Air Force veteran Jinnae Monroe and her officer husband have lived lots of places, but never for long until they got to Brandon. Here, at work and elsewhere, she has put down roots.
By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published June 13, 2003
RIVERVIEW - During her 15 years in the military, Jinnae Monroe ate from President Ronald Reagan's jelly bean jar and modeled fur coats alongside Italian beauties.
As an Air Force training manager married to a rising Air Force officer, Monroe grew accustomed to fleeting stays in far-flung places.
She learned that Montana is the best place to raise a family. Italy is the best place to shop and eat. The Philippines is the quickest route to a deeper appreciation of the United States.
But some of Monroe's most satisfying experiences were born in Brandon, home since 1996, and at Riverview's Tampa Bay Academy, the adolescent psychiatric treatment center where she's been a therapist and human resources director for the past four years.
Jinnae and Lew Monroe's seven-year stint in the Brandon area marks their longest stay in one place since falling in love two decades ago.
In that time, Monroe has established roots here with her husband, chief master sergeant of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, and their three daughters.
She works out regularly at the Lifestyle Family Fitness Center down the street from her home. She spends ample time at the Brandon mall, adding pieces to her trademark chic wardrobe.
At the Tampa Bay Academy, Monroe forges deep bonds with many of the 275 students through group sessions and regular walks around campus.
Among them is an 11-year-old deaf boy who arrived two years ago kicking and screaming, spitting food in frustration because he'd been ignored for so long at home.
Today, the handsome boy sees "Miss Jinnae" and glows.
He compliments her clothing with the sign for "looks expensive."
"The best part of my job is when I have a voice mail from a kid who's doing well now," said Monroe, 40, in the whispery voice that makes her seem younger. "I don't think a month goes by where I don't get a message, "Hi, Miss Jinnae. I wanted you to know I graduated and I'm doing okay.' "
Edward Hoefle, CEO of Tampa Bay Academy, can't imagine the Academy without Monroe.
"She's the in-house den mother," Hoefle said. "She's everyone's mom."
Years of caring
Those nurturing instincts run deep.
Monroe still recalls the dream she had around age 10. She was feeding hungry people endless bowls of bacon and grits.
At the time, the dream struck her as a bit strange. In hindsight, it was telling.
"I think I decided early on that I wanted to serve people," she said. "I just wasn't sure how."
Two weeks after her 19th birthday, Monroe entered the Air Force at her mother's urging.
"I thought, "I'll do this for four years, make Mom happy and get out,' " Monroe recalled. "But it turns out, I really liked it."
She spent her first four years as a patrolwoman, earning honors for her work with the 60th Security Police Squadron at Travis Air Force Base in California.
At age 20, she was selected as a Presidential Security Guard, a job that had her policing Air Force One when it was grounded.
Once, she even flew on the nation's most famous plane.
President Reagan wasn't aboard, so Monroe tried out his seat and ate some of the jelly beans he loved so much.
"We landed, and I came out and gave my presidential wave," she recalled, laughing.
Over the next decade, Monroe shifted into education and training. She met Lew when they were both stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California.
"I had seen him, in those tight Levi 501 jeans," she smiled. "And I found out he had seen me too!"
They married and moved around with their daughters. They went from California to Italy, where she modeled for a fur coat company. Then it was back to Montana and finally to Brandon, where Monroe ended her military career while Lew advanced his.
Though being an officer's wife isn't always easy, Monroe came to love the benefits - fancy dinners and charity benefits that give her an excuse to dress up and the chance to meet people from all over the world.
"When you move from country to country, you have to deal with every kind of person," Monroe said. "I am patient, and in the Air Force I learned to accept anybody.
