One Nation, Under God

Two Malta Graduates of 2003 became U.S. Air Force Captains on same day

Katie Weber joined by family on day she becomes Air Force Captain; Pilot Tyler French earns rank of Captain

Malta's Katie Weber became Captain Katie Weber of the United States Air Force in late May and the former M-ette was pleasantly surprised to see many more members of her family there than she had expected.

"At first I just thought it was going to be my Mom and be a low-key deal," she said. "But then a few of my family members came out. I always tell them about what I do in the Air Force, but it was cool to have them come out and actually see what I do. It meant the world to me to have them there."

On May 22, Katie received her captain pins and they were pinned to her collar by her Mother, Marcia Webber, and her cousin, Stacey Warburton (Nevrivy) at the ceremony held on the airstrip at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, IL. Also at the ceremony where Jim, Lynn and Don Nevrivy.

Katie achieved the rank of captain in the Air Force almost 11 years ago joining the United States Navy. After her senior year at Malta, Weber joined the Navy in 2003 and served in that branch of the military for two and a half years before being recruited by the Air Force Academy to throw javelin.

In her junior year at the Air Force Academy, Katie won the Mountain West Conference with a throw of 147'1". The distance also placed her at 10th at the NCAA Regional Championship. In Katie's sophomore year as Lady Falcon, she was named the team's Most Improved Athlete and had a throw of 157'11" at the Arizona State Invitational to move her into third all-time in javelin at the Air Force Academy.

Prior to her colligate career throwing the javelin, Katie also won the Class B State Javelin in 2002 while M-ette in Malta. Besides her track and field prowess, Katie was the a two-time winner of the Most Assists Award, she was a four-time academic all-state selection, was a member of the National Honor Society and served as Malta Senior Class President. Katie graduated from Malta High School in 2003 and the Air Force Academy in 2010.

After her four years of college, Katie joined the United States Air Force she was trained in airfield operations at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. Following her training at Tyndall, Katie went back to the Air Force Academy, this time to teach physical education classes.

"That was a special duty assignment so it wasn't really along my career path," Katie said. "I did that for two years before going back into my normal career field."

The normal career field that Katie speaks of is airfield management and air traffic control at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

"We have a 75-million square foot airfield and I'm in charge of that," Katie said.

She said that job can be very stressful because of the amount of missions coming through the airfield that she manages. She said that the airfield gets many distinguished visitors and that two weeks ago former Secretary of State Alexander Haig made a visit.

"My window looks right out onto what we call the 'Red Carpet' so I am able to see most of the distinguished visitors who come through," she said. "I get to see them, but I don't tend to get to meet them."

"Sometimes when you start out you don't know where you are going to end up," Katie said. "This is a great journey that I have been on so far and I couldn't have done it without not only the support of my family, but also my friends and all the people back home. My friends, coaches, and teachers from elementary, junior high and high school."

Katie said that the support and encouragement she has received during her time in the military makes her who she is today.

"They mean the world to me," she added.

As luck would have it, Katie wasn't the only Malta High School graduate from the Class of 2003 to become a captain in the U.S. Air Force on the Day as almost a thousand miles away, Tyler French was getting his captain wings as well.

"I would also like to give him a shout out to for becoming a captain the same day as I did," said Katie. "It's pretty strange that would happen the same day, but it is neat too."

FRENCH

After just four years of active duty in the United States Air Force, Malta's Tyler French has become a Captain in the United State Air Force.

French, the son of Craig and Connie French, graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado eight years ago and became active duty four years ago.

Tyler pilots a MC-12, a medium- to low-altitude, twin-engine, turboprop aircraft. The primary mission of the MC12 is surveillance and reconnaissance.

"It flies exclusively over Afghanistan right now," Tyler said."

There is one MC12 station in the United States – located on Beale Air Force Base in Northern California where Tyler is currently located – and two in Afghanistan, one in Bagram and the other in Kandahar. Tyler has been on duty at all three posts.

"I've had two different deployments to Afghanistan and have spent 10 month total there," Tyler said. Tyler added that he will be deployed to Afghanistan in the future, but he is unsure of when or for how long.

"It was good to get over there and help out and be a part of the mission we are supporting," he said.

Tyler was a Class B State Champion in wrestling while attending Malta High School. In 2007, while at the Air Force Academy, Tyler posted a wrestling record of 26-12, leading the Falcons in winning percentage. He earned his first NCAA Championship Appearance that year and finished first at the West Regional. Tyler was also a two-time recipient of the Wayne Baughman/A-10 Warthog Award.

"I never did as well as I would have liked to there in wrestling," said French. "But it was a great experience."

Joining the military wasn't something Tyler thought much about while growing up in Malta. He said that during his senior year he found out about the Air Force Academy and all the things that the school could provide for him.

"I decided that I wanted to go there," he said. "I got a little bit disillusioned while I was there, but the sport of wrestling was actually the reason I stayed on and graduated from the Air Force Academy."

The last time Tyler was in Malta, late last March, he presented the Phillips County Commissioners with an American Flag which flew in a USAF MC-12 over Kandahar in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Tyler said that he tries to get home to Malta at least once a year and added that besides his family, he misses the freedom of being able to do what he wants when he wants.

"Family entails so much," he said. "I like going out to the ranch and putting in a full day's work and be able to step back and see what I did on the day. That is really rewarding."

Tyler said that he still has six years left of his 10-year commitment with the Air Force. He said that with that much time left, it is almost impossible to say if he will become a career military pilot.

"I'm waiting for those eight years to progress before I make any decisions like that," he said. He added that he is doubtful that he will be a pilot if he did indeed leave the Air Force. He said, instead, he'd most likely move home.

"I think I would like to buy land back in Malta and have the opportunity to get back into agriculture," he said. "Farming and ranching is what I really enjoy doing."

 

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