Thanks
To
Her
TSGT Hallie A. Vardell
I am the woman
I
Am
Today
Her cold, ice blue eyes
Could bore a hole
Right
Through
You
You swear she could see
Right into your soul
And
That
VOICE
Whipping out commands
That were instantly obeyed
Calling cadance
Sharply
Clearly
Crisply
"Left, a left, and a left-right-left
WHO'S BOUNCING?" (That was probably me)
Quick
To
Reprimand
If you weren't at your best
Demanding perfection
From
Less
Than
Perfect Airmen learning to be Airmen
Who always felt we could
Never
Measure
Up
To her exacting standards
It seemed she yelled a lot
Mainly
At
Me
If we did something that met
If we did something that exceeded
Her
Exacting
Standards
Then there was praise
And how I lived for that
Thanks
To
Her
TSGT Hallie A. Vardell
Of the 3707 Basic Military Training Squadron
I
Am
The
Woman I am today--not perfect
But always reaching higher and higher

(C) Karla Dorman, 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------
It was 20 years ago this year that I
enlisted in the United States Air
Force. I remember with fear, awe and
trembling, my T.I. (Training Instruc-
tor), TSGT Hallie A. Vardell.

I am who I am today, because of her
guidance and teaching.