LRAFB DropZone

COMMENTARY>>Black Knights, Team Little Rock, Community…

2012-01-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

By Col. Mike Minihan
19th Airlift Wing commander

No words can capture the amount of gratitude and respect I have for You, your Families, and this Community. “Thank You!” falls embarrassingly short of what I and my family owe each of you.

It has been an honor to watch you in action. You make magic happen both at home and abroad.

You dominate our Nation’s enemies in combat. You train daily to a standard worthy of the title “C-130 Center of Excellence.” You execute a state mission to a level that leaves 49 other states extremely envious. And you provide meaningful support to our most important assets…Airmen and Families.

On April 25, 2011, I watched you fight for each other on “Miracle Monday.” I’ve seen some powerful things in my life…but never to the level of what I witnessed after the tornado struck.

You perform under pressure. Your combat, crisis, and inspection record proves it.

You define resiliency. You define community.

To truly understand the level of your sacrifice, you need to see your families cry in pain on the day you deploy. You need to see their strengths and struggles on day 30…day 60…day 90 and beyond. You need to see them…along with your parents, grandparents, and friends…bursting with pride and excitement in the waning minutes before you arrive back home.

Since August 2, 2010, I have dreaded the moment of my departure. That moment is now.

You will continue to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coastguardsmen in harms way with unrivaled combat airlift.

You will continue to set the standard for Total Force. You are a seamless team…Airmen, Guardsmen, Reservists, Civilians, Retirees, Community, Elected Officials, and Families…it takes everybody to execute our mission and live up to our sacred vow of taking care of each other.

My physical journey with you ends on Jan. 31…but my love, respect, and gratitude for you and your families will endure. You made me a better husband, father, Airman…citizen.

Ashley and I will forever treasure our time with you all.

TOP STORY >>AETC marks 70 years of training and education excellence

2012-01-26T15:02:00.001-08:00

By Dianne Moffett
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) – The demand for flying training caused by the United States’ entry into World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor, resulted in the creation of the Air Corps Flying Training Command Jan. 23, 1942.

Today marks Air Education and Training Command’s 70th Anniversary. After several re-designations, the Air Corps Flying Training Command became Air Training Command and finally Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Despite changing production goals for trained personnel brought on by the events of WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the end of the Cold War, the Persian Gulf War and the terrorist strike on New York City and the Pentagon, AETC continues to meet the demands for trained and educated Airmen.

AETC recruits, assesses, commissions, educates, and trains Air Force enlisted and officer personnel. It provides basic military training, initial and advanced technical training, flying training, and professional military and degree-granting professional education.

The command also conducts joint, medical service, readiness and training to build partnerships with foreign air forces.

Training conducted at AETC bases provides the major Air Force commands and combatant commanders with skilled, expert Airmen who are able to perform at the highest level whether they are at home running nuclear enterprises or overseas fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Today, AETC consists of 12 bases and is hosted at four more. The command is home to more than 56,000 active-duty members, 16,000 civilians, and 4, 000 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel. Over 6,000 Airmen from AETC are also deployed around the world in today’s fight.

“Major transformations in training and education came to AETC after the Persian Gulf War and 1992 was designated the Year of Training,” said Ann Hussey, an Air Education and Training Command historian.

The initiative to create a single and consistent education and training structure for officer, enlisted and civilian personnel led to AETCs current designation.

“The year of training revamped the Air Force’s education and training requiring all enlisted personnel attend technical training,” Hussey said, “The goal was to make all Air Force members mission ready upon arrival at their first duty station.”

The Air Force merged Air University and ATC on July 1, 1993, re-designating the command to AETC. The command gained two numbered Air Forces, the Nineteenth to oversee flying training from Randolph Air Force Base, and the Second to manage basic and technical training from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

The command also converted its training centers to training wings and resumed responsibility for much of the aircrew training mission, freeing the operational commands to focus on warfighting.

Hussey said what is most significant at AETC today is its focus on modernization and enhancing the level of education for all Airmen.

“New advanced weapons systems, such as the C-130 J at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., the F-22 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., the F-35 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and the CV-22 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., requires highly skilled trainers, pilots and maintainers,” Hussey said.

“Simulator flying training integrates new technology while maintaining cost effectiveness and affordability.”

Currently, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. provides high-fidelity training in HC-130 flight simulation, which emulates aircraft handling, refueling, air drops, defensive tactics and emergency procedures for the entire crew.

“Air University offers both in-residence and distance learning opportunities. The Community College of the Air Force offers Airmen online courses that combine military and technical training with accredited courses to receive associate degrees,” she said.

“The first Ph.D. program offered by Air University is through the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.”

Throughout its history, AETC, known as the “First Command,” has been committed to creating innovative training and education programs built on the achievements and hard work of thousands of dedicated men and women.

AETCs foundation for success in the Air Force will continue to advance its programs “to develop America’s Airmen today... for tomorrow.”

TOP STORY >> Celebrating MLK day

2012-01-20T07:54:00.001-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Team Little Rock, along with members from the Calvary Baptist Church, the second and third grade classes of Arnold Drive Elementary School and other citizens from the local community we’re present Jan. 13, when the base celebrated the accomplishments and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a three-part event.

The event began at the base theater with songs sung by the Arnold Drive Elementary School students, followed by a speech on Dr. King by guest speaker Col. Todd Pavich, 314th Airlift Wing vice commander, then followed by a rendition of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech by Calvary Baptist Church minister Cecil Gibson, then followed by the remembrance walk from the base theater to Hangar 1080, where the festivities we’re concluded over a luncheon.

“I want to thank everyone who came and made this event the success it is,” said Col. Thomas Crimmins, 19th Airlift Wing vice commander, to the crowd at Hangar 1080. “Martin Luther King accomplished a lot of things … he died when he was 39, and accomplished a lot more than many people who have lived twice as long. We lost a great leader too early … and hopefully after today we can better appreciate why we celebrate (Dr. King’s) birthday on Monday.”

While the event was about the legacy of a man who was assassinated at the age of 39, the event was celebratory rather than somber, as Pavich highlighted in his speech not only the accomplishments of King, but the underlying conditions of them, and why they we’re necessary.

“Dr. Martin Luther King was a great man,” Pavich said during his speech. “Cleary he’s done some fantastic things for our country and our nation.”

He would go on to say King was the right man, at the right place, at the right time, with the right preparation and goals to make a difference when numerous other people couldn’t.

“We the people … we need to be more like Dr. Martin Luther King every day, from this day on and into the future,” he said.

TOP STORY >>Qualified to fly

2012-01-19T14:27:00.001-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A lot of work goes into maintaining the largest fleet of C-130 airplanes in the world residing on base here. Countless hours and unmatched effort are put into making these airplanes mission capable and ready to fly, and, for the Airmen working at the 314th Maintenance Operation Group Quality Assurance unit, the details can be deviling.

The group QA team oversees and assures the maintenance compliance of 28 C-130H and J model airplanes. Each airplane has numerous pieces of equipment requiring thorough and detailed inspections; this requires routine maintenance inspections on top of additional check-ups required for repairs or replaced pieces of equipment. Yet, these inspections and checkups, while routine, are anything but perfunctory ... the team of inspectors understand the impact and consequences of missed details.

Tech Sgt. George Terrell, 314th MXG avionics quality insurance inspector, said the QA team inspects nothing less than all of the systems on these 28 airplanes.

“We check all the systems that let the pilot know what direction they’re going, how fast they’re going, if they’re going up or down, what altitude the aircraft is (flying) at,” said Terrell.

The job of inspecting aircraft requires diligence and thoroughness, said Terrell.

“Every maintenance action that’s performed on the aircraft has a governing directive of some sort,” said Terrell. “The majority of them are covered in technical orders, we use those along with maintenance group operating instructions, Little Rock operating instruction, Air Force Occupational Safety and Health standards, and that’s just to assess how well individuals (maintaining the aircraft) have complied with those publications.”

The publications governing the maintenance of the airplanes are based on the specific type of maintenance action being performed. Terrell said it is the QA team’s job to ensure these publications are being adhered to because he knows that if they aren’t, the consequences can be serious.

“The impact (of what we do) is significant,” said Terrell. “What we do is tied directly to the (Logistics Compliance Assessment Program) inspection, and basically the quality assurance is the maintenance component of the LCAP. Those guys come to measure compliance, and on a day to day basis that’s what we do too. If we do our job well, we should be able to give an indication of what we should get on an LCAP.”

Maintaining inspection-readiness and mission capability is a large part of the QA team’s function; however, an equally important aspect of what they do is ensuring safety standards are being met.

“Compliance with publications goes hand-in-hand with safety,” said Terrell. “We’ve got to keep people safe and alive on the flight lines, and when people deviate from the prescribed procedures, that’s when the potential for injury or mishaps is greatly increased.”

As much responsibility as his unit has for maintaining the safety of the airplanes on base, Terrell acknowledges that the maintenance isn’t a one man, or one unit, job.

“It’s takes a lot of coordination and looking into the details,” he said. “From the people doing the repairs to my unit inspecting them, there are a lot of details that go into maintaining these aircraft.”

COMMENTARY >> Ready, Fire…Aim?

2012-01-13T08:03:00.001-08:00

By Lt. Col Mike Nelson
62nd Airlift Squadron commander

The military has a tendency to attract “Type A” personalities. We are bold, goal-oriented and determined to succeed no matter the obstacle. We like to believe we can shape most aspects of our life and the world around us – and in most cases we are correct. Type A personalities prove to be a valuable commodity in a profession where initiative and decisiveness are markers of excellence; the ability to operate autonomously in uncertain circumstances might well be the difference between life and death. While Type A personality traits generally promote military success, they also present challenges.

One downside to this gung-ho mentality is portrayed through our desire to control. We want everything to work perfectly. But let’s face it: things rarely do come off without a hitch. And when they don’t, we go into crisis action mode. Whether it’s an aircraft accident or the latest challenges at the mortuary in Dover, we pride ourselves on detecting a problem, identifying its root cause and resolving it quickly.
Most times, the root causes are obvious and we can get back on track almost immediately. Some problems, however, do not lend themselves to the “quick fix,” so getting us back on the right track may take time…and that will cause friction with our Type A impulse to resolve the issue without delay.
This leads me to a quote my father, a 26-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, recites to this day: “All hands not doing so, do so immediately!” The sarcasm of the quote highlights the irrationality of acting quickly when the way ahead is not clear. To avoid falling prey to this mentality when an issue arises, first understand the situation then make a timely decision.

“Timely” does not mean “quick” or “immediate”; rather, it’s better defined as “appropriately-timed.” The difference is subtle, but important. Just as some decisions are best made with little delay, others require time to simmer and evolve. We should let each situation define our way ahead.

Appropriately-timed (and presumably correct) decisions promote confidence in the abilities of superiors, subordinates and peers; they also confirm our status as fervent and reputable stewards of our country’s trust.

So this holiday season, sit back and relax. Take a break – you deserve it! Make a promise to your family, your service and your country to work even harder for the betterment of all next year. But also make a promise to yourself to trust your instincts and your fellow Airmen. Understand that we cannot plan everything out – bad things will happen to good people, no matter how hard we try to prevent them. We can shape outcomes, but we can’t permit our Type A personalities to lead us astray. Let’s focus on making decisions in a timely manner: in the end, take the time to make the right decision the first time when the situation inevitably eludes your control.

TOP STORY >> Base loses three in round two of AF civilian restructuring

2012-01-13T08:02:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – Team Little Rock is losing three more authorizations as part of the continuation of the Air Force’s fiscal 2012 Civilian Workforce Restructure. The base was originally hit with the loss of approximately 41 authorizations in November as part of the first round of the restructure.

The three cuts announced today are the base’s portion of the Air Force’s 4,500 additional positions eliminated as a continuation of its FY12 Civilian Workforce Restructure.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard to minimize the impact of the loss of these positions on our employees,” said Col. Thomas Crimmins, 19th Airlift Wing vice commander. “We understand the significance these three positions have on the affected individuals and their families. Our civilian personnel staff has worked tirelessly to help find on-base positions for those affected by this announcement.”

This reduction builds on the realignments announced in November, including the elimination of 9,000 positions and the addition of 5,900 positions against the Air Force’s top priorities. In addition, these reductions respond to the Secretary of Defense’s direction to target civilian funding at fiscal year 2010 levels.

“We value our talented and experienced workforce and are trying to do everything possible to manage these reductions with as little impact to our people as possible,” said Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force.

In an effort to encourage voluntary separations and retirements, the Air Force is currently offering its second round of voluntary separation incentive pay and voluntary early retirement authority programs. Civilian employees received VERA/VSIP eligibility surveys from their personnel managers earlier this month and the applications are due no later than Jan. 27. Approved applications will result in separations or retirements that take effect by April 30.

Air Force officials are still evaluating the need for a Reduction in Force.

“At this time, we are surveying the workforce for a second round of VERA/VSIP and are in the midst of management reassignments resulting from the first round of the restructure,” said Brig Gen Gina Grosso Director of Manpower, Organization, and Resources. “Once we exhaust all voluntary force management measures, a determination will be made whether or not a RIF is necessary. We hope to have more information in the spring.”

This announcement marks the end of civilian reductions associated with the Air Force’s FY12 civilian workforce restructure.

COMMENTARY>>American dreams: The legacy of MLK

2012-01-12T14:28:00.001-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Born into an inconspicuous family on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Ga., few would have predicted that Martin Luther King Jr. would go on to become one of the most recognized icons in American history. Yet little of what King is remembered for was inconspicuous, from when he was a 13-year-old skeptic in Sunday school, to earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at the age of 19, to his time as a minister in his 20’s delivering vociferous sermons, to his emergence as a key leader of the civil rights movement that swept across the country in the 50’s and 60’s, to him becoming the youngest Noble Peace Prize recipient in 1964, and up to his inglorious assassination on April 4, 1968, King lived an extroverted life.

Not to say that all of King’s actions we’re inconspicuous in a good way. He was the subject of wiretapping from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for alleged socialist activity, he has been accused of plagiarizing his doctoral thesis, and many other people and organizations, including close friend Ralph David Abernathy, have written about King’s life-long struggle with substance abuse and infidelity. Regardless, through all the allegations of moral turpitude or praise bestowed by admirers, what stands firm about King’s legacy is the affirmation of human and American values. Values like endurance, moral courage and a desire for equality and justice embodied his life-long work.

Read this excerpt from King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, written to his fellow clergymen who criticized him for making “unwise and untimely” protests in Birmingham that lead to his arrest. The letter is one of the most widely read of King’s writings and possesses the same theme of the indominable human and American spirit present in other imperishable work’s like Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath or Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address:”

I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

It was this desire to achieve equality and eliminate outsiders that drove King to defy his fellow clergy’s advice and continue to organize non-violent protests. In some places the protest we’re more effective than others, but through it all King became an icon of the civil rights movement and has taken a place as one of the most recognizable American names in history. His birthday isn’t just recognized as a federal holiday for nominal reasons, his accomplishments actually mean something.

In today’s America, particularly in the armed services it’s easy to take for granted that we’re a “melting pot”, and comprised of people with diverse ethnicities, races and cultures united in a common cause. However, we would do a disservice to our distinguished ancestors if we didn’t pay homage toward the Americans who had the moral courage, if not always moral perfection, and longsuffering fortitude, and who made living in a diverse country with ample opportunities for all people alike possible.

It was conspicuous behavior that made King so beloved by his supporters and so derided by his detractors. Yet it wasn’t his oratory skills or eloquent verbiage that made him a great American, it was the action of pursuing and achieving equality, in the face of adversity. Because of men like King we can live, and serve, in a diverse Air Force today, and be proud of it.

TOP STORY >>OPSEC, AF core values vital in social media

2012-01-12T14:27:00.001-08:00

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) – While Airmen are encouraged to tell the Air Force story, they should be mindful to do so in ways that lend credit to themselves and the service, officials said.

With the emergence of social media, information sharing has changed in unprecedented ways. It continues to be dynamic and evolving.

Now a cultural norm around the globe, social media is part of the daily activities of Airmen and their families, who use social media sites to stay connected.

The Air Force has specific guidance related to social media. In particular, Airmen should remember to heed both operational security and Air Force core values as they exercise the privilege of accessing social media, officials said.

“A helpful reminder for Airmen is to use our core values as a filter before engaging in a public forum,” said Col. Steve Clutter, the Air Education and Training Command public affairs director. “Core values will guide them to be cautious before crossing the line between funny and distasteful, or sharing good information without creating an OPSEC violation. We must reinforce to our Airmen to use good judgment when using social media sites as there may be consequences with what is posted.”

Careless use of social media can jeopardize the mission. An OPSEC violation was detailed in an article written by Airman 1st Class Precious Yett, with the 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

“I had a situation with a member who was deployed downrange in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said Tech. Sgt. Darrell Williams, the 902nd Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog section NCO in charge. “I logged onto Facebook one morning and noticed he had checked-in to his search pit on the base.

“He wasn’t thinking that by doing so, he’s broadcasting the grid coordinates to a strategic location on base via an unsecured medium,” Williams said. “Anyone with hostile intentions could have utilized those coordinates to not only locate an entry point into the installation but target those who work there. Additionally, the deployed member had posted what equipment was currently in use and identified these pieces of equipment by name.”

Williams said he immediately sent the Airman a Facebook message and reminded him of operational and communication security procedures. The post was deleted, but with the information already online, the damage could have already been done.

The Air Force pamphlet “Social Media and the Air Force,” produced by the Air Force Public Affairs Agency Emerging Technology Division, states, “Airmen should note that anytime they engage in social media, they are representing the Air Force and therefore should not do anything that will discredit themselves or the Air Force.”

It goes on to say, “Airmen must abide by certain restrictions to ensure good order and discipline. All Airmen are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and all actions are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Even if Airmen state they are not representing the Air Force, other audiences may not interpret the information that way.

Officials advise Airmen to be careful of the details, text, photos and video posted to profiles on MySpace and Facebook and other social networks. Employers and adversaries can search these sites, and there are numerous examples of people losing a job due to their inappropriate photos or comments.

“Airmen, by the nature of the business, are always on the record and must always represent the core values, even on the Web: integrity first, service before self and excellence in all that is done,” the pamphlet stated.

(Courtesy of Air University Public Affairs.)

EVENTS >> 1-07-12

2012-01-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

NOMINEES SOUGHT FOR BEST BUSINESS

The Cabot Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominees for its 2011 Business of the Year award. The prize honors businesses that have contributed to the economy and development of the city. Nominees should demonstrate growth, successful performance, innovation, competitiveness and community involvement. The award will be presented at the chamber’s annual banquet.

Nominated businesses must be chamber members and have been in business at least two years. Applications are available at the chamber office, 110 S. First St. or by email to chamber@cabotcc.org. Call 501-843-2136 for details.

The Cabot Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership banquet will be held Friday, Jan. 20 at the Cabot Junior High North cafeteria. Craig O’Neill will speak. A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person or $225 for tables of eight. To RSVP, call 501-843-2136 by Friday.

CJHN is located at 38 Spirit Drive.

CHINESE ACROBATS PERFORM AT JAN. 20 FUNDRAISER

The Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe will perform Friday, Jan. 20 at the Jacksonville Community Center in celebration of the Chinese New Year, Year of the Dragon. Tickets are $20.

The event will raise money for the Jacksonville Art Center to be located at 108 S. Oak St. The center will house classrooms, a museum and an exhibition hall in the historic Jacksonville Elementary School.

A silent auction and cake-decorating contest is slated for 5:30 to 7 p.m. with the Nanjing Acrobats and other performances from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Art by Jacksonville High School teacher Marvin Lindley and his students will also be on display, as well as a Kung Fu demonstration, music and dancing by various performers.

There is a $10 registration fee for the cake-decorating contest. First-place will receive $100 and a ribbon; second-place, $50 and a ribbon, and third-place, $25 and a ribbon. All cakes will be auctioned to the highest bidder.

The event is sponsored by the Arkansas Asian Association and Unique Furniture.

ADVANCED GARDENING TRAINING IN WHITE COUNTY
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in White County is seeking participants for its master gardener program to be held on five consecutive Wednesdays in February: Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. The deadline to apply is Friday.

The program is open to anyone with a strong interest in gardening and a desire to educate others in recommended gardening practices. The course costs $50.

All sessions will be held in Searcy. Each day’s activities will begin at 8 a.m. and end about 4:30 p.m. Participants will receive 40 hours of instruction in basic horticulture.

To apply, contact the White County Extension Service at 411 N. Spruce St. in Searcy, call 501-268-5394 or e-mail Sherri Sanders at ssanders@uaex.edu.

REP. GRIFFIN TO SPEAK AT CHAMBER DINNER JAN. 26

The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet and silent auction Thursday, Jan. 26. Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) will speak. Tickets are $50 for members and $55 for nonmembers. Tables of eight are $400. Reservations must be made by Jan. 19.

SYLVAN HILL HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS SCHEDULING EVENT

Sylvan Hills High School will hold a scheduling night on Tuesday for the next school year.

Parents of students interested in attending the high school, including current 8th-graders, are invited. Eighth-graders and their parents should arrive at 6 p.m. All other students and their parents should arrive at 6:30 p.m.

Counselors and teachers will be on hand to provide information about classes. Information will also be provided on Smart Core, the Arkansas Academic Scholarship and advanced-placement classes.

CABOT COMMUNITY COALITION MEETING TURSDAY

The Cabot Community Coalition will meet at The Diner at noon Thursday. The organization is a group of agencies and individuals providing charity services to those in need in the Cabot area, as well as individuals looking for places to volunteer.

Donnie Copeland of Arkansas METRO will speak.

The restaurant is at 3286 S. 2nd St. in Cabot. For more information, call 501-529-0604.

LONOKE COUNTY FAIR LIVE STOCK MEETING IS TUESDAY

The Lonoke County Fair and Livestock Association will hold its annual membership meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Office, 2001 Hwy. 70. The meeting is open to all county residents. For more information, call Leigh Ann Pool at 501-605-0519.

JACKSONVILLE AARP DRIVER'S COURSE BEGINS JAN. 25

Jacksonville AARP will begin its next drivers’-safety course at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. The cost is $12 for members and $14 for nonmembers. The class is held at St. Jude Catholic Church, 2403 MacArthur Drive. Call 501-982-4891 to register.

OBITUARIES >> 1-07-12

2012-01-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

ROXANNE PROFFER

Roxanne Self Proffer, 49, of Jacksonville, born Sept. 8, 1962, in Mt. View, Calif., to Elbert and Virginia Self, passed away Jan. 4.

She had been employed as a legal assistant for several law firms. She worked for Hosto and Buchan Law Firm for eight years, Monnat and Spurrier in Wichita, Kan., for four months and recently started with Gill, Elrod, Ragon, Owen and Sherman.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Roxanne is survived by her husband, Kirk Proffer; mother-in-law, Marilyn Proffer; brothers-in-law, Bob Proffer and his wife Sharon, and David Proffer, and sister-in-law, Susan and her husband Danny Hill. She is also survived by four brothers, Gary Self, Steve Self and his wife Phyllis, Ron Self and Mike Self; several nieces and nephews, and her two beloved dogs, Emmie and Ronnie.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at Arkansas Funeral Care in Jacksonville.

A private funeral service will be at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at Arkansas Funeral Care.

Arrangements are by Arkan-sas Funeral Care in Jacksonville.

EDWARD GRIMES

Edward Eugene Grimes, 91, of Cabot passed away Jan. 4.

He was born Feb. 24, 1920, in Guion to the late Alfonso Grimes and Dora Keener Grimes.

He was a veteran of the Marine Corps, serving during World War II. He was also a retired salesman for Mont-gomery Ward.

He is survived by his wife, Louise Light Grimes, of the home; children, Joni Watson and her husband Brad of Scottsdale, Ariz., Scott Grimes and his wife Patricia of Denville, N.J., Kenneth Grimes of Washington; two stepsons, Robert M. Eddy of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Roger Light of Cabot; two sisters, Irene Morgan of Jacksonville and Dottie McCrady of North Little Rock, and four grandchildren, Miles Watson, Jeff Grimes, Kelly and Lydia Grimes.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville.

Flowers may be sent to the funeral home, or memorials may be made to the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, 4300 W. 7th St., Little Rock, Ark. 72205.

Arrangements are by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.

DORTHY INGLE

Dorothy Louise Ingle, 67, died Jan. 3.

She is survived by a son, Adam Ingle, of Carlisle; siblings, Mary Lee Bowlan, Elizabeth Hansel, Frances England, Clarence Underwood and Lewis Underwood; the father of her children, Troy Ingle; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by a sister, Audrey Skinner, and brothers, Gene and Kenneth Underwood.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at First Baptist Church in Carlisle.

Arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.

ROBERT BRACKIN

Robert Jerry “Bob” Brackin, 81, of Beebe was born Jan. 7, 1930, at Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Robert and Mattie Jones Brackin, and he died Jan. 4.

One of 16 children, Bob was a veteran of the Korean War, earning the United Nations Medal, Korean Ribbon, Japanese Occupation, Good Conduct and China Service awards.

He was an accomplished steel guitar player and was a strong Christian who loved the Lord Jesus.

Bob is survived by his wife of 59 years, Melba Petrie Brackin; four children, June Brackin of Beebe, Cassie Turner and her husband Doug of Lewisville, Tracy Ragen and her husband Gary of Beebe and Scott Brackin and his wife Christie of Arcadia, Okla., six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, four sisters and six brothers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and one brother.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Weir Cemetery.

EURLENE BROWN

Eurlene Brown, 85, of Beebe, more recently of Searcy, left this earth to be embraced by her Lord and Savior on Jan. 5.

Mrs. Brown was born in Des Arc to Aldron B. and China Nicholson on July 11, 1926. She was a graduate of Des Arc High School.

She married James C. Brown on Dec. 28, 1944, and moved to New Orleans. While in New Orleans, Eurlene was an active member of Mid City Baptist Church, the Sweet Adelines, and was a local organizer for the Billy Graham Crusade when it was in the area. One of the proudest moments in her life was meeting and having lunch with Dr. Graham in person. She always said that her unwavering faith in Christ sustained her through many tragedies and illnesses.

Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, James C. Brown; two sons, James Alan Brown and Ellard Aldron Brown; her parents, A.B. and China Nicholson, and two brothers, Leon and Lenville Nicholson.

She is survived by a son, Dr. Mark Brown of Searcy and his wife Danielle; two granddaughters, Alexandra Nicole Brown and Lauren Elizabeth Brown, both of Searcy, whom she adored more than anything in the world; a sister, Bobbie Jean Green of Des Arc, as well as multiple nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at First Baptist Church, with Bro. Bob Hall officiating. Burial will be in Beebe Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 67, Beebe, Ark., 72012.

HELES STONEKING
Heles Stoneking, 75, of Jacksonville, born June 3, 1936, in Vilonia, passed away Dec. 30.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Stoneking; a son, Charles Schmit, and a sister, Alice Johnson.

Heles is survived by two sons, Jackie Larell McCoy Jr. and Orville Lee McCoy; one brother, David McDaniel; three grandchildren; one niece, and one nephew.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Arkansas Funeral Care in Jacksonville. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the Arkansas State Veterans’ Cemetery in Sherwood.

Arrangements are by Arkansas Funeral Care.

JOHN MARVIN

A funeral for John M. Marvin of Hazen, formerly of Little Rock, was held Jan. 6. Rev. James Walter officiated the service.

Burial was in Pinecrest Cemetery in Alexander.

He is survived by his mother Evelyn D. Marvin; his brother, James Marvin and his wife Florence of Little Rock; an uncle, James L. Marvin of Littleton, Colo., and his pets.

Arrangements were by Weems Family Funeral Services in Carlisle.

RONALD MARTIN SR.

Ronald Lee Martin Sr., 76, of Little Rock died Jan. 4 at the VA Hospital in Little Rock.

No funeral will be held.

Arrangements are by Weems Family Funeral Services of Carlise.

EDITORIAL >>Tamales for a new year

2012-01-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Like most American adults, my New Year’s resolution will be to eat lighter and move more. But as I have for years, I don’t make that resolution for about two weeks, which is about how long the New Year’s tamales last.

Josh, my youngest son, gave me a galvanized tamale pot for Christmas about 10 years ago. Inside was a sack of masa, a package of corn shucks and a bag of large, dried peppers. Apparently, he wanted tamales and I was the one who would make them for him whether I had any idea how to do it or not.

Lucky for me, the recipe was on the sack of masa. So on New Year’s Day, I made tamales for the first time. I’d always heard they were time consuming and a lot of work. But as it turned out, they were only multi-stepped.

Boil the meat until it’s falling off the bone; mix the masa with lard, baking powder and salt and meat broth according to the recipe on the bag; take the seeds out of the peppers; fry them in hot oil and blend them with meat broth into a sauce; shred the meat; mix with the pepper; spread the masa dough on corn shucks that have been soaked to make them pliable; put dollops of meat on top of the dough; roll them up; place the tamales in the pot and steam them for about two hours until the dough is set.

Josh helped me the first few years. My kitchen was small and there was barely room for the two of us. But I looked forward to the time with him.

After a couple of years, we added other dishes – salsa, guacamole, rice, refried beans, white cheese dip with chips, enchiladas… Our menu can’t compete with the local Mexican restaurant, but it’s pretty adventurous for a family of Delta transplants who are much more accustomed to the traditional New Year’s fare of black-eyed peas and hog jowl.

In 2010, we made tamales in the new kitchen that is three times larger than the original because we knocked out walls and took in two more rooms. And for the first time, there was room for everyone to help make the tamales.

My niece Jenny Holmes and her husband, Jeremy, helped roll, while Josh and my oldest son Jim alternated between rolling and trying to perfect dipping sauces made from the leftover peppers. My son Jason breezed in and out, helping a little, making suggestions and, as always, looking good. Those who love him say Jason’s motto is, “It’s not how good you do it, but how good you look doing it.”

They talked about their jobs, movies I had never heard of and childhood adventures that I had been blessedly unaware of until then.

When we were done, we had filled the galvanized pot and the new larger aluminum pot that was a gift from my husband.

We had tamales to eat, give away and freeze. And they were good. But it should be obvious if you’ve stayed with me this long; it’s really not the tamales I like as much as making them with the 30-year-old-plus adults that I still call the kids.

New Year’s Day 2011 was a little different. My mother-in-law died on Christmas Day and was buried on New Year’s Eve. But tradition is called tradition because you keep it up. So on New Year’s Day, we rolled tamales with the help of relatives from Pennsylvania, down for the funeral.

For us, 2010 was a hard year from beginning to end. There was a cancer scare with my husband, the death of my daughter-in-law’s dad from cancer and Rosemary McCoy, my favorite sister-in-law, had surgery for a brain tumor on her 58th birthday just days before Christmas.

The Pennsylvania relatives seemed to really enjoy helping out with the tamales but for most of us, there was a sense of carrying on because it needed to be done.

In our family, 2011 rivaled 2010 in difficulty. My mother and Rosemary’s dad died, and our oldest children divorced.

But on New Year’s Day, Rosemary was standing at my kitchen island wearing a hat to keep her regrown hair out of the masa. And my son’s half-Mexican girlfriend, who speaks little Spanish and cooks no Mexican, was trying to make tamales for the first time.

As usual, many hands produced tamales of varying sizes while Josh chopped meat, chicken and shrimp for tacos. Jim worked on fajitas and Jason looked good while making his fruit salsa.

It felt right. It looks like 2012 might be the good year we all hope it will be. —Joan McCoy

TOP STORY >>Middle school welcomes Crawford

2012-01-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer

First District Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) toured Cabot Middle School North on Wednesday with state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot).

They discussed plans to hold roundtable discussions with school districts on ways to help struggling schools in the congressional district.

Crawford said there is dissatisfaction with the No Child Left Behind Act, which is having an opposite effect of what it was supposed to do. Later this year legislators will be voting on re-authorization of the education bill.

The proposed meetings with school district administrators will be held at six to eight locations, including one in Cabot. Crawford said the discussions will allow for sharing ideas, voluntarily paring up schools that are achieving with struggling schools.

Last year Cabot Middle School North was re-designated as a Diamond School to Watch, a 19-state program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.

As part of the Diamond School distinction, CMSN administrators were invited to Washington, visit Congress and tour the Capitol. While there, they invited Crawford to visit Cabot Middle School North.

The middle school was also honored last year with the Shannon Wright Award for the “Outstanding Middle Level Program in Arkansas.”

The award is presented to one middle school in the state each year during the Arkansas Association of Middle Level Educators Conference.

“The school is beautiful and state-of-the-art. What sticks in my mind the most is the enthusiasm of the students,” Crawford said.

The congressman said he noticed most of the children raised their hands when the teachers asked them questions.

Crawford said the classroom environments were soothing, not over-stimulating and did not let students’ attention wander.

CMSN Principal Tanya Spil-lane remarked that Crawford’s visit was very nice. She said the congressman appeared relaxed and comfortable while visiting the classrooms and meeting the students.

Spillane said Crawford displayed his human side when he played Nintendo Wii Tennis with the youngsters.

She said she was impressed on how Crawford listened to the students, making them view him as more approachable.

“I’m impressed with his concern with AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) status for our building. He seemed aware of the challenges we’re facing with the No Child Left Behind requirements,” Spillane said.

Superintendent Tony Thur-man said, “Congressman Craw-ford understands that there are concerns with the current accountability system and how schools are being labeled as “needing improvement” based on unreasonable criteria.

“Congressman Crawford has always been willing to listen when I've contacted him about concerns about education policy at the federal level and how it is impacting our local schools.

“We are appreciative that he took time from his busy schedule to visit with teachers and administrators and his willingness to consider options that we believe still provide the necessary accountability for every school in our state and nation,” Thurman said.

“I’m excited about the plan for roundtable discussions. It is a great honor for our building and the district,” Spillane added.

“Of all the schools in his district, (the congressman) chose us. It is an honor,” Assistant Principal Adam Koehler said.

TOP STORY >>Air base gets set for a new commander

2012-01-06T19:30:00.003-08:00

Col. Brian (Smokey) Robinson will soon assume command of the 19th Airlift Wing from Col. Mike Minihan at Little Rock Air Force Base.

Robinson is executive officer to Gen. Raymond Johns Jr., commander of Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB, Ill.

Minihan, who has been commander here since August 2010, will assume command of the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Md., whose responsibilities include Air Force One and other planes assigned to top officials.

Minihan’s new assignment will include worldwide special airlift missions, logistics and communications support for the president, vice president, cabinet members, combat commanders and other senior military and elected leaders.

Robinson was previously assigned to the Pentagon and was vice commander at the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston, S.C.

He graduated from Philadelphia University in 1987 with a bachelor’s of science degree in computer science and received his commission from Air Force Officer Training School in December 1987 at Lackland AFB, Texas.

His career as a pilot began in 1989 after earning his Air Force pilot wings at Vance AFB, Okla., followed by a position as a T-38B instructor pilot.

At LRAFB, Minihan leads the world’s largest fleet of C-130 aircraft and is responsible for providing worldwide deployable C-130 aircraft, aircrews, support personnel and equipment for Air Mobility Command and Air Expeditionary Force missions.

He ensures support for combat, contingency and humanitarian requirements with 12,000 personnel and families at LRAFB.

Minihan entered the Air Force in June 1989 after receiving his commission through the ROTC program at Auburn University. He completed undergraduate pilot training in 1991 and served as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot and evaluator pilot in the C-130 Hercules.

Minihan commanded an airlift squadron and four deployed expeditionary airlift squadrons. Most recently, Minihan served as vice commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
Minihan is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours in the C-130 and KC-10.

TOP STORY >>LRAFB backs up traffic

2012-01-06T19:30:00.001-08:00

By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer

It wasn’t the billboard moratorium that took up most of the Jacksonville City Council’s time Thursday night. It was all the complaints the council and city received Wednesday morning when the air base initiated a new security-check system and had traffic blocked, stopped and parked from the front gate, down Vandenberg Boulevard, up the frontage road, back up Toneyville Road and Hwy. 67/167 almost to Cabot.

Delays for the same reason at the back gate had Hwy. 107 blocked north and south for most of the morning.

“I live just a mile from work,” lamented Alderman Aaron Robinson, “and it took me an hour to get to work that morning.”

Mayor Gary Fletcher said the first complaint call came from his brother, who was stuck in the middle, and the mayor was inundated with calls once he got to the office.

He said the city’s director of administration, Jim Durham, took pictures of the stack up. “I wish we had a helicopter available to get a good aerial view of the backup,” the mayor said.

He plans to use the pictures and list of complaints when he meets with the Highway Department soon in his efforts to get an interchange at the nearby Coffelt Crossing.

“Even if we had just the exits and entrance ramps a lot of people would have been able to get on Hwy. 67/167 and bypass the base delays,” the mayor said.

Robinson asked for more communication and coordination and asked why more police weren’t out there. He was told they were there, but the traffic backed up so quickly and so densely that there wasn’t much they could do.

Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander, apologized to the mayor for the problems and modified the implementation of the system. The colonel also put a letter on the air base’s Facebook page.

“On Wednesday,” the colonel wrote, “we implemented a mandatory new security measure for entry onto the base. Despite our best efforts to make this as painless as possible, enormous delays occurred…please accept my apologies.”

He went on to write, “Please know my team has the best interests of the base and the community in mind. The last thing we want to do is cause delays. My priorities are to ensure the mission and security of the base, ensure the safety of those traveling onto and around the base, be a good neighbor to our community and expedite travel onto the base without compromising security.”

The mayor said he had a telephone conference call Friday afternoon with Police Chief Gary Sipes and base officials. “I believe all the kinks have been worked out, and there might be some minor delays and backups, but the worst is over,” Fletcher said.

Minihan, the mayor said, will be writing a letter for the mayor to take to the Highway Department explaining the backup issues and pushing for the Coffelt Crossing or other help.

SPORTS EVENTS >> 1-7-12

2012-01-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

BASEBALL ASSOCIATION MEETING WEDNESDAY

The Jacksonville Youth Baseball Association will meet at 6 p.m. every Wednesday at the Jacksonville Middle School football field house. The purpose of the meetings is to elect committee members and officers, and begin making plans for the upcoming season, including issues such as registration and the league draft. The meetings are open to the public.

Anyone interested in coaching or otherwise being involved in the youth baseball league should be present.

SPORTS>>Jackrabbits overcome mistakes, stay perfect

2012-01-06T17:19:00.001-08:00

By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor

The Jackrabbits had a 7-0 lead seemingly before you could blink, and it was pretty even from that point Tuesday at Lonoke High School. Lonoke went on to beat the Stuttgart Ricebirds 46-39 in a 4A-2 conference matchup.

“We did what we talked about and that was holding home court for conference,” Lonoke coach Dean Campbell said. “I thought we left some things out there, but we’re growing and getting some experience and we got a win.”

Lonoke’s Tarrale Watson hit a pull up jumper, Reid McKenzie got a shot from the post and Darrius McCall nailed a three pointer, giving the Jackrabbits a 7-0 lead, and forcing Stuttgart to call timeout with 6:32 left in the first quarter.

After the timeout, the game became a series of turnovers by both teams. Lonoke scored just two points over the next five minutes, while the Ricebirds didn’t get on the scoreboard at all until the 1:50 mark. Jordan Daniels’ bucket made it 9-2, but Lonoke scored the last four points of the frame to give the Jackrabbits a 13-2 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Ricebirds made a run midway through the period to pull within 20-15, and had three possessions at that score.

While Lonoke’s offense was struggling mightily with turnovers, the defense was playing hard and well enough to keep the Ricebirds at bay.

“I don’t know if it’s anything we stopped doing,” Campbell said. “I think they did a good job of changing the tempo and changing the pressure. It’s a credit to them because they were down 13-2 and had to do something, and they did.”

Stuttgart got to within 22-18 with 40 seconds left in the second quarter and had an opportunity to get even closer with two free throws. But Daniels missed both and Jackrabbit sophomore Blake Mack went the other way for a layup to set the score for halftime at 24-18.

Lonoke committed 17 turnovers in the first half, including 10 in the second quarter.

“The last few games we’re just getting sped up,” Lonoke coach Dean Campbell said. “We’re still trying to get comfortable with a new point guard and it’s definitely a work in progress. But we’re 3-0 right now and the more we play the more comfortable we’re going to get with what we’re trying to do.”

Lonoke made a small run to start the second half to get the lead back into double digits, but Stuttgart again made a run at the end. Daniels hit a three pointer with 50 seconds left in the third to make it 35-30, and that’s where it stood to start the fourth.

Neither team scored for a couple of minutes in the final frame, but senior guard Keli Bryant came off the bench to make one of the biggest plays of the game.

McKenzie missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Bryant battled and came up with the offensive rebound under the basket. In no-man’s land for a small guard, Bryant dribbled baseline out of the lane, turned and found Watson breaking to the basket for a bucket and a foul. Watson made the free-throw to make it 38-30.

About a minute later, Bryant was fouled attempting a three pointer and made two of three from the line to give Lonoke at 10-point lead that all but sealed the game.

“There wasn’t much there that’s going to jump off the stat sheet at you, but those were huge plays that (Bryant) made,” Campbell said. “Those are the things we talk about, just do the things you can when you get the opportunity. He really gave us a lift in the fourth quarter.”

McKenzie led the Jackrabbits with 13 points, and had a double double by adding 10 rebounds.

“Reid, I think, had his best game so far,” Campbell said. “I think we got away from going to him in the fourth quarter and we’ll have to work on that.”

Lonoke’s overall record improved to 10-4 while Stuttgart dropped to 2-9 overall and 0-5 in league play. The Jackrabbits played at home against Cave City on Friday and will host Marianna on Tuesday.

SPORTS>>Bears trudge by Monticello

2012-01-06T17:18:00.002-08:00

By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter

There were dunks-a-plenty, but the 46 total combined turnovers and 21 trips to the free-throw line drug out an ugly 53-40 victory for Sylvan Hills over Monticello at the Sylvan Hills High School gymnasium on Thursday.

The Bears (9-3, 2-0) got an early boost from senior guard Archie Goodwin to help build a 9-2 lead, and withstood a Billies comeback to start the second period to pick back up on 5A-Southeast Conference play with another win after a layoff of nearly three weeks.

“Defensively, I thought we did a nice job,” Sylvan Hills coach Kevin Davis said. “I thought they were a unit defensively. I was a little concerned about the turnovers; we talked about it at half. We played a lot of guys, and sometimes when you play that many, finding chemistry can be a little difficult. I thought we found each other a little during that third quarter.”

The third quarter was by far the cleanest for the Bears, as Goodwin put his elite skills on display with seven of his game-high 26 points in the first 3:26 of the period before playing sporadically for the remainder of the game. Goodwin also pulled down five rebounds in his limited time on the court to lead the Bears along with Larry Ziegler and post player Devin Pearson, who also had five boards each.

“This is a kid that averages seven rebounds a game,” Davis said of Goodwin. “You’ve got Devin and David and Larry working in there, but if you can get a guard to come in there and get you those 7-10 boards, that’s nice.”

The Bears used nine players in the first half and 10 in the second half, and many of the personnel swaps led to turnovers initially. Sylvan Hills went most of the third quarter with just two turnovers before wholesale lineup changes eventually led to nine giveaways before the end of the game. It was their first game back from the Christmas break, but Davis was unwilling to use that as an excuse.

“Yeah, you could say it’s pretty typical, but I didn’t want it to be typical for my team,” Davis said. “I thought we would come out and play a little more solid than that. Turnovers – we’ve had a terrible problem all year, and that concerned me that we were just, I don’t think we were careless, we were just hurrying a little bit.

“It is typical, but I didn’t expect us to be that way tonight.”

Goodwin handled most of the point-guard duties while on the floor as well as leading the scoring, while Dion Patton took charge on defense. Patton had the green light to shoot from the perimeter, but finished with one point from a second-quarter free throw while making no shooting attempts in the second half.

“He’s been shooting the ball so well,” Davis said. “I moved him into the 2-slot with Archie at the 1 – kind of a floating system. But I’ve been riding Dion saying, ‘Man, you need to carry me a little bit, because you’re shooting the ball so well from the perimeter.’ You have to really be proud of what he has accomplished from a new position.”

Goodwin started the game with a dunk and drove the paint for a lay-in moments later to give the Bears and early 4-0 lead with 6:20 remaining in the opening quarter. He also ended the quarter big time with a steal and another dunk to give Sylvan Hills an 11-4 lead, with Goodwin responsible for nine of those points.

Pearson added nine points for the Bears while Jacob Gates had six and Ziegler finished with five. For Monticello (8-4, 0-1), junior guard Tony Butler led with 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

SPORTS>>Red Devils roughed up by Warriors

2012-01-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter

The Jacksonville Red Devils went into Thursday night’s game against the two-time defending state champion Little Rock Hall Warriors knowing they had to be the aggressor.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, the Warriors were the more aggressive team from the start, and despite a late Jacksonville run in the third quarter, Hall managed to get the 65-52 win at Little Rock to win the 7A/6A East conference opener.

The Warriors’ basketball program has been beyond stellar over the past four years, winning three of the last four state championships in its class. The year they didn’t win state, they finished as the state’s runner-up in 2009, losing that championship game to Jacksonville.

Hall won the 6A state title the next year, and even though the Warriors moved up a class in 2011 and finished third in conference behind 6A Parkview and Jacksonville, they finished the season by winning the 7A state title.

Regardless of the Warriors’ elite reputation, Jacksonville coach Victor Joyner believes his team is on the same level and should’ve and could’ve played a lot better.

“They just came out and seemed to be more battle tested than we were,” Joyner said about the Warriors. “We didn’t come off of our screens tight. They pushed us away from screens. They were more aggressive than us early. It was obvious because of the point output.”

The Warriors out-rebounded the Red Devils 21-11 and had 12 steals to Jacksonville’s five. Hall was the dominant team early, scoring the first four points of the game with wide-open dunks that were the result of Jacksonville turnovers.

Hall was suddenly up 10-2 early in the first quarter, but Jacksonville regrouped and started to play defense. The Warriors only other point in the quarter came from the free-throw line, but the Red Devils could only manage four more points in the quarter, and Hall led 11-6 at the end of the first.

Hall dominated the second quarter, out-scoring Jacksonville 26-13 to take a 37-19 lead at the half.

“They were just more aggressive. We played timid, at least it looked like that to me,” Joyner said. “I wouldn’t say we were shell shocked, I just believe they were way more aggressive than our kids were.

“Even when we would drive to the bucket with open shots, they would come up and block it, because we weren’t attacking the bucket with any ferocity. We just weren’t aggressive.”

Jacksonville played with more aggression in the third quarter, and went on a 15-6 run to begin the quarter, cutting the Warriors’ to lead to single digits with 2:48 left in the third.

Hall out-scored Jacksonville 6-5 in the final minutes of the quarter to lead 49-39 going into the fourth. In the final quarter, Hall out-scored Jacksonville 16-13 to set the final margin.

Joyner was very disappointed with the team’s effort.

“Since I’ve been at Jacksonville, I’ve never had a team come out and be that passive, ever,” Joyner said. “Hall was just more physical and aggressive than our kids. That’s just the bottom line.”

Hall finished the night leading every statistical category, including free throw percentage. Hall shot 76 percent from the line as opposed to Jacksonville’s 61 percent. Both teams had more than 20 free throw attempts.

Jacksonville junior point guard Justin McCleary led the Red Devils with a game-high 17 points. 13 of those points came in the second half. Senior post player Tirrell Brown finished with 11 points and three blocks.

Senior guard Quan Jones and junior post player Bobby Portis led the Warriors with 15 points.

Jacksonville (10-3, 0-1) will try and earn its first conference win Tuesday, when the Red Devils face another aggressive and physical opponent in Little Rock Parkview.

SPORTS>>Pressure lifts Cabot to win

2012-01-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

By JASON KING

Leader sportswriter

Pressure and patience were the key ingredients in Cabot’s 52-32 victory over Greene County Tech at Panther Arena on Tuesday.

The Panthers (9-0) finished their non conference schedule with a perfect record and made a statement to 7A-Central competitors with a stout defensive performance that kept the visiting Golden Eagles on the run to try and avoid the pressure. Offensively, Cabot worked the ball thoroughly and waited for the perfect shot, resulting in good scoring nights for several Panther players, including senior guard Sam Howe, who had game-leading 13 points.

“I thought in the second half, we played much better,” Panthers coach Jerry Bridges said. “That’s why we put this game here with our break like it was to try and get this one before we start off for real Friday. To be 9-0, I don’t know who we’ve played, but they work hard for us every day.”

Tech kept things close in the first half with a series of well-timed three-point baskets, but when the outside dried up for the Eagles in the second half, the hard-nosed play of scrappy senior guard Andrew Ferguson was all they seemed to have left for Cabot. Ferguson led the Eagles with 12 points.

Cabot held the ball nearly two minutes on some possessions in the second half, which opened up lanes inside for dumps into the post. Sophomore Josiah Wymer was the biggest beneficiary for the Panthers, scoring eight of his 10 points in the second half.

“One thing we do well is executing our high-low,” Bridges said. “First half, I thought we did a poor job of hitting our big men on the block. They were open, and we weren’t getting it to them. I looked up there in the second half. We were up 20, and I didn’t know where it came from.”

Arthur West added 10 points for Cabot, though two of those points were disputed most of the first half. West stole the ball from Tony Valdez in the closing seconds of the first quarter and made his way to the basket for a lay-in at the buzzer. One official called for the basket and a foul while another referee waved off the shot.

That was the start of a five-minute debate at the scorers table, which resulted in the basket not being counted to leave the score at 6-4. The basket was eventually counted, however, as the halftime margin of 17-14 mysteriously went to 19-14 just before the start of the third quarter.

Wymer’s only first-half points came with 2:04 remaining until the break with an assist from West to give the Panthers a 15-9 lead. He scored again inside at the 2:39 mark of the third quarter to make it 32-20 in favor of Cabot. He then scored on a put back following a missed free throw by Clayton Vaught for a 35-21 Cabot lead.

“We keep telling him, ‘Josiah, if you catch the ball down on the block, make them stop you,’” Bridges said. “As big as he is, when he gets that momentum going one direction, you can’t stop the kid, but man, he’s a good lift for us. We feel like we’ve got 10 guys that we can play.”

Ferguson never quit battling for Tech, though sometimes it appeared as if he was in the fight alone.

He converted a basket and free throw with 4:24 left to play in the first half to cut Cabot’s lead to 28-20, only to watch as the Panthers picked up a turnover and scored on a lay up by Howe to begin a 7-1 run that put Cabot at a comfortable 35-23 margin heading into the final period.

Junior guard Kyle Thielemier showed little signs of rust in his first game back from injury as he added eight points for the Panthers.

“I don’t know; we didn’t expect this – they work hard,” Bridges said of his team’s early success. “There’s a lot of basketball left, but I never thought we would be 9-0 now. They’re very unselfish. I think we’ve had four or five different leading scorers in every game.

What I like about tonight’s win is, we can shoot the ball a lot better than what we did tonight.”

The Panthers began league play at home against Conway last night after Leader deadlines. Look for details of that game in Wednesday’s Leader.

TOP STORY >> 189th AW impacts C-130s across the fleet, augments value of Guard

2012-01-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

By 1st Lt. Chris Nelson
189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

In this era of persistent conflict, a fully leveraged National Guard provides this nation a highly cost-effective and proven force. Adding to the National Guard’s proven value for this nation, the 189th Airlift Wing located on Little Rock Air Force Base is “putting on the brakes” to further increase its worth.

The 189th AW is the first C-130 unit in the Air Force to modify its aircraft with the Wheel and Brake System Improvement components.

WBSI is an Air Mobility Command funded Improved Item Replacement Program for the C-130 that is expected to exceed $327 million dollars in life-cycle cost avoidance.

“As a recognized leader in C-130 operations and training I think that it is fitting that the 189th was selected for this new program,” said Col. Harold S. Eggensperger, 189th Airlift Wing commander. “This wing has shown time and time again how exceptional it is by leading the way in efficient efforts and tax payer savings.”

Since 2009, the 189th AW has been working with the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center, Headquarters AMC and the Air Force Flight Test Center as the Subject Matter Experts responsible for the final design, fit testing, technical order verification/validation, flight testing, and the Field Service Evaluation.

“This is an outstanding program. It’s going to save a lot of time and money over the life cycle,” said Maj. Chris Montanaro, 189th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. “We were picked to stand up this initial break system because we have the best maintainers in the Air Force by far. We have the most experienced, the most lean-forward attitude, and we are a can-do unit.”

Gerald E. Wheeler, a C-130 landing gear engineer, said, “The OO-ALC Landing Gear office continued to request the 189th AMXS’s support throughout the development and test phases of the WBSI program because of their exceptional support and unparalleled expertise.”

The modification includes a digital Mark IV anti-skid system including an improved anti-skid valve and a fault display unit to enhance maintenance troubleshooting. The modification also introduces a new lock ring wheel assembly that reduces the mean time to repair by 50 percent and eliminates the requirement to torque and do a non-destructive inspection on wheel bolts.

Master Sgt. James Pearson, 189th Maintenance Squadron aircraft hydraulic supervisor, said, “Brakes are currently changed on average every 236 landings. It’s amazing that the new brake is rated at 2000 landings or an average of 10 years.”

The improved carbon disc brakes improve thermal capacity by 25 percent and increase on-axle time to 10 years versus the current C-130E/H brakes that last approximately six months to one year.
“The wing currently is scheduled to modify five additional aircraft over the next several months. All remaining 189th aircraft should be modified by the end of fiscal year 2012, and all 535 C-130H aircraft in the AF are projected to be retrofitted by the end of FY14,” said Pearson.

“Because of the reduced maintenance, the reduced-acquisition cost, the reduced-logistics footprint and the better maintainability and reliability of these systems, there is a significant cost savings over the legacy system,” said Wheeler.

(Lt. Col. Marc A. Sicard, 189th MXS commander; contributed background information for this article)

TOP STORY >> Trash in the woods behind base housing

2012-01-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Bits and pieces of litter have been found scattered across the base. Over the course of years these pieces of trash can accumulate to become truckloads. It appears as if some people have chosen to carelessly walk into the woods, discard household items, trash and other waste they no longer want and generously pass them off to the great outdoors not realizing the ecological consequences their actions bring. Why would one toss tires, fast food garbage, and other filth into the woods, disfiguring the beauty of the base and causing others to work harder and pick up their slack? The natural resources office on base urges people to stop illegally dumping, take the time to deposit their trash in the right place, and respect their fellow Team Little Rock Airmen and the environment.

Throughout the years, James Popham, the 19th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources manager, Joanne Carlon, the 19th CES capital asset manager, and others have found trash items such as tires, a mini refrigerator, kid’s toys, pooper scoopers, mattresses, old carpet, television screens and monitors, lawn chairs, and even a washing machine dumped into the woods, not only around base housing, but the entire base.

“We’re not totally sure that base-housing residents are the ones dumping the trash in the woods around their area,” said Carlon. “Some of the trash we find could have easily been deposited by the tornado in April.”

Popham also doesn’t blame base-housing residents, but finds the places where he locates trash to be oddly conspicuous.

“Behind the immediate tree line surrounding base housing is where we find trash, and that’s where the residents are,” Popham said. “When you find trash like kid’s toys and pooper scoopers, it’s hard not to think base-housing residents have a part in the littering, but we still cannot hold them completely responsible for these actions because we don’t know.”

Carlon wants everyone on the base, including base-housing residents to be aware that there are opportunities for everyone to recycle and get rid of their trash. There is no need for people to dump trash in the woods when there are facilities provided to sort trash and recyclables, she said.

“Base-housing residents have three opportunities to get rid of their trash,” said Carlon. “Mondays are bulk trash pickup, where residents can dispose of large items like broken furniture. Tuesdays are for regular household garbage pickup, and Thursdays are for recycling.”

Littering is illegal dumping whether people know that or not. Carlon urges everyone around the base to be on the watch for people who litter. If one spots someone carrying items and headed toward the woods, notify the 19th Security Forces Squadron at 987-3221.

There are consequences for this action, said Joe Ott, 19th SFS industrial security. If the person caught littering is a civilian, the Jacksonville Police Department will come to the base and assist the 19th SFS. If the person is a military member, the 19th SFS will detain the person and a report will be made. The report will be sent to that person’s commander, and he or she will take further actions.

When trash is found in the woods by Popham, Carlon and others, they have to take time from their normal responsibilities to collect them and place the items in its rightful place. Sometimes these items take time to move because of their weight, so it’s not an easy task.

To prevent littering, there have been signs put up in certain areas around the base, said Popham. An important prevention method is education. Knowing where to dump the trash and which items are recyclable can help reduce the amount of litter found around the base. There are many recycling bins around the base.

Locations for recycling on base are at the old Base Exchange, the Airman and Family Readiness Center, the small base lake and the recycling center. At the recycling center there is a drive-through service available Monday - Friday that accepts plastic, newspaper, junk mail, office paper, magazines, scrap metal electronics, batteries, cooking oil, cardboard, phone books, glass and metal/aluminum cans. For tires, since they aren’t recyclable or picked up by base housing garbage services, the City of Jacksonville Recycling Center accepts them.

Natural disasters such as tornados don’t need help in wrongfully relocating items and trashing the woods; however, the base does need everyone’s help to make sure that the woods and the entire base remain a clean place to work and live.

COMMENTARY>>Now is the time for leadership

2012-01-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

By Chief Master Sgt. Andy Kaiser
Command Chief, Air Mobility Command

Life as an Airman in service to our country is honorable and rewarding. There is no higher calling than to be a part of a group of Americans who pledged their lives in our country’s defense. This choice is definitely not for the faint of heart. It takes an exceptional person just to earn the title of Airman, officer or enlisted, and the demands continue to grow the longer we serve. If you are charged with leading other Airmen, whether as a first-line supervisor, NCOIC, flight chief, commander, etc., you have a solemn obligation to serve those you lead with high standards and expectations, true compassion, up-to-date guidance, genuine caring, and most important, by splendid example. While this is always true, now is unquestionably the time for strong and compassionate leadership, considering the amount of “churn” Airmen are experiencing these days.

Our opstempo remains high, with a number of Airmen continuing to deploy at greater than a 1:1 deploy/dwell ratio. If you are not currently deployed, you are carrying heavier buckets of water because many of your teammates are “downrange”. We have been executing missions in Afghanistan for over 10 years now and we just completed our mission in Iraq after nearly nine years. Many Airmen have deployed “outside the wire,” many in harm’s way. Sadly, a number of our Airmen have joined our Soldier, Sailor, and Marine brothers and sisters in the ranks of wounded warriors. And tragically, we have had brave Airmen give the last full measure of devotion to our country.

So yes, these are challenging times to lead. Add to this all the news of ongoing budgetary constraints, the spectre of sequestration on the horizon, its impact on personnel programs, and you have a recipe of great concern for our future. Airmen are asking:

“Will I have a retirement to look forward to?”

“Will I be able to continue serving in our Air Force?”

“Am I affected by the enlisted high year of tenure changes?”

“What do you mean I can’t reenlist in my current AFSC?”

“What is a career job reservation constraint?”

Understandably, the list goes on.

All this leads to a point: if there was ever a time for strong, effective, informative, engaging, and compassionate leadership, it is now. We, as leaders, have to anticipate the concerns and issues that will be on the minds of those we lead. Instead of waiting to be asked, we need to be proactive in talking with our Airmen, share what we know and create an environment where our Airmen feel free to approach us with questions, concerns, and opinions on what lies ahead.

In addition to being the epitome of our Air Force core values, leaders at all levels need to manifest three “ilities” – Availability, Visibility, and Approachability. The degree to which we demonstrate these three “ilities” has a direct impact on mission success and Airman wellness. Availability simply means being able to be contacted 24/7. Airmen should be able to reach out to their leaders at any time for mission or personal reasons. Seldom does anyone relish a phone call at 0200, but we have to make it clearly known we want to be contacted at 0200, or any other “inconvenient” time if our Airmen have a need. No harm, no foul.

Another way to define visibility is “Leadership By Wandering About,” or LBWA. Our Airmen need to see us all over the environment within our sphere of influence. For example, if we serve at the flight level, we cannot be a stranger to anyone in that flight. While it is true LBWA becomes more challenging as our echelons of service become broader (squadron, group, wing, etc), visibility remains a critical component to effective leadership. Often we discover emerging issues before they are full-blown, and we can “nip it in the bud.” Plus, Airmen love to see their leaders on their “home turf” -- it shows they care.

Undergirding availability and visibility is approachability. It does not matter how available we say we are, or the degree to which our Airmen see us out and about, if we have not created an atmosphere of approachability in the minds of the Airmen we serve and lead. We will be ineffective at best. However, if we take a genuine personal interest in the betterment of our Airmen and do not “schwack” them the minute they come to us on a matter, they will soon know you are one to go to on any given situation. There is a reason why the following quote endures: “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” It endures because it is true.

So in this time of prolonged high opstempo, uncertainty about future end strength, force management programs, and fiscal austerity, the need for strong and compassionate leadership is critical. By being proactive, informative, available, visible, and especially approachable, we will enable our Airmen to navigate through some unchartered waters and come out the other side not just in survival mode, but thriving. To do any less would be a great disservice to those who have pledged their lives to our Nation’s defense.

TOP STORY >>Defense bill affects pay, separation bonuses, more

2012-01-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – President Barack Obama signed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 31, 2011, which increases active-duty and reserve pay by 1.6 percent and governs Defense Department activities, from procurement to military personnel policy.

Several provisions in this year’s act will potentially affect active-duty and retired service members and their families.

Section 347 requires DOD to finance an independent assessment of overseas troop basing, advising retention, closure, realignment or establishment of U.S. military facilities outside the U.S. “in light of potential fiscal constraints on (DOD) and emerging national security requirements in coming years.”

Section 402 reduces authorized Army minimum end strength from 562,000 to 547,000. The other services’ authorized minimum strengths are unchanged, with 325,700 for the Navy, 202,100 for the Marine Corps and 332,800 for the Air Force.

Section 512 of the act creates a new member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which currently includes the Army and Air Force chiefs of staff, the chief of naval operations and the Marine Corps commandant. The new member will be the chief of the National Guard Bureau, who will have responsibility for “addressing matters involving non-federalized National Guard forces in support of homeland defense and civil support missions.”

Section 526 extends voluntary separation pay and benefits authority, formerly set to expire Dec. 31, to the end of 2018. Section 530 converts the high-deployment allowance from mandatory to authorized. The allowance currently pays $100 a day, in addition to all other pay andallowances, to a deployed service member who has been deployed 401 days or more out of the preceding 730 days.

Section 701 limits annual TRICARE enrollment fee increases for retirees and their family members to an amount equal to the percentage by which retired pay increases that year.

Section 702 sets mental health assessment requirements for service members deployed for contingency operations. The act calls for a series of assessments: one within 120 days before deployment; another during the period between 90 days after a deployment begins and 180 days after it ends; a third within a year after the deployment ends; and a fourth between 18 months and 30 months of redeployment.

The act states assessments are intended to “identify post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and other behavioral health conditions ... in order to determine which such members are in need of additional care and treatment for such health conditions.”

Assessments are not required for service members “not subjected or exposed to operational risk factors during deployment in the contingency operation concerned,” the act states.

Section 954 affirms that DOD “has the capability, and upon direction by the president may conduct offensive operations in cyberspace to defend our nation, allies and interests,” subject to the law of armed conflict and the War Powers Resolution.

Signing the bill into law, President Barack Obama acknowledged “serious reservations” about parts of the act, particularly provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation and prosecution of suspected terrorists.

“I have signed the act chiefly because it authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, crucial services for service members and their families, and vital national security programs that must be renewed,” Obama said in a statement released today.

The act also contains critical initiatives to control spiraling health-care costs within the Defense Department, develop counterterrorism initiatives abroad, build the security capacity of key partners, modernize the force, and boost the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations worldwide, he noted.

COMMENTARY>>Team Little Rock: The right combination

2011-12-15T12:46:00.002-08:00

By Major Justin Barry

314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
commander

Roughly two weeks ago, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz was discussing the need to find the right combination of efficiency and effectiveness in light of forecasts for tight budgetary constraints through the foreseeable future. He said, “Finding the right balance of regular, Reserve and Guard forces is the key to maintaining future Air Force capabilities during (this) dramatic period of budget austerity.” This “right balance” is the key to the success of the organizational construct known as Total Force Integration, in which active duty and reserve component forces blend seamlessly to provide combat capability for our nation’s defense.

As is the case in so many areas, Team Little Rock and its Center of Excellence are in the vanguard of Air Force TFI efforts. As many already know, Team Little Rock is home to two active duty C-130 wings (the 314th and 19th), as well as the 189th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard. Helping cement the truly “total force” nature of our operations, we have with us now the lead elements of the 22nd Air Force’s Detachment 1 from the Air Force Reserves.

In a unique integration effort, our Reserve counterparts are blending into the daily operations of my Blue Aircraft Maintenance Unit, as well as those of our brethren flying in the 62nd Airlift Squadron. That alone does not make this integration unique. There are many blended units throughout the Air Force which utilize both active duty and reserve component personnel to accomplish their missions.

What is truly special about this TFI project? Over the next three years, the Reservists with Detachment 1 won’t only pick up the majority of the responsibility for launching, recovering, maintaining and flying our C-130H2 aircraft in support of Air Education and Training Command’s training mission, the Det 1 personnel will also be integrated and associated with the 189th. This integration is unique because Air Force Reserve Command personnel will be associated with an Air National Guard wing to perform a mission-set in support of an AETC requirement. That requirement, and our charge, is to produce combat-ready aircrews able to provide tactical airlift support at a moment’s notice, around the globe.

My counterpart, Maj. Richard Rogers, Detachment 1 maintenance commander, and I are working hand-in-hand to ensure our units are moving in the correct direction to meet all the milestones for the association with the Air National Guard and the time-phased handoff of our legacy Herc training mission. The same can be seen in the flying squadrons as well. This TFI effort is beginning to grow legs and gain momentum as more and more reserve personnel arrive each month. There is still a long row to hoe, but we are in it together to ensure safe, effective and efficient mission accomplishment.

General Schwartz said, “We need to capitalize on the incredible synergy we gain from Reserve and Regular Air Force Airmen working as one team. With the proper balance, I know we can create a strategic depth and an immediate-response force that is efficient, effective and has a combat capability second to none.” You see that synergistic and balanced team right here at TLR, the foundation and home of Combat Airlift.

COMMENTARY>>Holiday wishes from the top

2011-12-15T12:46:00.000-08:00

By Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr.

Air Education and Training Command commander

The winter holidays bring an array of celebrations that highlight the diverse cultures that make our nation great. What unites so many of those festivities is a spirit of thankfulness for the many blessings we share. Teresa and I want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season and say thank you to all the men and women of Air Education and Training Command for making 2011 such a success.

Closest to our hearts are all the deployed members of the command and their families. Having gone through this experience ourselves, we know how deployments over the holidays can be particularly tough, not just on the Airmen, but particularly the families back home. This year, more than 6,000 AETC Airmen have deployed around the globe. Thanks to your exceptional diligence and readiness, AETC answered the call to send our people to multiple worldwide operations while also maintaining our total commitment to training and educating the world’s finest Air Force!

For those of us not deployed, I ask that as you make your holiday plans for quality time with family and friends, please know that I take personal interest in your safety and well-being. Be smart and make good decisions. If you’re traveling, use caution and allow yourself time for delays. Make arrangements ahead of time so you’re never in a position to consider drinking and driving. The world’s greatest Air Force is nothing without its number one asset – you.

As we celebrate together, I also ask you to remember the families of our deployed Airmen as well as our single Airmen. In the spirit of camaraderie that makes our Air Force such a special family, I hope you’ll welcome them into your holiday gatherings here at home.

The bonds we build today serve to strengthen the command for tomorrow…and continue to make our United States Air Force the most respected airpower in the world. Happy holidays, AETC. Thank you for all that you do to keep our nation secure.

TOP STORY >>Timely tips for tax season

2011-12-15T12:45:00.001-08:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Tax season is right around the corner. This part of the year can be very stressful and overwhelming if one is slothful at getting their documents together for filing their taxes.

Here at Little Rock Air Force Base, members who will be working at the tax center have given helpful tips to make sure everyone can get their taxes done in a timely manner and with as much ease as possible.

“The W-2s for the Air Force should be out at some point in January,” said Capt. Catherine Deist, 19th Airlift Wing chief legal assistant.

“For the tax center on base, which will be located at the Thomas Community Activities Center, Feb. 1 will be the first day for filing taxes, but people can start filing their taxes as soon as they get their W-2s.” said Capt. Tamera Kennard, 19th Airlift Wing chief of civil law

“There is a website that’s free for all military members and dependants to use to file their own taxes,” said Deist. “This website, (www.militaryonesource.com), can do Turbo Tax as well as H&R Block. It is recommended because it’s a very easy site to use. The website however, is not free for retirees.”

For those who will be using the tax center’s services, Kennard said, here are some documents needed: W-2s, proof of jury duty pay, proof of alimony received, social security statement (1099-SSA), dividend and interest statements (1099-DIV and 1099-INT), retirement distributions (1099-R), and brokerage statements (1099-B), along with statements showing when you bought and sold your investments.

Other tax documents are: HUD-1 Escrow statement for property bought or sold, summary of moving expenses, summary of educational expenses (college tuition and books not paid for by government), summary of child care, day care, or adult day-care expenses, IRA contributions (traditional, SEP, or rollovers), and student loan interest paid (1098-E).

Tax deduction documents include: health care expenses, real estate taxes, motor vehicle registration, mortgage interest paid (1098), gifts to charity (anything over $250 needs a receipt), last year’s tax preparation fees, loss of property due to casualty or theft, and gambling losses.

These documents may also be helpful to have for those using militaryonesource.com, or filing taxes on their own.

“A helpful note for military-tax filers who have rental homes,” Deist said, “is when you are renting your home, and you’re not making any money off it, and you profit, technically, if you’re renting it out for whatever the cost of your mortgage is, it’s still income. For example, if you’re renting your home out for $1, you’re making $1 per month in income, and that needs to be listed on your tax forms.” That’s a huge mistake Deist said she’s seen people make, and if they get audited, it’s a big deal.

This year the tax center is not doing rental property, so that website would be a good source for those who rent homes to use, said Deist.

“April 16 is the last day to file taxes and also the last day the tax center will be open,” said Kennard.

There are unknown penalties for not filing taxes on time, Kennard said. One can file for an extension but not through the tax center. They have to go to the IRS website at irs.gov and file for an extension on line.

“If someone is deployed in a combat zone during tax season however, they get 180 days from the day they return to file their taxes,” said Deist.

The Spousal Relief Act is something military members need to ask their personal tax preparer if they qualify for, said Deist. “We get a lot of questions about this, but it’s only for very particular situations.”

Deist and Kennard want to make known that the tax center is really for easy taxes. It would be better to use th e military one source website for the more complicated situations. It’s very easy to use, and it will ask the right questions to help you step-by-step.

For more general questions about filing taxes, one can call the legal office at 987-7886. This number however, is not for legal questions because legal advice cannot be given over the phone.

TOP STORY >>Alcohol: Testing your knowledge

2011-12-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

Mina Underwood

19th Medical Group – ADAPT Program, Certified Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Counselor

Just open the container and drink – right? Do you really know how to drink alcohol? You know exactly how many drinks it takes to get a buzz and how many to get drunk –right? If you’re a seasoned drinker you might think you have your drinking down to a fine science, but you could be wrong. There are so many factors that can throw your plan right out the window.

SLEEP: When you‘ve had a good night’s sleep, you feel great and having a couple of drinks may be no big deal. Some people have a difficult time sleeping and, since alcohol makes them sleepy, they may try to use it to sleep. The problem is that it prevents them from getting deep, restorative sleep. They stay in the superficial levels of sleep and wake up sore and tired. What if you haven’t slept well and you drink alcohol? You’re already tired and now you’re adding a depressant to your system – be aware of what your body is telling you.

MOOD: Keep your edge. Alcohol is a depressant, or downer, because it reduces brain activity. If you are depressed before you start drinking, alcohol can make you feel worse. Here’s a bit of advice that could save your life: If you’re depressed, don’t drink. The same lack of inhibitions that can lead a drinker to wear a lampshade as a hat, can have consequences that are far more tragic for people with suicidal thoughts.

Now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in a large sample of suicide victims whose blood alcohol levels were measured post mortem, one in four had been legally drunk.

MEDICATION: Know the risks – alcohol is a drug. Mixing it with any other drug can be extremely dangerous. Alcohol and acetaminophen, a common ingredient in over the counter pain and fever reducers, can damage your liver. Alcohol mixed with drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, fainting, heart problems and difficulty breathing. Mixing alcohol and drugs can also lead to death.

YOUR PERSONALITY: Some people’s personality really changes when they drink. You’ve probably been around someone who was a mean drunk, a happy drunk and asloppy drunk. The bottom line is that there will be some kind of personality change. As your blood alcohol count goes up, your perceived ability to do something is increased. While in reality your actual ability is diminished. This is what causes people to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. They think they’re ok, but they’re not.

YOUR BEHAVIOR: The vast majority of people who consume alcoholic beverages do not engage in criminal behavior. However, it plays a part in domestic violence. Consider the statistics:

- Alcohol is present in more than half of all incidents of domestic violence, with women most likely to be battered when both partners have been drinking.

- About 70 percent of alcohol-related incidents of violence occur in the home and begin with the greatest frequency at 11 p.m.; 20 percent of these incidents involve the use of a weapon other than hands, fists or feet.

YOUR PLAN: DWIs/DUIs, underage drinking, public intoxication and binge drinking continue to plague Team Little Rock.

Alcohol is not going anywhere. We will never go back to the days of prohibition. You’re going to have to decide what role drinking alcohol will have in your life. Are you going to control alcohol or is alcohol going to control you? What are you doing to make sure you don’t become a statistic? What are you doing to make sure your friends and subordinates don’t become a statistic?

Always ask yourself before you drink: You + alcohol = ?

If you think you have a problem with alcohol, or need some education, please contact the ADAPT Clinic @ 987-7338.

Statistics obtained from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

COMMENTARY >> Little Rock to test new Quick Don Mask for Airmen

2011-12-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

By Karen Dooney
Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. – Little Rock Air Force Base is one of four bases testing the new Quick Don Mask in an effort to buttress Air Mobility Command’s aviation safety improvements.
Did you know at or above 35,000 feet you have less than 10 seconds during a rapid decompression to don an oxygen mask before your time of useful consciousness is exceeded and you black out? This may not cross your mind while traveling on a commercial airline, but military service members must think of it every day. It becomes worse if a fire occurs...fumbling with a pair of smoke goggles is the last thing you want to be doing.

The Air Force’s current Quick Don Mask consists of a two part assembly: the primary oxygen mask and a separate anti-smoke goggle. Crewmembers required additional time to don the mask and goggle, distracting them from reacting to the situation at hand, and ultimately leading to safety concerns for the Air Force. In reaction to these safety concerns, the AMC commissioned AVOX Systems Inc, to develop a new oxygen mask integrating the breathing portion with the smoke goggles that met stringent Federal Aviation Administration requirements for the mask to be donned in 5 seconds or less. Additionally the AVOX Quick Don Mask was designed as a “one size fits all” mask and also accommodates members wearing prescription glasses.

Military members can breathe easier knowing that the new Quick Don Mask is being tested by Test Directors from the Air Mobility Command’s Test and Evaluation Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB-MDL), New Jersey. To cover AMC’s vast range of mobility aircraft, the modified AVOX Quick Don Mask is being tested in four phases: the C-130E/H at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; C-130J at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.; KC-135 at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.; and C-17 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N. J.

The new AVOX Quick Don Mask is just one of AMC’s aviation safety improvements. According to the Chief of Staff in 2010, “We recorded the safest year in aviation history for the second consecutive year, achieving decreases in flight mishap rates in almost every category, clearly illustrating our institutional commitment to preserving our equipment and people.” With the help of personnel throughout McConnell Air Force Base and the Air Force, we can continue to maintain the Air Force’s commitment to care for our airmen and their families, whether on the ground or in the air.

TOP STORY >> Holiday driving safety reminder for the Rock

2011-12-09T07:06:00.001-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
– Robert Frost

Frost-tipped tree branches, barren of leaves, bristling pines and the tranquil Arkansas landscape, evinced by rolling hills, bounding deer, and other wildlife, can be a charming and disarming site to spectators; however, Team Little Rock members shouldn’t let the calm, sterilized, atmospheric tides of winter put their awareness to sleep while driving those many miles , or else they may be thrown in tumult with consequences like damaged property, speeding tickets, traffic violations, and, at worst, injuries and casualties to themselves and others.

During the holiday season it’s feasible that service members may be given early-dismissal or late-reporting times. The base commander encourages TLR members to drive extra carefully when this occurs, and to always check with their chain of command to verify early-dismissals or late-reporting times.

“I want to make sure that every TLR member adheres to proper safety precautions when road conditions get dicey,” said Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “A base-wide speed limit of 15 mph will be enforced when there is an early-dismissal or late-reporting date. Additionally, everyone should verify any changes to working schedules with their supervisors and chain of command. Posts made on social-media networks like Facebook may not apply to everyone on the base.”

The most hazardous time for drivers, especially in the winter time, is in the dead of the night, said Tech. Sgt. Ricky Carroll, 19th AW ground safety technician. The long stretches of rural roads with sparse surrounding and occasionally no street lights can turn a car into a dangerous machine.
“You are twice as likely to have a fatal accident during night as during the day,” Carroll said. “The sudden appearances of street lights or bright lights from other cars are real problems. The problems are only amplified when the road is slick from rain, snow or ice.”

Along with being cautious for weather changes, drivers should also remember to be on the look-out for pedestrians and wildlife, said Carroll. Also be advised of school-children, driving in school zones and above all, be aware of the other drivers on the road.

“It’s always best to practice defensive driving,” said Carroll. “Just take the steps to be courteous to other drivers even if you think they aren’t being courteous to you. Nobody wins when there’s a car collision or when a pedestrian gets struck because two drivers were not practicing safe driving techniques.”

Watch the weather forecast, he said. It’s not always perfect, but it’s a good indicator of what’s going to happen in the area, and can give drivers a heads up on preparing for snow, ice and inclement weather.
“We can get some chilly weather up here,” Carroll said. “Being the south, it seems like people aren’t always as ready for the snow as they should, or when the snow comes, they aren’t always sure how to react to it. Cold weather can be dangerous, heaters can break, cars can break down, accidents happen and cold weather can make it worse.”

It’s good to keep a stock of warm items in the car, he added. Flashlights, blankets, water, and extra warm gear can be helpful in the event of an ill-timed breakdown. It’s always prudent to think safety first no matter the time of year or place.

“Extra batteries are important in the winter time, and even a generator may be helpful if power is lost,” Carroll said. “The important thing is to think ahead and always try to be prepared. That way the odds of situations catching you unaware and leaving you in a bad situation are less. Luck favors the well prepared”

So while driving down those long, sometimes-isolated, stretches of Arkansas highway, byways and access roads, try to stay alert and save the sleeping, figuratively and literally, for the bedroom.

COMMENTARY>>Ready ready roll

2011-12-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

On a frosty morning, when most people are still snuggling a blanket in bed to stay warm, instructors with the 62nd Airlift Squadron were laboring over table-tops of details preparing themselves and their students for flight.

Maj. Doug Buchholz, a 62nd AS evaluator pilot, and Capt. James Sinclair, a 62nd AS instructor navigator, are flying with Capt. Matt Thomas, a 109th Airlift Squadron student co-pilot, and 1st Lt. Cameron Koehler, 47th Operations Support Squadron student pilot, on their “check” flight, the flight which will determine whether they become qualified C-130H pilots.

“If they finish this flight successfully they’ll be officially certified C-130H pilots,” said Buchholz. “The process to be (C-130H) certified is an 18-24 month process so passing the check flight is a big deal.”

The check flight will grade the prospective pilots on their ability to meet the mission’s criteria. Prior to the formation briefing the four-man crew sits together at their mission-table and discusses the day’s mission.

“You’ll be graded, but don’t hesitate to ask for help,” Sinclair tells the student pilots. “This is still an instructional sortie, if you make a mistake, roll with it.”

Buchholz expects the students, who they’ve been working with for nearly six month, to do just fine, but wants to make sure they’re not fazed by adversity during flights.

“They’ve made a lot of strides since they’ve gotten here,” he said. “Before (training) they only used (C-130)simulators, they’re a lot more involved now in the process then when they got here.”

After discussing preliminary flight concerns, the crew is summoned to the conference room for the formation briefing, delivered by the mission commander.

During the briefing the crew is instructed on the mission overview, objective, priorities, situational concerns and prospective threats.

After the formation briefing the crew reconvenes at their table and dives into the table-top briefing, the final major step before the crew steps out to begin their flights.

“This is the last chance for us to make any changes,” Buchholz said.

During the table-top briefing, Thomas thoroughly instructs the students on a number of topics concerning the flight, including the route points, navigational issues, flight plan and the most important part, the drop off.

Although they will be examined on a number of criteria, the most important thing the instructors are looking for is the ability of their students to communicate to the crew during their flights.

“If you have any questions at all for anyone don’t hesitate to ask,” Sinclair said. “You’ll need to be able to talk to everybody out there, including the loadmasters.”

As Sinclair concludes the table-top brief, and asks the students if they have any more questions about the day’s sortie, Buchholz agrees that the success of the mission primarily rests on the student’s ability to communicate with their crew.

Before leaving for the plane, Koehler and Thomas both express eagerness to complete the day’s mission and get certified as pilots.

“I’ve been here almost six months,” Thomas said. “It’ll be good to get back home.”

When he returns home, he hopes it’ll be as a certified C-130H pilot, and under the guidance and instruction of the 62nd’s instructors that may just happen.

TOP STORY >>Airmen’s names used in online scams

2011-12-08T12:36:00.001-08:00

By Chris McCann
Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) – “Hi,
Thanks for replying to my ad. I’m in a hurry to find a buyer because I have a family emergency and I need to sell it before 22 November. My name is Larry. I’m an Air Force Staff Sergeant stationed at an AF Base in Anchorage, Alaska. The truck is here with me.

“This 2000 Toyota Tundra SR5 4 Wheel Drive, has 72,000 miles on it, Automatic 4SPD, 4.7L V8. A/C, Cruise Control, Heated Seats, Tow Package, Traction Control and more... It has no damage, no scratches or dents, no hidden defects....

“The price is $2,690. If you want to buy this SUV I will take care of the delivery to your door (with an AF cargo plane to the nearest AF Base) and I will offer 5 days to inspect the vehicle and take it to your mechanic from the moment you receive it (and the option to accept or reject it), before I’ll have your money...”

Sounds too good to be true?

That’s because it is.

This scam and others similar to it have circulated around Craigslist for a few years now.

Service members of all branches have had their names used as the “sellers” of these vehicles. Often, the ad even states that an Air Force tow truck will take the vehicle from the nearest Air Force base to the buyer’s house. The photos are taken from other Craigslist ads, photo-hosting sites and even car dealership websites.

Unfortunately, people can and do get conned into sending money, and the car of course never shows up.

Staff Sgt. Amanda Gibson, an approving official for the 3rd Munitions Squadron here, was a “seller” – much to her surprise.

“I found out through an email from someone at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, (Ohio),” Gibson said. “I thought it was over. ... Then I got a call from security forces at a base in Pennsylvania because a civilian had gotten in touch with them and asked if I was real.”

She was also mentioned in an article in the Hartford, (Conn.) Courant about the scam, she said.

In all, she has found her name in 61 scam advertisements and continues to get occasional emails about the vehicle she’s allegedly selling. Gibson has filed reports with the Federal Trade Commission and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, she said.

Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done. The scammers are not in the U.S. in most cases. FBI Agent Tim Gallagher, the section chief of the bureau’s cyber division, said that the FBI has arrested people in connection with the scams overseas.

However, that may be cold comfort to those who have been duped.

“I think service members’ names are chosen because it’s relatively easy to verify that we exist, and people want to trust military people,” Gibson said.

It’s also easy to search for a name and get results, even phone numbers, which makes potential victims think it’s legitimate. For example, even Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Kuehnl, the 673rd Air Base Wing senior enlisted advisor here, was shocked to get a call on her duty phone about a vehicle she was allegedly selling.

“I have sold things on Craigslist in the past, so the first email didn’t surprise me,” Kuehnl said. “But I would never use the duty phone. That spooked me.”

Alaska seems to be a good place for the scammers to claim as the car’s location, since it’s remote, Gibson said. Often, people don’t realize it’s a scam until they offer to make a trip to take a look at the car, which is almost always somewhere remote.

If a potential buyer offers to visit and test-drive it, suddenly there’s “another offer” and the car isn’t for sale anymore, or it’s “already crated and ready for shipping.”

And what if you discover that you’ve been “trying to sell” a beautiful vehicle at a fraction of its blue-book value?

Fortunately, said a representative from OSI, it’s usually not an actual case of identity theft, just theft of your name. Scammers use web-based email addresses, like Gmail, to do the transactions; they’re not hacking email accounts. They don’t need a person’s social security number, address or any other information – just his or her name and reputation as a service member – to get their money and disappear.

Most times, the ad states that “for your protection” the money will go to an escrow account with eBay until buyer and seller are both satisfied, officials said. But eBay and Craigslist have nothing to do with each other. Just like Toyota won’t repair your Ford, eBay won’t broker money for Craigslist.

Airmen who find that someone has used their name in connection with the scam should report it to local authorities as well as to IC3.gov and ftc.gov. OSI also recommends Airmen inform their chain of command. Some potential victims think that service members are the scammers, so their command should know what happened as soon as possible.

Airmen can also file reports with the FBI, and it’s never a bad idea to have a fraud alert on your bank account and credit cards, officials said.

Craigslist and eBay both have prominent disclaimers reminding people not to use Western Union or MoneyGram for purchases, since once the money is sent, it’s gone, with no recourse for the sender. While those services might be good for sending money to a relative or friend, they’re also often used by scam artists.

COMMENTARY>>Growing rock at Little Rock

2011-12-01T13:20:00.001-08:00

By Chief Master Sgt. Jesse Stirling
314th Airlift Wing command chief master sergeant

In geology, rock is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals. In simpler terms, it takes a collection of bits and pieces to grow rock. Every element plays a critical role in the process and it still takes nature centuries to fully mature rock. Team Little Rock completes the same task in a fraction of that time. How is this possible?

How can a collection of people with such diverse backgrounds, working in three separate wings accomplish what Mother Nature takes generations to do? The answer to this question was clear from the first day of my assignment as TLR’s newest command chief. It started with the professional welcome we received from 19th Security Forces Squadron personnel at the main gate, continued with a courteous check-in from the folks at billeting and warm greetings from 314th leadership, followed shortly thereafter with an immersion brief from the 189th Airlift Wing.

Truth be told, in the first few days here, my wife and I received scores of briefings and met so many people that remembering what wing they represented was difficult. It was at this point that Kay and I realized Little Rock is a very special place. Our three wings work as one complete entity, supporting each other in the missions TLR is charged to accomplish. As in nature, our bits and pieces work together to create a solid aggregate … but we do it faster!

I join a fantastic duo of Command Chiefs dedicated to your success. Alongside Chief Master Sgts. Jim Morris and Gary Wynn, I work for you. Our collective goal is to ensure you have everything you need to be successful, whether it’s training, equipment or support programs for you and your families. You are our mission, and we take that mission seriously.

Kay and I are excited to be part of the team.

We have met many of you already and look forward to meeting all of you. Thank you for a very gracious welcome, allowing us to be part of your rock, and all you do every single day.

TOP STORY > >Life on the binge

2011-12-01T13:19:00.001-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A night of, raucous partying, patchy memories, flaunting cash, empty bottles stacked up like trophies, no recollection of a beginning, middle or end, verbose bravado, delusions of grandeur, spastic drunk-dialing, bursts of emotion, enthusiastic sentimentality toward those they like, vitriolic disdain toward those they dislike, drinking games, shots, mixed drinks, beer bongs, the binge drinker lives for nights like these.

The morning after, stomach pain, nausea, cutting headaches, violent-vomiting, dysentery, dry mouth, indigestion, dehydration, dry heaving, physical agony, missing money from their wallet, a torrent of charges on their cards, inappropriate voicemails and text messages sent out in droves, bruises, cuts, scrapes from toppling to the concrete, perhaps a fight, perhaps an embarrassing display of sentimentality, social delinquency, perhaps they don’t mind the physical repercussions because their friends admire their alcoholic-fortitude, but perhaps they’re oblivious to the social anathema they’ve become or the physical repercussions of their behavior.

Most Airmen are acquainted with the Air Force’s mantras against driving under the influence and drinking underage. Moreover, many Airmen are familiar with the consequences of such actions. Yet, often lost amidst the discussion of preventative measures for DUIs and aiding in the delinquency of a minor are the social, physical and professional hazards of binge drinking.

According to a 2009 study released by the University of Minnesota and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled “Binge drinking in the military,” 43 percent of more than 16,000 military members polled admitted to binge drinking during the past month.

In an article published on sciendaily.com the first author of the study remarked about the significance of these results.

“Our study clearly shows that binge drinking is a significant public health problem in the military, which is dangerous to both the drinkers and to those around them,” said Mandy Stahre, Master of Public Health, a doctoral candidate in alcohol epidemiology. “It also underscores the importance of implementing effective strategies to prevent underage and binge drinking, such as maintaining and enforcing the age 21 minimum legal drinking age.”

From the standpoint of Master Sgt. Nichole Reynolds, the 19th Medical Operations Squadron certified drug and alcohol counselor flight chief, there is no fool-proof way of determining just how much of the base population binge drinks, but thinks that the majority of the problems rests with a negative perception stemming from alcohol-related incidents.

“I think we have a perception that there’s a lot of binge drinking on base,” she said. “It’s always the few that get in trouble that get the most attention. A lot of the 18-24-year-olds may think that everyone else is doing it, but unfortunately we don’t have a way of knowing all of the binge drinking problems except for our patients, I think it’s a case of most people doing the right thing, but the people getting in trouble changing the perception.”

Reynolds said the Air Force defines binge drinking as consuming four or more drinks per occasion for males, and three or more drinks per sitting for females. However, number or drinks consumed is not the sole indicator of being on a binge.

“Basically, if you’re drinking with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time, that’s a binge,” she said.

Going on a binge is a problem, Reynolds said. It’s a problem that people often live in denial about by rationalizing or bargaining with themselves or others.

“A lot of people we talk to are asked to define what they think an alcohol problem is,” she said. “I’ve found that people often fit that definition with what doesn’t include their drinking habits. I always tell people that even if you only drink once a year, but you intentionally drink to the point of intoxication and it causes a problem, then you have a drinking problem.”

The CDAC flight chief said a lot of patients make concessions or excuses for themselves because they want to avoid being labeled or associated with the stigma of “having a problem.”

“A lot of people don’t want to be given that label, but the majority of the people we see in here are commander-directed,” she said. “Not many people want to self-refer, and I a lot of that has to do with the perception that they don’t have a problem or don’t want the stigma.”

It’s always better to self-refer than be commander-referred to programs, Reynolds said. People that think they have a problem shouldn’t be afraid to self-refer.

“People have a lot of complicated feelings over self-referring,” she said. “It’s a lot better than being commander-referred or getting in a bad incident.”

Binge drinking comes with a massive amount of health risks, Reynolds said. Problems that mass-drinking can cause include mental and respiratory problems and the typical physical ailments such as vomiting, but can also shorten a person’s life-span by 15 years.

“The physical danger is that after three drinks your judgment is impaired,” she said. “After four drinks your coordination is impaired and you may put yourself in bad situations where you can get hurt. Alcohol is the one drug that affects every single system in your body, and there’s a laundry list of problems it can cause.”

Aside from the typical post-binge reactions such as headaches, nausea and vomiting, binge drinking can cause more severe physical damage such as damaging the liver and several types of cancer, Reynolds said.

“People who drink more than three drinks per day have an almost tenfold higher risk of esophageal cancer than do those who drink less than one drink per day,” the flight chief said.

Even though people get routinely educated about the dangers of excessive drinking, they’re still reticent to self-identify their problem, Reynolds said. The admission of having a problem may cause some people to feel they’re being labeled.

“Sometimes I do have people that are considering coming to talk to me,” she said. “They’ll come in and the questions they ask are: Will I be put on a profile? Will I not be able to deploy? What is my commander going to think about me? … They think their chain is going to look down on them if they admit they have a problem. They think that it’ll be looked at as a sign of weakness.”

Fears about being stereotyped as a weak person by their chain-of-command are unfounded, said Reynolds. In her experience, most commanders and chains-of-command appreciate the self-responsibility involved in identifying and voluntarily tackling a personal problem.

“I always tell people in that situation we’ve had patients referred to us that have actually gotten into alcohol related incidents,” she said. “(They) made bad decisions while under the influence, and the commanders are very supportive … having them get the help that they need. Our job is not to kick people out; it’s to help people become fully functioning members of the Air Force again. So if the commanders are going to be supportive of somebody who actually had an alcohol-related incident, then they’re going to be even more supportive of someone who didn’t wait until they had an incident … I think the Air Force is very supportive of that.”

Reynolds said that self-referring is a good step for a person who recognizes they have a problem, but not the only one. There are numerous paths to recovery available, and members should be encouraged to seek out which one fits their sensibilities the best.

“If someone thinks they have a problem with alcohol, I recommend going to AA meetings and trying to quit, not just cut back, if you don’t want to self-refer,” she said. “If you realize you can’t do it on your own, come to ADAPT and we’ll work with you to get you in the right level of treatment. We’re not here to try and trick anyone into something. We will be very open and honest and happy to answer any questions. Our primary mission is to help people become a fully functioning member of the Air Force.”

TOP STORY > >Program reduces disability-benefits waiting period after separation

2011-12-01T13:18:00.001-08:00

By Eric M. Grill
Air Force Personnel, Service and Manpower Public Affairs

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) – Air Force officials held a training conference recently to teach those operating the Integrated Disability Evaluation System how to process service members who, because of medical conditions, may no longer be able to serve in the Air Force.

The conference, held jointly between the Air Force Personnel Center and the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, was attended by more than 250 base-level physical evaluation board liaison officers, who guide service members through the disability evaluation system, and medical physicians, who recommend service members for the disability evaluation process.

The Integrated Disability Evaluation System combines the military services’ disability evaluation and that of the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits claims processes into a streamlined process to minimize the gap between service separation and VA benefits delivery. The program was introduced in 2007 as a pilot program at three military bases and steadily expanded to full Defense Department-wide implementation at the end of September.

The IDES provides a more seamless transition to veteran disability benefits with more consistent ratings between DOD and VA than the previous system, said Lt. Col. Lorianne Hodge, the Air Force Personnel Center’s Air Force Physical Disability Division deputy division chief.

“Physical evaluation board liaison officers are the ‘boots on the ground’ responsible for compiling and routing all case paperwork and are the primary point of contacts for Airmen as they go through the process,” Hodge said.

“Equally important are the physicians who make the determination that an Airman must be considered for potential separation or retirement.”

The main goal of the training conference was to arm the PEBLOS and providers with the information and tools to process the member through the disability system effectively and succinctly, said Maj. Teresa Clark, the Air Force Medical Operations Agency health benefit analyst and IDES program manager.

Under the previous Disability Evaluation System, Clark said, the processing time was significantly longer. This included a set of medical examinations by military physicians, a series of boards to determine if the member was still able to serve, and if not, assignment of a disability rating used by the Defense Department to calculate disability disposition. Service members could not begin to apply for disability compensation and benefits from VA until after receiving a dischargedate from their service.

With the new IDES, she said, “there is only one set of medical exams, performed to the Veteran’s Affairs standards, which provides medical information needed by both departments.”

The VA issues disability ratings that will immediately be used for veterans’ compensation and benefits once the service member is no longer active duty.

The integrated process still takes a little more than nine months, Hodge said, but now when the service member is finished with the military process, a disability claim is already filed with the VA so veteran disability compensation and benefits can begin after one month in veteran status. That is the earliest allowable under current law.

“Conferences like this provide for an open, candid forum to exchange input with the field on how the (IDES) process is operating and to foster ideas on how the system can be improved,” said Bret Stevens, the DOD’s director of transition policy for the office of wounded warrior care and transition policy. “It’s also an opportunity for conference attendees to receive an update of where the program is currently at and for me personally to get an insight from those who work closely with the individuals who are transitioning through the process.

The people who attended this conference “are truly committed to providing a program that meets both the individuals’ and services’ needs,” Stevens said.

COMMENTARY>>AETC commander wishes safe, joyous Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T22:02:00.001-08:00

By General Edward A. Rice Jr.
Commander of Air Education and Training Command

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Thanksgiving is a holiday of reflection, a look back at the many things we are thankful for, and Teresa and I want to first thank each of you and your families for the great things you do for our nation. It is your commitment and professionalism that allow Air Education and Training Command to develop the next generation of Airmen.

The First Command is an organization of wingmen dedicated to seeing each other succeed. One such example was Brad Shimp, an Air Force Recruiting Service Internet advisor, who took actions to save an Airman’s life when his resilience was at its lowest. Brad could have passed the Airman off to another hotline or professional, but he stayed on the line, made the connections to save the Airman’s life and in less than an hour, his first sergeant was knocking on his door to help him through the trying times.

We saw it again when 1st Lt. Ryan McGuire graduated pilot training – the first officer to do so as an amputee. Through his own sweat and determination, he overcame and succeeded, but he could not have done it without his wingmen there to support and encourage him.

We also have countless mission successes to be thankful for. For instance, two AETC C-17 crews from Altus AFB supported combat operations in Libya as part of Operation ODYSSEY DAWN. On a moment’s notice, they were ready to transition from their day-to-day training operations to real-world contingency operations.

Also, due to the motivated street and specialty recruiters of our Air Force Recruiting Service, we met 100 percent of the active-duty enlisted and line-officer recruiting goals for the fiscal year. In addition, we graduated the first class of combat systems officers, our Air Advisors taught countless Iraqi and Afghan Airmen to lead their services, and we welcomed the arrival of the first F-35ALightning II joint strike fighters to Eglin AFB. With too many to recount here, these are just a few examples of our successes and each is a testament to the dedication of the professionals within The First Command.

Lest we forget, there were sorrows this year as well. For some AETC families, this Thanksgiving will never be the same as they mourn Airmen who lost their lives. May we never forget them and may we continue to keep faith with their families as they will always be part of our Air Force family.

As you take this opportunity to recharge and relax with family and friends, I ask each of you to use good judgment and make sound choices. Watch out for your wingman. Have a plan...don’t drink and drive. Use caution when travelling and don’t overextend yourselves. Our nation needs all of you back safely, ready to continue the mission.

Teresa and I thank each of you and your families for your service to our nation and we wish you all a safe and joyous Thanksgiving holiday.

COMMENTARY>>AMC commander: ‘Thank you for serving others’

2011-11-22T22:01:00.002-08:00

By Gen. Ray Johns
Commander, Air Mobility Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – As we gather together with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, this is the perfect time to reflect upon how much we have to be thankful for. For one, I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with all of you – Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, Civilians and Commercial Partners. Serving selflessly, you all demonstrate tremendous commitment and dedication every single day. When the nation calls, you never hesitate. You say “goodbye” to your loved ones instead of “good night” and you go forward to deliver hope, fuel the fight and save lives. You answer the call so others may prevail.

Whether that call requires you to airdrop critical supplies to a remote post in Afghanistan, refuel aircraft to fight a ruthless dictator in Libya or provide aeromedical evacuation support in the midst of the Antarctic winter, you find a way to answer it with a “Yes.” Mobility aircraft often represent the first sign of hope for both warfighters on the ground and victims of natural disasters. But we must always remember, the aircraft itself has no heart – it’s comprised of cold steel and titanium. The heart of the aircraft is found in the Airmen who make the mission go – aircrews, maintainers, porters, security forces, intel analysts, communications technicians… all of you!

Each and every one of you represents an integral part of this command and an indispensible part of our Air Force. As such, it’s vital that safety remain a priority throughout the holiday season. The Air Force has designated Nov. 18 through Jan. 3 as its Holiday Safety Campaign to help raise awareness of personal risk management.

You may be driving across the country to spend time with loved ones – or just going a few blocks down the street – but in either case, it’s critical that you maintain situational awareness of road conditions and keep distractions toa minimum. Hazardous conditions, fatigue, speeding, alcohol and cell phone use can all make navigating the roadways very challenging. Plan accordingly, get plenty of rest, and have a Plan B ready, just in case.

Of course, for many of our deployed members, driving home for the holidays is not possible right now. Diana and I would ask that you hold all of our deployed Airmen in your hearts and remember them and their families this holiday season. Their wartime mission is a noble and necessary sacrifice to ensure our great nation can live in peace and security. We look forward to their safe journey home.

We wish all of you, at home and abroad, a very safe and happy Thanksgiving.

TOP STORY > >SecAF addresses current, future challenges for Air Force

2011-11-22T22:01:00.000-08:00

By Tech. Sgt. Richard A. Williams Jr.
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed approximately 300 Airmen, industry officials and Air Force Association members in a keynote speech at the AFA’s Global Warfare Symposium in Los Angeles, Nov. 18.

During his remarks, the secretary provided symposium attendees with an update on the Air Force today and its future budget outlook.

Donley said part of the Air Force’s planning for a more constrained defense budget started with former Secretary Gates’ initiative to root out waste and improve efficiency and effectiveness. Through this effort, Air Force officials identified $33 billion in efficiencies, which the service was allowed to reinvest across the future years defense plan.

“The planning behind these efficiencies is coming to fruition with the start of fiscal year 2012, and we are depending on Airmen in every command and activity, and on every contractor with whom we work, to help us reduce our costs of operation and make us more efficient in what we do,” Donley said. “But in this budget environment, we know that efficiencies will not be enough.”

Donley said though it will be tough to achieve the $450 billion in defense spending reductions over 10 years required by the Budget Control Act, they are considered achievable as Defense Department officials review the department’s roles and missions and examines all areas of the budget for savings.

“To get these savings, we will need to accept greater risk in some areas, terminate some lower priority programs, streamline others, continue driving efficiency in our operations and make some tough choices about the core tenets of our national security strategy,” he said.

The secretary acknowledged that there’s a great deal of uncertainty right now as the Air Force moves through the budget reduction process, but assured the audience that multiple leadership meetings are taking place throughout the Pentagon at the highest levels to discuss the matter. Furthermore, he said that President Obama, the Secretary of Defense, combatant commanders and the service secretaries and chiefs are discussing future national security requirements.

“We are working through the implications that budget reductions and shifting priorities will have on our national security strategy,” Donley said. “While there are many unanswered questions right now, and no final decisions have been made, a number of alternative plans and options are being considered.

“It’s safe to say that every single line of the budget is under scrutiny,” he said. “We are approaching the conclusion of our strategic review and will shortly begin finalizing major program decisions thatwill be consistent with the revised strategy and will get the most out of available resources.”

Donley also said, importantly, both Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey have made a commitment to ensure the U.S. military has everything it needs to protect national security at a time of considerable fiscal challenges.

In his remarks, the secretary also addressed the importance of supporting Airmen and their families while at the same time protecting the ability of the Air Force to sustain its core missions and capabilities.

“Despite the daunting strategic challenges and uncertain defense funding outlook ahead, the Air Force is committed to charting a path that fulfills vital Air Force missions today and in the future while staying true to our Airmen and their families,” he said.

Donley said there are certain capabilities the service will protect and that he and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz are determined to set the right course to make the right investments so that the Air Force evolves in positive directions, even with limited resources.

“First and foremost, we must continue to support our military personnel and families who serve this nation,” he said. “But with about 35 to 40 percent of our Air Force budget committed to personnel costs, and with areas like the cost of medical care of growing concern, everything needs to be on the table for consideration. Our obligation to those who serve is to ensure that the compensation and benefits they earn are sustainable for the Air Force over the long haul.

“Any potential changes to our military retirement system must be carefully considered to make sure we retain the highly motivated and experienced workforce necessary to execute the Air Force mission,” Donley said. “As Secretary Panetta has indicated, this would include grandfathering the current force where appropriate.”

Donley also took a moment to address concerns about the care of fallen service members at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation at the Dover Port Mortuary.

“The proper care of our fallen service members and their families is more than a critical mission -- it is a sacred trust,” he said. “The Air Force is accountable to our joint teammates and to the families to carry out this mission with dignity, honor, respect and reverence. The highest standards of mission performance are required and expected by the American people.”

After reports by employee whistleblowers alleging improper handling and preparation of remains at Dover Port Mortuary, the Air Force inspector general initiated an investigation in June 2010.

Donley said he and General Schwartz take personal responsibility and sincerely regret the lapses in standards at the Dover Port Mortuary.

“We deeply regret the pain this has caused to the families,” he said. “There is no question that the system was broken. It is our responsibility to fix, and I can attest that corrective action is well underway.”

He said a new commander has been in place at Dover mortuary for the past year, policies and procedures have been improved, and internal labor relations are being rebuilt.

“These changes will put this mission on a better path for the future,” Donley said. “I have also been directed by Secretary Panetta to ensure that appropriate disciplinary action was taken in regard to the Dover mortuary -- a charge I take very seriously. Our review will be exceedingly thorough and rigorous, as our fallen and the families they leave behind deserve nothing less.”

In addition, an independent panel of the Defense Health Board will review the adequacy and effectiveness of the Air Force’s corrective actions and will make recommendations for further improvements.

“The professional staff at Dover takes great pride in their solemn duty to care for America’s fallen,” Donley said. “I want to assure all Americans -- most particularly service members and military families -- that our fallen are being treated, and will continue to be treated, with the utmost reverence, dignity, and respect.”

The Air Force is committed to earning and rebuilding the public’s confidence in its stewardship of this sacred mission, he said.

TOP STORY > >Tricare data breach deemed low risk

2011-11-22T21:59:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – Science Applications International Corporation is mailing letters to affected military clinic and hospital patients regarding a data breach involving personally identifiable and protected health information.

On Sept. 14, SAIC reported the loss of backup tapes containing electronic health care records used in the military health system to capture patient data from 1992 through Sept. 7, 2011, in San Antonio-area military treatment facilities.

This includes patients filling pharmacy prescriptions and other patients whose laboratory workups were processed in these same MTFs, even if the patients were receiving treatment elsewhere. The data may include Social Security numbers, addresses and phone numbers, and some personal health data such as clinical notes, laboratory tests and prescriptions. There is no financial data, such as credit card or bank account information, on the backup tapes.

The risk of harm to patients is judged to be low since retrieving the data on the tapes would require knowledge of, and access to, specific hardware and software and knowledge of the system and data structure. As a precaution, the assistant secretary of defense (health affairs) determined that SAIC should notify potentially impacted persons or households of this incident by letter.

As directed by Tricare Management Activity, SAIC will provide credit monitoring and credit restoration services for one year for patients requesting them. The credit restoration services being provided exceeds current industry standards for responding to a data breach.

SAIC’s Incident Response Center is available to answer patient’s questions, including helping with signing up for credit monitoring, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Concerned patients should call the response center to ask questions and verify authenticity of the letter:

- United States, call toll free at 855-366-0140

- International, call collect at 952-556-8312

For more information, visit http://www.tricare.mil/Breach/.

(Courtesy of Tricare Public Affairs.)

TOP STORY >> Avoid safety-awareness hibernation this winter

2011-11-18T07:34:00.001-08:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

After navigating through the scathing cauldron that was the summer weather at Little Rock Air Force Base, Team Little Rock members are probably ready to simmer down, cool-off and enjoy the hopefully more amiable conditions in the fall.

However, TLR members shouldn’t let brisk weather, pleasant gusts of wind, and resplendent foliage lull them into a stupor. Safety measures should be a priority at all times of the year, and the weather changes in November and December prove no exception. Safety hazards at the end of the year include strong winds, heavy and frequent rains, surprisingly low-temperatures for those unprepared and the ever-present driving hazards constantly plaguing Arkansas.

“Driving has always been a problem around here,” said Tech. Sgt. Ricky Carroll, 19th Airlift Wing ground safety technician. “Fall driving particularly presents a lot of obstacles for drivers. Some of them are the driver’s fault, and some are the work of mother nature, but drivers need to remember to be cautious at all times.”

Driving accidents are indeed commonplace in Arkansas, said Joe Wooding, 19th AW safety specialist.
Despite being the 14th least populated state, Arkansas has the sixth most traffic fatalities in the United States.

This staggering statistic means that Team Little Rock members should be extra cautious when driving and particularly conscious during dangerous time periods.

Two of the most hazardous times for drivers are sunrise and sunset, said Carroll. Sudden changes in the lighting or glare from the morning sun can present special problems for some drivers.

“It seems obvious, but sunglasses are a big help in getting rid of the sun-glare that pops up during these hours,” he said. “Although people need to use common sense and know when to take the glasses off, obviously you shouldn’t have the shades on at night time, this is especially dangerous.”

While dawn and dusk are hazardous times for drivers, the most hazardous time is in the dead of the night, said Carroll. The long stretches of rural roads with sparse surrounding and occasionally no street lights can turn a car into a midnight-motorized menace.

“You are twice as likely to have a fatal accident during night as during the day,” Carroll said. “The sudden appearances of street lights or bright lights from other cars are real problems. The problems are only amplified when the road is slick from rain, snow or ice.”

Along with being cautious for weather changes, drivers should also remember to be on the look-out for pedestrians, said Carroll. Also be advised of school-children, driving in school zones and above all, be aware of the other drivers on the road.

“It’s always best to practice defensive driving,” said Carroll. “Just take the steps to be courteous to other drivers even if you think they aren’t being courteous to you. Nobody wins when there’s a car collision or a pedestrian gets struck because two drivers were going at it.”

Driving may be one of the biggest hazards in Arkansas, but the season changes can present other, more predictable problems that can be overcome by simply planning ahead, said Carroll.

Watch the weather forecast, he said. It’s not always perfect, but it’s a good indicator of what’s going to happen in the area, and can give people a heads up on preparing for snow, ice and inclement weather.
“We can get some chilly weather up here,” Carroll said. “Being the south, it seems like people aren’t always as ready for the snow, or when the snow comes, they aren’t always sure how to react to it. Cold weather can be dangerous, heaters can break, cars can break down, accidents happen and cold weather can make it worse.”

It’s good to keep a stock of warm items in the car, he added. Flashlights, blankets, water, and extra warm gear can be helpful in the event of an ill-timed breakdown. It’s always prudent to think safety first no matter the time of year or place.

“Extra batteries are important in the winter time, and even a generator may be helpful if power is lost,” Carroll said. “The important thing is to think ahead and always try to be prepared. That way the odds of situations catching you unaware and leaving you in a bad situation are less.”

So, even when the scorched earth of the summer is a thing of the past, TLR members shouldn’t go into safety-awareness hibernation, but should always stay vigilant for those safety stumbling stones that could lead to pitfalls and bring on a winter of discontent.

TOP STORY >> Black Knights receive Meritorious Unit Award

2011-11-18T07:33:00.001-08:00

The 19th Airlift Wing was awarded the Meritorious Unit Award Monday for exceptional conduct and outstanding service to the United States in direct support of combat operations from Aug. 1, 2009 – July 31, 2011.

“The Black Knights make no compromise when it comes to war fighter support,” said Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “Our Airmen and their families worked incredible hours to ensure those in harm’s way have the Combat Airlift they deserve. Combat Airlift is our mission, and nobody does it better than the Black Knights.”

During the time period, the wing deployed the most aircraft and Airmen for Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn out of the entire Air Force. Throughout the time period, the hard work, dedication and resiliency of Black Knights resulted in more than 10,000 sorties being flown, 100,000 passengers being transported, and 25,000 tons of cargo being shipped in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Responsible Drawdown, Coronet Oak and OEF – Horn of Africa.

In addition to providing service to the nation abroad, Black Knights also responded to crisis at home when a tornado tore through the base, damaging more than 270 homes, several aircraft and caused more than $80 million worth of damage. In spite of the destruction and devastation all around the base, the wing was able to deploy 16 aircraft and more than 400 personnel within 48 hours, and continued to support overseas contingency operations while simultaneously beginning to repair the base.

According to an Air Force Personnel Center fact sheet, in March 2004, the secretary of the Air Force approved the Meritorious Unit Award to recognize organizations for outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations.

The MUA is given to Air Force active duty, Reserve and Guard units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations for at least 90 continuous days during the period of military operations against an armed enemy of the United States on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

The unit must display such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion Of Merit. Superior performance of normal mission will not alone justify award of the MUA. Service in a combat zone is not required, but service must be directly related to the combat effort. Squadrons, groups and wings may be recommended for this award.

The MUA is not awarded to any unit or unit component previously awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award or unit awards from other service components for the same act, achievement or service. The base MPF will be updating the award for everyone attached to the 19th AW. The records should be updated within a couple of weeks, and if someone finds the award is not reflected in their records at the end of the month they should contact the MPF.

(Courtesy 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs)

BRIEFS>>1-27-12

2011-11-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

SELECTED FOR PROMOTION

Lt. Col. Dennis King, 61st Airlift Squadron, has been selected for promotion to colonel.

BASE CHAPEL GOSPEL SERVICE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The base chapel invites all members of the Base and community to join them each Sunday in the month of February to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s theme is “Black Women in American History and Culture”, and the chapel will be hosting different events each Sunday to honor this occasion.

Feb. 5 – Hat and Glove Sunday, any style, color or shape. Speaker: Sister Teresa Baker Street

Feb. 12 – Youth Sunday (Marching in cadence for Jesus) Speaker: Sister Alicia Golden

Feb. 19 – Warrior Sunday (We’re requesting active duty members to support us in uniform on this Sunday) Speaker: Sister Ella Colvin

Feb. 16 – All Women Gospel Choir (Rehearsal Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m., Chapel) Guest speaker will be Mr. and Mrs. Massie Street, Jr. Speaker: Sister Cassandra Swift.

AIR FORCE CLAIMS CENTER AVAILABLE

Members who have permanently changed stations and are dissatisfied with their transportation service provider can contact the Air Force Claims Center to help resolve their claim. For information call DSN 986-8044, 1-877-754-1212 or email AFCSC.JA@wpafb.af.mil.

MED GROUP CAMPUS TOBACCO FREE

Effective Jan. 1, the 19th Medical Group campus became tobacco free. All tobacco use will be discontinued upon entering and prohibited from being used within the defined medical campus. The defined medical campus includes all space in and around building 1090 (main clinic) within the boundaries of Texas Ave, Arnold Dr. and hole number 3 of the golf course. Medical group parking lots are considered part of the medical campus. Tobacco use will not be permitted in private vehicles on the medical campus. This policy is consistent with current Arkansas state law that prohibits smoking on medical campuses and most importantly promotes healthy lifestyles for our Airmen and all our beneficiaries. If you have a desire to quit tobacco use, contact Ms. Kim Dean, Health Promotion Educator, from the Health and Wellness Center at 987-5960.

ACTIVE DUTY OPPORTUNITIES

Active Duty Air Force is allowing certain prior service individuals an opportunity to return to active duty or cross over from other branches. Individuals currently serving in or separated from the Air Guard, Air Force Reserves, Active Duty or even currently serving or separated from sister services may apply. For more information contact Tech. Sgt. Sean Reynolds at 501-982-3913.

CROSSROADS CAFE

Crossroads Café hours are Mon.-Fri. 4-10 p.m. Weekend hours will remain the same, Sat. and Sun. 12-12 a.m.

Crossroads Café needs volunteers. Everybody is welcome to volunteer: officers, enlisted, retired and spouses. For more information, call Rachael Deason Lewis at 987-5051.

TAX VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The Little Rock Air Force Base Tax Center will open Feb. 1, 2012, for tax season. Last year the Little Rock AFB Tax Center saved service members $172,911 dollars in preparation fees and garnering more than $1.5 million in refunds. All of these savings were made possible by volunteers. Tax Center volunteers are trained through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. At the conclusion of the VITA training, volunteers qualify as certified tax preparers. Training is tentatively scheduled today, and is a requirement for first time volunteers, but optional for returning volunteers.

If you are interested in becoming a Tax Center volunteer or have any questions about the VITA program, please call Capt. Tamera Kennard or Senior Airman Linae Totten at the Legal Office at 987-7886.

TOP STORY > >Panetta urges leaders in budget decisions

2011-11-17T14:32:00.002-08:00

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) — In his strongest language to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called on Congress Nov. 8 to “show some leadership” in the budget process.

Panetta, speaking at the National Guard’s Joint Senior Leaders Conference here, said that the sequester mechanism built into the Budget Control Act is “like shooting yourself in the head.”

Defense Department officials understand there must be cuts and $450 billion in cuts is already factored in over the next 10 years. If Congress does not agree on further cuts, the sequestering mechanism will kick in, doubling the amount that must be cut from defense.

“What they are basically saying,” Panetta said, “is that if they don’t do the job they are supposed to do, if they don’t provide the leadership that they are supposed to do, they are going to allow these cuts to take place across the board.”

The cuts, he said, would cripple the ability of the department to protect America.

“I have said to members of Congress, ‘Look, my friends. I have men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line to sacrifice for this country,’” the secretary said. “’You sure as hell can sacrifice and provide a little leadership to get the solution we need in order to solve this problem.’”

The DOD is united in approaching fiscal issues, Panetta said, noting there are parameters that DOD leaders will follow. The first, he said, is the United States will maintain the best military in the world in the years to come.

The secretary vowed not to hollow out the force. Through history, he said, this has been the effect of reductions in defense spending. He cited the experiences following World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. Across-the-board cuts that were made then, he said, reduced the effectiveness of the military.

The scope of demobilization following World War II was so precipitous, the secretary added, that the military went from the strongest and best equipped in the world, to one that barely survived the North Korean attack a mere five years later.

“We have to learn the lessons of the across-the-board cuts approach,” Panetta said. “It is not the way to do this, as it weakens everything in defense if we do it that way.”

This doesn’t mean there cannot be cuts, Panetta said. DOD leaders are looking at every area in the budget to find efficiencies, duplications and programs that must be cut.

“The Pentagon is a big, damn bureaucracy,” Panetta ruefully said. “Going from the CIA to the Pentagon is like going from the corner hardware store to Home Depot.”

Procurement reform is another area of attention, Panetta said, and the department is looking for ways to streamline its procurement systems and reduce the time taken to develop and field new systems.

“We also have to look at the area of compensation,” the secretary said. “We have to look at those areas for savings. Health care, alone, in my budget is almost $52 (billion) to $53 billion.

“But in doing that ... I’ve got to maintain faith with those who are serving,” Panetta continued. “We have promised them benefits and we need to stick to it.”

Any changes adopted – like proposed changes to military retirement – will be grandfathered for those in service today, the secretary said.

TOP STORY > >Looking for some hot stuff

2011-11-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Stop, drop and roll...out the red carpet for the base’s fire department.

Not only does this highly decorated department of 55 employees respond to 300-400 emergencies a year that aren’t fires and carry out education programs on fire prevention, but they also work along with medical agencies, the department of emergency management and several fire departments in-state and out to gain experience and share training with each other.

“Our mission is protection of the forces, aircraft and people associated with Little Rock Air Force Base,” said Don Smart, Little Rock Air Force Base’s fire chief. “It goes a lot further than just responding to emergencies. We’re dedicated to training people on safety and technical engineering, which include making sure fire prevention is enforced throughout the base. Additionally, as an emergency response entity, we work routinely with the other agencies surrounding the base. Fire departments in general tend to work together so we can bring additional resources to the table when necessary.”

Smart said by training together, each group can share their experiences and build rapport with each other.

“The department has a limited number of people, and if we have a large event or emergency, the only way we can truly sustain a response is to rely on our partners,” said Smart. “Those partners happen to be outside the gate. We are a support agency to medical responses on the base. The Jacksonville fire department is the medical responder for the base, so we work hand-in-hand directly with them, almost on a daily basis.”

The give and take method is one that works well with the base’s fire department and its joint partners.

“We have mutual aid agreements with Jacksonville, North Little Rock and Little Rock,” said Smart. “We also get involved as much as we can to support these other agencies. In some cases we have a training mechanism that we can bring to the table to help them out. For instance, the firefighters that are on standby at the Little Rock National Airport, receive their annual live-fire training that’s required of them to maintain certifications on the base. We not only support them, but we support everyone that flies in and out of Little Rock National Airport.

“The specific resources that we have contain a capability that not all fire departments have,” said Smart. “Because of the support of our aircraft, we have some vehicles that are equipped with foam which have a capability of fighting certain types of fires, such as large flammable liquid spills containing gasoline or diesel. Most fire departments don’t have the quick capability to produce enough foam to fight fires such as those. When other agencies outside the base request assistance from us or need us, it’s typically because of what we can bring that other agencies can’t.”

By working together jointly, Smart said they can bring different visions of firefighting together and improve and increase their capabilities beyond what one department alone is capable of.

“When they bring their experiences to us, we get trained and that makes both groups better at what we do, which is better for the community and safer for our fire fighters,” said Smart.

The fire department is not only highly trained, but they are highly decorated. In the past year they’ve received 65 different types of individual and team recognition, awards and decorations from various groups throughout the Air Force.

“With only 55 people, the fact that we’ve received 65 types of recognition, I think, is pretty significant,” “Last October we had a 40-acre fire on the base during the air show,” said Smart. “It was threatening to stop the air show. It was also threatening to get into the woods across the runway. Had it done that, it would have been absolutely devastating. Fortunately, we were able to fight that fire and put it out in a very quick time frame, which allowed the show to continue and allowed us to protect the environment on that side. It’s very rare for a fire fighter to get a decoration for fighting fires-that’s what we do. The event was so significant, ten fire fighters plus other volunteers were decorated because of it.”

The fire department also received achievement medals and recognition from Air Force leadership throughout year. They received the 2010 Fire Prevention of the Year award from Air Mobility Command and were AMC’s 2010 fire department of the year.

Smart said the first goal of the department is fire prevention. They strive to prevent fires through education, technical engineering and a lot of code enforcement. That effort to prevent fires puts them in a position where they respond to very few fires annually. There have been six reported fires this year. That’s the lowest number they’ve had since 2005.

“All our fire fighters have to be trained and certified in different areas,” said Smart. “In those areas, we maintain a 10 percent average above the rest of the Air Force’s Career Development Course program and the rest of the Air Force’s fire services as well. That 10 percent average has been maintained for seven years. Without a doubt, I believe that Little Rock Air Force Base has the most successful training program in the fire service. Our fire fighters are instilled with the motivation to succeed.”

Smart is not the only person who displays pride and utter respect for the fire department due to their work ethic and honorable discipline.

“Team Little Rock benefits from a highly skilled and motivated group of fire fighters who selflessly stand ready every day,” said Lt. Col. Lance Clark, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. “They’ve proven their ability on big stages such as the pyrotechnic fires and off-course paratroopers during the 2010 air show. Also during the base’s worst tornado ever, they fought their way out of their damaged fire station to rescue our Airmen and their families and began clearing lines of communication to recover the base and keep injuries to a minimum. They’ve established benchmark relations with the surrounding community and Team Little Rock’s first response teammates. It’s no wonder they’ve been AMC’s most highly decorated fire department over the past year.”

In addition, they were recently recognized as one of 19th Airlift Wing’s 10 outstanding teams during the recent operational readiness inspection, said Clark.

The alliances between the base’s fire department and other agencies have shown to be successful due to the low numbers and preventions of devastating fires throughout the base and community. That in return melts fears and flames up confidence in their services. If one can’t stand the heat, call the fire department because they can.

CLASSIFIEDS >> 1-27-12

2011-11-17T14:30:00.001-08:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in Friday's issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

THRIFT SHOP open to the public. MWF, 10 am to 2 pm, first Saturday monthly. Great bargains. All revenues used to support mission. Volunteers and donations welcome. Jacksonville Care Channel, 201 Elm, 982-4647.

A free one-year membership in Military Officers Association of America is available for active, reserve, & national guard officers who are not prior members. Contact Central Arkansas Chapter Secretary (cacmoaa@aol.com).

YARD SALES

MOVING SALE, 1/28, 7 am-? Furniture, misc. Great prices. 216 E. Horizon, Ward.

JUST MOVED in sale, tons of extras, 26 Alpine Ln, Cabot, 1/28, 7 am-noon.

INSIDE SALE, 241 Jarry Ln., off Military Rd., 1/27 & 28, 8 am-3 pm.

MOVING SALE, 31 Ridgevale Rd., Sherwood, 1/27, 7 am-1 pm. TV, furniture, Jr. girl items.

HELP WANTED

DRIVERS: $1,200 Orientation Completion Bonus! OTR Openings! CDL-A OTR experience required. Koch Trucking, 1-800-213-7696.

HORSES

HORSES: LUCKY Acres Boarding Stable, TLC for your horse, box stalls and paddocks, clean pastures, indoor and outdoor arenas, riding instruction and training program. Dressage our specialty. (501) 988-2458.

PETS

BLUE GREAT Dane,11 mos. old, free to good home. (501) 286-2333.

55 GALLON aquarium w/black stand, light etc. Stand has some peeling on bottom, tank is excellent condition, $200 obo. (501) 941-8595.

FREE TO good home, lg. 4 yr. old orange tabby cat. 988-0524.

AUTOS/ACCESSORIES

2011 CAMARO ILT/RS, victory red, 4,500 miles, tons of options, 3.6L V6 eng., must see! $28,500. (989) 820-8205.

'04 FORD Explorer Limited 4x4, great condition, clean, good motor, 125k hwy. miles, $8,500 obo. (318) 218-8307.

ENCLOSED CARRY-ON trailer, 6'x12', white, interior lights, loading ramp, side door, like new, comes w/mounted trunk & accessories, $2,500. Call or text (828) 302-7366.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

HONDA VTX1800 cruiser motorcycle, 13,000 miles, chrome/silver, excellent condition, excellent buy, $7,900. (501) 838-7308, leave msg.

1999 HONDA Shadow VT1100CT, 37K miles, windshield, hard case saddlebags, luggage rack, backrest, Vance & Hines pipes, new tires, $4,500. (501) 773-3336.

14' FLAT bottom boat, $100. (501) 902-9243.

ITEMS FOR SALE

PAINTBALL GEAR: Freak kit barrels, $90; pod packs w/pods, $20; Proto elbow pads, $15; knee pads, $10; gear bag, $10. (785) 317-4904.

COLLEGE BOOKS: Portfolio Keeping, 2nd ed. $4; Easy Writer, 4th ed, $17; 50 Essays, 3rd ed. $17; The Craft of Revision, 5th ed., $40. (501) 786-3803.

CRAFT FIREPLACE insert with blower & heavy duty grate, good condition, $250 cash. 843-7939.

BOWFLEX w/200 lbs. resistance, less than a yr. old, $350 obo. (501) 286-2333.

NEW, NEVER opened black 16 gb iPad 2 wifi, $479. (304) 541-0164.

54" RCA, blk. floor model TV, not working, $50. You must pick up. (501) 247-8130.

MODERN WARFARE 3, excellent condition, $50 obo. (501) 786-3802.

50" SAMSUNG DLP HDTV model HL-S5086W w/black glass TV stand, $500 obo. (281) 919-7745.

ELLIPTICAL, 2011 Pro-Form 785 F, like new, barely used, $600 new, asking $300 obo. 410-2752.

WINE STORAGE rack, 50 bottle, metal, lockable, 44" high, 22" wide, $45. (501) 837-2906 or e-mail flyingherk@comcast.net.

5-PC. CB drum set w/pedal & cymbals, Zildian, great condition, $200 obo. (501) 941-8595.

COMPAQ/HP laptop, 2006, Word, DVD player/ripper, etc. Runs a little slow, needs a little TLC but everything functions, $60. (501) 410-2752.

HOUSES FOR RENT

Sherwood/Jacksonville areas. Beautiful 2, 3 & 4 Bedroom Mobile Homes. Large lots, in quiet safe park, close to LRAFB. Clean, quiet, & safe park. $450-$695 plus deposit. (501) 835-3450.

CABOT: 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage, hardwood/tile floors & new fixtures in 2010. $1,075 month, $1,000 deposit, 1 year lease, no smoking, no pets. (501) 628-1225.

STUDIO APARTMENTS - Jacksonville. Cozy 1 bedroom apts. Bed pulls down from wall in living room. Wood burning fireplace, $275 mo. & util. Military discount available. No children, no pets. Camp Construction, 982-0434.

2 BR, 1 BA newly refurbished mobile home, new CH/A, 5 miles east of Jacksonville in the Southbend area. Stove & refrigerator furnished. $425 mo., $300 dep. No pets. 944-1905.

3 & 2 BEDROOM, 2 bath mobile homes, central heat & air, newly remodeled. Hwy. 107, 3 miles north of back gate. No mowing, water & gas paid on 1. (501) 988-5187. Ask for Ed.

CABOT SCHOOL District, 1,800 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 15 minutes to base, large lot, covered patio. $1,000 deposit, $1,300 month rent, no pets. (501) 681-8400.

JACKSONVILLE: 1 bedroom duplex, carport, storage area, washer/dryer hookups, $395 rent, $300 deposit. (501) 833-3781.

LARGE 2 bedroom duplex. All kitchen appliances furnished, including dishwasher. W/D hookups. Private entrance. Water & trash paid. $500 mo., $300 dep. No pets. 2 1/2 miles from back gate of base, off of Hwy. 107. (501) 425-7582.

HOUSES FOR SALE

FOR SALE: Jackonville, 2 BR, 1 1/2 bath, kitchen, dining room, den w/large play area. Large fenced backyard. Owner finance w/down payment an option. Call 983-9000.

OPEN HOUSE, Sunday, 1/29, 2-4 pm, 319 Weathering Lane, Austin. Custom built in 2007, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, split bedroom plan, separate laundry, 2 car garage, deck, privacy fence. Washer, dryer & refrigerator included. $124,000. (501) 416-2331.

FOR SALE by owner. 188 Obsidian Drive, Sherwood. Minutes from LRAFB. 2,00 sq. ft., 3 BR, 2 BA, 2-car garage. Open floor plan, crown molding w/built-in shelves, fireplace, fenced backyard w/covered porch. Priced to sell $199,900. Buyer's agent welcome. View at militarybyowner.com MBO214165. Call (501) 251-7200.

CABOT: 3 BR, 2 BA, CH/A, 2-car garage, privacy fence, ceiling fans, laundry room, corner lot, walk to park/pool, $105,000. (501) 519-2819.

3 BR, 2 BA home on 1 acre, 3 yrs. old, $137,500. Closing costs paid. Call (501) 912-1824.

TOP STORY >> Little Rock AFB commander, wife nominated for O’Malley award

2011-11-11T12:44:00.001-08:00

Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander, and his wife, Ashley, were nominated for Air Mobility Command’s 2011 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley award for distinguishing themselves in the performance of outstanding service to the base for the year of 2011.

The O’Malley Award annually recognizes the wing commander and spouse team whose contributions to the nation, the Air Force, and the local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple in a key Air Force position.

“While Ashley and I are humbled to be AMC’s recipient and Air Force nominee for this award, our nomination is really recognition of everything the Airmen of Little Rock Air Force Base have done this year,” the colonel said. “This award really belongs to each Airman and their family. I want to thank each of you for the privilege of being your commander.”

The dedication shown by Team Little Rock members over the past year was highlighted by their rapid response to a disastrous tornado with determination and commitment to the mission. Despite the tornado causing more than $82 million worth of damage, affecting 273 homes, 60 buildings, five aircraft and causing a power failure on base, Team Little Rock members placed service before self and were able to provide immediate shelter and relief for 54 displaced families and had the base operational again within 12 hours, launching aircraft and deploying more than 400 Airmen to support the Air Force’s needs in the area of responsibility within 60 hours.

Team Little Rock members also worked together to prove their mettle during the Air Mobility Command Logistic Compliance Inspection Program and the wing’s first ever Operational Readiness Inspection as the host unit. The hard work of the Airmen and civilians impressed the LCAP and ORI inspectors as the wing received a grade of “Excellent” for the LCAP, and a grade of “Satisfactory” for the ORI, certifying the wing is war-capable and mission-ready.

Additionally, the base opened the $14.5 million Jacksonville-Little Rock AFB University Center in January, a first-of-its-kind education center at the base’s perimeter that was funded in part by a $5 million donation from the city after it taxed residents over a two-year period.

Also on the education front, a partnership with local community leaders resulted in Flightline Academy, a Jacksonville public charter school, opening on base in August, giving area on- and off-base residents an alternative education choice for children in fifth through eight grades.

(Courtesy of 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs)

COMMENTARY>>Relationships generate results

2011-11-10T14:32:00.002-08:00

By Chief Master Sgt. Brian Stevens
314th Maintenance Group

Recently I found myself at the barbershop and realized how long I had been going to the same place and the same barber (almost 15 years). The thing is I know there are closer and cheaper places to get my hair cut, but we have built a relationship of trust over time. He knows how I like my hair cut and that I’m usually in a hurry, we Americans tend to be very bottom line orientated and mission focused. Then it dawned on me, these types of committed relationships bring results that produce success in every aspect of life.

I continued to think about this as I recently attended a noncommissioned officer academy graduation at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. I was running the track around the flightline, affectionately known as I-81, and my mind started pondering this relationships-equals-results hypothesis.

For example, the first time I was at Keesler AFB was in the 1980s when I attended a six-week communications school. It was a great time, and I also learned a few things and built up my network of contacts. Fast forward a few years to Operation Desert Shield, and I’m at King Khalid International Airport north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, when I get a phone call from my old school instructor. He’s gone back to his original career field, and is now part of the Gen. Charles Horner’s, the then U.S. and Allied Air Operations commander, flying crew. My contact says his aircraft has a navigational aid problem he’s trying to fix, found out I was in the area, and said he needed my help. I immediately got to work, and a little while later I was able to get him the parts and test equipment he needed to fix the aircraft. Relationship = results.

The next time I was at Keesler AFB was 1997, and I was attending the Mathies NCO-Academy. Once again I learned a few things, had a great time and built even more contacts. Fast forward a few years again, and now I’m at Osan Air Base, Republic of South Korea. One of the folks I worked with had a death in her family. We needed to get her on an aircraft back to the states as soon as possible. I called over to the transportation squadron to see if we could get her to the airport quickly and discovered one of my former classmates was the NCO in charge of the office. With no hesitation, he was able to delay a truck heading to the international airport while my Airman packed, and in less than 20 hours, she was back home. Relationship = results.

By the time I had gone through these memories in my mind and finished my run, a light bulb came on in my mind. Without these connections I wouldn’t have been able to help or be helped. It became very clear that the relationships we make during our lifetimes help us succeed and produce the results we are looking for. Relationships = results!

One of my favorite relationships is with a great American we have right here at Little Rock Air Force Base, retired Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Tucker, 314th Airlift Wing Cost-per-Flying Hour program manager. This man has been a tremendous mentor and resource to me and many other folks here at the base – without him, many things wouldn’t have happened as smoothly or at all.

At the end of this month Tucker will have served our nation as an active-duty Airman and civil servant for 50 years. In that time he has cared for Airman of all ranks and their families.

He still keeps giving, and what he gets in return is fellowship and the knowledge that his relationships are strong enough to help him succeed in whatever needs to be done. Relationship = results.

What relationships do you have in your life and career? Are they strong? Can you rely on your contacts to help you out? Can they rely on you for the same reason? You never know who’s on the other line to help you see results.

COMMENTARY>>2011 year in review

2011-11-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

By Col. Mike Minihan
19th Airlift Wing commander

To say that 2011 has been a significant year in the lives of Team Little Rock Airmen, their families and our community would truly be an understatement. Ashley and I thank you and your loved ones for your service and recognize the sacrifices each of you have made to ensure the success and growth of all three wings here at “The Rock.”

This year has been one of unprecedented challenges and achievements. Some of the significant events this year include opening of the Jacksonville-Little Rock Air Force Base University Center, 314th Airlift Wing’s “Excellent” Unit Compliance Inspection, and the 19th Airlift Wing’s March ROCKEX. The 22nd Air Force Detachment 1 stood-up on base and now gives Team Little Rock members a new opportunity to continue answering their nation’s call to service as reservists. An incident that will continue to impact the base for years to come was April’s tornado and the amazing Team Little Rock and community recovery efforts in the aftermath of the estimated $82 million worth of damage. The 41st and 50th Airlift Squadrons also deployed 48 hours after the twister with eight C-130Hs models, eight C-130Js and more than 180 personnel -- no small feat. The 189th Operations Group transitioned to the Avionics Modernization Program flight training unit in May and in June the 189th Air Wing Rapid Augmentation Team won the Air National Guard and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Team Award. In June, the 19th AW geared up for inspections with an operational readiness exercise. The 314th AW returned from the July RODEO highly decorated as the Best Air Mobility Wing.

Any of these accomplishments singularly would be the sole significant event at any civilian business or other base for the entire year; however, at Little Rock AFB, we have risen to each occasion. Operations tempo like this has brought out the best wingmen, leaders and supportive friends and family the Air Force has to offer.

August and the months following brought on a whole new definition of operations tempo. The 314th AW finished their 2011 LCAP with flying colors, the Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School Flightline Upper Academy opened its doors to middle schoolstudents, the 53 AS deployed to support OEF and OIF, and the 19th AW scored an “Excellent” on their LCAP. In September the 19th flew away to Volk Field for their last practice before the operational readiness inspection. The base was awarded $100,000 as the AMC runner-up for the Commander in Chief’s Installation Excellence Award for quality of life improvements. October winds brought with it the 19th AW’s dominating performance during the AMC ORI and the celebratory Air Force Ball for all of TLR; it was undoubtedly a world-class event!!

Combat Airlifters will continue to make a global impact in the weeks, months and year ahead. From Jan. 1 to Aug. 1, 2011, 371 TLR personnel deployed to the area of responsibility. The deployments show no sign of stopping, more than 220 Airmen are scheduled to deploy in the upcoming months.

The dedication and attitude of each and every Airman on this base is what makes the difference. That infectious, can-do spirit leaves a lasting impression on every IG inspector, competition judge or community neighbor you meet – Team Little Rock Combat Airlifters are second to none.

It’s truly an honor to serve alongside the Airmen and families of Little Rock Air Force Base at home and abroad.

TOP STORY > >Black Knight Truth No. 5: Black Knight physical fitness

2011-11-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

By Lt. Col. Jon Landis
19th Airlift Wing Director of Staff

- PT Generates Courage

- PT Generates Confidence

- PT Generates Air Power

- PT is My Responsibility

If you happened to check out the current Fitness Program AFI (36-2905), you may have noticed something new just after the Table of Contents … Commander’s Intent:

“It is every Airman’s responsibility to maintain the standards set forth in this AFI 365 days a year. Being physically fit allows you to properly support the Air Force mission. The goal of the Fitness Program is to motivate all members to participate in a year-round physical conditioning program that emphasizes total fitness, to include proper aerobic conditioning, strength/flexibility training, and healthy eating. Health benefits from an active lifestyle will increase productivity, optimize health, and decrease absenteeism while maintaining a higher level of readiness…” (General Norton Schwartz, CSAF)

You may be wondering, “How does physical training generate confidence and courage?” I can think of many examples but the one that stands out is that of Capt Lance P. Sijan, Medal of Honor recipient, and one of my personal heroes. If you haven’t read the book Into the Mouth of the Cat by Malcom McConnell, make it a priority. It is well worth your time.

Sijan was an athlete, most notablya football player in high school and college. He also enjoyed swimming, baseball and various other physical activities. While deployed to Vietnam, he employed a rigorous regimen of strength training. He was keenly aware that he might have to depend upon his physical fitness to survive. When his aircraft went down over enemy territory, Lance P. Sijan was prepared for an ordeal that would go down as one of the most heroic accounts in Air Force history.

Despite numerous injuries sustained during bailout (a compound fracture to his leg, fractured skull and mangled hand), Sijan spent 45 days post-crash in the jungle surviving and evading. No doubt, his unshakable character and physical training enabled such a remarkable feat. He was initially captured when an enemy convoy discovered him lying unconscious near their route of travel. After receiving some food, water and rest, Capt Sijan overpowered his guard and escaped, only to be captured again hours later. He was transported to two prison camps where he was tortured, starved and his injuries were neglected. During this time, he continued his efforts to escape and never once gave sensitive information to his captors or broke faith with his fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen.

So how does PT generate Air Power? Simply stated, it enables you to do your job, and do it better! It’s a scientific fact that fit individuals are better prepared to be productive in accomplishing daily tasks. Whether you maintain, sustain, support, operate or provide care, Black Knights are Combat Airlift. When you show up to work trained and physically fit, you generate Air Power.

Finally, each of us must take personal responsibility for our fitness. The long and short-term benefits are indisputable (increased energy, more alert, improved memory, combats stress and depression, improves sleep, extends life expectancy), but that isn’t my focus. It’s important for all of us to understand that it’s not just required by AFI, but it’s essential. It’s an integral part of what we do every day. It makes us better than our adversary and ensures we are able to answer the call, no matter when or how great the challenge. Lance Sijan did that. So instead of “adhering” or “incorporating” it, we need to own it. See you at the gym.

TOP STORY > >Turning trash into treasure

2011-11-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

In one year, the base’s recycling center saved the base $625,646 and made $270,715 more by recycling nearly 5 million pounds of would-be trash, which would have been rotting in a landfill, into recycled treasure.

While the prospect of recycling seems easy, there’s a lot more that goes into winning the war against waste other than dumping plastics, glass and papers into a couple of green bins.

“It’s a federal-environmental law and an executive order that we recycle,” said Lynn Shaw, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron recycling manager. “Due to the size of our facility, we are supposed to do a minimum of recycling newspaper, office paper and metal.” Our current Air Force goal is to have a 50 percent diversion rate by year 2015. Out of all the solid waste we generate on base, at least 50 percent of it we’re supposed to recycle. We finished this fiscal year at 51 percent, so we are usually ahead of the curve.”

Recycling conserves natural resources, saves energy, and it’s cheaper than sending garbage to the landfill, said Shaw. “When we recycle, 60 percent of the time, we get money back for it.”

“For aluminum cans alone, weighing one half ounce, (30 cans equal 1 pound), we are only earning around $5,310 each year,” said Shaw. “According to the Little Rock Air Force Base factsheet, we could be making much more. With the base population at more than 7,000 active-duty military and civilian members, and about 5,500 family members, assuming that only half of the total population, (6,250 people), drink soda and if each person recycles one can per day, (208.3 lbs of aluminum), if the conservative numbers were $0.50 /lb, the base could make: $104.16 per day, $520.83 per week, $2,083.33 per month and $25,000 per year. There is lots of room for growth.”

Money gained from recycling programs helps the recycling center buy equipment, pay for the labor to run the center and bring down the cost of the program and its operation, said Shaw.

Recycling not only gives green dollar bills back to the base but it also helps keep the earth green by diverting waste from the landfill, said Shaw. Landfills are piled with garbage that just rots away. Two Pines landfill is where the base takes trash that can’t be recycled. Its south cell is closed and another cell north of I-440 has been opened. It is projected in 2020 the new landfill will be completely filled.

“Anytime we recycle, we’re diverting stuff from the landfill and doing our part,” Shaw said. “The landfill is like a prison, we have to have them but nobody wants them in their backyard. It is also a strain on our natural resources. It takes less energy to make aluminum cans out of an old aluminum can than to process oil and then make the aluminum to make a new aluminum can. The same thing holds true with paper, cardboard and glass.

Recycling has been incorporated in the environmental management system, said Shaw. “EMS is a tool/process to identify and mitigatethreats to the environment. In this sense our environment includes everything around us enabling us to carry out the Air Force mission. Each threat is labeled as an aspect. An aspect that can interfere with the mission or subject the base to legal/regulatory actions from outside is elevated to a significant aspect. Little Rock Air Force Base included recycling as a significant aspect which ensures program awareness by senior base leadership,” he said.

Sorting out different types of paper before just tossing them in the recycling bin is a great help for recycling employees, said Shaw. If recyclers know exactly how and where to recycle certain items, it could cut down a lot of wasted time at the recycling center.

“The whole facility is set up to maximize our man hours and cash flow,” he said. “If ou have to handle material more than once, then you’re wasting time. That’s the point of having everyone sort their papers out in the three bags that should be located in their office. Cardboard boxes are to be broken down and together. Aluminum cans and plastic bottles are to be separate so when it gets to the center, it can be put in its right place to be processed with like material. That would cut down on the labor cost and up the profit.”

Locations for recycling on base are at the old Base Exchange, the family readiness center, the small base lake and the recycling center. At the recycling center there is a drive-through service available Monday – Friday that accepts plastic, newspaper, junk mail, office paper, magazines, scrap metal electronics, batteries, cooking oil, cardboard, phone books, glass and metal/aluminum cans.

The 19th CES recycling site manager, Gary Kohrs, urges each generation to teach the next that recycling is not only good to do, but it’s important and needed. “Sooner or later,” Kohrs said, “there’s going to be no more room for landfills. The trash is getting into the water and our vegetation. The more people know about recycling the better things will be,” he said.

For more information on recycling, call the recycling center at 987-661 or for additional recycling facts, please visit The National Recycling Coalition at http://nrcrecycles.org.

COMMENTARY>>Underage drinking and personal responsibility

2011-10-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

By Col. Michael Bauer
314th Operations Group commander

Underage drinking is a societal problem with potentially dire consequences and an issue supervisors need to be proactive in addressing. The Center for Disease Control warns us that alcohol is the most abused drug for individuals under the age of 21. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that more than 75 percent of 12th graders and 63 percent of military members under the age 21 drank alcohol at least once in the previous year. Even more disconcerting, the surgeon general determined an average of 190,000 individuals under the age of 21 are treated in an emergency room and another 5,000 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking due to car accidents, homicides and suicides.

The Air Force fight against underage drinking is not new; however, a truly effective approach or silver bullet to eliminate underage drinking has proven elusive. At its foundation, the supervisor argument is simple: underage drinking is against the law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice and should not be engaged in nor tolerated. In reality, parents, guardians, teachers, law enforcement officers and public officials have preached the dangers and illegality of underage drinking long before Airmen join the Air Force. Yet, statistics and experience tells us that this simple approach is not wholly effective and Airmen begin drinking in high school and then continue after joining the Air Force.

In developing an effective strategy, supervisors must continue to be creative and search for what works best for their Airmen. As a starting point, there are some common building blocks discussed below of setting expectations, articulating consequences and encouraging peer-leaders. When combined with each supervisor’s unique efforts, these lines of attack all aim at the ultimate goal of instilling personal responsibility in our Airmen.

Airmen must understand what’s expected. The Air Force as an institution holds high standards and expects our Airmen as young adults to live by a set of core values. There’s no compromise in the values or parsing of which laws should and should not be followed. Underage drinking or providing alcohol to minors is a violation of the law and our core values. It must be clear that underage drinking isn’t tolerated and an environment that discourages underage drinking must be established at both work and in social settings.

Supervisors need to clearly articulate the consequences of underage drinking and emphasize the raised stakes since the Airman’s time in high school. The consequences include potential Article 15’s, loss of pay, loss of rank, loss of specialty codes and in some cases an early end to an Air Force career, not to mention the potential loss of life discussed above. It must be clear that underage drinking will be met with swift and consistent punishment each and every time.

Supervisors understand that they are rarely present when an Airman is confronted with the decision to drink underage, but few Airmen choose to drink alone. As an institution, we must continue to encourage peer-leadership as one of the most effective deterrents and empower them to handle the situation when it occurs. Supervisors must emphasize the importance of and enlist peer-leaders to discourage behaviors that risk Airmen’s lives, careers and unit effectiveness. Confronting a peer is difficult for most Airmen at any age, but again, being an Airman comes with high expectations and core values to live by.

In the end, underage drinking is a personal choice and Airmen must understand that personal responsibility is an Air Force expectation and standard that we must all assume as mature adults. Airmen must realize that their decisions have consequences and affect not only themselves, but their fellow Airmen and the organization as a whole. Once they elect to serve, they become part of something bigger and better than themselves and need to make decisions accordingly. Personal responsibility is truly the only effective deterrent and the ultimate goal of any campaign against underage drinking.

Supervisors must strive to build on these lines of attack, develop a solid strategy, and continually encourage and reinforce a culture of personal responsibility. This isn’t an easy fight. What works is different for each Airman, but the goal is worth the effort. Personal responsibility remains at the core of everything we do in the Air Force and the basis of our core values.

As an Airman, underage drinking is a personal choice. Make the right one!

TOP STORY > >Little Rock AFB gets tanked, saves money, energy

2011-10-27T15:00:00.002-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 19th Civil Engineering Squadron is finishing up an estimated $2.6 million water distribution system upgrade project on base scheduled to be completed in the coming months.

The project will replace an antiquated 50-year-old water storage tank and potable water booster pump station with a newly constructed 1.35 million gallons water storage tank and new booster pump station equipped with five state of the art centrifugal pumps said Roger Forinash, 19th CES construction management project inspector.

When completed, the new tank and pump station will enhance the quality of potable water on base and prevent the flushing or waste of more than 485,000 thousand gallons of water per month, enough to fill a giant aquarium with more than 1,500 animals.

“We flush thousands of gallons of water out of the old tank because it is made of metal.,” said Dwight Henderson, 19th CES water and fuel shop foreman. “Our hot summers would heat up the water and dissipate the chlorine. We flush to keep the chlorine level at a safe drinking level for potable water. With the new tank we won’t have to flush.”

Saving energy on flushing water is not the only aspect in which the new precast concrete tank will benefit the base, said Henderson.

“There will be better quality of water on base,” he said. “The new tank will reduce the amount of chemicals necessary to maintain potable water. It will also need less maintenance, and will save us time, money and energy.”

Henderson said the project, begun in June 2010, has been a thorough and laborious project with numerous challenges.

“It’s a cramped area,” said Henderson, referencing the project’s working grounds, populated by construction workers, construction equipment and numerous tools. “That’s a small place to work out of. We’ve been building the new tank, but are still using the old water tank while we construct the new one, keeping the base’s water supply operational the whole time.”

Forinash said that the project will not only improve the water quality on base for the long term, but is also supporting energy friendly procedures while doing so.

“The project will also add long term support and benefits to the goals of the base energy program,” he said. “In fact it was energy dollars from Air Staff that funded the project because they recognized this project will pay for itself in energy over a short period.”

A solar powered mixer will be installed in the tank to ensure uniform distribution of disinfectant and prevent stagnant water areas, said Forinash. Well-mixed tanks consume fewer disinfectant chemicals, produce fewer disinfection by-products, and eliminate the need for energy-intensive and costly deep-cycling or flushing. All of the old metal used from the old tanks and piping are being recycled as well.

While the new tank and system will buttress the base’s energy conservation agenda, it will also save them ample amounts of funds, said Henderson. The project should re-coup its cost within 10 years of completion and will save additionally unknown amounts of money in the future on facility construction.

“We’ll save a lot of money on not having to build expensive fire suppression pumps,” said Henderson. “When we built the new BX we had to install these fire suppression pumps to increase water pressure and that cost a lot of money. With the new system we won’t need those fire pumps.”

The project is only a few months from completion, and is looking like it will be finished without any problems, said Forinash.

“A lot of people didn’t even know we we’re replacing the tank and system out here,” he said. “We haven’t had the water shut down at all and haven’t had any problems with keeping the water supply on base operational. We always have to keep the water consumable and this project will make it far easier while saving energy and money for the base in the process.”

TOP STORY > >Black Knights satisfy inspectors

2011-10-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Months of rigorous, strenuous and exhausting preparation, training and executing reached its conclusion for the Airmen of the 19th Airlift Wing Oct. 21, at the base theater, as the Air Mobility Command’s Inspector General team announced an overall rating of “Satisfactory” for the wing following its operational readiness inspection Oct. 11-18.

“I’m proud of the hard work and dedication of our Black Knights. The men and women of the 19th never cease to amaze me with their superb skill,” said Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “The IG witnessed first-hand the professionalism, attitude and enthusiasm that fuels C-130 Combat Airlift. This week was a snapshot of the tireless efforts our Airmen and families invest in our mission daily at home and abroad.”

The inspection team members evaluated the wing’s Ability to Survive and Operate skills and how Airmen get the job done in accordance with Air Force guidance and instructions. The inspection tested the 19th AW’s readiness for contingency operations capabilities, which focused on the wing’s ability to mobilize and operate in a deployed environment, and force protection of the base.

“I would say that this is an amazingly well-lead and combat ready wing, “said, Col. Adam McMilllan, AMC ORI team chief. “From my stand-point, the men and women of this wing are exceptional, but that’s from the giving end. There’s a lot of things, day to day, that the wing does exceptionally well. Performing their mission, maintenance, flying, these are things the wing does exceptionally well.”

The ORI team chief added that the inspection is intentionally designed to test the not-so day-to-day operations of the wing as well.

“We test for things that you don’t normally do,” the colonel said. “But we do test to a combat level standard. Some of these amazing young Airmen can tell you better what this is like. I hope they all got something out of it.”

In addition to announcing the wing’s overall grade, the AMC IG team handed out awards for teams and individuals.

11 sections were recognized as “superior teams” by the IG:

19th Logistics Readiness Squadron:

Aerial Port Team

Emergency Operations Center Post Attack Reconnaissance Team

19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron:
Aircraft 1811 Generation Team

19th Civil Engineering Squadron:

Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Team

Airfield Damage Assessment and Minimum Operating Strip Cell Team

CE Unit Control Center Team

Folded Fiberglass Mat Team

19th Airlift Wing:

Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team

Mission Planning and Tactics Team

19th Force Support Squadron:
Food Service Team

61st Airlift Squadron:
Puma 21-Team

11 Airmen were recognized as “top performers” by the IG:

19th Operations Support Squadron:

Capt. Bret Echard

19th AMXS:

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Brekken

Master Sgt. Steven Hood

19th LRS:

Master Sgt. Joshua Johnson

Senior Airman Felicia Barnes

Senior Airman Garrick Tilley-Grantz

19th Maintenance Operations Squadron:

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Dunlap

19th FSS:

Tech. Sgt. Sonya Long

19th AW:

Daniel Phoenix

19th Security Forces Squadron:
Airman 1st Class Jaren Bishop

19th Operations Group:

Airman 1st Class Thomas Johnson

Seven Airmen and one civilian were coined by the IG:

19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron:

Capt. Vivien Miller

19th LRS:

Tech. Sgt. William Crouch

19th CES:

Tech. Sgt. Jason Wallace

19th AW:

Staff Sgt. Juan Santoy

19th OSS:

Senior Airman Alexandria Osmundson

19th CS:

Airman 1st Class Kharon Turner

TOP STORY > >Campaign wants ‘veteran’ put back in Veterans Day

2011-10-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- A new campaign is working to put the “veteran” back into Veterans Day and to rally public awareness of the sacrifices made by injured veterans and their caregivers.

The Wounded Warrior Project kicked off “Believe in Heroes,” which focuses primarily on wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and their caregivers, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks. The campaign will continue through Nov. 11, Veterans Day, said Jonathan Sullivan, the executive vice president of the nonprofit organization.

“Veterans Day has become a national holiday that most Americans give a cursory moment of thought to before going on with their day,” said Steve Nardizzi, the Wounded Warrior Project’s executive director.

Veterans will be recognized at NASCAR races, NCAA and NFL games as part of the campaign, Sullivan said. Two recent 8-kilometer events sponsored through the campaign drew 1,245 people in Jacksonville, Fla., and 65 in Seattle, he added, and the next 8k walk or run will take place Oct. 15 in Charlotte, N.C.

Regardless of how people show support, he added, the intent of the campaign is clear. “Believe in Heroes is a call to action,” he said, to recognize the meaning of Veterans Day, and to support the needs of wounded warriors and their caregivers.

From the earliest stages of the Wounded Warrior Project, Sullivan said, there was concern about the sacrifices caregivers would make to care for their wounded warriors. “Once the most traumatic of injured warriors are out of the hospital and back home,” he added, “the caregiver can be in for a long road ahead.”

Engaging families and caregivers is essential to helping warriors make the transition back to life after they’re injured, Sullivan said, noting that combat injuries affect both the warrior and the family.

The idea for the campaign stemmed from what Sullivan said seemed to be dwindling public interest in the significance of Veterans Day. “Very few people pause Nov. 11 and reflect on the sacrifices our vets made on behalf of us,” he said, and he expressed the hope that the two-month campaign to raise support and awareness of the wounded, their caregivers and all U.S. veterans would create a groundswell of interest that will repeat year after year, every Veterans Day.

But Sullivan said he won’t stop there. Like the year-round campaign for breast cancer awareness that intensifies with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Sullivan said, he envisions year-round “Believe in Heroes” awareness that culminates in a campaign from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11 each year.

“The public would be reminded of how much our wounded warriors sacrificed on the battlefield for us,” he said.

TOP STORY > >Base getting the lead out

2011-10-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Nearly 15 acres of the base, previously used as a skeet range in the 1960s, is an ecologically safer place today because of a $2.7 million restoration project that excavated 36 million pounds of contaminated soil, or enough to fill 450 semi-trucks, and replaced it with more than 3,000 trees and recycled soil and mulch.

There was cause for concern when a site-wide investigation of Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., revealed that the soil in the former base skeet range had high levels of lead contamination. People are susceptible to lead contamination through air, water, soil and retail products. Prolonged exposure to lead can lead to toxicity in the heart, nerves, kidneys and reproductive systems, which can lead to physical ailments such as headaches, nausea and seizures or even death.

The base’s environmental restoration office was able to respond to the contamination hazard with a project that would not only remove the contaminated soil, but replenish the damaged earth with trees and provide a better environment for base wildlife and people on the base in the process.

“The contaminated area was an old shooting range used in the 60s and 70s,” said Terry Broach, base interim restoration manager. “A study showed extreme levels of lead in the soil; we had to get the lead out. So we executed this plan of soil removal and tree restoration.”

The restoration began in September 2010, and is scheduled to be completed later this month, said Kelly Stater, restoration project manager.

“We started the project last year,” said Stater. “We removed the lead soil in June. In all, we ended up clearing more than 18,000 tons of contaminated soil.”

Stater said the contaminated soil posed not only a health risk to humans, but could adversely affect the ecological balance of the base. The lead contamination could have been potentially detrimental to animals as well.

“The damage to the wildlife would affect people too,” said Stater. “For example, the lead damages the soil and plants, the deer eat the plants, and people eat deer. Removing the soil was a plus for all of us.”

In place of the removed 18,000 tons of soil was a bare patch of earth ensconced by a vertical tower of trees from all ends, accessible by a small gravel-paved road divergent from the base’s main concrete pathways. Stater said the area encompasses approximately 15 acres of land. Land that was empty after the soil removal.

“Fortunate for us, this base is very proactive when it comes to ecological restoration,” said Broach, a career environmentalist.

She said the base has mandats through consent orders, which expedites the completion of restoration projects.

After excavating the enormous amounts of contaminated soil, the workers put down recycled mulch in anticipation of planting trees in the vacant, newly cleansed soil, said Stater. The project was worked by an average of six contracted employees a day for more than a year, focusing on cleansing and replenishing the 15 acres of land.

“In all, we will have planted about 3,000 trees by the time the project’s complete,” the project manager said. “In the last two days we’ve planted about 1,500.”

The freshly planted trees are runts at the moment, said Stater. They only stand about five feet tall and are thin in circumference, but he anticipates 90 percent of them surviving into maturity.

“The recycled mulch retains a lot of water and prevents erosion,” he said.

Broach said that the re-planting took some time due to weather and seasonal concerns in Arkansas, but the project is looking like a success, for people on the base and the base’s wildlife.

“It took some time because we had to figure out what trees would thrive in the spot,” said the restoration manager. “We had to find out what will grow well, and there ended up being 11 different species of trees planted.”

The project site stands now not as a vacant spot of land with harmful contaminants in its soil, but a pasture with tree sprouts speckled throughout. Stater said the grown trees will be beneficial to the base.

“The base can sell some of the trees when they get bigger,” he said. “That will produce some revenue.”

Yet future revenue is only a boon to what the project has already accomplished, said Stater.

“The guys at the shooting range said that the quail over there have come back,” the project manager said. “They said that the quail hadn’t been there for a while.”

Broach said green projects like this are beneficial to everyone in the area.

“You talk about a green project, it (doesn’t) get (any) greener than this,” Said Stater, pointing at the vast landscape of newly planted trees and their enormous elders behind them. “We removed something potentially harmful and replaced it with something positive, and that benefits everyone. This is what restoration is all about.”

SPORTS >> Best of the best

2011-10-07T09:11:00.001-07:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 19th Logistic Readiness Squadron left it all on the field, defeating the 314th Operations Group, 26-14, Monday during an intramural flag football game at the base’s football field.

Both teams were vying to stay undefeated, but ultimately only one would come out on top.
Starting the game, both teams’ stifling defense smothered the offenses. 19th LRS Receiver Matt Geroux scored the first touchdown of the game, with a 20-yard post pattern.

Not long after, 19th OG Quarterback Chris Young, responded with a rushing touchdown, closing out the first half, and tying the game, 6-6.

Fired up by the half-time huddle, the second half blazed off with LRS’ Cornerback/Coach Andre Westmoreland scoring a touchdown by catching the ball in the end zone, in addition to a two-point-conversion by also catching the ball in the end zone. Eight points brought the score up, 14-6.

Young didn’t take long to show why these two teams are undefeated when he scored eight points of his own, with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, tying the game.

LRS’ Running Back Brandon Lewis, sprinted to the end zone, leaping over a defender to catch a touchdown pass with five minutes to go, giving his team a 20-14 lead.

Feeling the pressure, Young threw an interception, which was caught by LRS’ Free Safety Talvin Hayes.

Westmoreland scored the last touchdown of the game, by running 40 yards to the end zone, bringing the final score, 26-14.

“Going into the game,” said Westmoreland, “I knew we had to be focused. OG was the top team to beat. This is the first time in the two years I’ve played that we’ve beaten them. We played good as a team. We could take it all.”

Coach Luke McLimans wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance but has high hopes for the future.
“This was a poor performance from the team,” said McLimans. “We were both undefeated up until this point. We needed to be more prepared. This is just something to learn on and build upon. We will come back better next time.”

TOP STORY >> CPTS, CONS, CE take the base back to the future

2011-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

It was a dark and stormy night … really.

Little Rock Air Force Base was pitch black the evening of April 25, after an EF-2 tornado plowed through the base, leaving in its wake more than 100 damaged housing units, distressed buildings in the base’s flightline area and a handful of crippled C-130 aircraft. Approximately $54 million in damage was the initial assessment. In the aftermath shrouded by the darkness, the resiliency of Team Little Rock Airmen, their families and off-base neighbors and communities shone through the night. Base Airmen immediately launched recovery efforts to continue the C-130 combat airlift mission in trademark fashion.

Now from cleaning and clearing damaged buildings to creating contracts for funding and projects for renovations, the end of this fiscal year will give much ease to the base as the pieces to the puzzle start fitting once again, by the allotment of funds dedicated to taking the base back to April 24.
The 19th Civil Engineer Squadron was on scene in minutes after the tornado swept through the base, said 1st Lt. Chad Fulgham, 19th Combat Engineers executive officer. “Our fire department fought their way out of their damaged facility to lead sweeps through the housing and industrial areas. They partnered with our defenders and housing residents already on scene to comb all the affected housing units and save the personnel that were present in them. In addition, they organized volunteer manpower from maintenance group to survey the base’s industrial and flightline areas, identifying the facilities and infrastructure that was damaged,” he said.

The resource advisors put together a list of all the things that were damaged: the buildings, the tornado tracker, equipment, infrastructure, facilities, vehicles and aircraft, said 1st Lt. Leif Brustuen, 19th Comptroller Squadron chief of financial management and analysis. This list was compiled within 48 hours after the tornado struck and submitted to the 19th CES.

“We had to figure out what we needed to fix before we asked for money or anything,” Brustuen said. “So everything had a price tag and cost tied to it. That price tag was sent up to Air Mobility Command and the Secretary of the Air Force level, then the appropriate funding was allocated to each line item on that list. Depending on dollar-threshold amounts, different kinds of money applied to different projects on that list.”

A task force twister team, comprised of the 19th Contracting Squadron, financial management and 19th CES was developed. They would get together and meet with the customer about what needed to be fixed, said Brustuen. The purpose of that was to hone in on what specific requirements there were and to make sure requirements were valid. The validation process is usually intended to be two weeks long, but in this situation, it ended up being about a month longer, Brustuen added.

“We defined requirements to AMC and SAF after we went through task force twister,” said Lt. Col. Christina Collins, 19th CPTS commander. “Air Mobility Command sent over $24 million dollars for tornado damage recovery. Those dollars will be used to repair hangars, buildings, equipment, and other miscellaneous damage at Little Rock. The majority of the money will be spent on construction projects.”

There are 32 projects worth approximately $29 million, said Fulgham. A total of 27 projects were awarded in fiscal year 2011 valued at approximately $23 million; we are still coordinating with AMC and Air Staff on the remaining two. “Our team was able to garner more storm money in FY11 than eight other AMC bases received in all of FY11,” he said.

Construction also took on projects to help repair tornado damages.

“We did 10 construction contracts over $5 million,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Sinning, 19th CONS commander.

Brustuen said they needed to verify where the money would be used before reconstruction could begin.“We would certify that the funds are available and that the requirement is a legal use of appropriated funds. Then CES would work with CONS as far as which deadlines within the fiscal year needed to be met,” said Brustuen. “We closed out the fiscal year at midnight, Sept. 30. We’re done allocating FY11 dollars and have now turned our focus on FY12 where we have not had any storm damage. If the storm happened in FY11, the repair had to be charged in FY11. We’re done financing it,” he said.

Now that the finances are done, the construction can begin.

The actual repairs have just started, said Collins. Contracts just got finalized, and construction begins. CES and CONS negotiate with contractors last week to get that price down as far as they could get it.
Completion dates for each project will vary, dependent on the start date of the repair, the complexity of the repair and the funding available, said Fulgham. “We will host a pre-construction meeting between CE, CONS, the contractor and each facility manager prior to starting any construction, and will be able to tailor a timeline to each specific project at that time,” he said.

Collins wants Team Little Rock to understand that this process takes time. A trait she advises them to have is patience.

“It takes a lot of time to narrow in on the specific requirements of how to get the base back to where it was, sorting out the mess, developing strategies for a way forward and also finding someone to do the work,” she said. “Usually they have a whole year to work on their projects, meaning before that year starts they’ve got their eyeballs on which building will need the roof repaired in a couple of years. This was a quicker timeline. The tornado happened halfway through fiscal year and we knew we had to use FY11 dollars on it. They only appropriate the operations and maintenance dollars one year at a time to find and fund the requirements at the end of the FY.

All the efforts to the repair of the base were major, but Brustuen and Sinning both give much respect to the man hours and processes that CES put into taking the base back to April 24, in order to build to improve the future.

“In addition to CES’ in house design, programming, and engineer team, we worked with the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency’s contract team to complete all the documentation. Together we spent over 10,000 man hours working storm projects between April 25, and September 30,” Fulgham said.
“Civil engineering really saved the base,” said Sinning. “From their initial response, getting power back on the base, to getting all these contracts awarded at the end of this fiscal year, a lot has really been on their backs. Their professionalism and dedication really shown through with what they did. Not only did they deal with tornado construction, but there’s also $50 million of normal end-of-year construction that they were designing and managing. It was pretty amazing how it all came together.
“We’re really just the wind beneath civil engineering’s wings, enabling them to accomplish the mission,” he said.

CES and CONS did a really good job this year negotiating the contracts, said Brustuen. “Major kudos goes to all who were in the whole recovery of everything from the very initial minutes after the tornado to end of last Friday. Everyone stepped up big. Thank you to the whole base,” he said.
(Lt. Col. Lance Clark, 19th CES commander; Don Smart, base fire chief; Maj. Charles Fletcher, operations flight chief; and Michael Boyle, program flight chief; contributed background information for this article.)

TOP STORY >> Stepping stones to success: Special duty assignments

2011-10-07T09:04:00.001-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

For many Airmen, their stay in the Air Force is interspersed with many routines or instances of déjà vu caused by familiarity with the job. It is not uncommon for feelings of familiarity to be coupled with disinterest. When the engaging becomes routine, and commonplace, there can be no other culprit afflicting Airmen than that one scourge of all productive businesses: boredom.

Airmen needing a break from the daily grind would do well to consider special duty assignments.
“Special duty assignments give a lot of career benefits,” said Tech. Sgt. Mark Reis, an Air Education and Training Command enlisted ascensions recruiter in Jacksonville, Ark. “Obviously … kinda stepping out of your current career field is big. Getting a fresh breadth of experience, new breadths of experience, with a different type of career, totally different from that of which you’ve known.”

Reis, who’s been a recruiter since December 2008, said the recruiting special duty assignment gave him an entirely new perception and set of skills to work with in the Air Force.

“Recruiting is totally different,” said Reis. “It gives you the chance to go back to your career field with definite new leadership skill sets.”

Taking on a special duty assignment is a big step which requires careful consideration, said Master Sgt. Troy Trevino, 19th Comptroller Squadron and 19th Airlift Wing Director of Staff first sergeant.
“Finding a way to give back, to help mentor and guide others … if you’re sincere about doing that, then it’s the right special duty,” Trevino said. “Just like in any duty, you want to see if it interests you. If you’re not willing to help others and if you’re not interested in mentoring and guiding people, then you shouldn’t do it because those are things you’ll be doing every day.”
Reis said one of the leadership traits he learned as a recruiter is being a mentor.

“You’re mentoring these civilians,” said Reis. “They’re going to be Airmen. We get a sense of leadership and supervisory skills with Airmen, but the way that you guide them is different than with civilians.”

Taking on the role of recruiter has taught him better skills at being patient while working with prospective recruits, said Reis, who worked for 10 years as a maintenance Airman on the flight line before becoming a recruiter.

“As a recruiter, you’re their supervisor,” said Reis. “It’s important how supervisors treat their Airmen. The way you treat them, the way you react with them, that’s going to be their first Air Force supervisor experience.”

Reis said he became a recruiter almost immediately after putting on technical sergeant stripes, but recommends that people seek out special duty assignments even earlier.

“I would say start looking for them at that staff sergeant level,” said Reis. “Don’t wait too late. I say wait until you’re a staff sergeant to get a little bit of NCO experience in your job. For most people that’s going to be at the six to seven year mark. That gives you an opportunity to go into a different career field as a staff sergeant, possibly make tech in that special duty, and then come back to your career field.”

While it is his own suggestion to wait until becoming a staff sergeant before taking on a special duty assignment, Reis said that anyone with leadership abilities and other skill sets can compensate for a lack of experience. He wouldn’t discourage a senior airman from pursuing a special duty like recruiting.

“I would recommend you get experience with supervising Airmen and writing enlisted progress reports,” said Reis. “If you have no experience supervising and accomplishing these things before taking on a special duty it can leave you at a disadvantage when you go back to your career field.”
Being a supervisor is a stepping stone to becoming a good first sergeant, said Trevino.

“As a supervisor, we do that … helping people grow and develop. As a first sergeant, we do the same thing but [the special duty] provides another opportunity to share with others,” Trevino said. “You get to go out with different organizations and grow as a professional. So the benefit is two-fold: [special duty assignments] help you grow and gives you the opportunity to help others grow.”

It is the experience of stepping out of your career field that’s most important, said Reis. There are difficulties in taking on special duty assignments, but in the end, they will offer benefits to Airmen that otherwise might not be available.

“I picked up some skills recruiting that I otherwise wouldn’t have,” said Reis. “Definitely, and this is my opinion only, it made me appreciate my old job. Working on the flight line, I appreciate it more. This is a different genre of Air Force.”

COMMENTARY >> Letter from the top

2011-10-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

Black Knights...

This Friday, the 19th Airlift Wing’s Operational Readiness Inspection finally starts. It has been an absolute honor to watch you prepare for this critical inspection. I’m so proud to show you off to the Air Mobility Command inspection team. They will soon find out what I already know...you are simply the best.

A few thoughts:

- Black Knights will be on point and working this Columbus Day holiday...Thank You.

- We will dominate our world. We will project Air Power to Support and Defend...Thank You.

- We will Operate, Maintain, Support, and Medically Support with amazing precision...Thank You.

- Your families will once again silently sacrifice while you lay it out for our Country...my highest gratitude and respect...Thank You.

Hold your heads high and carry yourselves with quiet confidence. You deliver outstanding results in combat and in garrison daily. I’m proud to fly your wing.

We Are...Black Knights!

Col. Mike Minihan
19th Airlift Wing commander

TOP STORY > >A time of reflection and a bid farewell

2011-10-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

By Chief Master Sgt. Mark D. Marson

314th Airlift Wing command chief

If you haven’t heard, Petra and I recently received orders to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Now, at the dusk of our time here at Little Rock Air Force Base. These orders have given us cause for reflection.

Let me first simply say to the community at large, I can’t thank you enough for everything. This assignment is one that won’t soon be forgotten, by me or Petra. Petra and I have enjoyed the surrounding community and everything it has to offer, but most importantly, we’ve enjoyed the fellowship. It’s the people that made this assignment worthwhile.

As I look over the last 15 months, we’ve spent time on the lake with friends, enjoyed baseball games with our civic partners/leaders, offered our respects to a grateful nation, and honored our fellow service members killed in action, wounded in action or prisoners of war, during ceremonies and national remembrance periods. Additionally, we have taken great care of each other during times of separation, natural disaster and personal crises. We have an extended family here we can all be proud of.

On a personal note, Petra has enjoyed volunteering at the thrift shop, supporting the Airmen Helping Airmen campaign and being involved in activities such as Welcome Home Warriors, Airmen Leadership School graduations and many other events. She leaves with a satisfaction knowing she has grown and helped others along the way.

I too have enjoyed my personal experiences here. This is a community that works hard at quality of life and looking after each other. I have found my professional experience equally rewarding and illuminating. We practiced teamwork across organizational lines, using it as a key variable to many successful inspections and a huge win at the 2011 RODEO. Additionally, it’s been great working with the private organizations, clinics such as mental health, discussing leadership/careers with the ALS, First Term Airman’s Center and our enlisted leaders through professional development seminars and enlisted calls.

To my boss and friend, Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th Airlift Wing commander, I can’t thank you enough for this rewarding opportunity. Together, with our team, we’ve stepped through our wing’s big five, attended seminars and conferences, walked the ground on 167 work center visits and dealt with some of life’s most delicate issues. Together, we have had an impact, one that I’m proud of. I would also offer, your mentorship and insights have made me a better enlisted leader/coach and for that I offer, once again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

“Together, we have had an impact, one that I’m proud of. I would also offer,
your mentorship and insights have made me a better enlisted leader/coach...
Once again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

COMMENTARY>>1855: a special ‘tale’

2011-09-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

2nd Lt. Mallory Glass
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson, 314th Airlift Wing command chief, wrote in permanent marker, “she is an Airman,” on the 47-year-old skin of aircraft C-130E 62-1855 at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group here. The Vietnam-Era C-130E was delivered to AMARG, commonly known as the “bone yard,” following its retirement and change of the 314th AW flagship ceremony at a Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., Sept. 20. The event marked the end of a 47-year relationship between the 314th AW and the C-130E.

Tail 62-1855 not only tells her own C-130E combat and training story but also represents the closing of an era for the wing. The retirement of 62-1855 to AMARG marked the departure of the C-130E model from the 314th AW’s inventory.

As the flagship, 62-1855 embodied not only the other 314th C-130s, but more importantly, the Airmen who maintain, fly and support the combat airlift training mission. Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th AW commander, stated during the retirement ceremony, “This airplane is as much of an Airman as I am. She has seen it all. Yet, as special as 1855 is, she is not unique for she actually represents the entire C-130 fleet old and new.”

At the retirement ceremony on Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., retired Airmen who were crew members or maintainers for 62-1855, the 314th AW or other C-130Es were in attendance. Several are Sliver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross recipients. “Their presence really shows the impact the C-130E model had and has on United States Airmen,” said Senior Airman Blake Lyles, a 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief.

The wing’s new flagship, C-130J 98-1358, was unveiled at the ceremony and toured by 314th Airmen, civic leaders, retirees and base leaders. The C-130J represents a new era for combat airlift; however, at the same time the Air Force never forgets its legacy.

The 314th AW has been flying C-130s since 1957 and C-130Es since 1964. When the wing was mobilized for service in Vietnam in 1966, C-130E 62-1855 began its years in combat operations, training missions, and Air Force competitions. During Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., the 314th AW won Best Air Mobility Wing in the world with 62-1855, the oldest C-130 in the competition. “Everyone agrees that 1855 is a special tail … Team Little Rock and, indeed, the entire nation watched with pride as she earned a perfect maintenance inspection (during RODEO 2011), one of only two planes to do so,” said the colonel.

Tail 62-1855 didn’t receive a grand welcome when it landed smoothly at AMARG. It joined the scores of other C-130s that had been delivered to the desert to be preserved in the nearly perfect conservation climate. As the crew looked out of the cockpit Staff Sgt. Sean Ryan, a 62nd Squadron flight engineer, observed, “I thought Little Rock had a lot of C-130s.”

Staff Sgt. Shawn Larson, a 314th AMXS crew chief, added as he looked out at the retired fleet of C-130s, “If it has a blue tail and has been through Little Rock in the past 10 years, I’ve probably seen it or worked on it.”

AMARG is 1,400 acres and hosts more than 5,000 government aircraft, including planes from all branches of the military. These aircraft remain an important part of the U.S. arsenal. About 1,000 can be returned to service, while the rest are on stand-by for parts, propped on pieces of wood or others even completely cut in half.

All Team Little Rock wings continue to fly legacy C-130Hs, and the 314th AW and 19th Airlift Wing also operate J-models. The 19th AW still utilizes a dozen C-130E models, which they will be gradually retiring to AMARG in the coming year. “So why do we feel nostalgic as if we are saying goodbye to an old friend?” the colonel asked. “Tail 1855 is a reflection of our ideals and the very best attributes we know are in eachof us. She is a great tail, but only because her crews, maintainers and support teams made her so … [she] shares the same source of greatness as our Air Force--its Airmen.”

Every crew member of 62-1855s retirement flight had a special tale about how she impacted his career as an Airman. The retirement flight was crewed by:

Pilot- Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th AW commander

Co-pilot- Lt. Col. James Schartz, 62nd Airlift Squadron director of operations

Navigator- Capt. Chris Stapenhorst, a 314th Operations Group evaluation navigator

Loadmaster- Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mackey, a 62nd AS loadmaster

Flight Engineer- Staff Sgt. Sean Ryan, a 62nd AS flight engineer

Crew Chiefs- Staff Sgt. Shawn Larson, a 314th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, and

Senior Airman Blake Lyles, a 314th Maintenance Squadron crew chief.

Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson, 314th AW command chief, also attended 62-1855’s retirement ceremony and delivery to AMARG.

The 314 AW received their first C-130 on 19 May 1957.

-On 31 May 1971 the 314 Tactical Airlift Wing transferred from Ching Chuan Kang (CCK) Air Base, Taiwan to Little Rock AFB.

-Since August 1971, the wing served as the primary training organization for all Department of Defense agencies as well as training aircrew members from selected foreign nations.

-From 1971 - 1997 while still responsible for aircrew and international training, the wing also served as a principal airlift unit involved with worldwide tactical airlift operations. In the end, the men and women of the 314 AW can cite dozens of operations where they contributed to American war efforts such as: Urgent Fury (US intervention in Grenada, 1983), Just Cause (US intervention in Panama, 1989), Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Iraq, Provide Comfort (humanitarian aid airdrops to Kurdish refugees in Iraq, 1991), Restore Hope (US intervention in Somalia, 1992), Southern Watch (enforcement of the no-fly zone over Iraq, 1992) and Northern Watch (1997), Uphold Democracy (US intervention in Haiti, 1994), and Joint Endeavor (NATO intervention in Bosnia, 1995) to name a few.

-The wing was the base host-unit from May 1971-Oct 2008.

- Over the years the 314th has trained International students from 42 different nations.The 314 AW received their first C-130 on 19 May 1957.

-On 31 May 1971 the 314 Tactical Airlift Wing transferred from Ching Chuan Kang (CCK) Air Base, Taiwan to Little Rock AFB.

-Since August 1971, the wing served as the primary training organization for all Department of Defense agencies as well as training aircrew members from selected foreign nations.

-From 1971 - 1997 while still responsible for aircrew and international training, the wing also served as a principal airlift unit involved with worldwide tactical airlift operations. In the end, the men and women of the 314 AW can cite dozens of operations where they contributed to American war efforts such as: Urgent Fury (US intervention in Grenada, 1983), Just Cause (US intervention in Panama, 1989), Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Iraq, Provide Comfort (humanitarian aid airdrops to Kurdish refugees in Iraq, 1991), Restore Hope (US intervention in Somalia, 1992), Southern Watch (enforcement of the no-fly zone over Iraq, 1992) and Northern Watch (1997), Uphold Democracy (US intervention in Haiti, 1994), and Joint Endeavor (NATO intervention in Bosnia, 1995) to name a few.

-The wing was the base host-unit from May 1971-Oct 2008.

- Over the years the 314th has trained International students from 42 different nations.irst assigned to the 516th Troop Carrier Group in July 1963. Joined the
314 TCW in Nov 1965 and went to CCK, Taiwan with the 50 TCS. Moved over to
the 345 TCS (still 314 TCW) in 1970 and stayed with the 345th when they were
transferred to the 374 TAW in May 1971. This aircraft served in Taiwan and Vietnam from 1966- 1974 (deployments to Cam Ranh Bay AB Vietnam, Don Muang AB Thailand, Tuy Hoa AB Vietnam, Naha AB, Tan Son Nhut AB Vietnam, and U
Tapao RTAFB Thailand)

There is no mention of which aircraft served in any particular operation,
but the aircraft likely served in the following Operations: Air Evacuation
of Kham Duc(possible, but maybe not plausible as there were only eight
C-130s involved), Re-supply operations at Khe Sanh, Dak To, A Shau Valley,
and An Loc to name a few.

In May 1971 the 314th transferred to LRAFB minus aircraft and personnel. The aircraft stayed in the 345 TAS under the 374 TAW at CCK. From 1976-79 it was
with the 21st TAS at Clark AFB, Philippines.

‘It showed up again in the 314th
in 1980 and stayed in the 314th until late 86. The Aircraft was transferred
to 1 SOW from 87-88 at Hurlburt, and then back to the 314th for a few months
before going to the 8 SOS at Hurlburt from 88-93. When this aircraft was
with the 8 SOS they participated in Operation Just Cause- Panama 1989,
Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm 1990-1991, Operation Southern Watch,
and Operation Provide Promise 1992.

The 8th SOS played a pivotal role in the success of coalition forces as they liberated Kuwait by dropping 11
15,000-pound BLU-82 bombs and 23 million leaflets and conducting numerous aerial refuelings of special operations helicopters.

The aircraft then went to the 16 SOS from 93-01 (Hurlburt, Operation Restore Hope- Somalia Dec 92- May 03; Operation Deny Flight Bosnia 93-95, Operation
Uphold Democracy Sep 94 Mar 95; Operation Deliberate Force- Bosnia 1995). Next it was with the 17 SOS 01 - 04 at Kadena AB, Japan, then retired to AMARC from Dec 2002 - 2005, and then back to the 62 AS at LRAFB in Feb of
05. Last C-130E retiring from 314 AW in September 11.

COMMENTARY>>Black Knight truths: Ensuring mission success

2011-09-29T14:21:00.002-07:00

By Col. Mike Minihan
19th Airlift Wing commander

Black Knights, there are five truths that we hold dear to our profession. These truths guide us in our day-to-day operations to ensure mission success. Whether that mission is flying a sortie or saving an Airman from an alcohol-related incident, these truths cut to our core.

Truth No. 1 addresses courage, leadership and discipline.

Truth No. 2 addresses our wingman contract.

Truth No. 3 addresses global C-130 airlift.

Truth No. 4 addresses taking the right risk.

Truth No. 5 addresses physical fitness.

Over the next few weeks, every Black Knight will receive a card that addresses each truth. They’re meant to be carried with you as a visual reminder of what we stand for. They’re also meant to initiate conversations between supervisors and subordinates.

Talk about them. Truly understand what they mean and what they embody. Use them as an additional tool to ensure those who work for -- and with you -- conform to them.

These truths ensure and strengthen every aspect of our Combat Airlift mission.

It’s an honor to serve with each of you. Thank you so much for your service and sacrifice. You and your families are simply amazing.

TOP STORY > >Overturning underage drinking at Little Rock

2011-09-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Influences in today’s world have children and youth maturing at an earlier age.

Grade school students own cell phones. Sixteen year olds can drive cars, and some 17 year-old young men and women can choose to serve their country and sacrifice their lives for the freedom of others. All of these choices can be made before an adolescent turns 21. However, choosing to drink before that age is against the law. Breaking that law in the military is not – and will never will be – tolerated. In the state of Arkansas, the legal drinking age is 21 years old. Here at Little Rock Air Force Base, that law is strongly enforced as the 19th Security Forces Squadron, supervisors and Airmen work together to decrease the number of underage Airmen drinking their careers away.

From January of this year, to September of this year, 16 Airmen have been caught drinking under the legal age and five Airmen busted for contributing to the delinquency of minors, according to Joe Ott, 19th SFS industrial security.

“In the military, whatever the state you’re in, and what its law is on the drinking age, that’s the drinking age on the base,” said Cefus Benner, 19th SFS police services. “One of the big influences of underage Airmen drinking is who they hang around. I think a lot of it comes from people wanting to feel older, but what they don’t realize is the consequences that come with it.”

Consequences range from but are not limited to: loss of rank, loss of pay, an additional forfeiture of pay, restriction to the base and in maybe an extreme case, separation from the military.

Consequences are not determined by on or off-base law enforcement; they apprehend the Airman for violation of drinking underage. The commander of that Airman has the authority to rate the severity of the situation and make judgment on any chastisement.

Some Airmen believe that just because they are old enough to drink and others around them aren’t, they won’t get into trouble. If it can be proven that the alcohol was bought for the minor, that Airman who is old enough can be charged with an article 92, contributing to a minor, said Benner.

No one underage hardly ever gets caught actually drinking out in the open. The Airman may be walking their “buzz” off and is staggering a bit, a SFS member can stop that Airman and ask for their ID, and they will be caught that way. Most underage Airmen are caught drinking when they think they are being sneaky, either quietly in the dorm or having a party in the dorm. Random room checks from SFS are common in the dorms on base.

Benner’s suggestion to supervisors is gather all Airmen and check IDs as soon as they arrive on base. Supervisors should know who in their department are underage to drink, and send out a message to them, making them aware that it’s known who’s underage. It also sends a message to those who are of age not to buy drinks for those Airmen.

“For underage Airmen,” Benner said, “it’s all about personal responsibility. Put your personal opinions aside. The law of the land in Arkansas is 21. Don’t do it.”

COMMENTARY>>Hungry for feedback

2011-09-15T12:47:00.002-07:00

By Col. Mark G. Czelusta
314th Airlift Wing commander

It was back in 2008 at my promotion ceremony to Colonel. While pinning the eagles on my shoulder, the officiating member, a retired Colonel herself, whispered a thought in my ear. It sent chills up my spine. She said, “Today is the last day that anyone will tell you the whole story.” Little did I know how prophetic her words would be.

As a wing commander, I see this as familiar territory, and 314th Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson and I work hard to seek out the “ground truth.” But as I think of this situation, I realize that this challenge is not isolated to just wing commanders. Airmen of all ranks are hungry for feedback. And that’s where you come in.

Continuous feedback—both good and bad—is an essential element to continuous improvement. How many of us have been surprised by negative reports that we learned through the grapevine, or after it was too late, as at performance feedback or decoration time? How many of us have failed to make the tough call at our level and provided our fellow Airmen the feedback they needed? Perhaps we deferred this uncomfortable process to the superintendent or commander.

Worse yet, perhaps we just “firewalled” a report or approved an unearned decoration. Contrary to popular opinion, such actions are especially corrosive and don’t improve morale. Instead, they push the entire enterprise toward mediocrity. Marginal performers see no reason to improve, and strong performers may throttle back. Remember, “Excellence” by its core nature does not imply “Equality.”

Feedback is not just top down. Your commanders and senior NCOs deserve your thoughts as well. Throughout my career, I have been lucky to be surrounded by those brave leaders, peers and subordinates who told me when I was wrong. The challenge for the recipient is to not shoot the messenger, but to contemplate the message. Still, messengers need to be patient and remember the core goodness in the recipient should that person not initially respond positively to the feedback.

In all cases, we need to base our feedback on facts, actions and outcomes, not emotion or personality. Dealing in facts and actions will allow the recipient to open up to reality. Never qualify your feedback with introductory phrases like, “with all due respect,” or “I’m not telling you how to do your job.” These qualifiers don’t serve the recipient. Rather, they only work to make the messenger feel better, and put the recipient on the defensive immediately. Don’t forget to offer alternative actions that could result in better outcomes. Feedback is tough, especially when it’s not positive, but it’s always good.

In the end, I would assert that outcomes of performance reports, decorations or other assessments should be little surprise. Feedback—good and bad—up and down—will enable this ideal. We’re all hungry. Let’s feed each other.

TOP STORY > >Col. Dale, former base commander, passes away

2011-09-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

A former base commander passed away Sept. 9 in Alexander, Ark.

Retired Col. Theodore R. “Ted” Dale, 93, passed away Sunday surrounded by those dear to him. The Colonel, a World War II Army and Air Force veteran and an Air Force Veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, was the base commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., from 1968-1970.

The Colonel was an integral part of the transition to the C-130 at Little Rock AFB. As the commander of the 64th Tactical Airlift Wing, the bases’ host unit at the time, he supervised the arrival of the C-130 Hercules and the execution of its initial mission at the base.

The Colonel was born March 12, 1918, in eastern Kentucky. He graduated in 1941 from Ohio State University and commissioned into the Army the same year a field artillery officer. In 1943 the Colonel transferred to the Army Air Corps and later the Air Force. The Colonel had a diverse and impactful 30 year career. When he retired Aug. 1, 1970, he had logged more than 4,500 hours in 33 different aircraft.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Brazil Dale, Alexander; daughters, Terry Lutes and her husband Leroy of Blue Springs, Mo., Mary Dougherty and her husband Bob of Jacksonville; grandsons, Spencer Lutes and his wife Marianne of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Robert Dougherty and his wife Holly of Tennessee; Steven and Michael Lutes, Blue Springs Mo., Patrick Dougherty of Jacksonville; granddaughter, Christy Dougherty of Tampa, Fla.; great grandchildren, Spencer, Hunter and Jessica Lutes, Juliana and Max Dougherty.

Funeral service and burial were held Thursday. Full military honors were provided by the Air Force. Memorials may be sent to the Michael V. Aureli Arkansas Hospice Perpetual Endowment Fund, c/o the Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116. (www.arkansashospice.org).

TOP STORY > >Celebrating 64 years of air superiority

2011-09-15T12:46:00.001-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Team Little Rock will celebrate the Air Force’s birthday Sept. 23 at Hangar 1080 with stories, cake and camaraderie.

“It’s important to know historically where we come from,” said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hoffman, an alternate birthday bash project officer with the 19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

Hoffman said the event will be casual and fun, and it will feature a cake ceremony and live band.

But there’s more to the Air Force’s history than 64 years of airplanes and Airmen.

The Air Force started out as the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army Signal Corps on Aug. 1, 1907. Although the creation of the division occurred less than four years after the historic flight by the Wright brothers, the aircraft of choice then were balloons and dirigibles. By 1909, the division accepted delivery of their first airplane from the Wright brothers. This event paved the way for Army Airmen to experiment with different aircraft and the formation of the 1st Aero Squadron in December 1913, according to www.airforce.com.

In an effort to improve the Signal Corps’ flying capabilities, the Army created the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps on July 18, 1914. Weeks later, the first World War erupted. By the time the United States entered the war in April 1917, the other major combatants had already developed aircraft industries that exceeded the Americans. Because of this, President Woodrow Wilson established the War Department’s Army Air Service on May 24, 1918. Six months later, when the armistice was signed, more than 19,000 officers and 178,000 enlisted men filled the ranks of the Air Service, the web site said.

One of the lessons learned from the war was how difficult it was to coordinate air activities under the current organization. So the Army Reorganization Act of 1920 made the Air Service the official air combat arm of the Army.

Most air activities through the mid-1920s were focused on hosting air shows for various occasions, establishing records, testing newequipment and making headlines.

In July 1926, the Air Corps Act changed the name of the Air Service to the Air Corps after acceptance of the Morrow Board proposal. The board recommended the name change to allow the corps more prestige but rejected the idea of a separate department of air. The creation of a department of defense was previously suggested but rejected as well. The Air Corps Act also created an air section for each division of the General Staff.

The Air Corps continued to grow even after World War II broke out in September 1939. The Department of War established the Army Air Forces June 20, 1941, making it the new aviation element for the Army equal to the Army Ground Forces, according to www.airforce.com.

The AAF quickly expanded after the attacks on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, gaining a variety of training, transport, reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. Toward the end of the war, AAF aircraft and Airmen dominated German and Japanese airspace.

In light of the AAF’s superior track record during the war, the United States Air Force finally won its independence when the National Security Act of 1947 was signed on Sept. 18 and became full partners with the Army and Navy.

Since 1947, the Air Force brought air superiority to the forefront of various conflicts and missions. Airmen played a critical role in breaking the Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948 during the Cold War, provided United Nations ground forces with close air support over the Korean peninsula in the early 1950’s, brought essential air support to Operation Rolling Thunder in Vietnam in 1965, and helped bring victory during Operation Desert Shield.

The Air Force also proved its capabilities throughout the 1980’s in operations including Urgent Fury in Grenada, El Dorado Canyon in Libya, and Just Cause in Panama.

Despite undergoing a complete reorganization of the force in the 1990’s, the Air Force was called into action time and time again. Airmen deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Northern and Southern Watch and provided humanitarian aid in various exotic locations including Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti and the Balkans.

As Airmen prepare to celebrate the force’s birthday, they remain ever prepared to provide speed, precision and flexibility to give what former Secretary of the Air Force Donald B. Rice called “global reach, global power.”

Driving safely saves lives, careers

2011-09-09T07:06:00.001-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The concrete road is edged with tar and litter around its boundaries, sparsely populated with pot holes and chips in the pavement and wildlife roaming the outskirts of the woods nearby. In the daytime, the sun’s heat ripples off the pavement while the aura of humidity complicates the conditions. In the evening, the moon’s reflection illuminates the long roads otherwise sparingly lit by highway posts and street lamps. When the weather turns inclement, the conditions on the highway become more dangerous. Thunderstorms, violent rains and tornados can make the roads a tumultuous course for even cautious drivers, much less reckless ones.

Despite hazardous conditions and the potential for danger, cars, trucks, vans and other automobiles can be seen careening at alarming speeds in all directions, disregarding traffic signs, rules and etiquette. The operators of these vehicles flagrantly flaunting traffic rules are not only putting themselves in harm’s way, but are also placing unassuming others in danger as well. Drivers failing to drive safely can cause damage, monetary loss, impair a person’s career or, worst case, harm themselves or another.
Driving accidents and incidents are a common problem in Arkansas and can affect the Airmen of Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., said Joe Wooding, 19th Airlift Wing safety specialist. Despite being the 14th least populated state, Arkansas has the sixth most traffic fatalities in the United States.

Although Arkansas ranks high with deadly accidents, and leaders warn their Airmen about driving safely, traffic mishaps remain a common incident on and around the base, said Cefus Benner, 19th Security Forces Squadron supervisory police officer.

“The biggest problem we have as far as what we respond to on base is backing accidents in the BX or Commissary parking lot ... we average four to five a week,” said Benner.

Many of the accidents that happen on base are a case of simple negligence and driving distracted, said Benner.

“People not paying attention is the biggest problem I see,” said Benner. “Whether talking on cell phones without using a hands free device or just not paying attention to what you’re doing.”
Wooding agrees that most of the accidents and mishaps are caused by distractions that could be preventable.

“It could be texting or even eating while driving,” said the safety specialist. “one particular mishap here on base ... somebody hit the barriers up at the main gate at 45 miles per hour, which is 10 miles over the speed limit to begin with, but the cause of that was distraction. We heard three different versions of what distracted the driver. One was that he was choking; two that he was reaching for something on the floor, and the last one was that he was reaching over his seat to eat some of his lunch. Yet either way distracted driving was the cause of the accident.”

Although distracted driving is a common problem, drivers on base need to be particularly considerate of other things such as traffic signs and exit ramps that surround the highway outside of base, said Wooding.

“Every exit ramp out here is different,” said the safety specialist. “They’re not even similar ... nothing is consistent. There are plans to change that, but those plans are a ways down the road.”

Even though the driving conditions on and around base may be unique, Team Little Rock members still need to obey the rules, Benner said.

Driver’s on base need to constantly heed the speed limit, which is 10 mph in parking lots, 15 mph in school zones when the lights are flashing, 25 mph in base housing and 35 mph everywhere else on base, said Benner. All drivers are cautioned to obey the speed limits everywhere, but especially in school zones.

“We will pull people over for going one or two miles per hours over the limit in school zones,” the supervisory police officer said. “There is a zero tolerance there.”

Traffic rules like speed limits are put in place for safety reasons and drivers need to understand that being inconvenienced is no reason to become an aggressive driver, said Benner.

Slow down, calm down and relax, the supervisory police officer said. Additionally people need to be reminded about the consequences of drinking and driving.

“Drinking and driving is bad,” said Benner. “It goes beyond simple negligence and becomes a crime. Drunk drivers are criminals. Getting a DUI can end your career.”

While people have been brow beaten over the consequences of drinking and driving it is important to drive safely all the time, said Wooden. People need to obey traffic laws and understand that drivers have to focus on driving, and not allow themselves to be distracted.

Benner said that although there are many distracting things that can divert people’s attention, the individual needs to take responsibility for obeying the rules of the road.

“Slow down, don’t drink and drive, pay attention to your surroundings, watch out for other drivers and try to be a more defensive driver than offensive driver,” Benner said. “Doing so may prevent an accident, injury or fatality.”

Stepping Stones to Success: Mentoring

2011-09-09T07:05:00.001-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

(Editor’s note: this is the second in a series of articles that will provide young enlisted Airmen and supervisors with advice to help make their careers in the military a success.)

The act of mentoring and being mentored are rooted throughout history and extends its influence from contemporary culture back to the ancient Greeks. Mentors and their protégés have left an undeniable stamp on culture and have impacted history throughout the ages. For example Plato, Socrates’ protégé, wrote down his mentor’s lessons, which made both scholars famous in the future. Often the mentoring process results in a symbiotic relationship that not only benefits the protégé but the mentor as well.
Mentoring is a staunch tradition in the military and one that many successful Airmen have become acquainted with. The Air Force is more than an occupation for many of its members. The life of an Airman can encompasses an entire sub-culture comprised of diverse people tasked with a variety of missions where success or failure has the ability to influence the entire globe. The second paragraph of the Airman’s creed states that Airmen uphold “A Tradition of honor, and a legacy of valor.” How else can the future leaders of Airmen hope to uphold these standards if they don’t absorb and learn from leaders and peers?

“Mentoring is important because it gives you the opportunity of learning from people who’ve already experienced different things throughout their careers,” said Chief Master Sgt. James Morris, 19th Airlift Wing command chief master sergeant. “People who have made it through the ranks and achieved success ... you can learn from those. Mentoring gives you an opportunity to gain insight and experience before experiencing them yourself.”

Although a mentor can share their success stories, protégé’s are just as likely to learn from people who have experienced hardships or failures, said the command chief. Additionally, good mentors may give young Airmen the occasional push.

“I have had certain key people throughout my career that have grabbed me by the back of the neck and put me in positions that I would not have been in on my own,” the command chief said. “For instance, I was sitting in a private organization meeting one day and they needed a treasurer and my first sergeant volunteered me to be the treasurer.”

The senior enlisted member of the 19th Airlift Wing said that he never would have volunteered for the position personally, but learned a lot from the experience that helped him later on in his career, and he was grateful for the push.

“Mentors sometimes have to give you the cold hard facts,” said the command chief. “If you’re not going down the right course, you may not always like what the mentor has to say, but if it’s a good mentor, they will tell you the truth to get you on the path that you need to be on.”

While Airmen should seek guidance and leadership from successful people who have risen in the ranks, mentoring can be done at any level. For Staff Sgt. Adam Mangin, 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron flight administrator, being a good protégé relates directly to being a good mentor.

“I had an awesome mentor from my first two bases, I actually had the same rater” said Mangin. “He was a guy I always felt like I could call if I had a problem. He was my rater when I was an airman basic and he was a staff sergeant and I saw him make tech sergeant and master sergeant his first time so he was a good example for me too. He was always the go to guy for everybody, and that is something I strive to be in my career field.”

Having a positive influence and excellent mentor left a positive impact on his career, said Mangin. Although he has learned nearly as much from negative influences.

“My sponsor at my first base ... he emailed me back once out of the six or seven times I tried to contact him,” said Mangin. “He picked me up at the airport, which was where I worked, didn’t really show me around the base, didn’t tell me anything. He picked me up ... dropped me off in my room without furniture or supplies.”

Mangin said that sitting solitary in his empty dorm room, with only his luggage, gave him an early lesson in avoiding negative influences.

“I figured out right away I don’t need to be following this guy around,” said Mangin.

Mangin said that he had to take it upon himself to find positive influences and mentors who would steer him on the right path.

Getting Airmen on the right path may not always be easy, but mentors and protégés do not have to have a complicated relationship, the command chief said. Airmen just need to seek out mentors who have similar career goals and have taken similar paths.

“For young Airmen, the first thing that I would tell them is to think about what they want to do with their lives and with their careers,” said the command chief. “Then seek out a person who’s gone down that path and been successful when they’ve gone down that path.”

Airmen can find mentors anywhere, said the command chief. The only necessary trait of a mentor is to be straightforward and honest.

Mangin said that the most important trait of being a good mentor is simple: availability.

“Make sure you’re always available, always approachable,” said Mangin. “Definitely having the open door policy so that somebody, if they have a problem, they can come to you and you can prepare them.
Preparing Airmen for facing challenges doesn’t necessarily mean babying them or holding their hand, said Mangin. Airmen need to be taught and given the tools to face challenges on their own. If they aren’t, the consequences can be disastrous.

“If you aren’t available to your Airmen they might be unprepared,” said Mangin. “If they can’t ask their mentor, their supervisor ‘What do I need to do?’ then they won’t know what to do. Especially with something like an inspection, if they don’t know where to find the answer there will be consequences.”

Being proactive is sage advice for mentors and protégés alike, said Mangin.

“Don’t sit around and wait for someone to learn from,” the flight admin said. “You can look to people in your own work section or back home; one of my best mentors is my band director from high school. I still go to him for advice.”

The command chief said Airmen should keep an open mind when looking for mentors to learn from. Teachers can be found anywhere; the most important things are if they will provide honest assessment and successful tips to their younger protégés.

“A mentor doesn’t have to be a person from a specific career field, it doesn’t have to be a specific rank, it’s just somebody who has done what you want do successfully,” said the command chief.

TOP STORY > >Obama: Unite in spirit of service on Sept. 11

2011-09-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Services

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – President Barack Obama called on the American people Aug. 29 to come together in the spirit of service and remembrance as the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches.

“In just two weeks, we’ll come together as a nation to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks,” the president said in his weekly address.

“We’ll remember the innocent lives we lost,” Obama said. “We’ll stand with the families who loved them. We’ll honor the heroic first responders who rushed to the scene and saved so many. And we’ll pay tribute to our troops and military families, and all those who have served over the past 10 years to keep us safe and strong.”

The worst terrorist attack in American history brought out the best in the American people, he said. Americans lined up to give blood; volunteers drove across the country to lend a hand; schoolchildren donated their savings; and communities, faith groups and businesses collected food and clothing.

“We were united, and the outpouring of generosity and compassion reminded us that in times of challenge, we Americans move forward together as one people,” the president said.

On Sept. 11, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will join the commemorations at ground zero, Shanksville, Pa., and the Pentagon.

Even Americans who can’t be in New York, Pennsylvania or Virginia, he said, can be part of the commemoration by participating in the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

“In the days and weeks ahead,” Obama said, “folks across the country in all 50 states will come together in their communities and neighborhoods to honor the victims of 9/11 and to reaffirm the strength of our nation with acts of service and charity.”

In Minneapolis, volunteers will help restore a community center, the president said. In Winston-Salem, N.C., they’ll hammer shingles and lay floors to give families a new home. In Tallahassee, Fla., they’ll assemble care packages for U.S. troops overseas and their families at home. In Orange County, Calif., they’ll renovate homes for veterans.

Obama and the first lady also will join a local service project, he said. Those who wish to participate can learn more about local opportunities at thehttp://www.serve.gov.

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost -- a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11,” the president said.

On this 10th anniversary, he said, the nation faces great challenges.

“We’re emerging from the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes,” Obama said. “We’re taking the fight to al-Qaida, ending the war in Iraq and starting to bring our troops home from Afghanistan. And we’re working to rebuild the foundation of our national strength here at home.”

None of the challenges will be easy, he said, and it can’t be the work of government alone.

“As we saw after 9/11,” Obama said, “the strength of America has always been the character and compassion of our people.”

The president called on Americans to mark this solemn anniversary by summoning the same spirit shown 10 years ago on Sept. 11.

“And let’s show that the sense of common purpose that we need in America doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment,” Obama said. “It can be a lasting virtue -- not just on one day, but every day.”

COMMENTARY>>To mobility Airmen and their families on this Labor Day: Be proud, be safe

2011-09-01T15:18:00.002-07:00

By Gen. Ray Johns

Air Mobility Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – For over 100 years America has celebrated Labor Day as the first Monday in September. It is a day to pause and recognize the contributions of the American worker to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our great nation. It has also evolved to include a day of rest and signifies the end of summer. For Airmen in Air Mobility Command, Labor Day may not always be a day off work; however, it is a day to thank you and your families for all that you do to answer the call of others in need around the world.

Every day of the year mobility Airmen fuel the fight, deliver hope, and save lives. Each day is filled with service to country and service to others. After the privilege of nearly two years serving you as the commander of AMC, I continue to be inspired by the hard work and devotion of our Airmen. Recognizing your accomplishments this Labor Day is a small way of saying thank you to you and your families who sacrifice so muchand ask nothing in return.

The importance of your work and the AMC mission cannot be overstated. We continue to support the warfighter in Afghanistan and Iraq; we stopped a ruthless dictator from killing his people in Libya; and we gave hope to the people of Japan after a devastating earthquake and tsunami. To do this takes an extraordinary effort by Airmen across the Total Force -- active duty, Guard, Reserve as well as civilian employees, who make these selfless contributions to America and her Air Force. I am truly honored and proud to serve with all of you.

Along with the contributions of our Total Force team are the contributions made by the families and friends who support us every day. Your sacrifices and hard work are commendable, and let there be no doubt you are absolutely key to the success of everything we do.

As you celebrate some well-deserved time off with family and friends this weekend, please remember to keep safety as your top priority. Though this weekend marks the traditional end to the Critical Days of Summer, ensure safety and risk assessment remains a part of every decision you make. Remain alert at all times and please be good wingmen who dare to care about each other.

While enjoying the Labor Day festivities, don’t drink and drive, fasten your seatbelts, drive at reasonable speeds and avoid distracted driving. Calculate the risk and weigh your options in whatever you are doing because we cannot afford to lose anyone on our AMC team due to unwise decisions.

Diana and I thank you and your family for your service and sacrifices you make every day throughout the year. Please take time to remember our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines deployed around the world on Labor Day. We are so very proud of the hard-working AMC team and their families and want you to know we cherish your contribution to our global mission every day.

TOP STORY > >314th AW Rodeo team is named Best Air Mobility Wing, Airdrop Wing

2011-09-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

By 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Air Mobility RODEO 2011 team members from the 314th Airlift Wing gathered on the base flightline Monday after hearing some surprising post-award ceremony news: the wing earned the Best Air Mobility Wing and Best Airdrop Wing trophies.

A programming error in the AMC RODEO 2011 scoring system resulted in a change to several major awards, including the Best Air Mobility Wing.

After hearing the news about the scoring programming error, 314th AW RODEO team members received another surprise: the new trophies would be presented by Maj. Gen. Frederick H. Martin, Director of Operations, Headquarters, AMC, and RODEO commander.

“It’s an honor for me to be here,” Martin said during an award ceremony Aug. 29, 2011, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. “This award is part of what you’ve done. There is no finer balance between operations and maintenance than what you have here at the Rock.”

Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th AW commander, credited the RODEO success to the strong partnerships enjoyed by his wing.

“We have an incredible partnership with the 19th Airlift Wing and the local community,” said the colonel. “The community is such a big part of this trophy and we couldn’t have accomplished all this without them.”

AMC officials found the programming error Aug. 18 during a thorough scrub of all the results prior to posting the detailed scores for RODEO competitors to access.

“There is an automated process in the scoring algorithm which improperly assigned a median score for an event,” said the general in a news release. “This program error was not found in testing. All manual scoring processes were triple checked; however, there was not a final check for one critical portion of the automated scoring process.”

The error was isolated to the C-17 and C-130 Container Delivery System airdrop scores. No international team awards were affected.

The corrected results are as follows:

n Best Air Mobility Wing (Moore Trophy) was awarded to the 314th AW. It was incorrectly awarded to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.

n Best Airdrop Wing was also awarded to the 314th AW. It was incorrectly awarded to the 97th AMW. The 97th AMW actually finished in third place.

n Best C-130 Airdrop Aircrew was awarded to the 19th Airlift Wing (AMC) which incorrectly finished in second place. It was incorrectly awarded to to the 314th AW (C-130E). The 314th AW actually finished in second place.

Maintainers and flyers from the 314th AW RODEO team previously lassoed up the Maintenance Skills Competition Award – C-130 maintenance and the Maintenance Skills Competition Award – overall winner. The C-130E team snagged the Best Overall Maintenance Team award, Best Team Overall (Maintenance and Operations), Best Overall Aircrew Team and Best Overall Airdrop Score.

“This is a very unfortunate programming mistake,” the general said in a news release. “I will tell you that all of the competitors at RODEO were outstanding. The scoring was very close, and it was obvious that the best-of-the-best were competing. This scoring error should in no way detract from the incredible efforts our mobility forces put forward every day to ensure mission accomplishment.”

General Martin said actions have been taken to prevent this type of issue from happening in 2013.

Air Mobility RODEO, sponsored by AMC, is an international Mobility Air Force’s readiness competition focusing on improving worldwide air mobility wartime core abilities. RODEO 2011 was held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord from July 24-29.

From an international perspective, seven countries competed at RODEO 2011. Representatives from more than 20 other countries were on hand to observe. “ RODEO provides a very unique forum for our Airmen and international partners to interact and share the best tactics, techniques and procedures for the mobility mission,” Martin said.

Air Mobility Command Public Affairs contributed to this report.

TOP STORY >> Stepping stones to success: Starting out right

2011-08-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

(Editor’s note: this is the first in a series of articles that will provide young Airmen and supervisors with advice to make their careers in the military a success.)

All enlisted Air Force careers originate at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, at Basic Military Training. However, as soon as this initial training is done, service members diverge into many varied career paths. From the first day of basic training to the day of separation or retirement, every Airman has a singular career experience.

While every Airman’s experience is subjective and filled with separate personal goals, all of these goals usually relate to the desire for a successful career. To ensure that every Airman is offered the chance at a successful career, Air Force leaders encourage Airmen to take advantage of educational, retraining and special-duty opportunities. For many, that begins as early as their first days in the First Term Airman’s Center.

What commonly prevents Airmen from making their careers as successful as possible is procrastination and complacency, said Master Sgt. Shannon Wass, the base’s career assistance advisor.

“The majority of people who come to see me for retraining are second-term Airmen,” said Wass. “The problem with that is most first-term Airmen don’t understand how the Career Airman Reenlistment Reservation System window works. It is the only time in their career that they can put in for a retraining or base of preference where manning … has nothing to do with it. If they don’t do it during their CAREERS window, then they lose that opportunity.”

The CAREERS window is a nine-month time frame in which first-term Airmen may apply to retrain to any job or for a base of preference of their choice, said Wass. The window for four-year enlistees is from 35-43 months and the window for six-year enlistees is from 59-67 months. Airmen seeking either a new job or a permanent change of station have the best opportunity to obtain these during these windows.

Applying for retraining as a second-term Airmen involves a lot of variables, said Wass. The only way Airmen retrain beyond their CAREERS window is if they are willing to cross train to a job that is more critically undermanned than their current job.

Taking advantage of retraining opportunities and BOP applications are ways for service members to steer their careers toward success, but the Air Force provides more opportunities to people beyond their CAREERS window, the base career assistance advisor said.

The Air Force needs people to take on special duties and volunteer for short tours, said Wass. It benefits both the Air Force and the member, and one of the best ways to get a BOP is to volunteer for a short tour.

Working at the right job and being stationed at the right base has a lot to do with career success, but there are other factors involved such as finding a mentor and taking advantage of educational opportunities, said Wass.

“Most successful people tend to find a mentor early on in their career,” said Wass. Mentors can encourage Airmen to take advantage of educational opportunities or to get proactive on the base by joining professional organizations, she added.

Being proactive is the most important part of having a successful career, said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Inskeep, 19th Maintenance Group superintendent. Successful people always have to be willing to try something new.

“It’s important for people to get outside their comfort zone,” said the chief. “Try something different.

Whether it is a retrain or a special duty, it is good to do something else that will broaden your breadth of experience and give you a little better picture of what the Air Force is all about.”

In addition to staying inside their comfort zone, not taking advantage of educational opportunities is a common pitfall that prevents Airmen from having more successful careers, the chief said.

“The biggest pitfall I’ve seen is people not getting their education quickly enough,” he said. “You want your … education done as soon as possible. So that when you’re ready to promote then you don’t have to focus on that. You can focus on being a part of private organizations or leadership.”

Becoming involved in agencies and professional organizations helps Airmen establish rapport with their peers as well as making them visible to their leaders, said Wass.

“Visibility is important,” said the chief. “Being involved in professional organizations is important. It can be anything, even as small as a squadron booster club … when people see you involved that can help them advocate for you for stratifications or below the zone, to name a few things.”

Staying visible and establishing contacts through professional organizations is paramount to having the most successful career possible, said Wass. However, Airmen should stay educated on the benefits and courses of action available for them during their career.

“That’s why we do the mandatory informed decision briefing,” the career assistance advisor said. “I want them to know about their entire benefits package and what’s available to them in the service.”

Staying educated on Air Force benefits is important, but Inskeep said it is up to the individual to make the most of their opportunities in order to have the most fulfilling career possible. “Get educated, get out of your comfort zone and don’t let anyone stand in your way and do everything that you can to achieve,” the chief said.

TOP STORY > >Building partnerships through training

2011-08-25T14:07:00.001-07:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The mission of the Air Force expands throughout the globe. There are Airmen in many different countries fighting for the same purpose – prosperity of the future. Though there may be a language barrier or diverse cultures, though the uniforms may be slightly different, one thing remains true. “United we stand; divided we fall.”

In order to fight as one and speak as one, international allies train together to increase understanding and open the door for coalitions. At Little Rock Air Force Base, international air force military students from all over the world come here for training.

When international air force military personnel train with Team Little Rock Airmen, these students receive the same training that a U.S. student gets, said Maj. Brian Wester, 714th training squadron international military student office flight commander.

One of the training objectives is to expose the students to the local and U.S. culture as much as possible while they are here, Wester said. “That’s why we have the students come here and train, rather than send a mobile training team there. We really encourage that they send their students here. It’s part of building that partnership with other countries,” he said.

While here, the students are trained in areas such as maintenance personnel, air crew, all positions with the C-130 air crew and other familiarization courses.

“We do not pick the students and we have no control over who comes to train, so rank does not matter,” said Wester. “There can be an E-1 here training as well as an O-10.”

“This training program has been going on for years. We have records dating back to 2000, but the program has really grown in the last three years,” said Wester. “If you look back in 2000, we averaged about 15 students per year, and now we average about 250 students or more per year. It has really grown due to the J model program because a lot of countries are procuring those right now and they want to send their students here to train.”

Depending on what area the students are being trained in, they could be here from as little as two weeks, up to six months.

Regardless of the length of time that the students are here, they are always eager to learn and take as much as they can from us, said Wester.

During those weeks or months, the students go through a field studies program. The field studies program is funded quarterly by Air Force Security Assistance Training. This program aides in the culture awareness aspect of training.

“We take them out on local trips to places like the Clinton Library and other cultural icons around Little Rock. We also do an extended trip to Memphis for a weekend, and we try to get every student to go. We go to several museums including the Civil Rights Museum,” said Wester. “That’s the benefit of having the students come here. They can experience our culture for themselves.”

Working and training together helps countries that are different operate the same, said Tech Sgt. Timothy Geiger, 714th TRS international military student officer NCO-in-charge.

“We work as a coalition, so we can train in the same way, and everyone can speak the same language,” said Geiger.

While the students are here it’s good that they see how this base operates, and hopefully they take their observations back home with them, said Geiger.

“We are building partnerships. We’ve just seen India come through for the first time ever, so there’s a new partner,” Wester said.

Along with India, countries such as Poland and Nigeria are among the 42 that’s been trained here at Little Rock throughout the lifespan of this program. Out of the 42, 14 of those countries have trained here since July 2010.

“Not only do the students learn from us, but they leave bits and pieces of their culture with us and their instructors as well, and we learn from them too,” said Geiger.

COMMENTARY>>In pursuit of excellence

2011-08-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

By Maj. Justin Barry
314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander

Excellence ... What is it? We all know excellence is one of our Air Force Core Values—Integrity first; Service before self; and, Excellence in all we do. We know that our brothers and sisters in the 19th Airlift Wing will be striving to demonstrate their excellence in the upcoming Logistics Compliance Assessment Program and Operational Readiness Inspections. Certainly, I would say that our RODEO competition teams from the 314th Airlift Wing were excellent in their performance as they garnered awards for the Best Overall Maintenance Team; Best C-130 Maintenance Team; Maintenance Skills Competition Award (as both the best C-130 competitors and the overall winners); Best Overall Aircrew Team; Best Airdrop Score; and Best C-130 Wing. The dominance of the skies engendered by the Air Force, as demonstrated through the fact that no American ground troop has been attacked by an enemy aircraft since the Korean War is truly excellent. Absolutely, all of this is indicative of the “Excellence” we pursue, but still does not define what excellence is.

I was speaking with one of my Airmen recently, who was concerned that they might not be attaining the level of excellence demanded by our profession. They were concerned that in trying to balance the needs of their personal and family commitments against the requirements of the military, that they might not be able to achieve “Excellence in all we do;” that they might not be able to succeed in every facet of their personal and professional life.

I took our discussion as an opportunity to provide some clarifying feedback on my expectations of personnel in the squadron and the requirements of our military profession. I also was privileged to gain greater insight into the family demands and personal aspirations of my troop. I additionally was presented an opportunity to reflect on and clarify my own beliefs regarding what “Excellence” truly means.

Excellence—true excellence—cannot be fully measured by how many trophies or medals one wins. Not everyone will or can win a gold medal in the Olympics or is awarded a Nobel Prize. Failure in any given endeavor does not necessarily relegate one to mediocrity.

Aristotle is often quoted as saying, “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” From this, one can infer that excellence is actually found in the pursuit of excellence rather than attainment of individual goals.

American poet, Robert Silliman Hillyer once said, “Perfectionism is a dangerous state of mind in an imperfect world. The best way (forward) is to forget doubts and set about the task in hand . . . If you are doing your best, you will not have time to worry about failure.” This I believe is where one finds excellence. If, in pursuit of excellence, one sets aside doubts and dedicates themselves to giving the very best effort possible, in the end they can experience “Excellence in all we do.” This, in my mind is what defines excellence and I am proud to see it every day in so many of those I work with.

Remember that excellence is found in its pursuit. Thank you for all you do in support and defense of our great nation.

TOP STORY > >AETC commander, command chief visit Little Rock

2011-08-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The leaders and members of Team Little Rock hosted the Air Education and Training Command commander and command chief here Aug. 10 – 12, as they toured the 314th Airlift Wing.

Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr. along with Chief Master Sgt. James A. Cody, held an all-call at the base theater, where the commander expressed his pleasure with the wing’s accomplishments and operations.

“I know firsthand what kind of professionals you have here and what a professional course of instruction you all are a part of here,” said Rice. “I very much appreciate what you do every day for our Airmen and how much of an impact it has on not only AETC but also the entire Air Force with the quality of the Airmen, officers and enlisted, who come through here.”

The general said he was pleased with the quality of Airmen coming out of AETC, but he stressed service members to not lose focus on their No. 1 priority, which is to produce high quality Airmen ready to accomplish the mission.

“I say that because it is easy to get distracted,” he said. “You can easily get pulled off targethere. Each one of us has a very important job to do, and we can’t be distracted.”

It’s a leader’s duty to ensure their subordinates have the resources to complete the job; and the AETC commander also said luxuries may have to be sacrificed in the future.

“We are always going to have the resources that we must have to do the job,” he said. “What we won’t have in the future is the resources to do some of the things we might like to do.”

While the general stressed the need to accept change in the future and anticipate sacrificing wants for needs, the command chief spoke to Airmen about the importance of staying socially connected to subordinates, peers and leaders.

“We are becoming more socially disconnected as people than we have ever been,” Cody said. “We, as an Air Force family, need to work harder at that. We have to take the time to get to know each other in a way to be connected.”

The chief said people taking the time to reach out and know those around them could mean the difference between success and failure.

“We have to be mission-focused, but if we have people that can’t be focused … and we don’t recognize that because we don’t know enough about them, we’re going to have mission failure.” said the chief.

Spending time with others is the key, said the chief. By taking a little time and talking to their fellow Airmen, face to face, service members can easily catch preventable mishaps early on.

“Our greatest strength sits here in this room: you as individuals.” said the chief. “We need to care about each other as people and not just as a means to an end.”

While the all-call allowed the leaders to communicate their vision to the audience, a question-and-answer session provided them a chance to receive feedback directly from base Airmen. Several questions were asked covering a myriad of challenges the Air Force will be facing in the future.

On rumors in the press concerning changes to the military retirement system, Cody said service members need to keep things in perspective and be keen to distinguish rumors from facts.

“I wouldn’t get too worked up about it because nothing you’ve read so far is official,” Cody said. “There is no official position on this yet. There is lots of discussion on what it looks like in the future. I think we all have to have faith that it’s something that we can live with. It may be different, as things are different today than they were 20 years ago, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll be bad.”

The general added that it is of the utmost concern to the Air Force to duly compensate their volunteer members.

“We have an all volunteer military,” Rice said. “It’s essential to the security of the nation. We are always going to have, in my mind, a total compensation package: pay, leave for 30 days, medical benefits, dental benefits, educational benefits, and yes, a retirement system, and the combination of all that is going to be such that we can attract the quality of people that we have in this room.”

While taking care of service members is the No. 1 priority for the Air Force, one thing that needs to be remembered in the midst of all the upcoming challenges is service before self, said the general. All service members will have to make sacrifices. Yet, in the midst of sacrifices, he stressed that the standard for quality of life won’t change, and neither will the overall goal of the United States Air Force.

“At the end of this we are still going to be the most capable Air Force and the most envied Air Force in the world,” the AETC commander said.

TOP STORY > >ABC’s of back to school safety

2011-08-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

By: Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19 Airlift Wing Public Affairs

August marks the start of the end of summer for school-aged children. Parents and those who drive past Arnold Drive Elementary and the newly opening Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School Flightline Upper Academy, are to be mindful that Monday, school begins and road rules for child safety will be strongly enforced.

Cefus Benner, 19th Security Forces Squadron police services, said that most of the road rules will be the same for both schools.

School zone safety lights will begin flashing promptly the first day of school near Arnold Drive Elementary from 7:25 - 8:15 a.m., and it will start again 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. for school dismissal, Benner said.

“Only traffic coming westbound on Arnold Drive can turn directly into Arnold Drive Elementary school parking lot for picking up or dropping off students,” he said. There are signs posted to inform drivers that no left turns between school hours are allowed.

Evan McGrew, principal of JCLS Flightline Upper Academy, said although school zone lights will soon be in place, it will not be on the first day of school, but SFS Airmen will be on Arnold Drive monitoring speed.

There is a 15-mph speed zone near the school, and there is no tolerance in that area for speeding, Benner said. SFS Airmen will be there to strictly enforce it, and they will catch those exceeding the speed limit, even by one mph, he said. To help deter speeding, a speeding cart will be placed near the school for drivers to monitor their own speed, said Benner. Once the flashing lights turn off, the speed limit is back to its normal 35 mph.

For the Flightline Upper Academy, drivers can turn into the school from any direction, said McGrew. School begins at 7:15 a.m. and is dismissed at 3:45 p.m. For morning drop off, drivers on Arnold Drive should turn on Cannon Circle intothe one-way entrance of the school and leave through the exit past Razorback Inn, he said.

Fifth and sixth graders at the Flightline Upper Academy will be picked up by in the same manner they were dropped off. Seventh and eighth graders will be picked up from the back of the school to ease the flow of traffic during pick-up hours, said McGrew. For safety, homeroom teachers will be with the scholars until they are all picked up and traffic will be directed, as well.

Benner said there is a crosswalk near Arnold Drive Elementary, and there will be a crossing guard there dressed in a reflective vest and holding a stop sign to control the flow of traffic.

Scholars who will be walking to the Flightline Upper Academy in the mornings and after school are advised to use the sidewalk in order to get to school safely, said McGrew.

Benner said drivers need to adhere to the crossing guard and slow down as well as be extra observant of their surroundings while in the school zones because children may disregard the cross walks and run into the street.

“Children are our future, and nothing affects a community worse than to lose a child. You can not be in that big of a hurry to where slowing down to 15 mph for 200 yards is going to kill you. If you are in that much of a hurry, then you need to leave earlier. The biggest issue of course, is the child’s safety,” said Benner.

Arnold Drive Elementary and JCLS Flightline Upper Academy are both public schools. Arnold Drive Elementary teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade. JCLS Flightline Upper Academy educates fifth to eighth graders.

The new JCLS Flightline Upper Academy is a publicly funded charter school that operates outside of the control of a local school district but is still held to the state’s academic standards by the state’s board of education.

School crossing guards are needed at Arnold Drive Elementary from 2:30 - 3 p.m. To volunteer, call Julia Noe, Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant, at 987-6801.

TOP STORY > >Little Rock AFB to consider VanPool Program

2011-08-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

It’s a well-known fact that Americans love their cars. However, as the burden of economic instability spreads throughout the nation and gas prices continue to fluctuate, commuters have been finding alternatives to sitting behind the wheel. More people are realizing instead of driving to work on their own, they might do better to share a ride with other from their area.

There is no confirmed date when the first VanPool on Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. will begin, but briefings are tentatively scheduled for those who are interested to learn more about the program. A projected number of participants are needed in order to start up a new VanPool. However, once this number has been established, the process from start to finish could be as short as 30-60 days.

On April 21, 2000, Executive Order 13150 was signed, which implemented a transit benefit for federal employees. This transit benefit provides a tax-free monthly benefit of up to $230 for personnel in their local commute, including from residence to permanent duty station or work-place utilizing VanPools or commuter buses. Registration is required through the program point of contact and fare media (vouchers), which are provided to participants.

Not all riders in the VanPool must be federal employees. However, non-federal VanPool members are not eligible for the Federal Transit Benefit, and would pay the same fare as all other van pool participants. They may check with their human resources department directly for availability of this benefit.

A representative from VanPool Service Inc., a Commuter Transportation Company that operates nationwide, will be available at Little Rock AFB at the following time and location to explain the month-to-month turnkey vanpool program and public transportation benefit program procedure. VanPool basics can be found at www.militaryvanpool.com

Wednesday at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.

Thursday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

All briefings are scheduled to be held at the base theater.

For more information about e-mail Lynn Shaw, Base Program POC at ronnie.shaw@us.af.mil

COMMENTARY>>Mutual Respect: The Power of ‘Aloha’

2011-08-04T15:56:00.002-07:00

By Lt. Col. Mike Honma
48th Airlift Squadron commander

Here on the mainland, most people know the word “aloha” as a simple Hawaiian greeting to mean both ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye.’ However, the purest definition of aloha, itself, is unconditional love, free of prejudice or discrimination.

It involves an honest and proactive expression of faith, trust and acceptance given with nothing but good intent. Within the framework of the work environment, it can be interpreted as sincere mutual respect.

Like any organization, our ability to effectively function as a unit hinges on a unified belief that every member brings all their talents, efforts and good will to ensure mission success. Effective teamwork, synergy and morale are directly correlated to each member’s positive perceived value by others in the organization. This mutual respect, or lack thereof, can mean the difference between long-term success or cascading failure.

Helen Keller once wrote, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.” The “aloha spirit” cannot be achieved with laws or regulations. Someone cannot be forced to respect another to achieve the desired effect. It cannot be feigned. Sincerity is not derived from words or gestures, but from feelings. Over time, an individual’s honest agenda reveals itself in the heart of those around them.

Leaders at every level must foster a culture where mutual respect is understood and practiced freely by the entire organization. It must be internalized, demonstrated and promoted by leaders, both on and off duty. It must be patiently nurtured like a diverse vegetable garden, each different species truly accepted, valued for its distinctive characteristics and personally cultivated daily. Each unit member must take personal responsibility to aggressively eliminate caustic and self-centered beliefs and behaviors that quickly spread like weeds and undermine an organization’s teamwork and cohesiveness.

Most importantly, every member must want to achieve aloha in their unit. Good intent cannot be a part-time belief. Kindness, caring, and respect does not necessarily exist in the absence of apathy. Mutual respect can only come with true honesty. It’s felt by the giver, conveyed through concerned eyes or an infectious smile, and embraced by the receiver.

Such feelings and actions are what define how others see us and the organization which accepts each individual as a valued team member. This is the catalyst that promotes mutual support between team players, fostering an atmosphere of total commitment to mission objectives. According to Maya Angelou, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Take time every day to embody the true meaning of aloha and inspire others to do the same. That is how we truly take care of the mission and our people. Don’t wait for others to demonstrate mutual respect – show them how.

TOP STORY > >314th AW wrangles six RODEO trophies

2011-08-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Team Little Rock had another reason to wave their hats in the air and shout “Yee haw!” when members of the 314th Airlift Wing’s RODEO 2011 team came home Saturday with six trophies garnered from the Air Mobility RODEO competition held at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Maintainers and flyers from the team lassoed up the Best C-130 Maintenance Team award, Best Maintenance Skills Team award, Best C-130 Maintenance Skills Team award, Bets C-130 Aircrew (C-130E) award, Best C-130 Air Drop Team (C-130E) award and Best C-130 Wing.

“It felt awesome,” said Maj. Jacob Sheddan, 62nd Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations and 314th Airlift Wing RODEO 2011 team chief, speaking about the moment the awards were announced during the awards ceremony. “This is not only a 314th AW win, it’s also a 19th Airlift Wing and Team Little Rock win.”

Sheddan said winning the RODEO awards would not have been possible without the strong partnership between the two wings and the local community.

“We have a fantastic support structure here with the partner relationships that we’ve got with the 19th AW,” said Sheddan. “There are a couple of people on the 19th side I will thank profusely and personally for their work behind the scenes in order to make sure we got what we needed when we needed it, and also to the Airpower Arkansas committee and our local civic leaders. We couldn’t have done it without the 19th AW and we certainly couldn’t have done it without the community involvement we have, which is absolutely fantastic.”

Wing leaders share that same sentiment, giving credit to both team members and their partners.

“We know how much we rely on our partners in the 19th AW. The Black Knights provide us with A-1 support,” said Col. Mark Czelusta, 314th AW commander. “We could not be successful without support across the entire spectrum of organizations that help us meet our mission from operations support to the maintenance backshops.

“This team was a very special team from both the Legacy and J-model formal training units and aircraft maintenance units,” Colonel Czelusta added. “I am humbled to serve with such great Airmen. Our nation deserves them and every day I consider myself the luckiest commander alive.”

Team members discovered that winning at the RODEO proved to be as challenging as a real-world mission.

“As with any operation or exercise, you’re gonna have some hiccups,” said Sheddan. “One of the issues that we had was a maintenance issue on an aircraft … and calling to reschedule our airdrop because we certainly didn’t want to take zero points. So making sure that the part arrived on time and resetting the aircrew was like building a house of cards.”

Sheddan said he relied on instincts to gauge his team’s standing as the competition progressed.

“We read the reaction of the judges we had with us in order to gauge our performance,” said Sheddan. “We know many of the other teams there because we’ve either been stationed with them, taught them or deployed with them at one point. So we tried to chitchat with each other, but the other teams were trying to be nonchalant in discussions of how they were doing, so we had to go with our gut instinct.

“We had good indications from the judges and our co-competitors,” he added. “The morning of the awards day, when we got the airdrop [award] then the aircrew award, that certainly led us down the road that we were going to be earning the best C-130 wing [award], the General Joe W. Kelly Trophy.”

Following the awards ceremony, Sheddan said he was congratulated by his wing commander.

“Colonel Czelusta congratulated me for an awesome job of getting the team together and making sure they had what they needed [to succeed],” said Sheddan. “[Colonel Czelusta] told me ‘Jake, you nailed it.’”

TOP STORY > >314th LCAP Inspection

2011-07-28T14:48:00.001-07:00

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Airmen from the 314th Airlift Wing and the 314th Maintenance Group proved their technical expertise by earning an overall rating of satisfactory during the recently completed Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection.

The LCAP is chartered by Air Education and Training Command Headquarters Director of Logistics, Installations and Mission Support to evaluate command units. This program conducts recurring unit evaluations to ensure logistics technician proficiency, equipment condition and other command-developed focus areas comply with Air Force, major command, local policies and directives.

LCAP is typically a two-year cycle, said Maj. Justin Barry, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander.

In order to prepare for the LCAP, 314th AMXS Airmen did a great deal of work, making sure every “t” was crossed and every “i” was dotted, said Staff Sgt. Aaron Winans, a 314th AMXS electronic warfare lead technician. They made sure every little thing met the regulation, checklist after checklist, he added.

The LCAP team conducted a total of 607 inspections and evaluations.

The assessment team checked the organizational structure of the squadron. That means, having superintendents of the appropriate Air Force Specialty Code and background in accordance with Air Force instruction 21-101, making sure the squadron’s newest Airmen were oriented with their supervisors within thirty days, and properly documenting updates in their training records, said Barry.

“From checking to see if the wing commander is fulfilling all of his responsibilities, to checking if the technician on the flight line is properly performing the task of pumping gas on our aircraft, these are items the assessment team looks for during the inspection,” said Barry.

In a memorandum to the wing, LCAP inspectors said, “Technical proficiency was admirable, as over-the-shoulder personnel evaluations were rated at 95.58 percent.”

“We strive everyday to do it right. Every day we talk about professional maintenance being performed by maintenance professionals. Instilling that pride comes from doing it right and properly,” said Barry.

“As a wing, we received an overall satisfactory [rating]. The 314th AMXS got a satisfactory as well,” said Barry.

The 314th Maintenance Group received a rating of satisfactory and the 314th Maintenance Operations Flight received a rating of excellent during the LCAP.

Winans, who was identified as one out of the twenty outstanding performers, was inspected seven times and passed each inspection. He credits his accomplishment to going out and finding answers on his own, not waiting for someone to show him. Also, taking his time and not rushing when he’s doing his job, is what he does to perform well at work.

“Rushing will cause one to miss something and fail,” he said.

TOP STORY > >Inspiration from a wrestler

2011-07-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

By Chief Master Sgt. Gregg Kollbaum
314th Operations Group superintendent

In March of this year, Arizona State University senior Anthony Robles walked on to the mat to compete in the 125-pound National College Athletic Association wrestling championship match.

Leading up to this event he had a very successful career. He completed two undefeated seasons and won state championship titles while in high school, in addition to, winning three PAC-10 conference championships while in college.

After looking over his record, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him win the championship match that day in March. The gravity of this accomplishment, and all of those that led to this event, is realized when you see that Anthony was born without his right leg - making him the first disabled wrestler in history to win a national college wrestling championship.

So how does a man with only one leg realize that he wants to be a wrestler?

Anthony’s career started when his cousin brought him to a practice hoping to get him interested in wrestling. That day, the lightest wrestler on the team didn’t have a training partner and Anthony reluctantly started training with him. He continued training with the team and struggled the first year, but then he met and started training with a high school state champion, Chris Freije.

Chris taught him the skills needed to be a great wrestler and Anthony diligently practiced to learn the sport he would eventually master.

Though Anthony’s hard work and dedication were a big part of his success, he would not have been there without the help of two people. Anthony’s cousin and Chris Freije influenced him and put him on the path to success. Without influences like them, I would guess Anthony Robles would not be an NCAA champion.

Though Anthony’s accomplishment is an inspiration, the spark needed to start his journey was provided by other people.

The kids and Airmen of today need this type of motivation. They need to be challenged mentally, physically, academically and socially. Like Anthony, they should get out of their comfort zone and experience some difficult things in life.

When they fall, they shouldn’t quit, and the “pain” shouldn’t always be quickly soothed away. The sense of failure, in moderate doses, can propel an individual to success and give them confidence to achieve even bigger feats. Kids and young adults should be provided with the coaching to get them through the rough spots and encouraged to start again. This is a great way to help people reach their ultimate potential.

By leading our young people to experiences and giving them the tools to succeed they will surpass many expectations just like Anthony did in wrestling. If his cousin would have looked at the disability as a disability, Anthony might have lived his life much differently. He would have never met his coach and not reached his ultimate potential. I don’t know what Anthony will do next, but I am sure he has the confidence to do anything that he puts his mind to doing. Parents, bosses and supervisors can use this as an example and give our young people the inspiration to achieve greatness.

TOP STORY > >Training tomorrow’s crew chiefs today

2011-07-14T14:45:00.001-07:00

By Airman 1st Class
Ellora Remington

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Instructors from the 373rd Training Squadron are helping student crew chiefs put textbook knowledge into practice through advanced hands-on training.

The vision of the squadron is “to provide flexible training worldwide … while promoting the highest standards of quality instruction,” according to Master Sgt. Michael Holty, a 373rd TRS communication navigation instructor.

Students go through six and a half months of academic and hands-on training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, before going to their first duty station.

“I am getting what I need to know to do what I need to do,” said Airman Joshua Mougeot, a 373rd TRS crew chief in training.

These students go through a series of courses for the C-130J including J-model familiarization, J-transition, engine courses and advanced troubleshooting courses. All courses must be completed within five to six months before Airmen can move on to their first duty station.

“For new crew chiefs, we have follow-on training, which is mission ready apprentice,” said Tech. Sgt. Chad Dunham, a 373rd TRS crew chief instructor. Students acquire their three-skill level after training, followed by J-model transition courses, he added.

After academic training and some hands-on training at Sheppard AFB, students come to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., for more hands-on training on the flightline and simulators.

“Applying the book from [tech school] into what we had to do was the hardest part, but once you got to actually do the task, then it was a lot simpler and more straightforward than thetextbook had actually displayed it to be,” said Airman Mougeot.

He said the training gained here is effective thanks to the straightforward teaching approach.

Members from the Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard come to Little Rock to train with the C-130 J model. International students from other countries including Canada, India and Poland also train here.

“Students come back a few months of leaving here to go through J-model familiarization but they learn how to apply power and do maintenance on that aircraft. It constantly changes,” said Sergeant Dunham.

Sergeant Dunham said instructors play a vital role in training.

“[The training here] provides them the skills necessary to report to their first unit and be able to do a variety of test so they are an asset to their unit,” said Sergeant Dunham.

COMMENTARY>>Four keys to world-class maintenance

2011-07-07T21:45:00.002-07:00

By Col. Steven Weld
314th Maintenance Group commander

Next week, Little Rock Air Force Base hosts the Headquarters Air Education and Training Command Logistics Compliance Assessment Program (LCAP) team who will be here to evaluate the key logistic processes of the 314th Airlift Wing.

The team will evaluate the proud professionals who perform or enable quality maintenance in support of training our next generation of combat airlifters. During their inspection, the team will have the opportunity to clearly see four characteristics to our key logistics processes that are fundamental to our continued success – technical compliance, standardization, repeatability and safety.

First, technical compliance is the touchstone of our logistics business. Compliance will be the main focus of the team’s inspection efforts, verifying the quality of the work we perform and the condition of our equipment as compared to guidance in our technical data and directives. Compliance is at the center of the training, our supervision, our quality assurance program, and our management efforts. Also, compliance has earned the 314th AW a reputation for talented, capable technicians and reliable, clean, dependable aircraft and equipment. That commitment to technical compliance also directly supports standardization and repeatability.

Standardization means our processes must conform to the norms established by the Air Force, enabling us to support our global mission efficiently. Standardization allows the use of common equipment, common procedures, common training, and common organizational structures. The mission of the wing is to train our combat airlift aircrew students to standards that enable them to quickly become productive members of an operational unit, and we strive to ensure the same is true for any of our aircraft that or our military members who transfer to other units. As we work toward the transformation of the legacy flying training unit from active duty to the Active Reserve Component, we will rely heavily on Air Force standardization; working closely with Reserve and Guard units both supporting this effort and depending on its success.

The standardization of our processes also enables repeatability in our performance. We are not building up to performing a one-time execution of a capability, but a long term performance that will continue to provide support for the wing’s mission of training combat airlift aircrew, week after week. Repeatable processes reduce variability, improve quality and simplify solving common problems.

Proof that our processes are repeatable and sustainable is that for the last year the wing has consistently met or exceeded all nine logistics indicators, which measure the many logistics processes that provide training capability to the unit for both C-130E/H and C-130J fleets. Furthermore, aircrew student production remains on-time despite extreme weather this spring and aircraft availability issues.

Finally, the success of our mission requires the effective identification and management of risk, which ensures safe execution of the mission. Members must be knowledgeable of and comply with Air Force occupational safety and health standards, technical orders, and Air Force instructions. Safe processes preserve our vital and finite resources and protect our people, enabling successful execution of our mission.

The 314th AW is confident in the unit’s readiness for the LCAP inspection. We will clearly display our professionalism while the team is here while staying focused on our responsibility to perform quality maintenance long after the inspection is over. Members of our wing who daily perform or enable quality maintenance are ready to demonstrate skills and knowledge to the LCAP team, and display the meticulous stewardship of the aircraft and equipment under our care.

TOP STORY > >Herk heats up for new decon test, evaluation

2011-07-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

By 2nd Lt. Mallory Glass
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A ground-instructional C-130 on the west end of the flight line is undergoing tests to determine how heat and humidity affect the decontamination process for an aircraft contaminated with a simulated biological agent.

The tests, which run through August, use bacillus thuringiensis, a commercially-available organic insecticide, to simulate a biological agent. Base officials have reviewed the testing procedures and deemed them safe to the flight line and greater Little Rock Air Force Base community.

“We are using a simulant (bacillus thuringiensis) that has similar properties and reacts in the same way the actual agents would; however, here are no live agents,” said 2nd Lt. James Reilly, 19th Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight commander. “The simulant is in no way shape or form harmful to individuals or the environment.”

“By heating the interior of the aircraft from 150 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit in conjunction with a relative humidity at 80 to 90 percent over a period of one to five days, we will gain valuable data on how to destroy biological agents without harming the aircraft,” said Tim Provens, Air Force Research Laboratory project engineer at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, with the aid of several contracted organizations, are testing to see if green technology – heat and humidity– can neutralize the environmentally safe and simulated biological warfare agent. The technology has previously been demonstrated on a commercial aircraft in Orlando, Fla.

“It’s good to see this old Herk continue its service to the nation,” said Col. Mike Minihan, 19th Airlift Wing commander. “We’re excited to be the test location, and I want to reassure everyone that there is no threat from the organic insecticide they’re going to use to simulate a biological agent.”

Currently, the Air Force decontaminates aircraft with hot soapy water, which isn’t practical for the interior of an aircraft and has limited effects on anything that absorbs into the paint on the skin of an aircraft.

Traditional decontamination solutions used for buildings are highly corrosive to thin aircraft panels and sensitive electronic equipment.

U.S. Transportation Command, based at Scott AFB, Ill., is funding the project.

The testing is the result of collaboration between all levels of the Air Force and outside contractors. The Air Force agreed to delay destruction of the already-retired aircraft, USTRANSCOM isfunding the tests and the Air Force Research Laboratory is providing government and subcontracted engineers and scientists. In addition, Air Mobility Command is providing subject matter expertise, and Little Rock AFB is providing electrical and water hookups near the aircraft, arranging for security to allow around-the-clock access to the site, and supplying other on-base resources and personnel.

Once preliminary testing is completed to establish baselines, the entire fuselage will be fully covered with an insulation “blanket.” The insulation will be used to keep the interior at a constant temperature. This is especially important in areas next to the aircraft skin where colder evening temperatures, wind and rain reduce interior skin temperatures by several degrees.

The added heat and humidity will be provided using a specifically designed closed-loop system, provided by a contracted organization. The closed-loop system will force the hot and humid air into the forward and aft escape hatches located on top of the aircraft then return the air via the side escape hatch back into the heater and humidifier located on a flatbed trailer next to the aircraft. To determine the effectiveness of the system, small detection coupon will be coated with the environmentally approved simulated agent and placed throughout the fuselage, and then analyzed on site.

TOP STORY > >Base leaders sign civilian labor agreement

2011-06-30T13:05:00.001-07:00

By 2nd Lt. Mallory Glass
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The Labor Management Partnership Council met June 16, 2011, to sign a partnership agreement between base leadership and the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2055 Little Rock Air Force Base, which stems from the implementation of Executive Order 13522.

The base representative Col. Ken Walters, 19th Mission Support Group deputy commander, and the union representative Clarence Walters, AFGE president Local 2066 Little Rock AFB, signed the agreement.

The Labor Management Partnership Council is an open forum for base leadership and the AFGE Local 2066 to discuss labor and management issues.

“The AFGE is comprised of 78 members and more than 500 bargaining employees,” said Mr. Walters. Civilian employees are an important workforce on the base and the job of the AFGE is to make sure they are well-represented, he said.

The council works to maintain a positive work environment by identifying problems and developing solutions to better serve all employees and the mission of Little Rock AFB, said Lisa Bemrich, 19th Force Support Squadron civilian personnel officer.

According to the partnership agreement between Little Rock AFB and American Federation of Government Employees, the document’s purpose is to “create labor management forums to improve delivery of government service …achieve common goals and establish an atmosphere of mutual respect, openness, trust, and reciprocal cooperation.”

The partnership agreement reinforces the positive relationship between labor and management and the fulfillment of an executive order. Executive Order 13522, Creating Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services, states “the purpose of this order is to establish a cooperative and productive form of labor-management relations throughout the executive branch.”

“Management and union exist together on Little Rock AFB,” said Heather Baxter, 19th FSS human resources specialist. Even before the executive order there was an excellent relationship between the Little Rock AFB civilian workforce and base leadership … this is just putting it in writing, she added.

The signed pact assures civilian employees that their needs will continue to be recognized.

“The agreement says that there is a signed contract between the AFGE and wing leadership that will ensure civilian employees are heard and represented,” said Danny Mills, AFGE local 2066 vice president.

COMMENTARY>>Legacy schoolhouse receives upgrades

2011-06-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

By Lt. Col. Mark A. Livelsberger
714th Training Squadron commander

The C-130 Aircrew Training System is in the process of upgrading the legacy C-130E training devices and renovating current facilities. In an effort to provide modern and relevant training, the 314th Airlift Wing along with our Lockheed Martin partners, are undertaking a simulator upgrade program designed to convert our current C-130E model configuration to a C-130H1 configuration. These upgrades will include improved -15 engine performance, replacing the older APN-59 radar with the more capable APN-241 radar, adding oil cooler augmenters, exchanging the ground turbine compressor for an auxiliary power unit, along with pneumatic and electronic upgrades. These upgrades provide increased training capability for initial and requalification students going through the formal training unit, and allow us to graduate a more capable and qualified C-130 aircrew member. It also provides our host wing increased capability as the simulators will be able to accomplish instrument meteorological condition airdrop as well as Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System training.

These important upgrades provide a vital training bridge as the FTU transitions the legacy schoolhouse to C-130H2s supplied by the Air Reserve Component. Currently, the 314th AW is scheduled to retire all of its remaining C-130 E-model aircraft by the end of September and are being backfilled with C-130H2 aircraft from various Reserve and Air National Guard bases around the country. The transition from E-model simulator training to H2 aircraft on the flight line would make training disjointed for initial students. The H1 simulator modification ensures only slight changes to avionics displays as the student makes the transitions to flying H2 aircraft.

Along with these hardware and software changes, the ATS simulator facility is also undergoing extensive facility upgrades. A $1.4 million building refresh program is underway to provide new carpets, floors and ceiling, which will ultimately provide our Lockheed Martin partners and FTU students with a better working and learning environment. Also underway is a $2.1 million heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade to replace the chillers, boilers and air handling systems of the existing unit. Upon completion of both projects, students will be able to learn and train in a modern, up-to-date facility without having to deal with poor heating in the winter or a lack of air conditioning in the summer.

Unfortunately, these upgrades require a temporary move for instructors and students while the work is being accomplished. Student classroom instruction and Lockheed Martin’s employee offices are transitioning to building 840 near the Hercules dining facility. The simulator modification coupled with the building modifications stress the current training system and require students to train throughout the weekend. While I understand this move and weekend simulator training present a hardship to both instructors and students, the end result will be a more appealing facility capable of providing a stable, properly conditioned environment for everyone as we train in a more capable weapon system trainer.

The 314th AW continually strives to enhance the C-130 schoolhouse and provide modern and relevant training in a facility that is conducive to learning. These simulator and facility upgrades reinforce our commitment to excellence as we provide the foundation of combat airlift by training the world’s best C-130 Combat Airlifters to Fly, Fight, and Win!

TOP STORY > >Celebrate our freedom and be safe this Independence Day

2011-06-23T15:55:00.001-07:00

By Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr.
Commander, Air Mobility Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – The 4th of July is a day for all of us to celebrate what we cherish and hold so dear as Americans…it’s been this way for 235 years. What our forefathers fought and worked so hard for you carry on today, magnificently. We are as busy as ever and no matter what’s asked, you rise to the challenge…to answer the call of others so they can prevail.

Our Airmen have a rich history supporting those in need, making a difference around the globe, and protecting the freedom we enjoy. In March, when our nation called on us to support operations in Libya, many of you, active, guard, reserve, answered that call in a matter of hours saying good bye to your families instead of good night, without any hesitation. It truly makes us all proud to know we have such dedicated Airmen.

We know and recognize this does not come without personal and family sacrifice. We owe you and your loved ones a debt of gratitude for all that you do.

As you enjoy this Independence Day weekend, I urge each of you to make safety a priority. Be especially careful when traveling, as the roadways remain our most dangerous environment. While we may be good wingmen for one another – others are not so responsible; watch out for drunk drivers and certainly don’t drive if you’ve been drinking…it’s just not worth it.

The Critical Days of Summer campaign has been the AF’s ongoing campaign for decades for one simple reason: we save lives through persistent safety efforts. You, and your family’s safety, begins with you.

One fatality is too many; together, we can attain our continued goal of zero preventable mishaps and fatalities.

We wish all of you a very happy Independence Day and thank you for your selfless commitment to our nation and those you help around the world.

TOP STORY > >Cost of a DUI part 5: The heart of the matter

2011-06-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

(Editor’s note: This is the final part of a series on how DUIs impact Airmen and the mission.)

“My worst nightmare came true that night in June when a state trooper came to our door at 3 a.m. and told us that our daughter and her fiancé had been killed in a horrible automobile collision.”

That was three years ago when Kathy Paulette’s daughter was killed by a drunk driver.

Mrs. Paulette was a valued member of Little Rock Air Force Base. She worked in the 19th Medical Group clinic laboratory for 22 years. When she retired in 2008, there was an empty seat at her retirement ceremony. Her daughter, Ruth, should have filled that seat.

Ruth was also a valued member of Team Little Rock. She worked at the base youth center, the shoppette, the Tricare service center and as a Red Cross volunteer at the base clinic.

“The best description of Ruth is that she loved … she loved to cook, she loved people and she loved her family,” said Mrs. Paulette. Ruth also loved Tim, a Beebe resident. Mrs. Paulette said the two were making wedding plans.

A drunk driver changed their plans on June 8, 2008. Ruth and Tim were on their way home from seeing a movie. It was just past 9 p.m.

Several 911 calls reported a person driving erratically, sometimes at speeds up to 100 mph.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., a caller reported the driver lost control of his truck, flipped it into the median and was ejected from his vehicle. Driverless, the truck rolled into the southbound lane and slammed into Ruth and Tim’s car with Tim behind the wheel. Police told Mrs. Paulette the two died instantly.

The days following that tragic evening found Mrs. Paulette immersed in the unpleasant task of burying her daughter.

“I found myself engaged in activities I never dreamed I would be doing for [Ruth],” said Mrs. Paulette. “Selecting a casket, looking at cemetery plots, writing an obituary and filling out a death certificate … I never thought I would live to see Ruth’s name on such a document. The worst task of all was telling her children, Katie, Chris and Jason, that they would never see their mother again.”

Mrs. Paulette’s husband, John, saw a different woman attending to his daughter’s estate.

“My husband told me he felt like he had not only lost a daughter but also a wife,” she said. “Dealing with settlement claims, insurance companies, lawyers, banks and endless paperwork took their toll on us as a couple.”

The Paulette family began the healing process but realized at the same time the stark reality of Ruth’s death.

“We had to endure the painful process of dismantling Ruth’s home … packing up all the items she had collected and loved over 32 years,” said Mrs. Paulette. “A death of a family member is difficult enough to bear, but to lose a child, whether young or adult, to the irresponsible actions of another, causes pain for which there is no cure.

There are visits to the cemetery now instead of her home.

“Ruth wasn’t there to welcome home the brother she adored and was so proud of when he returned from Iraq,” Mrs. Paulette said. “There will be no more family gatherings, Christmases, Thanksgivings and other happy occasions without remembering that Ruth and Tim are not there.”

The drunk driver who killed Ruth and Tim was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 10 years with two suspended. In less than three years, the man was granted parole and released.

Today, Mrs. Paulette is a volunteer speaker for Mothers Against Drunk Driving here in Little Rock. She shares her story to educate others about the repercussions of drunk driving and give strength to those suffering from loss.

“The lives that are lost cannot come back, but those of us left have the opportunity to change the consequences of drunk driving,” Mrs. Paulette said.

Base leaders want Airmen to understand the seriousness of a DUI.

“Drinking and driving incidents are not in line with our core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jim Morris, 19th Airlift Wing command chief. “Make no mistake, drinking and driving under the influence is a crime. One DUI is one too many. We cannot continue to put our own people’s and other people’s lives in danger through the decision-making process some of our Airmen have exhibited in the past.”

Additionally, there are negative consequences if one is convicted on or off base, including career impact, court costs, higher insurance premiums and potentially the loss of life of an innocent victim or even one’s own life.

Setting the conditions for success means supervisors and Airmen should focus attention on responsible alcohol use by highlighting programs in place, such as having a plan or calling 987-AADD (2233) or a supervisor when an Airman has had too much to drink.

COMMENTARY>>Where does airpower come from?

2011-06-09T13:47:00.001-07:00

By Chief Master Sgt. Brian Stevens
314th Maintenance Group superintendent

Every day I see examples of the men and women of the Air Force putting their lives on hold to make our mission happen. This dedication isn’t something new – we’re part of a military that has done this for decades.

But every time I drive by Heritage Park and see the B-47, tail number 0595, I am reminded of a story that shows this dedication by an old crew chief who was stationed at Schilling Air Force Base, Kan., when the aircraft was there in the fall of 1962.

He was a young, dedicated crew chief for another B-47 at the same base in mid-October. As he completed a pre-flight inspection on his aircraft in the middle of the night, his production supervisor pulled up. The crew chief was told to prepare the aircraft for immediate nuclear munitions upload and departure.

After a fuel top-off and the loading of several nuclear bombs, the crew chief was given time to grab his TDY bag those in Strategic Air Command always had packed and ready to go. His young wife and two pre-school children had brought it to his work center and they had one short moment to say goodbye. With no family in the area, and no idea of where her husband was going nor when he’d return, his wife did what all military spouses did and still do: wished him luck, kissed him and promised to keep the house ready for his return.

The crew chief’s next stop was the pre-departure mission brief. In a room full of other military members, the group was told the United States had found out the Soviet Union had operational medium range nuclear missiles in Cuba. It was their mission to counter the threat.

He walked out to his aircraft with his crew and pulled the chocks and plugs. The crew started engines, and the crew chief jumped onboard and closed the hatch. For the next 22 hours he would be buckled into his seat, which also doubled as the step built into the door, while they flew north and circled. As they flew, taking fuel from tankers every few hours to always have enough fuel to strike Cuba and beyond, they tried to pick up any news from the radio and talked about their families left behind. Schilling AFB had just stood up a wing of 12 Atlas missiles and they knew if the bombs started dropping, their homes where high on the target list. The thought of his young wife and two sons never left the crew chief’s mind.

At the end of the first day, they landed at their dispersed location: Columbus, Ohio. The plan called for minimum ground time with a minimum number of aircraft on the ground at any one time. The young sergeant’s crew went into crew rest and mission planning as he helped another crew chief with another aircraft. He grabbed sleep as the aircraft took off for its next turn on flying alert. This pace continued for almost two weeks – always keeping as many bombers in the air as possible. In addition, three C-123s provided combat airlift flying a constant circle between each of the dispersed locations delivering spare parts and other maintainers. The mood was somber and tense, but these dedicated Airmen knew their mission had to go on.

In the end, the standoff only lasted 13 days – something that felt like an eternity to those service members supporting whatever decision the commander in chief made. The confrontation was diffused only because of the determination and discipline of our fellow Airmen.

When my father told me the story of his part in the Cuban missile crisis, he had a particular look in his eye. A look of calm determination and a willingness to do what it took to get the job done.

I see that same look here at Little Rock Air Force Base. I see it in the security forces Airman when I come in the gate. I see it in the faces of Airmen returning from deployment as they step off the plane to meet their families. I see it in the face of a senior NCO who unhesitatingly accepts a short-notice, 365-day assignment to Iraq. I see it everywhere I look … the true origin of our nation’s air power is ordinary men and women doing extraordinary things to protect our nation.

TOP STORY > >Cost of a DUI part 4: Emotional toll

2011-06-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

(Editor’s note: This is part four of a series on how DUIs impact Airmen and the mission.)

“It’s not just losing a stripe.”

Airman Johnson (not her real name and rank), a member of the 19th Mission Support Group, is coming to terms with the emotional cost of being charged with driving under the influence recently.

“It’s not just filling out paperwork or losing a stripe,” said Airman Johnson. “There’s the embarrassment, the guilt and every night thinking ‘Why didn’t I just stay (at my parents’ house)?’

“All you hear about is ‘Oh, you’re going to lose your license and you’re going to lose your stripe,’ but there’s more than that,” she added. “It’s sitting and waiting, the anxiety building. It’s taking away time from everybody. I can’t go anywhere without having somebody drive me. I’m inconveniencing supervisors, coworkers … everybody.”

Airman Johnson wants other Airmen to learn from the poor choices she made.

“I can’t express enough that it’s not worth it,” she said. “I wouldn’t have hurt myself or anybody else if I had stayed home for the night.”

As Airman Johnson’s story was chronicled in the June 3 edition of the Combat Airlifter, Airman Johnson attended a college graduation ceremony for a family member one Thursday evening. To celebrate, the family went out for dinner and Airman Johnson had two small glasses of wine.

She had a few alcoholic drinks while celebrating with her family and even drank water throughout the night.

“I had been drinking water throughout the night, so I felt sober enough [to drive home],” said Airman Johnson.

Later that evening, Airman Johnson was pulled over by local police for driving 7 mph over the speed limit. The police officer asked Airman Johnson to take a breathalyzer test and she blew .16.

Airman Jones has a pending demotion, was placed on a control roster and fired from her special duty assignment.

Setting the conditions for success means supervisors and Airmen should focus attention on responsible alcohol use by highlighting programs in place, such as having a plan or calling 987-AADD (2233) or a supervisor when an Airman has had too much to drink.

Part 5 in this series will give a personal account of someone who lost a loved one to a drunk driver and will appear in next week’s Combat Airlifter.