Photo By Sgt. William Waterstreet | Stephanne Van is now a secretary in environmental as well as the AFGE Union's...... read more read more
Subscribe
YUMA, Ariz. - Not often does a person come along who has the dogged determination and relentless work ethic to be a force in the world. Lucky enough for MCAS Yuma, we have characters with these traits in abundance, characters like Stephanne Van.
Van is currently a secretary in the environmental department, but has been a familiar face at the Provost Marshall’s Office for years, moving to environmental after becoming a Sergeant. In addition to her daily job on station, she is also the head coach of MCAS Yuma’s men’s basketball team and the president of the MCAS Yuma American Federation of Government Employees Union.
“She’s outgoing, charismatic and takes command,” said Cpl. David Burck, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Patrolman, and boyfriend to Van. “She is extremely passionate about everything she does. If she’s doing something, she does it right. With her it’s 100 percent or nothing.”
Van stands at 5-foot-9 with pale blonde hair, fair complexion and a smile distinct as her personality. She was raised in San Jose, Calif., before enlisting in the Air Force. She served four years in security forces at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
“Everyone should try the military once,” said Van, 35. “My father and my uncle were both military and I wanted to follow in those footsteps. I always wanted to be in law enforcement, and I figured the Air Force would be a great step in.”
After ending her active service as a senior airman, she began work with the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., PMO. Following her five-year stint there, she transferred to Yuma, thus furthering her goal of getting to San Diego.
“I don’t know if it’s from watching TV as a kid, but since I can remember I’ve wanted to be a cop or a lawyer,” added Van. “I grew up in a very high crime area in eastside San Jose and wanted better out of my life. I always was interested in investigating, forensics, solving cases and the legal system. I like to be out there, I like the investigative part of it and I like being involved. People need to be treated right, and if you aren’t going to treat them right, then you deserve what you get. I wholeheartedly believe in the justice system.”
Van displays her philanthropic spirit not only in her work in law enforcement, but also in the work she does for her fellow government employees in the AFGE Union. She sacrifices her free time to make sure the laws and regulations that care for government civilian employees are followed and her fellow workers are treated properly.
“I’ve always thrived at helping people,” stated Van. “I feel, regardless of my life and my situations, I always need to be helping or doing something more. There’s always someone else who needs help. I like to be involved in the community in any way, shape or form. Even at PMO, I’d volunteer for pretty much anything, regardless of whether it involved my job or not.”
Through all the work she puts in for this station, Van still finds time for her passions, first and foremost being basketball. Since grade six, she has been involved with basketball. Nothing, not even the Air Force or college has been able to drive her from her zeal for the sport.
She began as the coach for the MCAS Yuma men’s team after yelling advice from the stands during one of their games. Her advice was so good the players consented to follow her leadership as a coach.
“I was born with a basketball,” said Van. “I went to a college that didn’t have a women’s basketball team, so I left the college.”
“During a game she told one of our Marines, ‘Shut up and play basketball, or sit your ass down,’” added Burck. “She has a good command presence, and she’s a woman who will take charge.”
Van has two children and keeps in contact with her family back in San Jose and her brother who is stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
For all that Van gives to the community, she remains humble and will continue to be a positive energy for MCAS Yuma.
“I don’t think I’m special,” said Van. “I honestly believe I’m just an average, everyday person who was put on this base for a reason.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2012 19:42 |
| Story ID: | 89607 |
| Location: | YUMA, ARIZONA, US |
| Hometown: | SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 137 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Stephanne Van: Giving of Herself, by Sgt William Waterstreet, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
