COLORADO S MILITARY NEWSPAPER G CCHRIEVERHRIEVER ...Mar 20, 2008 · an electrician assigned to the 50th Civil Engineer Squadron. By Lorna Gutierrez ... Fountain Mesa & Araia Drive

Base Briefs

InsideCommentary ......................... 3Space History .......................... 4Feature ................................... 10

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SCHRIEVERCHRIEVER SENTINELENTINELTh ursday, March 20, 2008 www.csmng.com Vol. 2 No. 12

COLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP

By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez50th Space Wing Public Affairs

Approximately two weeks aft er Staff Sgt. Justin Sims returned from leave, he received a phone call with some unexpected and dis-heartening news.

“My grandmother was placed in inten-sive care on life support and they only gave her a few days to live,” the sergeant from the 50th Civil Engineer Squadron said.

Sergeant Sims knew he wanted to be by his grandmother’s side but had just returned from leave and couldn’t afford another plane ticket. He contacted his su-pervisor and first sergeant. They got him in contact with the Air Force Aid Society at the Airman and Family Readiness Center who set him up with an interest free loan for a plane ticket back home to Birmingham, Ala.

Sergeant Sims was able to be with his grandmother before she passed away be-cause of donations made to the Air Force Assistance Fund. His story is just one ex-ample of how the AFAF benefi ts Airmen when a personal, fi nancial predicament occurs.

Schriever’s AFAF campaign offi cially kicked-off March 17.

“The funds provide support to the Air Force family in need,” said Maj. Brian Simon is from the 50th Operations Group, who is the installation project officer for the Schriever AFAF. The fund assists ac-tive duty and retired servicemembers, Reservists, Guardsmen and their fami-lies, which include surviving spouses, he added.

Th e organizations which benefi t from the AFAF are the Air Force Aid Society, the Air Force Enlisted Village and Villages, and the General and Mrs. Curtis E. Lemay Foundation. In Sergeant Sims’ case, the Air Force Aid Society assisted him in purchas-ing a plane ticket. Major Simonis said other examples of how the funds are used include fi nancial assistance for educational needs or securing a retirement home for the widow of a servicemember.

“Th e money raised by these four charitable organizations are some of the best examples of how Air Force members take care of their

Assistance fund benefi ts Airmen in need

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez

Staff Sgt. Justin Sims received an interest free loan for a plane ticket home to be with his ailing grandmother. The Air Force Aid Society provided the loan to Sergeant Sims and is one of the organizations that benefi ts from the Air Force Assistance Fund. The Schriever AFAF campaign is from March 17 until April 27. Sergeant Sims is an electrician assigned to the 50th Civil Engineer Squadron.

By Lorna GutierrezSchriever Sentinel

For some servicemembers, teachers served as inspiration to improve themselves and be successful, leading them to a career in the military. Now, servicemembers have the opportunity to inspire others in the classroom.

Schriever personnel interested in a teaching career attended the Troops to Teachers semi-nar March 14 held at the First Term Airman’s Center in the DeKok building.

“Teaching is something I’ve always consid-ered,” said Master Sgt. Peter Heying assigned to the Midwest Communications Support Element. “Th is was a good opportunity for me to check it out.”

Th e seminar addressed issues to the packed classroom, including state requirements for teacher licensure, subject need, fi nancial as-sistance and job placement assistance.

Servicemembers look to career as teachers

U.S. Air Force photo/Lorna Gutierrez

Megan Diderrich was just one of many speakers who informed Schriever personnel about the Troops for Teachers program during a seminar March 14 at the First Term Airman’s Center classroom in the DeKok Building. Troops for Teachers is a program that prepares servicemembers to transition to a career in teaching.

Volunteers wanted for Schriever Challengers

Th e Schriever Challengers are seek-ing military or civilian volunteers to serve as president, vice president, sec-retary, and treasurer.

Th e Schriever Challengers are an or-ganization that supports the 50th Space Wing’s participation in the Air Force Space Command Guardian Challenge competition and raises funds to sup-port the team.

For more information or to volun-teer, contact Capt. Jim Andrew of the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at 567-2605.

Women’s History Month 5K run set for March 21

Th e Main Fitness Center will host a 5K fun run/walk in honor of Women’s History Month at 9 a.m. March 21.

For more information, contact the Main Fitness Center at 567-6628 or the 50th Services Division at 567-3588.

DASH volunteers wantedDrive A Servicemember Home needs

volunteers from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. March 21 and 22.

One weekend dispatcher and 14 drivers, 8 males and 6 females, are needed.

For more information, contact Staff Sgt. Adrian Fernandez of the 1st Space Operations Squadron at 567-2747.

Chess tournament taking place March 29

The 2008 Schriever Air Force Base Chess Tournament will take place March 29 at the Peterson AFB Chapel.

For more information, con-tact the 50th Services Division at 567-3588.

Single parent group meeting April 1

Th e Airman and Family Readiness Center is assisting the development of a new support group for single parents assigned to Schriever.

Schriever’s fi rst Single Parent Support Network meeting will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the A&FRC and will be an open forum to discuss the various topics and needs of the single parent community. Supervisors are encour-aged to allow single parent Airmen to attend the meeting.

For more information, contact Tech. Sgt. Martie Moore of the 50th Space Wing Public Aff airs Offi ce at 567-5042 or Patricia Czepiel of the A&FRC at 567-7357.

See Fund page 11

See Teachers page 11

2 Schriever SentinelMarch 20, 2008

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3March 20, 2008Schriever Sentinel

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Commentary by Maj. Darrin JohnsAir Force Space Command Judge Advocate offi ce

Th e election season is now in high gear, and this has already 99been an exciting race among both the Republican and Democratic candidates. As we get out and show our support for the candi-date of our choice, we must remember that there are specifi c laws and regulations governing what we, as federal employees, can and cannot do.

Th e Hatch Act governs political activities of federal employees. Also Air Force Instruction 51-902, Political Activities by Members of the U.S. Air Force, regulates the political activities of Air Force members. For example, govern-ment employees — both civilian and military — may not engage in political activities in a government facility and must avoid any impli-cation that the Air Force endorses or supports their participation in the activity. Th e listing below contains examples of both permissible and prohibited activities for civilian federal employ-ees and Air Force military members. However, items cited below are not all-inclusive. Before engaging in political activity not addressed in this article, seek guidance from the installation legal offi ce.

Air Force military members may: Register to vote, vote and express a person-

al opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces Make monetary contributions to a political

organization or political committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates Attend political meetings or rallies as a

spectator when not in uniform Join a political club and attend its meetings

when not in uniform, but may not serve in an offi cial capacity in a partisan political club Display a political sticker on the member’s

personal vehicle, or wear a political button when not in uniform and not on duty Write a personal letter, not for publica-

tion, expressing preference for a specifi c political

candidate or cause, if the action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign on behalf of a partisan political cause or candidate

Air Force military members may not: Use offi cial authority or infl uence to in-

terfere with an election, to aff ect its course or outcome, to solicit votes for a particular can-didate or issue, or to require or solicit political contributions from others Be a candidate for, or hold civil offi ce,

except within very limited non-partisan excep-tions (See the installation’s judge advocate general before seeking any offi ce, even as a school board member) Allow, or cause to be published, parti-

san political articles signed or authorized by the member for soliciting votes for or against a partisan political party or candidate Speak before a partisan political gathering

of any kind for promoting a partisan political party or candidate, even when not in uniform Participate in any radio, television, or other

program or group discussion as an advocate of a partisan political party or candidate Solicit or otherwise engage in fund-raising

activities in federal offi ces or facilities, including military reservations, for a partisan political cause or candidate March or ride in a partisan political pa-

rade, even when not in uniform Participate in any organized eff ort to pro-

vide voters with transportation to the polls, if the eff ort is organized by or associated with a partisan political party or candidate Make campaign contributions to a parti-

san political candidate (If a joint account holder makes contribution from the joint account they share with you, that contribution may be attrib-utable to you as well) Use contemptuous words against the

President of the United States or other elected offi cials outlined in Article 88, Uniform Code of Military Justice

Display a large political sign, banner, or poster on the top or side of a member’s per-sonal vehicle (as distinguished from a political sticker)

Civilian employees may: Be candidates for public offi ce in nonpar-

tisan elections Register to vote and vote Assist in voter registration drives Express personal opinions about candidates

or issues Attend and be active at political rallies and

meetings Sign nominating petitions Campaign for or against candidates

in partisan elections (but not in the federal workplace)

Hold offi ce in political clubs or parties

Civilian employees may not: Use their offi cial authority or infl uence to

interfere with an election Collect political contributions Engage in political activity while on duty

(defi ned as an activity directed toward the suc-cess or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political offi ce, or a partisan political group)

Wear political buttons while on duty Be a candidate for public offi ce partisan

elections Solicit political contributions from the gen-

eral publicEven though federal employees may be re-

stricted in some of the things they can do to support a particular political candidate, they should all become aware of the issues and where candidates stand on them. By becoming better informed, they can ensure that those for whom they vote are the best candidates to represent their interests.

Federal employees can take part in political activitiesCOMMENTARY


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By Randy Saunders50th Space Wing Historian

Below are some signifi cant March dates in space history and the history of the 50th Space Wing:

March 1, 1950 Th e 50th Fighter Wing was redesignated

as the 50th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. Concurrently, the 50th Fighter Group also was redesignated as a fi ghter-interceptor group. Th ese organizations would be redesignated 50th Space Wing and 50th Operations Group, respectively, on Jan. 30, 1992. March 2, 1973

Th e Pioneer 10 spacecraft carried aboard it a plaque signaling peace from humans on earth to any extraterrestrials who might intercept it. On Jan. 22, 2003, NASA received its last signal from Pioneer 10 during a routine contact. Th e space-craft ’s signal was so weak that NASA was unable to receive telemetry. March 8, 1991

Th e United States conducted its fi rst West-Coast launch of a Titan IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. March 10, 2004

Air Force Space Command redesignated the 50th Communications Group as the 50th Network Operations Group. Special Order G-009 also transferred command of the 21st, 22rd and 23rd Space Operations Squadrons from the 50th Operations Group to the 50th Network Operations Group. Th e wing sought to consolidate all Air Force Satellite Control Network units under one organization, thereby improv-ing command and control operations and maintenance. March 15, 1946

Th e United States completed the fi rst static test of a captured German V-2

rocket at White Sands, New Mexico. Th e V-2 rockets provided the United States and other countries with details on en-gine technology that aided their rocketry and missile programs. March 16, 1926

Robert Goddard launched the world’s fi rst successful liquid-fuel rocket from a farm near Auburn, Mass. Goddard would become a chief contributor to U.S. rock-etry and missile programs. March 16, 1954

Th e Air Force Council advocated accelera-tion of the Atlas missile program to achieve the earliest possible operational capability. Th e Atlas-D became America’s fi rst opera-tional ICBM and space launch vehicle. March 20, 2003

U.S. forces launched Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the fi rst 20 days of combat, 50th OG crews fl ew hundreds of satellite missions while the 50th Communications Group (later 50th NOG) completed thousands of satellite contacts, assisted with anomalies and helped put additional satellites on orbit. March 20, 2004

A Boeing Delta II rocket carried GPS satellite IIR-11, the 50th GPS satellite, into orbit from Space Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fala. Th e Block II-R satellite was named in honor of Dr. Ivan Getting, considered the father of GPS. March 21, 2003

Second SOPS opened the GPS Operations Center. March 23, 1983

Former President Ronald Reagan announced his decision to develop a space-based anti-ballistic missile de-fense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative. SDI would play a key role in later arms-reduction treaties between the United States and the Soviet Union.

This Month in Space History

U.S. Air Force photo

50th SW commander, chief visit D.C.Col. Terry Djuric and Chief Master Sgt. Clarence Moore visited the nation’s capital March 10-14 and met with Colorado Senators Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar and Rep. Doug Lamborn as part of the Air Force Congressional Relations Program. Colonel Djuric and Chief Moore also visited the Applied Physics Laboratory here and traveled to Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., to watch the March 15 launch of GPS IIR(M)-19. Colonel Djuric is the 50th Space Wing commander at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.; Chief Moore is the 50th SW command chief.

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum

It’s a bird! It’s a plane!Senior Airman Edward Phillips halts traffi c along Falcon Parkway here March 18 to allow a tow truck to proceed. Aboard the tow truck is a single-engine aircraft that made an emergency landing on the eastern side of the base March 15. Airman Phillips is assigned to the 50th Security Forces Squadron.


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By Master Sgt. Kate RustAir Force Space Command Public Affairs

Th e Navy rejected him for far-sighted vision he “might” develop later in life. So he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree on D-Day, June 6, 1944. By 1946 he was selected to serve in the super secret Manhattan Engineer District — the Manhattan Project. His destiny unfolded behind tight security and among giants.

Retired Col. Francis J. “Joe” Hale gave a lifetime to the Space and Missile program, and the Air Force said thank you March 6.

Colonel Hale stood with Air Force Space Command Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Th omas Deppe to be recognized as an Air Force Space and Missile Pioneer Hall of Fame inductee. Colonel Hale was offi cially inducted Aug. 26, 2006, but was unable to attend in person.

From the Army Corps of Engineers, Colonel Hale volun-teered in autumn 1944 for parachute school at Fort Benning, Ga. He served with a combat engineer battalion in Europe until mid-1945, retraining thereaft er with the Army Map Service and, then, making maps in the Philippines. Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves selected him in 1946 to serve in the Manhattan Engineer District, which then became the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, at Sandia Base, N.M.

Colonel Hale explained that when he was notifi ed of his orders to proceed to work on the project he didn’t have enough clearance to receive them.

“I thought I was reporting to Okinawa — I was a map maker,” he said.

He became deputy supervisor for the fi rst military team to assemble atomic weapons and supervisor for the second such team. He spent fi ve months on Eniwetok Island as a member of the Blast Measurements Group during Operation Sandstone, when the U.S. tested three atomic bombs.

Colonel Hale explained that they were divided into three groups which capitalized on their body of work or their talents.

“Th e fi rst group was made up of engineers, the really smart guys,” he said. “Th e second group was electricians, and of course the mechanics made up the third group. Th e rest had no talent — they made us commanders.”

Later, he would earn master’s and doctorate’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His doctoral thesis examined the boundary layers of a magnetohydrodynamic accelerator for use in space propulsion.

He reported to the Western Development Division in January 1956 and became the deputy director of the Th or missile program under Colonel Ed Hall, another Hall of Fame inductee. With establishment of the Minuteman missile program, Colonel Hale became its fi rst plans-and-programs offi cer, then Colonel Hall’s deputy program director.

General Deppe had fi rst-hand experience with some of the 1960s tests of the Minuteman program when he was an enlisted Airman assigned at Edwards AFB, Calif. Having had a long association with the missile program as an of-fi cer as well, the general said he was honored to accord this tribute to this missile great.

“Th e Air Force has Colonel Hale to thank for the decisive space and missile capabilities used today by the Nation and joint warfi ghters around the world.”

Colonel Hale said he was surprised even to have been nominated.

“I always considered myself a number-two kind of guy,” he shrugged. “I wasn’t creative like Ed Hall. I was never a

weapon system director — I was a deputy.” But he said he had a good time and served with great people.

Colonel Hale retired from active duty in 1965 and joined the engineering faculty at North Carolina State University. He spearheaded development of an aerospace curriculum at Turkey’s Middle East Technical University. In the late 70s as a visiting professor, he assisted the U.S. Military Academy with expansion of its engineering curriculum into aerospace.

Prior to becoming technical director of the Department of Interior Desalination Test Facility at Wrightsville Beach, N.C., in 1982, he performed a dynamic analysis of a desalina-tion process using techniques and equations developed for stabilizing and controlling spacecraft and aircraft .

He authored several engineering textbooks, including Introduction to Space Flight (1994). From the mid-1990s onward he developed and taught for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics home-study professional development courses in aircraft design and performance and in space fl ight.

AFSPC rewards one man’s life’s work, inducts into Hall of Fame

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Lohr

Retired Col. Francis “Joe” Hale takes in the sights from Headquarters with his wife Mary Alice and Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe, vice commander of Air Force Space Command. The colonel was formally inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame March 6.

By Staff Sgt. Matthew BatesAir Force News Agency

SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) — Airmen now will be able to submit ideas for improving Air Force uniforms with a few simple clicks of a mouse.

By logging into the Air Force’s IDEA Program Web site, Airmen can select a link that allows them to submit an idea for a uni-form change or update.

Once submitted, ideas are routed through the same channels as other Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, or IDEA, suggestions. Any suggestions that make it to the Air Force level will be for-warded to and reviewed by members of the Air Force Uniform Board.

Th is process is designed to make it easier for Airmen to submit suggestions and bet-ter defi nes ideas by allowing Airmen in the fi eld to provide input to the uniform board without having to wait for major commands to ask for their input.

“You will see a faster process, and you will also see more effi ciencies in the system,” said Col. Paul Price, an Air Force Uniform Board member. “Th at will allow us to make better and more timely decisions.”

Th e Virtual Uniform Board also will allow Air Force leaders to be more responsive to the fi eld and provide more fl exibility to board members while saving time and money.

For further questions, contact the Air Force Personnel Center Contact Center at (800)616-3775 and selecting option 1, 1, 2.

Uniform board goes virtual

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — Active duty Air Force members, offi cers and enlisted, who log on to the Air Force Personnel Center’s Assignment Management System aft er March 13 will fi nd a new web application that makes navigation faster and easier.

“It’s all part of AFPC’s on-going eff ort to increase service to our customers,” said Master Sgt. Brad Bryant, Assignment Systems Management superintendent at AFPC. “Th e new web application is more user friendly, meeting Air Force and user needs.”

Th e previous system was “button-driven,” requiring the user to click from button to but-ton in order to fi nd the required information. Th e new system is rewritten in the Microsoft .Net Framework, and is menu-driven, using drop-down menus to make navigation easier

and faster.“Content hasn’t changed on the website,”

said Steve Hicks, senior programmer with the 554th Electronic Support Group here, “but users will be amazed at the increase in effi ciency. Why click your curser three or four times to reach your objective when you can click on a drop-down menu and go straight to your destination?”

Th e new system is also more secure, according to Capt. Dan Marcum, ASM chief.

To access the AMS site, eligible users can go to https://intraweb and click on “Secure Apps.” Aft er clicking on “AMS,” users can sign in to the AMS page. “From there on,” said Todd Pickering, 554th ESG senior pro-grammer, “it is smooth sailing via the new web application.” (AFPC)

New web application makes Assignment Management System easier to use


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By Ed WhiteAir Force Space Command Public Affairs

When you think of the commander going in front of Congress to testify about the status of space sup-port to the force, the first thought that likely pops into your mind is; “I’m glad its not me sitting up there get-ting grilled.” However, testimony, the interaction be-tween the commander and the members of Congress, plays a key role in Air Force Space Command’s mission accomplishment.

On March 4, Gary E. Payton, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space Programs; Gen. C. Robert Kehler,

commander, Air Force Space Command; and Scott Large, director, National Reconnaissance Office went before the House Armed Services Subcommittee to talk about the state of space support to the force, acquisition programs for key space future capabilities and contingency plans should one or more systems become compromised in the future.

Congress gave General Kehler the opportunity to speak to the successes of the command as well as to the future needs to continue to deliver space power. It was a report card and a wish list based on the commander’s priorities. And, in this instance, it was a forum to speak to potential

weaknesses in space systems from things like anti-satel-lite eff orts, jamming by hostile entities, and contingency plans to enable continued, seamless space support to the warfi ghter.

These are key issues of the day the command is faced with, and the fact that they are being addressed at the highest levels of government underscores their magnitude.

General Kehler communicated three key messages.First, the end of 2007 marked fi ve consecutive years with-

out premature failure of any AFSPC on-orbit system. He reported that “many satellites are lasting years beyond their original predicted life spans and are exceeding expectations every day.”

Second, in 2007 AFSPC stood-up the fi rst-ever Air National Guard unit to support intercontinental ballistic missile fi eld security forces and in 2008 the 310th Space Group became the fi rst-ever Air National Guard space wing.

Finally, the way ahead is to focus on delivering the space and missile capabilities needed today and tomorrow by bal-ancing recapitalization and modernization investments, implementing organizational and cultural change and ma-turing AFSPC space professionals.

Th e importance of this dialog cannot be understated. Congress holds the purse strings and the service must communicate clearly and concisely where it is going, what it needs to reach its objective and why it is taking the par-ticular course of action outlined in testimony.

Even though the questions from the committee members can be very direct, these proceedings are a collaboration rather than an adversarial eff ort.

In the end, what matters is that the communication was two-way, it was clear and concise and that it eff ectively conveyed the needs of the force and the requirements and concerns of the Congress.

Th e link to General Kehler’s statement is: http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080310-023.pdf

Congressional testimony: vital to the success of the command

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein

Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Air force Space Command commander, gives opening remarks during a hearing of the House of Representatives Armed Services subcommittee on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., March 5. General Kehler spoke to members of the committee about the need to protect space assets from developing threats, such as jamming attempts of American global positioning systems and the use of anti-satellite weapons.

WASHINGTON (AFPN) — The president of the United States honored servicemembers during a speech at the Pentagon March 19 to mark the five-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We removed a tyrant,” said President George W. Bush, “liberated a country and rescued mil-lions from unspeakable horrors. Some of those troops are with us today. You need to know that the American people are proud of your accom-plishment. So is the commander in chief.”

Four Airmen were selected to attend the speech as special guests. Staff Sgt. Huey Harris III, from Dover Air Force Base, Del.; Tech. Sgt. Agustin Elias, from Andrews AFB, Md.; Capt. William White, from the Pentagon; and Maj. Patrick Ward, also from the Pentagon, were recognized for their individual accomplishments during vari-ous deployments.

President Bush spoke of what servicemembers faced when they fi rst entered Iraq, saying the troops added new chapters to the story of American mili-tary heroism.

“Our troops engaged in battle with Saddam, death squads acting on the orders of Saddam

Hussein that obeyed neither the conventions of war nor the dictates of conscience,” he said. “These death squads hid in schools, in hospitals, hoping to draw fire against Iraqi civilians. They used women and children as human shields. They stopped at nothing in their efforts to prevent us from prevailing, but they couldn’t stop the coalition.”

He said that even though the war has stretched longer than most expected, and at a high cost, he is proud of what the men and women in uniform have done over there and sees a brighter future for Iraq.

“We will stay on the off ense,” he said. “Defeating the terrorists means changing their murderous ideology. Th ere, we have another advantage with our military when it comes to fi nding the terrorists and bringing them to justice.”

He closed his speech by reaffirming the com-mitment to stamping out terrorism around the world, especially in Iraq.

“Th e battle in Iraq is noble,” he said. “It is neces-sary and it is just. With your courage, the battle in Iraq will end in victory.”

President honors Airmen, servicemembers

DOD photo/R. D. Ward

President George W. Bush delivers a speech at the Pentagon March 19 offering his views on the progress being made in the war on terrorism. The speech was timed to coincide with the 5th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

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By Staff Sgt. Ruth Curfman332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — Vice President Dick Cheney met and spoke to servicemembers fi ghting the war on terrorism from Balad Air Base and Logistics Support Area Anaconda March 18.

Before addressing the base populace during a rally, the vice president sat down to breakfast with a select group of military members.

“It was an honor to be able to represent my service, the Navy, during breakfast with Vice President Cheney,” said Navy Petty Offi cer 1st Class Michael Powell, the leading petty offi cer for customs at Balad AB. “It was good to see he is a real person and genuinely cares for us and what we do.”

During a joint servicemember’s rally at Holt Stadium, the vice president spoke to troops about his appreciation for what they do and how they are making a diff erence.

“I want you to know that we appreciate you and your comrades. We never take you for granted,” Vice President Cheney said. “We are inspired by the tremendous work that all of you have done on this deployment and I bring greet-ings from home and good wishes to all of you on behalf of the President of the United States George W. Bush. On the president’s behalf, I want to thank all of you for being part of an extraordinary American team here in Iraq.”

Th e vice president also discussed the importance of the Balad AB and LSA Anaconda missions.

“Th is is one of the biggest bases in the country and the work that goes on at Balad and Camp Anaconda, around the clock, seven days a week, is absolutely critical to the mission America has undertaken here,” he said. “Balad is one of the busiest air-ports anywhere and it is the main staging area for the massive logistical operations that we need in this theater.”

Th e words of praise were well received by Senior Master Sgt. Richard Garcia. As the 332nd Logistics Readiness Squadron Aerial Port Flight superintendent, he knows fi rsthand about the busy operations tempo on the Balad AB fl ightline.

“I think it’s always inspiring for leadership to meet with the people who are actually executing policy and to let them know that their leadership is right there with us,” Sergeant Garcia said. “We believe in the cause and what it stands for, we all have a mission and together we can make a diff er-ence. We all come together each day and provide front-line troops with the equipment necessary to promote the nation’s policies and beliefs.”

Th e vice president praised the execution of duty American

servicemembers fi ghting the war.“From the very beginning, we have had high expectations of

the men and women serving here,” he said. “We’ve given you a lot of work to do, and oft en times a very small amount of time in which to do it, you more than met our expectations.

“Each one of you has accepted serious duties in a challeng-ing part of the world and the job you do here has a direct impact on the security of the United States,” he said. “Th e work we are doing right now provides the best chance for the security for our friends, allies and partners and for the people of the Middle East region.”

Not only were the actions of the military members lauded by the vice president, but also their friends and families were as well.

“Service above self is the military way of life and that goes, of course, for everybody back home who has a loved one in the armed forces,” he said. “Especially in wartime, our military families understand full well what it means to make sacrifi ces for the good of the country.”

Vice President Cheney’s visit coincided with the fi ft h an-

niversary of the week the U.S. led a coalition to liberate Iraq from the regime of Saddam Hussein.

“Tyranny in Iraq was worth defeating and democracy in Iraq is worth defending,” he said. “All Americans can be certain, we intend to complete the missions so that another generation of Americans doesn’t have to come back here and do it again.

“You, as veterans of this fi ght, will always be honored and respected for what you have done to defend your country,” he told the crowd. “When you look back on this deployment, you’ll be able to say that (while you were) here, you did some of the hardest work of your life, some of the most important work of your life, some of the best work of your life and you did it all for your country.”

At the end of his speech, the vice president awarded two Bronze Stars for Valor to Army Soldiers for their heroic acts.

“I can’t describe the feeling I had when he awarded me the Bronze Star,” said Army Spc. Veronica Alfaro, a 2nd Platoon senior medic. “It is defi nitely a moment I will always remember and cherish. I will never forget it.”

Vice president visits troops stationed at Balad Air Base

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter

Vice President Dick Cheney speaks to servicemembers March 18 at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The vice president came to the base to visit deployed military men and women serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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By Senior Airman Ross M. Tweten380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Th e Global Hawk unmanned aerial system recently reached its 10 year and 20,000 fl ight hour milestones.

More than 15,000 of those hours and most of those years have been amassed in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to commanders.

Th e 380th Air Expeditionary Wing has been an integral part in most of those years and hours.

Here, the 12th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron continues to help the Global Hawk reach newer and greater milestones.

“It’s great being a part of something so new, there are constantly opportunities to be the fi rst to accomplish something,” said Capt. Chad Bowden, a 12th ERS Global Hawk pilot. “It’s always exciting to do things that have never been done before and the Global Hawk provides many of those opportunities and will continue to do so for quite some time.”

Th e 12th ERS’s mission is to provide high altitude day and night all-weather surveil-lance and reconnaissance in direct support of allied ground and air forces across the spectrum of confl ict.

Supporting and maintaining the Global

Hawk and its mission takes a herculean ef-fort from active duty, contractor, civilian technicians, engineers and supply chain specialists, said Capt. Steven Leblanc, the 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit offi cer in charge.

“From completing daily scheduled mainte-nance tasks to troubleshooting intricate air-craft sensor components, none of it happens without the collaboration of the entire highly skilled 12th AMU team,” he said. “Th e most rewarding part of maintaining the Global Hawk is knowing that the eff ort our team has put into getting the aircraft off the ground, and into theater, is having a positive eff ect on the servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Th e feedback we receive gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment when we learn that our weapon system helped identify bur-ied improvised explosive devices or tracked known terrorists.”

The Global Hawk has had a signifi-cant role in the war on terrorism, said Captain Bowden, and its role continues to expand.

“Th e Global Hawk has already had a big impact on the GWOT and it’s only in its in-fancy,” he said. “As we try new things and learn to employ the aircraft more eff ectively it will play an even bigger role. Once ad-ditional aircraft become operational, it will become the go-to asset for operations all over

the globe.”Th e 380th AEW has played an important

role in the Global Hawk’s history, which gar-ners much pride amongst its Airmen.

“Not everyone can say they’ve had a hand in birthing a new weapon system in

the world’s most prominent air power, in a combat environment,” Captain Leblanc said. “Being a part of such a key component of the GWOT, which aff ects so many air and ground forces, is truly an honor and privilege.”

Airmen integral part of unmanned aerial system

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Levi Riendeau

Airman 1st Class Matthew Milles performs an operational check of the Global Hawk’s sensor package March 11 in Southwest Asia. The Global Hawk recently reached the 10 year and 20,000 fl ight hour milestones. Airman Milles is a 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft avionics specialist.

WASHINGTON — Since the Air Force is on track to meet end strength goals for fi scal 2008, force shaping programs are being closed for the remainder of the year.

March 31 is the last day Air Force offi cials will accept fi s-cal 2008 Voluntary Separation Pay program applications. All eligible offi cers interested in applying must submit ap-plications for VSP online through Virtual MPF on or before March 31.

All other offi cer voluntary separation force shaping pro-grams also close March 31, to include Limited Active Duty Service Commitment Waivers and Palace Chase transfers to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

Voluntary retirement programs — prior-service of-ficers eligible to retire with eight years commissioned service and lieutenant colonels and colonels requesting time-in-grade waivers with their retirement applications

— close April 30.However, the Blue to Green program for enlisted and

offi cers applying for transfer to the Army will remain open indefi nitely.

A decision on what force shaping programs may be utilized in fi scal 2009 is still pending.

For more information, visit http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/forceshape/. (AFPN)

Air Force offi cials to close force shaping programs for 2008

Colorado Springs Military

Newspaper Group

View our publication online at www.csmng.com.


By Staff Sgt. Monique RandolphSecretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (AFPN) — Th e Air Force’s top two leaders testifi ed before the House and Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittees on Defense during hearings about the fi scal 2009 budget March 11 and 12.

While the main topic of discussion among congressmen and senators remained the KC-45A contract award, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley also off ered comments on other procurement priorities and joint basing.

Since the March 7 announcement of Northrop-Grumman as the company of choice to produce up to 179 new tankers, Air Force leaders have been called upon by government of-fi cials to defend the decision.

“We believe we accurately followed the laws and arrived at a decision selecting the better of two very qualifi ed competi-tors to a published criterion,” said Secretary Wynne during his opening statement, later adding he believes the Air Force “selected the right airplane at the right time.”

“Th is is about fi elding capability to be able to fi ght this country’s wars,” said General Moseley. “It’s about being able to fi eld systems on time and being able to fi eld systems to replace a (nearly) 50-year-old airplane that has served us very, very well.” Following the rules set forth and based on the proposals received, the Air Force “got a good aircraft and I’m willing to fl y it,” he added.

Secretary Wynne and General Moseley also addressed the lack of funding for C-17 Globemaster III programs in the budget request and the subsequent unfunded request for 15 C-17s.

“Th is is an aff ordability issue,” said General Moseley. “We support the president’s budget, and as we fi t the priorities that we’ve tried to work within the department into that budget, some things just can’t be bought.”

General Moseley stated that the additional C-17s on the Air Force’s unfunded list are intended to be an eye opener as to what the Air Force would spend additional funds on if they were available. Th e general also stated air mobility needs have increased in the past three years with the expansion of the Army and Marines, as well as the impending stand-up of Africa Command which will have air mobility requirements similar to those of Pacifi c Command due to its size.

“We’re utilizing the C-17s at a much higher rate,” General Moseley said. “We’re told the future combat systems vehicle likely won’t fi t in a C-130 (Hercules), which means we’ll have to fl y it in C-17s to support the Army, and (mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles) of course won’t fi t in a C-130.”

He added that every month C-17 transport helps take about 3,500 convoys and nearly 10,000 people off the roads, avoiding snipers, insurgents and improvised explosive devices. While operational requirements for the C-17s are on the incline, the Air Force simply can not aff ord additional aircraft , he concluded.

Senator Daniel Inouye, the chairman of the Senate Democratic Subcommittee on Defense, also addressed the status of the contract for a new combat search and rescue aircraft , or CSAR-X, during March 12 testimony.

Th e Air Force plans to fi eld the CSAR-X to replace the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter. Th e contract has been the subject of Government Audit Offi ce review since it was awarded to Boeing in 2006, and later protested by a com-peting company.

During testimony, General Moseley reinforced the need to “get on with” the CSAR-X contract.

“Th is is about being able to pick people up in combat, and the U.S. Air Force does this for the entire joint team,” General Moseley said. “It’s a core competency for us. Th e notion of getting on with this and getting it to our squadrons so we can get into a much more capable, survivable penetrating platform is our desire. Th at’s why we’ve made it the number two acquisition priority for the Air Force.”

Th e Air Force hopes to have some resolution on the CSAR-X by August or September of this year, Secretary Wynne said.

In regard to joint basing, Secretary Wynne and General Moseley agreed it’s important not to lose sight of the local levels of command, and allow local commanders to make decisions

Top Air Force leaders testify on ‘09 budget

about the best ways to bring about effi ciencies and savings.General Moseley stressed the uniqueness of each service’s

mission and the distinct requirements of each service to or-ganize, train and equip within their respective domains.

“I think joint basing is a good idea,” he said. “I believe

looking at the base (supporting services) capabilities; look-ing at synergies to be able to save money and resources is a wonderful idea and we should pursue that, but as we begin to look at things that impact command authority or execu-tion of command, we have to be very careful.”

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne testify on the fi scal 2009 budget March 12 before the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Both leaders also testifi ed on the budget before the House committee March 11.

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By Tech. Sgt. Jerome Baysmore376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) — Manas Air Base Airmen, Soldiers and transitory personnel got a fi rsthand glimpse into history this week.

Three Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War toured the base and spoke at several local engagements on their stop here before touring other loca-tions in the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility.

Retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, Marine Capt. John J. McGinty III and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary L. Littrell high-lighted Manas Air Base’s contributions in the war on terrorism.

“Americans appreciate the great ser-vice you’ve provided for our country,” Colonel Howard said. “Democracy is very demanding.”

Colonel Howard was awarded his medal for his actions in Vietnam. As a sergeant first class, he served as a platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon. The platoon was attacked by an estimated two-company force. Although he was wounded and unable to walk, he crawled through heavy gunfire to retrieve his wounded leader and rejoin the platoon. He rallied the platoon into an organized defensive force, administered first aid and directed the defenders to repulse enemy attacks for three and a half hours.

In addition to his Medal of Honor, Colonel Howard has two Distinguished Service Crosses and eight Purple Hearts.

“I spent 37 years in the military, Korea and Vietnam. I’ve been fi ghting a war all my life,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have served with Americans like you. In your heart, you love why you wear that uniform.”

He also had advice for some of today’s Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines dur-ing a small meet and greet session held in the chapel Saturday.

“Do the job the best you can and don’t ask for help if you don’t plan to use the help,” Colonel Howard said.

Captain McGinty echoed the same sentiments with, “I see no diff erence in today’s servicemem-bers. You’re still as talented and determined — you do just as well. Th ank you for what you do.”

Captain McGinty was a staff sergeant and part of a 32-man platoon which came under heavy fire and two of the squads be-came separated from the platoon. He charged through intense automatic weapons and mor-tar fire to their position. When he found 20 men wounded and the medical corpsman killed, he quickly reloaded ammuni-tion magazines and weapons for the wounded men and directed their fire upon the enemy. When the enemy tried to out-f lank his position, he killed five of them at point-blank range with his pistol. The enemy nearly over-ran the small force again, but he adjusted artillery and air strikes within 50 yards of his position and routed the enemy, who left an estimated 500 bodies on the battlefield.

Captain McGinty passed his medal around a group of Airmen at one of the gatherings, and as it passed hand to hand he recollected on the day of the battle.

“I wear that medal for the 78 young men that made it possible for me to make it out and for me to be here,” he said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Littrell was delayed but arrived in time to join Colonel Howard and Captain McGinty for their downrange tour.

During the war, as a sergeant fi rst class,

Command Sgt. Maj. Littrell’s battalion was under attack which killed the Vietnamese commander, one advisor, and seriously wounded all the advisors except him. During the ensuing four days, he directed artil-lery and air support by day and marked the unit’s location by night, despite the heavy, concentrated enemy fi re. He redistributed ammunition, strengthened faltering de-fenses, cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. His battalion was attacked again aft er they were ordered to withdraw.

He directed air strikes to within 50 meters of their position and averted excessive loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion.

“(Th eir visit) was amazing,” said Airman 1st Class Janice Goldstein with the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. “You could tell that they’re proud of the military, and they were full of advice and experience. It was interesting to hear the views of someone who saw death but as the times got tough, they kept going and put everybody else fi rst.”

Medal of Honor recipients visit throughout AFCENT

U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Tabitha Kuykendall

Medal of Honor recipients retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard and retired Marine Capt. John J. McGinty III visit Army Private Andrew Knar March 15 at the hospital at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The Medal of Honor recipients spoke at several local engagements on their stop at Manas AB before touring other locations in the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility. Both received their medals from actions taken during the Vietnam War.


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From page 1

own,” Major Simonis said.People wanting to donate can make a single

monetary donation to the organization of their choice or can set up an allotment so a specifi ed amount gets deducted from their pay each month, Major Simonis said. People who can’t donate can still get involved by volunteering to become a unit project offi cer or key worker and help collect donations and organize additional fundraising events, he added.

For Sergeant Sims, the AFAF is something he contributed to since joining the military with-out truly understanding its purpose at fi rst.

“I didn’t really know a lot about it and then it really just hits you,” Sergeant Sims said.

Sergeant Sims now knows from personal experience the importance of the AFAF and off ers some advice:

“Donate. It’s always good to give and you don’t have to give a lot, but anything helps,” he said. “You just never know when you may need it.”

(For more information about the Schriever AFAF, contact Major Simonis at 567-2538 or Capt. Kristina Keatts of the 50th Space Communications Squadron at 567-5494.)

Fund:

From page 1Th e seminar also touched on the Spouses

to Teachers program, in which spouses of ac-tive duty personnel, members of the Selected Reserve, National Guard and Individual Ready Reserve recalled to active duty, are eligible.

Master Sgt. Francisco Flores from the 3rd Space Operation Squadron also appreciated the information.

“I’m keeping my career options open being so close to retirement,” Sergeant Flores said. “Th is gives me a new opportunity to look into and is something I’ve never thought of before.”

Public school teachers who go through the Troops to Teachers program, a U.S. Department of Education and Department of Defense program, can draw on their military background, providing a diff erent

perspective than teachers just entering the career fi eld.

Attendees were encouraged to explore the teaching fi eld by substitute teaching to get a feel as to whether an urban or rural district would be more appropriate for the individual.

Th ey were also informed of the Hire in Advance program, in which a teacher can secure employment with a district up to two years in advance.

In addition, representatives from some online universities gave info to the potential teachers about their programs.

“I think the Troops to Teachers Program is a great way for those of us in the military to utilize the skills we’ve learned and honed while serving our country over the years and then put them to use in the civilian sector for the development of our nation’s youth,” said Chief Master Sgt. Lou Fischer from the 50th Mission Support Group, who attended the event.

For more information on Troops to Teachers, visit www.proudtoserveagain.com.

Teachers:

Donate blood here March 26Schriever will hold a blood drive from 9:30

a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 26 at the Building 300 auditorium.

In addition to donors, 18 volunteers are also needed for two hour shift s between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Master Sgt. Michael Primo of the Space Innovation and Development Center at 721-9882.

Finance expert to hold free seminar

Financial expert Dave Ramsey will hold a free seminar from 9 a.m. to noon April 4 in the Special Events Center at Fort Carson.

Mr. Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover” seminar will cover getting out of debt, spend-

ing money purposefully, and keys to saving and investing.

For more information, contact Fort Carson’s Army Community Service at 526-4590.

Space symposium seeks volunteers

Volunteers are needed for the 24th National Space Symposium taking place April 7-10 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet senior leaders of the space community and aerospace industry, tour the Lockheed-Martin Exhibit Center and attend the sym-posium session.

For more information, contact Melisa Perez of the Space Foundation at 576-8000, extension 148.

BASE BRIEFS

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFPN) — Air Force of-fi cials here successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster carrying the sixth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into space at 2:10 a.m. EDT March 15 from Space Launch Complex 17A here.

Th e satellite will join the constellation of on-orbit satellites providing global cover-age and increased performance of the GPS services to users worldwide.

Th e modernized series delivers increased signal power to receivers on the ground, two new military signals for improved accuracy, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming ca-pabilities for the military, and a second civil signal to provide users with an open access signal on a diff erent frequency.

“Th e launch of another GPS satellite pro-vides our warfi ghters a system on which they can depend to complete their missions suc-cessfully,” said Brig. Gen. Susan Helms, the

45th Space Wing commander.GPS is the world’s foremost space-based

positioning and navigation system. Endeavors such as mapping, aerial refueling, rendezvous operations, geodetic surveying and search and rescue operations have all benefi ted from GPS’s accuracy.

Th e GPS constellation provides critical situational awareness and precision weapon guidance for the military and supports a wide range of civil, scientifi c and commer-cial functions — from air traffi c control to the Internet — with precision location and timing information.

“From an engineering standpoint, the processing f low of this mission went very smoothly,” said 1st Lt. Cory Broussard, a 1st Space Launch Squadron Delta II boost-er operations controller. “It’s great to be a part of the Global Positioning System team launching a satellite that can help servicemembers and civilian users around the world.”

Cape Canaveral Airmen launch Delta II rocket


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