bocook said. "Her veins flow with blue blood, and she informs her employers that the Air Force comes first."