A Grand Reunion - Macdill Thunderbolt

Transcript

Vol. 38, No. 43 Friday, October 30, 2009 Photo by Senior Airman Angela Ruiz A grand reunion The MacDill AFB Honor Guard post the colors as members of the 44th Bomb Group reunion hold their hands over their hearts while the national anthem plays at Memorial Park here, Oct. 23. The 44th Bomb Group was activated 15 Jan. 1941 from MacDill Field, now MacDill AFB. The 44th held its annual reunion here, last week. COMMENTARY Integrity also means consistency by Gen. Roger A. Brady Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) — Every Airman knows integrity first is the foundational pillar of our core values, and we all understand what it means. We will always strive to do the right thing and be honest in all that we do. I also believe integrity carries with it the idea of consistency in how we conduct every aspect of our lives. Recently, I took the out brief of an off-duty vehicle accident in which two Airmen lost their lives. It was a very sad and all-too-familiar story of Airmen who combined alcohol with reckless, highspeed driving. The result was not only their deaths, but also that of an innocent person in a car with which they collided. In an instant, the lives of three families were torn apart and the Air Force lost two of its Airmen. These Airmen had been very reliable in their duty performance. However, their propensity for binge drinking and high-speed driving was well known among their peers. In the days before the fatal accident, one of the Airmen had engaged in binge drinking that included the consumption of 15 or more drinks one night and in excess of 20 drinks the next night. Each night of binge drinking was followed by duty launching, recovering, maintaining and repairing fighter aircraft. Since we now know this, their peers obviously knew it as well. This Airman had a blood alcohol level of zero at the scene of the accident. He had “taken the night off ” because he was worn out from drinking the previous days, but he still died as a passenger in the car with this deadly “band of brothers.” The driver, who they had decided would be the designated driver, decided not to take the night off from drinking. He was an avid driver and active member of a national racing association who often drove too fast for conditions in a manner that I would consider reckless. On the night of the accident, alcohol and speed became a deadly combination. We lost two Airmen and a civilian for absolutely no reason. Having received this accident report, I made two observations. One, on duty these young men were good performers carrying out critical tasks supporting one of our most sophisticated weapons systems. But off duty, their immaturity was deadly. Two, the disparity between the maturity demonstrated on duty and off duty was well-known to their fellow Airmen. Their wingmen did not hold them accountable. An engineer might analyze a steel beam and declare that the steel has “integrity” from one end of the beam to another. This means that the quality of the steel is consistent from one end to the other. No portions had seams or inconsistent quality or areas that were brittle or in any way defective. The beam has “integrity.” Certainly none of us are perfect, but we must strive for this kind of integrity in our lives; the Gen. Roger A. Brady kind that makes us consistently the same person on duty and off, with our peers, our subordinates, our supervisors and our families. As wingmen we must also hold each other accountable as professional Airmen. This is simply the right thing to do, and it is the only way we can ensure that we have safe, satisfying and productive lives for ourselves, our families, our unit, the Air Force and the nation. ACTION LINE The Action Line provides a two-way communication between the 6th Air Mobility Wing commander and the MacDill community. A 24-hour recording service is provided so personnel may submit questions, concerns or comments. Call the Action Line at 828-INFO (4636) MacDill Thunderbolt Publisher: Denise Palmer Editor: Nick Stubbs The MacDill Thunderbolt is published by Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force. This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for distribution to members of the U.S. military services on MacDill. Contents of the MacDill Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, 6th Air Mobility Wing or Sunbelt Newspapers, Inc., of the products or service advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. Display advertising or classified advertising information may be obtained by calling 259-7455. News items for the MacDill Thunderbolt can be submitted to the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, Bldg. 299, at 8208 Hangar Loop Drive, Suite 14, MacDill AFB, FL 33621, or call the MacDill Thunderbolt staff at 828-4586. Email: [email protected]. Deadline for article submissions is noon, Thursdays to appear in the next week’s publication. Articles received after deadline may be considered for future use. All submissions are considered for publication based on news value and timeliness. Every article and photograph is edited for accuracy, clarity, brevity, conformance with the “Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual” and Air Force Instruction 35-101. NEWS/FEATURES Your T-bolt Today NEWS/FEATURES: page 4 Volunteers heart and soul NEWS/FEATURES: page 4 Commander’s Call NEWS/FEATURES: page 10 It’s story time NEWS/FEATURES: page 14 Code Talkers history COMMUNITY CORNER: page 15 NEW FEATURE: Regular events schedule NEWS/FEATURES: page 24 Events, movies, more Hillsborough Loop pavement and drainage improvements The 6th Civil Engineers Squadron started construction on the first phase of Hillsborough Loop Drive from Brown Pelican Avenue to Florida Keys Avenue. Detour routing is signed to help direct traffic. This first phase of construction will take up to two months to complete. During construction, traffic patterns will be rerouted to allow for the construction to be accomplished, while at the same time allowing people to get to their respective parking lots. Consider using alternate routes such as Hanger Loop Drive or Bayshore with return to Hillsborough Loop along Florida Keys Avenue. Although this will be an inconvenience and require patience, it will provide for a better roadway pavement and will reduce roadway flooding. MacDill tankers keep mission airborne at Red Flag by Tech. Sgt. Chris Stagner Red Flag Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) — Members of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., are doing their part to ensure participants in Exercise Red Flag 101 stay in the air here. Aircrews in KC-135 Stratotankers flew multiple sorties per day Oct. 19 through 30 and pushed more than 1.4 million pounds of fuel over a two-week period during Red Flag held at and around Nellis AFB, Nev. “Our unit will refuel hundreds of aircraft while we’re here,” said Capt. Mike Fulton, a 91st ARS KC-135 pilot. “We fly three sorties per day and push approximately 4,000 pounds to each aircraft. That really adds up.” While Airmen worked to Air Force photo keep the exercise flying, they also benefited from the training opportunities provided by rapid operations tempo and large-scale integration. “The amount of receivers we get all at once is something we don’t get to do on a regular basis,” said Staff Sgt. John Brooks, a 91st ARS boom op- erator. “When we’re deployed, we’ll only get one or two aircraft here and there. But here, since the sorties are so short, we’re really busy.” It’s not just American planes knocking at the backdoor of the KC-135s. The crews regularly find themselves refueling See TANKERS, Page 21 310 Airlift Squadron receives outstanding flight award by Airman 1st Class Katherine Holt 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs The 310th Airlift Squadron received worldwide recognition Oct. 21 when Gulfstream Aerospace named them one of the inaugural winners of the Gulfstream Outstanding Flight Award. The 310 AS was presented the Alber-Rowley Trophy at the National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention, Oct. 2 in Orlando, Fla. “We were up against two Navy units,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Uptmor, 310 AS commander. “It was an amazing feat and a humbling experience to win.” The annual awards spotlight flights involving superior airmanship performed in customer Gulfstream aircraft and highlight significant real-world business and special-mission aviation operations by Gulfstream operators. The trophy is named for Carl Alber and Fred File photo A C-37 comes in for a landing at MacDill. The plane is the transport aircraft used by the 310th Airlift Squadron, which was honored with the Alber-Rawley Torphy. Rowley who, in 1958, made the first flight of a Gulfstream aircraft. The 310 AS’s nominated flight was a dedicated, eight-day C-37A expedition to SouthSee GULFSTREAM, Page 9 NEWS/FEATURES MacDill’s volunteers take the load off, critical to success by Nick Stubbs Thunderbolt editor The heart and soul of the Air Force may be its Airmen, but it is an equally dedicated group that works to ensure those Airman are free to go about the important work the mission demands. Without volunteers at MacDill, “we’d have a problem,” as Mike Tyler, director of the base volunteer program puts it. So just how does he define “problem?” To start, thousands of man hours currently covered by the volunteer force would fall on the shoulders of Airmen, and the thousands, even millions of dollars in pay and benefits would have to be budgeted to make up for the difference if volunteers were to suddenly withdraw their support at MacDill, he said. “We’d have a lot of things going undone, and a lot of active duty people finding they have a much bigger workload. That kind of shift in the workforce could have a devastating impact on the mission, Mr. Tyler said. Which is why he and the leadership of all the commands at MacDill can’t say enough about the vol- unteer support the base receives. In all, about 500 volunteers help the 6th Air Mobility Wing and its mission partners with chores from manning phones, working counters, assisting patients at the clinic and in general making things run smoother at MacDill. While there are countless jobs handled by volunteers, no one area benefits more than the 6th Medical Group, which utilizes volunteers extensively at the base clinic and pharmacy. “It is the one group where most of the volunteers give their time,” said Mr. Tyler. “It pretty much is the bulk of the (volunteer) force.” Volunteers come from all walks, but most are retirees, said Mr. Photo by Nick Stubbs Tyler. Most of them are retired military or the spouses of former Pharmacy volunteer James Henderson hands a prescription to cusmilitary members. They all have tomer Morris Bowie. Henderson, like many volunteers, is retired from something else in common, which the Air Force. band, who died 12 years ago after who already volunteered at Phargoes to the spirit of all they do. macare. “They all have a sense of great serving 21 years in the Air Force. Unlike Mrs. Bohon, the volun“The base needs volunteers, so I pride in their country, the service, and want to give back something teer career of Edward Byrne, a 30- decided to join,” he said. James Henderson has been volfor all they’ve received,” said Mr. year Air Force vet, began this week. “It’s my first day,” he said Tues- unteering for 10 months. Also reTyler. tired Air Force, he currently works Margaret Bohon, a volunteer of day. “I’m looking forward to it.” Mr. Byrne said he recently found at Pharmacare. 30 years, is an example. “I wanted to give back to the “I felt like giving something back himself with more spare time on for what the service has done for his hands and wanted to use it community, give back for what the us,” she said, referring to her hus- well, so he decided to join his wife, military has given tme,” he said. Commander’s Call: We can do better by Airman 1st Class Katherine Holt 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs During a commander’s call Friday, Col. Larry Martin, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, reminded Airmen about their responsibilities to drive safely. “It’s time to stop killing our Airmen and others on the road,” he said. “You would do anything for your wingman, your family or your neighbors; even sacrificing your life for them. Yet, many of you would think nothing of having a few drinks and operating a 3,000 pound vehicle at high rates of speed in traffic. I need you all to do better!” In fiscal 2009, 47 Airmen lost their lives in private motor vehicle mishaps compared to 29 Airmen in 2008. According to Air Force safety experts, non-compliance with seatbelt usage and speed limit laws were identified as causal factors in 68 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities. The Secretary and the Chief said the goal from this point on is “ZERO Airmen lost in preventable PMV mishaps.” “I don’t want the next one to be you,” said Colonel Martin. “Be responsible, have a plan and be a good wingman.’’ To attack the situation at hand, MacDill will be hosting the Save-A-Life tour Nov. 2 and 3 at the Short Fitness Center, here. This is mandatory for all Airmen under the age of 27 and supervisors of Airmen under the age of 27. There are two available times for Airmen to attend. Nov. 2, Airmen can attend the 7 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. briefing. Nov. 3, Airmen can attend the 7 a.m. or 4 p.m. briefing. Mr. Jason Jackson, 6th Air Mobility Wing Safety, strongly recommends Airmen and supervisors arrive at the Short Fitness Center basketball courts 30 minutes prior to the briefing Additional reporting by Mark Diamond, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs. AMC NEWS AMC commander echoes SECAF, CSAF call to stop preventable motor vehicle mishaps by Mark D. Diamond Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — Air Mobility Command leaders are directing all AMC Airmen and civilian employees, and encouraging their family members, to stop preventable Private Motor Vehicle mishaps. In an Oct. 8 memorandum to all Air Force members, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said they cannot tolerate reckless operation of motor vehicles by Air Force members. “I strongly echo the sentiments of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff,” said Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, AMC commander, in a separate memo to AMC leaders. “There is nothing sadder than the loss of a human life. Anyone who has sat through one of our fatality briefings can attest to the fact that most, if not all PMV mishaps, are preventable. We must do better to help our Airmen make better risk management decisions.” In fiscal 2009, 47 Airmen lost their lives in PMV mishaps compared to 29 Airmen in 2008. According to Air Force safety experts, non-compliance with seatbelt usage and speed limit laws were identified as causal factors in 68 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities. The Secretary and the Chief said the goal from this point on is “ZERO Airmen lost in preventable PMV mishaps.” General Lichte directed AMC leaders to reach out to every AMC military and civilian member through commander’s calls or similar venues to convey this important safety message and address the inherent dangers of operating Private Motor Vehicles. General Lichte also tasked AMC leaders to review the Air Force Instruction (AFI) and AMC Supplement to 91-207, The Air Force Traffic Safety Program, to ensure their units, subordinate commanders, and unit members understand and comply with the requirements and guidance. “Non-compliance with these requirements is simply unacceptable, and those who fail to comply should be dealt with appropriately,” General Lichte said. He added that Airmen need to understand violations of the AFI by military members are punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. General Lichte stressed that every Airman must be responsible for his or her actions – on and off duty -- and must make appropriate risk management decisions. “I expect nothing less,” he said. “The loss of even one Airman has a profound effect on our Air Force and their families.” When Airmen are injured or killed, a line of duty determination is required to evaluate whether it was due to their own misconduct. A finding that the death or injury was due to the See VEHICLE SAFETY, Page 18 gulfstream From Page 3 west Asia in support of the U.S. Transportation Command. During its successful 13-leg, nearly 45-hour journey last winter, the 310 AS flew into a combat zone, encountered heavy snow flurries and low visibility, and faced the threat of small-arms fire. The mission required 30 diplomatic clearances through 23 countries. “We were up against high terrains and bad weather while trying to keep a four star on schedule,” said Colonel Uptmor. “It was an intense mission that took the flight crew to maximum duty days on a tight and unforgiving schedule.” Colonel Uptmor knew this mission could be a winner. “I have never been more confident that my guys and their capabilities would shine through,” said Colonel Uptmor. The 310 AS received take-home trophies and certificates. Each winner also had its name engraved on a permanent Gulfstream-commissioned trophy, an 80-pound, original artist-designed brass sculpture, which will remain on permanent display at Gulfstream headquarters. “An award like this is achieved not just through an aircrew but through a squadron,” said Colonel Uptmor. The trophy received by the 310 AS was dedicated to the late Master Sgt. Tony Ratcliff. Additional reporting by Heidi Fedak, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporate Communications. NEWS/FEATURES Operation Storytime helps bridge the distance by Senior Airman Tania Reid 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs A new program connecting deployed servicemembers with their families at home kicked off at the MacDill Base Library Oct.21. Operation Storytime created by the members of the Airman and Family Readiness Center allows servicemembers to record themselves reading a story or giving a message to their loved ones before they deploy. The Airman and Family Readiness Center staff began the program model after a successful United Service Organization program. “We derived the program from the USO’s, ‘United through Reading’ program which helps ease the stress of separation for military families by having deployed parents read children’s books aloud via DVD for their child to watch at home,” said Tech. Sgt. Kristine Keyser, 6th Air Mobility Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center readiness noncommissioned officer. To participate in the program servicemember contact the AFRC with the request to have the recording done and they coordinate the times for the event with library’s staff. “The librarians have been very helpful,” said Sergeant Keyser. “They have donated numerous books to the program for the deploying servicemembers. These books are read at the sitting [at the recording].” Every single member deploying is eligible to participate in the proSee STORY, Page 22 Photo by Airman First Class Rylan Albright Tech. Sgt. Jason Knepper, 927th Security Forces Squadron, reads the childrens book, “Where the Wild Things Are” to a video recorder as part of Operation Storytime at the Education Center at MacDill, Oct. 22. Operation Storytime allows deploying members to record a video of themselves reading a children’s story, and give it to their children upon deployment as a way to “read” a bedtime story to them while they are deployed. AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Navajo Code Talkers a key to WWII mission success by Alexander Molnar Jr. U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Army (Ret.) Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, Iwo Jima: the Navajo code talkers took part in every assault the U.S. Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. They served in all six Marine divisions, Marine Raider battalions and Marine parachute units, transmitting messages by telephone and radio in their native language -- a code that the Japanese never The The idea to use Navajo for secure communications came from Philip Johnston, the son of a missionary to the Navajos and one of the few non-Navajos who spoke their language fluently. Johnston, reared on the Navajo reservation, was a World War I veteran who knew of the military’s search for a code that would withstand all attempts to decipher it. He also knew that Native American languages--notably Choctaw--had been used in World War I to encode messages. Johnston believed Navajo answered the military requirement for an undecipherable code because Navajo is an unwritten language of extreme complexity. Its syntax and tonal qualities, not to mention dialects, make it unintelligible to anyone without extensive exposure and training. It has no alphabet or symbols, and is spoken only on the Navajo lands of the American Southwest. One estimate indicates that less than 30 non-Navajos, none of them Japanese, could understand the language at the outbreak of World War II. Early in 1942, Johnston met with Major General Clayton B. Vogel, the commanding general of Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet, and his staff to convince them of the Navajo language’s value as code. Johnston staged tests under simulated combat conditions, dem- onstrating that Navajos could encode, transmit, and decode a threeline English message in 20 seconds. Machines of the time required 30 minutes to perform the same job. Convinced, Vogel recommended to the Commandant of the Marine Corps that the Marines recruit 200 Navajos. In May 1942, the first 29 Navajo recruits attended boot camp. Then, at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, this first group created the Navajo code. They developed a dictionary and numerous words for military terms. The dictionary and Courtesy Photo all code words had to be memorized A group of code talkers take a moment to pause for a snapshot. during training. Once a Navajo code talker com- prisoner at Bataan. (About 20 Napleted his training, he was sent vajos served in the U.S. Army in to a Marine unit deployed in the the Philippines.) The Navajo solPacific theater. The code talkers’ dier, forced to listen to the jumbled primary job was to talk, transmit- words of talker transmissions, said ting information on tactics and to a code talker after the war, “I troop movements, orders and other never figured out what you guys vital battlefield communications who got me into all that trouble over telephones and radios. They were saying.” also acted as messengers, and perIn 1942, there were about 50,000 formed general Marine duties. Navajo tribe members. As of 1945, Courtesy Photo Praise for their skill, speed and about 540 Navajos served as Maaccuracy accrued throughout the rines. From 375 to 420 of those A code talker works radio commuwar. At Iwo Jima, Major Howard trained as code talkers; the rest nications. Connor, 5th Marine Division signal served in other capacities. words “wol-la-chee” (ant), “be-laofficer, declared, “Were it not for the Navajo remained potentially sana” (apple) and “tse-nill” (axe) all Navajos, the Marines would never valuable as code even after the stood for the letter “a.” One way to have taken Iwo Jima.” Connor had war. For that reason, the code talk- say the word “Navy” in Navajo code six Navajo code talkers working ers, whose skill and courage saved would be “tsah (needle) wol-la-chee around the clock during the first both American lives and military (ant) ah-keh-di- glini (victor) tsahtwo days of the battle. Those six engagements, only recently earned ah-dzoh (yucca).” sent and received over 800 mes- recognition from the Government Most letters had more than one sages, all without error. Navajo word representing them. and the public. The Japanese, who were skilled The Navajo Code Talker’s Dic- Not all words had to be spelled out code breakers, remained baffled tionary letter by letter. The developers of by the Navajo language. The JapaWhen a Navajo code talker re- the original code assigned Navajo nese chief of intelligence, Lieuten- ceived a message, what he heard words to represent about 450 freant General Seizo Arisue, said that was a string of seemingly unrelat- quently used military terms that while they were able to decipher ed Navajo words. The code talker did not exist in the Navajo lanthe codes used by the U.S. Army first had to translate each Navajo guage. Several examples: “besh- lo” and Army Air Corps, they never word into its English equivalent. (iron fish) meant “submarine,” “dahcracked the code used by the Ma- Then he used only the first letter of he- tih-hi” (hummingbird) meant rines. The Navajo code talkers even the English equivalent in spelling “fighter plane” and “debeh-li-zine” stymied a Navajo soldier taken an English word. Thus, the Navajo (black street) meant “squad.” BRIEFS Community Corner The 6th Medical Group Closure Company Grade Officers Council The CGOC meets at the Bayshore Club, SWAP, the second Friday of the month at 3:30 p.m. For more information, e-mail the CGOC at [email protected]. POC Lt. Gilberto Perez 6th Medical Group Ribbon Cutting Chiefs Group The Chiefs Group meets at the Surf ’s Edge Club in the Heritage Room the second Tuesday of the month from 12 to 1 p.m. For more information, e-mail the Chiefs Group at [email protected] POC Chief Michele Flaherty. The 6th Medical Group will be closed on Oct.30. There will be no services offered at the MacDill Clinic, the Brandon Clinic or at the PharmaCare Center. Normal business hours will resume on Nov.2. The 6th Medical Group will have a ribbon cutting, hosted by Col. Larry Martin, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander, for the new clinic Nov.6 at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow. “Halloweenie” Roastie The Harbor Bay Housing members will be having the second Annual “Halloweenie” Roast Oct. 31. Harbor Bay will be serving hot dogs, chips and drinks to everyone on their way to trick-or-treat. The event will be held at the housing office at 7317 Bayshore Blvd from 3 until 5 p.m. Everyone with access to the base is invited. Free Cat Supplies Receive a free Cat Assistance Kit Nov. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. The kit includes: a litter pan, litter scoop and cat toys along with free-product coupons for Fresh Step litter and 9Lives cat food. The Humane Society is located at 3607 N Armenia Ave Tampa, FL 33607. Free Early Thanksgiving Dinner Relax and receive an early Thanksgiving home cooked meal Nov. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brandon Elks Lodge, 800 Centennial Lodge Drive, Brandon FL 33511. All Active Duty and their family are invited. Limited seating so reservations are required. Call the MacDill Family Resource Center at (813) 655-9281 or (813) 6542730 or MacDill Airman and Family Readiness Center at (813) 828-0145 to make your reservations. There will also be family pictures, crafts for children, goody bags, a clown and entertainment. Free Quilting Classes The MacDill Chapel Quilters will be offering free quilting classes Mondays at 9 a.m.in Annex 1 at the base chapel. For more information contact Sue Freeman at (207) 310-3751. See BRIEFS, Page 20 MacDill Top 3 The MacDill Top 3 meets at the Surf ’s Edge in the Heritage Room the first Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. For more information, e-mail the MacDill Top 3 at [email protected] MacDill First Sergeant Council The MacDill First Sergeant Council meets at the Surfs Edge Club Heritage Room Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact Master Sgt. Brian Smith (President) at 828-2608 or Master Sgt. Joe Lamb (Vice President) at 828-3091. Retired Enlisted Association Tampa Bay Chapter 58 The Retired Enlisted Association Tampa Bay Chapter 58 meets at the Surf ’s Edge Club in the Heritage Room the third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. For more information contact Juanita Anspach, REATBC 58 secretary at (813) 837-5065. MacDill Officer Spouses Club The MOSC monthly luncheons are held the third Thursday of each month starting from September to May. If you are new to the area and would like to join us for the afternoon, please email us at macdillosc@ hotmail.com and type in the subject RESERVATIONS so we can add you to the list. The luncheons begin at 11 a.m. -Social; 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Lunch. No childcare is provided. The luncheons are at the Bayshore Officers’ Club unless otherwise specified 813828-4756.The price for luncheon is $13.00 for both club and non-club members. Cash or check only please. Junior Enlisted Council The JEC meets at the Enlisted Club in the Heritage room the third Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. For more information, e-mail [email protected] POCs are Airman 1st Class Diana Plazas Ospina (President) and Senior Airman Toneda Smith (Vice-president). Enlisted Spouses Club The MacDill Enlisted Spouses Club meets at the base chapel in Annex 1 the second Tuesday of month beginning with a potluck at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m. For more information, log on to www.facebook.com/macdill.esc or e-mail [email protected]. MacDill Boy Scout Troop 56 The MacDill Boy Scout Troop 56 meets at Building 702 (Scout Program Hut) Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Tech. Sgt. Eric Sanders at 8279391. AFSA CHAPTER 552 The AFSA Chapter 552.meets at the Enlisted Club the third Tuesday of the month in the Heritage Room at 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Master Sgt. Lisa Pomeroy at 828-3231, Master Sgt. Aaron Sanchez at 828-3660 or Senior Master Sgt. Gerald Barnett at 828-4334. Halloween is a fun, and spooky, time of year for kids. Make trick-or-treating safe for your little monsters with a few easy safety tips. Sparky® is a trademark of the NFPA. Halloween Fire Safety Tips !!! Buy only costumes, wigs and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. If you are making your own costume, choose material that won’t easily ignite if it comes in contact with heat or flame. Stay away from billowing or long trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out. !!! Provide children with lightweight flashlights to carry for lighting or as part of their costume. !!! Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper are highly flammable. Keep these and other decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs, and heaters. !!! It is safest to use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in a jack-o-lantern. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards. Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torch lights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-ortreaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting. If your children are going to Halloween parties at others’ homes, have them look for exits and plan how they would get out in an emergency. Did you know? !!! Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes. !!! Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.) Your Source for SAFETY Information NFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 Decorations are the first thing to ignite in more than 1,000 reported home fires each year. www.nfpa.org/education VEHICLE SAFETY From Page 3 Airman’s misconduct, and, therefore, not in the line of duty, can impact benefits such as disability retirement and severance pay, veterans benefits, and compensation under the Survivor Benefit Plan. This can mean, for example, if the member was not wearing a seatbelt or helmet, was under the influence of alcohol, or was operating a vehicle in an unsafe manner, the injury or death could be found not in the line of duty, resulting in a loss of certain benefits for both the member and his or her family members. AMC command safety experts also remind members of several command-sponsored programs aimed at reducing motor vehicle mishaps, including the Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS), the Air Force Culture Assessment Safety Tool (AFCAST), the “Alive at 25” program, the “Save-A-Life” tours, and the Air Force sport bike safety training program. TRiPS is designed to help Airmen apply sound risk management decisions when planning road trips. The system helps Airmen account for unforeseen threats to their safety, and the safety of those around them. While still un- der development, the current program provides a good risk baseline for the traveler. AFCAST consists of 11 Web-based surveys that provide commanders a rapid assessment of their unit members’ perceptions regarding operational and safety-related issues. It allows commanders to focus on those issues their Airmen feel are important enough to bring to leadership’s attention. Both the TRiPS and AFCAST programs are located on the AMC Community of Practice Web site at https://wwwd.my.af.mil/afknprod/ ASPs/CoP/OpenCoP.asp?Filter=OO-SE-AM-16. In cooperation with The National Safety Council, the “Alive at 25” program specifically targets drivers 16 to 24 years old. According to NSC statistics, vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for people in this age group. The interactive program encourages young drivers to take responsibility for their driving behavior. The Air Force Safety Center, in cooperation with Kramer International, is presenting the “Save a Life Tour” at installations across the United States. Presentations will be made at eight AMC bases between September and the end of the year. The tour is a high-impact alcohol awareness program that uses video presentations, drunk driving simulators, displays, and personal experience to drive their message home—“Driving under the influence is no accident, it’s a choice.” According to AMC safety officials, the Sport Bike Safety course was created as a countermeasure to the increase in sport bike fatalities and mishaps. Officials said as the popularity of sport bikes grows among Airmen, so does the number of injuries and fatalities. The class is designed to make Airmen aware of the dangers of riding sport bikes. The course teaches students correct riding posture, pre-ride inspection points, mentorship, and more. Sport Bike Training Courses are mandatory at all AMChost installations, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has recently released a Sport Bike course based upon the AMC program. Please contact your local Safety Office for more information on local safety programs. BRIEFS From Page 15 Retiree Activities Office The Retiree Activities Office (RAO) members need volunteers to prepare federal income tax returns for active duty, retirees, and their family members. If you are interested in volunteering one or two days a week, call the RAO at (813) 828-4555. tanker From Page 3 coalition partners’ aircraft as well. “The only difference to us is the paperwork,” Captain Fulton said. “Where we work, it doesn’t matter what country they’re from. We’re all on the same team.” A Dutch pilot agreed. “We work with (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) assets regularly, so this is another opportunity to better our operational relationships with our allies,” he said. “Some of these guys might be the same ones who refueled me in Afghanistan.” Though refueling with American tankers is routine to the Dutch pilot, he said he still lauds what they bring to the table for training. “Tankers allow us to get people off the ground earlier and keep them in the air longer,” he said. “It gives us a longer on-station time to protect those bombing targets, and also allows the (target) bombers to swing from an air-to-ground to an air-to-air role.” Road work H2 P LO O AR HA NG Bayshore Boulevard at the location shown on the adjacent map will be closed Nov. 1 for a period of up to 30 days. During this time, Tinker Elementary school, the Golf Course, and residential traffic will be routed through the new housing site as shown on the map. The deteriorated sewage forcemain along Bayshore Blvd is being replaced from just south of Tampa Point Blvd to the MacDill waste water treatment plant. The project construction is scheduled for completion by September 2010. This project will provide for a new forcemain that will help assure that wastewater flow will not be interrupted. We appreciate your patience during the construction period. TRAFFIC DETOUR PLAN DR Bayshore sewage forcemain repair BA YS HO H4 RE BX TAMPA POINT BLVD BAYSHORE BLVD CLOSED TINKER ELEMENTARY B LV D DETOUR ROUTE " NO LARGE TRUCKS" story Rev. Date: 20 OCT 09 From Page 10 gram. “Operation Story time is for every single member,” she added.” It gives the parents a chance to connect with their children while they’re thousands of DETOUR FOR TINKER ELEMENTARY, GOLF COURSE, AND RESIDENTIAL ACCESS miles away. It’s great for the children to see their mother or father speaking to them before bedtime and gives some peace of mind to both.” The parent records the story and message telling their loved one what they wanted them to hear while they were away. “After the segment is recorded a copy of the DVD is sent to the loved ones a week after the parent deploys and then a copy is sent to the servicemember as a part of their care package,” said Sergeant Keyser. Operation Story time is held Tuesdays between 8 and 10 a.m. For further information contact Sergeant Keyser at (813) 8280122 or Master Sgt. Kim Sisco at (813) 828-1854. MACDILL COMMUNITY EVENTS Friday Boomer’s Bar & Grill TGIF Party 5-9 pm – Free “Members Only” Buffet, 6 pm Saturday Bayshore Club Prime & Wine Dinner – 5:309 pm, Complimentary glass of wineMbrs: $15.95 Non-Mbrs: $18.95 Bay Palms Golf Complex Junior Golf Clinic from 8:309:30 am; Cost: $3 Sunday MacDill Bowling Lanes NOW OPEN SUNDAYS! 1-8 pm Sunday Family Special – 2 people $20.00; 4 people $30.00. Includes 2 games, shoes, 1 large pizza and a pitcher of soda (Available from 1-7 pm). Monday TOPS IN BLUE! Ford Amphitheatre, 7:00 pm; Seating begins at 6:30 pm FREE Show; FREE Parking! Open to the General Public! Tailgate in the parking lot at 5:00 pm Monday-Friday Bayshore Club Crunch & Munch All-U-CanEat Buffet from 11 am-1:30 pm Tuesday Bay Palms Golf Complex FREE Active Duty Clinic from 12-1:00 pm Wednesday-Friday Boomer’s Bar and Grill Bingo Extravaganza at Boomer’s Bar and Grill beginning at 5:30 pm Good eats Photo by Master Sgt. Terry Montrose Gayle Cook, Director of the MacDill Family Resource Center in Brandon, serves breakfast to Trey Burrell, 5, as his mom, Leah, and his brother Amari, 1, look on during a pancake breakfast hosted by the MacDill Family Resource Center for families of deployed members. Leah, Trey, Amari, and Nyarai Burrell (not pictured) is the family of Marine Capt. Eugene Burrell from the Joint Communications Support Element. The MacDill Family Resource Center offers many programs for deployed families such as: legal assistance, personal financial management, employment assistance, relocation assistance, family readiness, tax assistance, loan locker, resource center, chaplain services, American Red Cross classes, playgroups and computer classes. CHAPEL SCHEDULE Protestant services Sunday - 9 a.m., Traditional Service 10:30 a.m., Religious Education, Noon, Gospel Service Tuesday -Noon, Promise Keepers Wednesday - 10:30 a.m., Women of the Chapel Thursday - 11:30 a.m., Officers’ Christian Fellowship For more information regarding the Chapel or Chapel services, call 828-3621. AT THE MOVIES Catholic services Saturday - Mass, 5:30 p.m. Sunday - Mass, 10:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday: Mass, 12:10 p.m. Saturday - Sacrament of Reconciliation, 4:30 p.m., (or by appointment) Jewish and Islamic services Call 828-3621 for information $4 for adults / $2 for children 828-2780 Friday - 7 p.m. Saturday - 3 p.m. Saturday - 7 p.m. Sorority Row (R) Happy Halloween, theater closed Happy Halloween, theater closed