By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing command chief
Lately it seems like I have been going to more and more retirement ceremonies and each of the honorees shared similar professional traits. The main one that they had in common was their readiness to step up and lead when they had the opportunity. If your boss wasn’t able to perform their duties, could you step in and lead?
If you stay around long enough, your name will be called to assume great responsibilities. One of the keys to an organization and individual being successful is the ability of the unit and member to embrace opportunities to grow. Each of us must fight to avoid getting so comfortable in our positions that we don’t look for new challenges to accept.
These principles apply in personal relationships; if you are serious about the people in your life then make positive growth a part of your life.
I believe each of us must periodically do a self assessment to determine if stagnation or growth is taking place in our lives. The retirees I referenced in this article also had another significant thing in common; they wanted to leave their Air Force better than they found it. On top of being ready to answer the call to greater responsibility, they also believed in setting up someone to replace them. You see when you answer the call, part of that process is leaving the next generation set up for success. So who is ready to replace you?
One day each of us will hang up our uniforms to open another chapter of life, and the hope is people will fondly reflect on how we answered our nation’s call. My hope for all of you is that you aggressively seek out every opportunity to improve, while posturing those coming through the ranks to run the next leg of this race.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
COMMENTARY>>Will you answer the call?
By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing command chief
Lately it seems like I have been going to more and more retirement ceremonies and each of the honorees shared similar professional traits. The main one that they had in common was their readiness to step up and lead when they had the opportunity. If your boss wasn’t able to perform their duties, could you step in and lead?
If you stay around long enough, your name will be called to assume great responsibilities. One of the keys to an organization and individual being successful is the ability of the unit and member to embrace opportunities to grow. Each of us must fight to avoid getting so comfortable in our positions that we don’t look for new challenges to accept.
These principles apply in personal relationships; if you are serious about the people in your life then make positive growth a part of your life.
I believe each of us must periodically do a self assessment to determine if stagnation or growth is taking place in our lives. The retirees I referenced in this article also had another significant thing in common; they wanted to leave their Air Force better than they found it. On top of being ready to answer the call to greater responsibility, they also believed in setting up someone to replace them. You see when you answer the call, part of that process is leaving the next generation set up for success. So who is ready to replace you?
One day each of us will hang up our uniforms to open another chapter of life, and the hope is people will fondly reflect on how we answered our nation’s call. My hope for all of you is that you aggressively seek out every opportunity to improve, while posturing those coming through the ranks to run the next leg of this race.
19th Airlift Wing command chief
Lately it seems like I have been going to more and more retirement ceremonies and each of the honorees shared similar professional traits. The main one that they had in common was their readiness to step up and lead when they had the opportunity. If your boss wasn’t able to perform their duties, could you step in and lead?
If you stay around long enough, your name will be called to assume great responsibilities. One of the keys to an organization and individual being successful is the ability of the unit and member to embrace opportunities to grow. Each of us must fight to avoid getting so comfortable in our positions that we don’t look for new challenges to accept.
These principles apply in personal relationships; if you are serious about the people in your life then make positive growth a part of your life.
I believe each of us must periodically do a self assessment to determine if stagnation or growth is taking place in our lives. The retirees I referenced in this article also had another significant thing in common; they wanted to leave their Air Force better than they found it. On top of being ready to answer the call to greater responsibility, they also believed in setting up someone to replace them. You see when you answer the call, part of that process is leaving the next generation set up for success. So who is ready to replace you?
One day each of us will hang up our uniforms to open another chapter of life, and the hope is people will fondly reflect on how we answered our nation’s call. My hope for all of you is that you aggressively seek out every opportunity to improve, while posturing those coming through the ranks to run the next leg of this race.
TOP STORY > >Little Rock’s newest Chief Master Sergeants
Nine Team Little Rock senior master sergeants were selected for promotion to chief master sergeant Nov. 5. The selectees are:
Jay Freeman
19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Chris Herreid
61st Airlift Squadron
Lawrence Hommrich
314th Maintenance Group
Paul Howard
19th Maintenance Operations Squadron
William Moore
19th Force Support Squadron
Todd Piazza
19th Component Maintenance Squadron
George Simonof
19th Component Maintenance Squadron
Brian Stevens
314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Christopher Womack
19th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Jay Freeman
19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Chris Herreid
61st Airlift Squadron
Lawrence Hommrich
314th Maintenance Group
Paul Howard
19th Maintenance Operations Squadron
William Moore
19th Force Support Squadron
Todd Piazza
19th Component Maintenance Squadron
George Simonof
19th Component Maintenance Squadron
Brian Stevens
314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Christopher Womack
19th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Thursday, October 22, 2009
COMMENTARY>>Col. Howard Dallman – First Airlifter to earn Air Force Cross
By Chris Rumley
314th Airlift Wing historian
Feb. 5, 1968, Vietnam, the surrounded Marine Fire Base at Khe Sanh.
A C-130E, piloted by Lt. Col. Howard Dallman of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing, broke through thick cloud cover over Khe Sanh at 300 feet above ground level. Finding communications at the base inoperable, and having never landed at Khe Sanh, Colonel
Dallman chose to make a radar approach down through the mountains and into the clouds.
Perhaps with less critical cargo he would have chosen to land another day. As it was, the 35,000 pound load of ammunition, artillery shells, and mortar fuses was desperately needed. Colonel Dallman, an experienced pilot with 45 combat missions flying B-17s during WWII who survived being shot down and then survived a German prisoner of war camp, was greatly respected by his fellow C-130 teammates flying in Vietnam. He was also the right man to be piloting aircraft 62-1817 on Feb. 5, 1968.
Once safely on the improvised runway, the C-130 became an easy target for communist forces from Khe Sanh’s surrounding high ground. Marines there called the C-130s “Mortar Magnets” for good reason. As the enemy mortars began raining down, heavy machine gun fire tore into the fuselage of the aircraft igniting wooden ammunition crates and spreading to the wooden pallets holding artillery rounds.
Fearing the fire would result in an explosion that could kill nearby Marines and shut down the resupply operation, Colonel Dallman and crew remained on the aircraft and backed it to the far end of the runway. As he maneuvered the aircraft, his crew members fought the fire now spreading to other pallets and filling the fuselage with flames. Through their combined efforts, the crew extinguished the flames and began quickly unloading the cargo as enemy mortar fire bracketed the aircraft.
With the load safely removed, Colonel Dallman taxied the entire length of the runway to replace a front landing gear tire damaged by shrapnel. At one point, still under heavy enemy fire, the navigator left the aircraft to ground guide Colonel Dallman through a congested area on the runway. With the tire replaced, the crew prepared to take off only to have an engine knocked out by yet another enemy mortar round. After some hasty repairs, the crew taxied out onto the runway and launched the C-130 back into the air taking several more hits to the aircraft on the way out.
For his decisive action under fire, Colonel Dallman was awarded the Air Force Cross. He was the first tactical airlift crew member to be so honored with the Air Force’s second highest award given for acts of extraordinary heroism- second only to the Medal of Honor. His crew all received Silver Stars. Aircraft 62-1817 returned her crew home safely and had enough holes needing repair to earn the nickname “Patches”.
After service in Vietnam, Patches eventually ended up with the 43d Airlift Wing at Pope Air Force Base from where she deployed to Southwest Asia flying missions in support of the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Patches was finally reunited with the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in June of 2008 and is still flying missions with the 19th Airlift Wing from Little Rock today. Thus far in October, Patches has completed 28 sorties here.
314th Airlift Wing historian
Feb. 5, 1968, Vietnam, the surrounded Marine Fire Base at Khe Sanh.
A C-130E, piloted by Lt. Col. Howard Dallman of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing, broke through thick cloud cover over Khe Sanh at 300 feet above ground level. Finding communications at the base inoperable, and having never landed at Khe Sanh, Colonel
Dallman chose to make a radar approach down through the mountains and into the clouds.
Perhaps with less critical cargo he would have chosen to land another day. As it was, the 35,000 pound load of ammunition, artillery shells, and mortar fuses was desperately needed. Colonel Dallman, an experienced pilot with 45 combat missions flying B-17s during WWII who survived being shot down and then survived a German prisoner of war camp, was greatly respected by his fellow C-130 teammates flying in Vietnam. He was also the right man to be piloting aircraft 62-1817 on Feb. 5, 1968.
Once safely on the improvised runway, the C-130 became an easy target for communist forces from Khe Sanh’s surrounding high ground. Marines there called the C-130s “Mortar Magnets” for good reason. As the enemy mortars began raining down, heavy machine gun fire tore into the fuselage of the aircraft igniting wooden ammunition crates and spreading to the wooden pallets holding artillery rounds.
Fearing the fire would result in an explosion that could kill nearby Marines and shut down the resupply operation, Colonel Dallman and crew remained on the aircraft and backed it to the far end of the runway. As he maneuvered the aircraft, his crew members fought the fire now spreading to other pallets and filling the fuselage with flames. Through their combined efforts, the crew extinguished the flames and began quickly unloading the cargo as enemy mortar fire bracketed the aircraft.
With the load safely removed, Colonel Dallman taxied the entire length of the runway to replace a front landing gear tire damaged by shrapnel. At one point, still under heavy enemy fire, the navigator left the aircraft to ground guide Colonel Dallman through a congested area on the runway. With the tire replaced, the crew prepared to take off only to have an engine knocked out by yet another enemy mortar round. After some hasty repairs, the crew taxied out onto the runway and launched the C-130 back into the air taking several more hits to the aircraft on the way out.
For his decisive action under fire, Colonel Dallman was awarded the Air Force Cross. He was the first tactical airlift crew member to be so honored with the Air Force’s second highest award given for acts of extraordinary heroism- second only to the Medal of Honor. His crew all received Silver Stars. Aircraft 62-1817 returned her crew home safely and had enough holes needing repair to earn the nickname “Patches”.
After service in Vietnam, Patches eventually ended up with the 43d Airlift Wing at Pope Air Force Base from where she deployed to Southwest Asia flying missions in support of the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Patches was finally reunited with the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in June of 2008 and is still flying missions with the 19th Airlift Wing from Little Rock today. Thus far in October, Patches has completed 28 sorties here.
COMMENTARY>>Remember why you joined
By Lt. Col. Scott Brown
19th Medical Group acting commander
I began my Air Force career, as did a number of my fellow officers, as an enlisted Airman. The year was 1984, and a co-worker at my civilian workplace had signed up with the Navy.
He was excited at the prospect of moving into a new and challenging career, at the opportunity to see other countries and experience new things. After listening to him and reading the information, it didn’t take me long to decide that the military seemed to be a great option for me. I’d attempted college one semester but just didn’t have the self-confidence or drive that it took to complete the classes, and my blue collar job at the time didn’t offer any real advancement opportunities or prospects for a stable career.
My wife and I talked it over, and the following week I met with an Air Force recruiter. Within a few short weeks, I’d completed the requirements for entry and locked in a guaranteed job as an information management specialist, all the while nervous and questioning why I would do this, especially at age 27. But my recruiter had offered an opportunity for me to build a real future for our family with the help of the Air Force while contributing to the strength of our nation as a member of the military, and I wasn’t going to pass it up.
Basic training was tough, especially having to leave my family behind, but during that time I learned things I wouldn’t have learned in most civilian jobs. I learned to push myself to the limit physically and mentally, and accomplish things I would never have thought possible. I learned that with hard work, I could build my endurance and complete all physical training requirements even though I hadn’t worked out regularly for years. I learned I was capable of completing academic goals and gained a level of self-confidence that would see me through every challenge that came my way. Most of all, I learned to take pride in the accomplishments of my teammates and the contributions and sacrifices each of us made in order to achieve our team’s goals. Despite the stress and the hectic pace, we knew we’d achieved those tough goals together and graduated as a team. Knowing we were now ready to put our new skills to work for the bigger Air Force team made all the hard work well worth the effort.
Fast forward 25 years and we’ve progressed from typewriters and hard-copy inboxes to computers and seemingly endless e-mails. Our nation has moved from a Cold War state to a state of war against terrorists. Many of us deploy regularly, leaving family behind and many times leaving short-manned work centers to cope with additional workload while we’re gone. We’re constantly asked to do more when we’re convinced we’ve reached our limits. But our nation and our Air Force team have a huge goal that they need our help with--to win the war.
This goal challenges each of us to recall our reasons for talking with our recruiters, to recall how tough basic training was and to remember the pride we felt when we graduated basic training as a team and then took on and overcame constant additional challenges. We will win the war and the pace will slow, and we will achieve that goal together.
Always take pride in your team’s and your accomplishments, use that self-confidence gained in basic training and keep a positive attitude. Remember why you joined.
19th Medical Group acting commander
I began my Air Force career, as did a number of my fellow officers, as an enlisted Airman. The year was 1984, and a co-worker at my civilian workplace had signed up with the Navy.
He was excited at the prospect of moving into a new and challenging career, at the opportunity to see other countries and experience new things. After listening to him and reading the information, it didn’t take me long to decide that the military seemed to be a great option for me. I’d attempted college one semester but just didn’t have the self-confidence or drive that it took to complete the classes, and my blue collar job at the time didn’t offer any real advancement opportunities or prospects for a stable career.
My wife and I talked it over, and the following week I met with an Air Force recruiter. Within a few short weeks, I’d completed the requirements for entry and locked in a guaranteed job as an information management specialist, all the while nervous and questioning why I would do this, especially at age 27. But my recruiter had offered an opportunity for me to build a real future for our family with the help of the Air Force while contributing to the strength of our nation as a member of the military, and I wasn’t going to pass it up.
Basic training was tough, especially having to leave my family behind, but during that time I learned things I wouldn’t have learned in most civilian jobs. I learned to push myself to the limit physically and mentally, and accomplish things I would never have thought possible. I learned that with hard work, I could build my endurance and complete all physical training requirements even though I hadn’t worked out regularly for years. I learned I was capable of completing academic goals and gained a level of self-confidence that would see me through every challenge that came my way. Most of all, I learned to take pride in the accomplishments of my teammates and the contributions and sacrifices each of us made in order to achieve our team’s goals. Despite the stress and the hectic pace, we knew we’d achieved those tough goals together and graduated as a team. Knowing we were now ready to put our new skills to work for the bigger Air Force team made all the hard work well worth the effort.
Fast forward 25 years and we’ve progressed from typewriters and hard-copy inboxes to computers and seemingly endless e-mails. Our nation has moved from a Cold War state to a state of war against terrorists. Many of us deploy regularly, leaving family behind and many times leaving short-manned work centers to cope with additional workload while we’re gone. We’re constantly asked to do more when we’re convinced we’ve reached our limits. But our nation and our Air Force team have a huge goal that they need our help with--to win the war.
This goal challenges each of us to recall our reasons for talking with our recruiters, to recall how tough basic training was and to remember the pride we felt when we graduated basic training as a team and then took on and overcame constant additional challenges. We will win the war and the pace will slow, and we will achieve that goal together.
Always take pride in your team’s and your accomplishments, use that self-confidence gained in basic training and keep a positive attitude. Remember why you joined.
COMMENTARY>>What does a person in trouble look like?
By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing command chief
Can you spot someone who is having a trying time in their life?
There was a time that I would tell you I could pick them out quickly and then be able to render assistance. But the longer I live, the more I realize that people respond to stress differently, and I may not be as good as I thought at spotting warning signs.
Today we will have a series of commander’s calls on base; these come on the heels of losing four people associated with Air Mobility Command in the last week due to traffic fatalities.
So I began to ponder how can we internalize the concept of a community of caring. Three of the four individuals who died last weekend were ejected from their vehicle. You see a person in trouble could be someone you know who doesn’t take wearing seatbelts or personal protective equipment on motorcycles seriously. They could even be a person who calls themselves a friend, but doesn’t have the courage to say you’ve had enough to drink before you get behind the wheel. Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander, and I had a conversation this week with someone who had the chance to do the right thing in being a good wingman and looked the other way.
Team Little Rock, we cannot be bystanders. We have to be active participants in the lives of those we serve with. As we continue to complete our mission here and abroad, it becomes more important that each of us takes personal interest in the people around us. Ten years ago someone I worked with committed suicide and no one saw it coming. He didn’t fit the profile I had been briefed on, yet he completed this tragic act.
So as we get to know people better, we will be able to see if they’re not themselves and help them work their way back to stability and growth.
Thank you for taking the time to care for those around you as we continue to be the guardians of freedom.
Combat Airlift!
19th Airlift Wing command chief
Can you spot someone who is having a trying time in their life?
There was a time that I would tell you I could pick them out quickly and then be able to render assistance. But the longer I live, the more I realize that people respond to stress differently, and I may not be as good as I thought at spotting warning signs.
Today we will have a series of commander’s calls on base; these come on the heels of losing four people associated with Air Mobility Command in the last week due to traffic fatalities.
So I began to ponder how can we internalize the concept of a community of caring. Three of the four individuals who died last weekend were ejected from their vehicle. You see a person in trouble could be someone you know who doesn’t take wearing seatbelts or personal protective equipment on motorcycles seriously. They could even be a person who calls themselves a friend, but doesn’t have the courage to say you’ve had enough to drink before you get behind the wheel. Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander, and I had a conversation this week with someone who had the chance to do the right thing in being a good wingman and looked the other way.
Team Little Rock, we cannot be bystanders. We have to be active participants in the lives of those we serve with. As we continue to complete our mission here and abroad, it becomes more important that each of us takes personal interest in the people around us. Ten years ago someone I worked with committed suicide and no one saw it coming. He didn’t fit the profile I had been briefed on, yet he completed this tragic act.
So as we get to know people better, we will be able to see if they’re not themselves and help them work their way back to stability and growth.
Thank you for taking the time to care for those around you as we continue to be the guardians of freedom.
Combat Airlift!
COMMENTARY>>Commander’s Action Line: Bugged by insect bites
Question:
I have recently moved into base housing after living in Cabot for six months. While living in Cabot, I don’t think anyone in my family received mosquito or bug bites. However, since moving into base housing, we cannot seem to keep them off of us. I was wondering if this concern is being addressed or if you could tell me what is being done to try to keep the mosquito population down?
Answer:
Living and working in a lakeside community has the recreational advantages of fishing and being close to nature. However, the lakes do tend to attract mosquitoes, especially in the summer months and during times of heavy rainfall. Little Rock AFB has received an abundance of rain this year -- 20 inches more than average -- which exacerbates mosquito issues.
The mosquito spraying season in Arkansas ends once the temperature drops below 50 degrees in the evenings. The mosquito population should be quickly reducing now since we’ve had several nights where the temperature has dropped into the 40s. Thank you for allowing me to address your concern.
In the future, if the mosquito problem is in family housing, call 983-9050 to report the problem. If it’s outside of base housing, call the 19th Civil Engineering Squadron customer service desk at 987-6553 or 987-6554, is the correct office to call to report a mosquito problem on base.
They will submit a work order to the 19th CES entomology shop. Entomology then contacts public health, who conducts a mosquito count of the requested area.
If public health personnel confirm the count is high enough to warrant a chemical application, Entomology will spray the area in question.
I have recently moved into base housing after living in Cabot for six months. While living in Cabot, I don’t think anyone in my family received mosquito or bug bites. However, since moving into base housing, we cannot seem to keep them off of us. I was wondering if this concern is being addressed or if you could tell me what is being done to try to keep the mosquito population down?
Answer:
Living and working in a lakeside community has the recreational advantages of fishing and being close to nature. However, the lakes do tend to attract mosquitoes, especially in the summer months and during times of heavy rainfall. Little Rock AFB has received an abundance of rain this year -- 20 inches more than average -- which exacerbates mosquito issues.
The mosquito spraying season in Arkansas ends once the temperature drops below 50 degrees in the evenings. The mosquito population should be quickly reducing now since we’ve had several nights where the temperature has dropped into the 40s. Thank you for allowing me to address your concern.
In the future, if the mosquito problem is in family housing, call 983-9050 to report the problem. If it’s outside of base housing, call the 19th Civil Engineering Squadron customer service desk at 987-6553 or 987-6554, is the correct office to call to report a mosquito problem on base.
They will submit a work order to the 19th CES entomology shop. Entomology then contacts public health, who conducts a mosquito count of the requested area.
If public health personnel confirm the count is high enough to warrant a chemical application, Entomology will spray the area in question.
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