Kayter makes transition from active military duty to Junior ROTC administrator in Beebe BY JULIE HILL    08/05/2001

Lifestyles Editor

"He's given a lot to our nation, the Air Force and the men and women of  Little Rock Air Force Base," commented Lt. Col. Jeffrey Mayo regarding Senior Master Sergeant Frank Kayter of Beebe. The comments were made at Kayter's military retirement ceremony at Little Rock Air Force Base on Friday, August 3. More than 100 military personnel and civilians bid farewell to Kayter, singing"The Wild Blue Yonder."

Kayter was assigned early in his career to L.R.A.F.B. After several other assignments through the years, he returned to Jacksonville in 1995 to become first sergeant for the 314th Mission Support Squadron. Since that time he has also served as first sergeant for the 314th Medical Group and the 53rd Airlift Squadron. In 1999 he served as Security Forces Squadron First Sergeant in Iceland and returned to L.R.A.F.B. in 2000 to finish his distinguished military career in the314th Mission Support Squadron.

His career includes several major awards and decorations. His education includes a masters degree in management and a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

These credentials and a drive to positively influence young people make Frank Kayter uniquely qualified to step into his next role: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (Junior ROTC) instructor.

Kayter, along with Lt. Col. John Nenniger, will be teaching six classes each day at Beebe Public Schools.

The program is new to Beebe but is modeled after the successful 30-year-old program in Cabot Schools. There are ten other units in Arkansas.

The program will encourage respect to country and community, emphasize integrity, and teach discipline. Specific instruction in areas such as aviation, satellites, and rocketry.

Advanced students will receive instruction that can later be used in pilot training. Students will also be involved in community service projects.

Kayter may have "retired" but his students will still refer to him as "Sergeant Kayter."

He looks ahead to this new endeavor, "I'm looking forward to working with these young people. We will have to depend on them 10 years from now to be good citizens. We can influence them to become givers."

Kayter reflects on the transition from active duty to his new position in Beebe, "Every day is an adventure. I look forward to making new friends and becoming more involved in the Beebe community."

Kayter is married to the former Loretta J. Belew and they have three children and one grandson.

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