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Show HILLTOP TIMES 12 TIMES December 4, 2008 Climate survey deadline extended to December 14 Armed Forces Print News R ANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — If you want to play a part in shaping the future of the Air Force, an effective and proven tool may be sitting in your inbox and you have until Dec. 14 to be heard. Since Oct. 1, an initial e-mail invitation and several follow-on reminders were sent out.Air Force-wide, which included a link to the 2008 Air Force Climate Survey and easyto-follow instructions. So far, about 41 percent have responded. "Our senior leaders want to know what you think and how you feel about your job, mission and unit," said Dorathy Felberg of the Air Force Survey Office located at the Air Force Manpower Agency here. "Your participation is critical in helping to create positive change in your unit." The 2008 survey is designed to assess the opinions and perceptions of the Air Force's active-duty members, Reserve, Guard and civilian personnel (appropriated and nonappropriated) on a wide range of topics from job characteristics to general satisfaction. Once the data is gathered, the results will be briefed to the secretary of the Air Force and Air Force chief of staff, and then released to the Air Force's unit leaders sometime in spring 2009. Technical upgrades to the Air Force Survey System for 2008 will allow commanders to access their reports earlier than in previous years, enabling them to start making immediate improvements to their organizations. The survey link remains active through Dec. 14. If a new link is needed, e-mail the Air Force Survey Office at af.surveys@randolph.af.mil. AF band visits air base in Kyrgyzstan in the capital city of Bishkek. They had a unique opportunity to perform for aspiring musicians who are talented in their own right and study in various music genres. After the band played several songs, the students returned the courtesy as four of them played a lively tune on the Komuz, a three-stringed lute associated with Kyrgyz culture, for in Kyrgystan, Nov. 12-20. MASTER SGT. RON LARSON, the band. The entire session was The 10-person band's visit to keyboard player and operagreat fun for all involved and endManas included multiple perfored with many students and bandstions NCO for the band mances at a wide variety of venues men exchanging e-mail addresses, in the local Kyrgyz communities. snapping photos with one another The band is known as Sonora while Kyrgyz boy grabbed a cow bell and promising to keep each other and began to play along with them deployed, but its members are updated on their careers. actually part of the Air Force Band while his parents watched in deIn between "gigs" in the local light. of the Pacific from Elmendorf Air community, Sonora also found time Force Base, Alaska For the students of the American University of Central Asia, the to entertain U.S. servicemembers The performers had a unique and coalition forces as well. Durjazz and blues sounds of Sonora opportunity to reach every level of ing the morning performance for were well received, reminding society within the Kyrgyz culture nightshift workers they invited many of them of their year of studand in the military environment. ies in America. Many of the AUCA an Army sergeant to sit in on the Sonora took advantage of every drums while an Air Force Airman students often take on positions of one of these opportunities to make from the audience sang the Guns leadership in the business sector positive and lasting impressions and in the political arena following N Roses song "Welcome to the Junbeyond the confines of the fences gle." The performance was somegraduation. of Manas Air Base. thing those servicemen will not Sonora's performance was the Manas AB is one of a few bases soon forget and will be a pleasant in the AFCENT Area of Operations first time a band from the base reminder of their service abroad entertained there and the students that offers visiting bands the opfor their country. and staff were quite impressed portunity to entertain off base and with the show. Many of the stu"I really enjoyed playing all the strengthen the friendship between dents were surprised at how their venues here at Manas but I would Americans and the local citizens. military guests were personable have to say my favorites were For many Kyrgyz, the Manas AB and just like regular people. performing for the children at the military members and civilian Okryabrskoy Village School and the contractors are the only Americans "I am so impressed with these Nadejsda orphanage," said Master they have had the chance to meet. guys and very happy that they Sgt. Ron Larson, keyboard player Sonora took their responsibility se- came out here to play for us," said and operations NCO for the band. riously and made a positive impres- lira Djuraeva, AUCA career coun"It was a very humbling experision with their performances and selor. ence for me to see how little these interaction with the local people. A local band formed of AUCA kids have and how happy they are The band's first performance off students called the "Dream Team" when we play for them." base was at the terminal of the Ma- showed up and was immediately welcomed on-stage for an imnas International Airport, adjacent Sonora has departed for their to the air base. Many of the travel- promptu jam session; a collaboranext location among many before tion that was a huge success with they return to Alaska but they have ers grabbed a seat and took in the truly made a positive and lasting show while waiting for a flight out the audience. impression on the people here in or perhaps for their friends and Another first was Sonora's visit loved ones to arrive. One young to the National Music Conservatory Kyrgyzstan. 7 really enjoyed playing all 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs the venues here at Manas but I would have to say.my ANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZSTAN — The Air favorites were performing for Forces Central band the children at the Oktyabr"Sonora" played to all audience skoy Village School and the spectrums as they performed 11 concerts in their eight-day visit Nadejsda orphanage." BY SENIOR MASTER SGT. PATRICK J. MCCRACKEN M WIGGLE CARS 0NLY $OO-99 BACKYARDS Inreeport Center. BkSqz H !2 7£5 M. Warm SgarinDijs Road -D231 M-F 1 ©-A.Sal Taytorgmlg 5400 S. Redwood Road COLLEGIATE TABLE AND 4 CHAIRS 0NLY $CO-99 There's no place like USA.gov, Have you ever wondered how the Wfczard of Oz seemed to know Well the secret's out and it's USA.gov. You can find everytlung from student loans to government auctions and government benefits tot welK almost anything. So go to the official source of federal and state government information. 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