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Show Ty-.y COMMENTARY HXtDO 2 TIMES August 12, 2010 1 Hilltop riMES Since Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Catherine McNelly Hilltop Times Writer Lee Anne Hensley Hilltop Times Correspondent Deadlines; Editorial and news Items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimnestandard.net or call (801) 625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call (801) 625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call (801)625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corporation, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government of the products or services 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 nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 801-62S4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gomy, at mgorny@standard.aet Call SOT-525-4300 for Classrf ied Advertising or 801-625-4388 for Retail Advertising. ' Break free from the bondage of your headaches Tuesday, Aug. 17 with this class at the Hearth and Wellness Center, 11 am to noon. More than 50 million Americans suffer from regular headaches. A few simple changes in your daily routine can make an enormous difference and give you a new lease on life. Call to reserve your spot in the class at (801)777-1215. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2010 DUIs:30 Hills Last DUI: Unit Involved: 75t& Security S Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 to request a ride anytime. Hours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight Zen and the Art of Aircraft Maintenance Just as each nut and bolt on a motorcycle or " an aircraft contributes to the smooth operation of that system, every member of Team Hill contributes to the success of the center and ultimately the United States Air Force. ? BY COL. ROGER H. WESTERMEYER Ogden Air Logistics Center Director of Contracting A s a contracting officer and before that an ICBM missile operator, the world of maintenance was foreign to me until a few years ago. As an operator, all I cared about was whether the weapon system was operating 24/7/365, no questions asked. I gave little thought to the amount of hard work and dedication necessary to keep a 35-year-old missile system on alert, nor did I fully grasp the level of effort required to keep aging aircraft mission capable. Having previously served in the Operations Group, Logistics Group and Mission Support Group, and now serving on the Ogden Air Logistics Center staff, I have been amazed at the professionalism and sacrifice of both acquisition and maintenance personnel who keep an aging fleet of weapon systems at or near the Air Force standard for mission capability. This is especially impressive considering the shortage of funding and the increasing age of our weapon systems, with many systems more than 40 years old. Whether it's working out on the flightline launching, catching and fixing aircraft in all-weather conditions, overhauling systems in the depot or executing weapon system modifications and upgrades to extend service life, all are done here with remarkable pride and excellence. This excellence was recently reflected in the results of an Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters Logistics Compliance Assessment Team (LCAT) inspection where the OO-ALC did very well. It is also reflected in the numerous AFMC, rr.o Air Combat Command and Air Force Col. Westermeyer awards that the OOALC and its tenant organization personnel win on a regular basis. In the classic novel "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," the author, . Robert M. Pirsig, wrote that, "Peace of mind comes from caring about what you are doing. All work, every job, in some way or fashion, makes the world a better place. Find meaning in that. Find out how what you do makes the world a better place, and dwell on that contribution." Maintainers, suppliers, supporters and acquirers should heed this advice because what they do indeed makes the world a better place. The Air Force, Department of Defense and our global strategic partners could not do their mission without maintainers and mission capable weapon systems. If you step back for a moment, you realize that this invaluable lesson applies to all members of Team Hill. In isolation, one individual may not appear to have a "vital" role, but in reality, they are part of the system that makes the OO-ALC and its tenant organizations perform like a well-oiled machine. Just as each nut and bolt on a motorcycle or an aircraft contributes to the smooth operation of that system, every member of Team Hill con-1' tributes to the success of the center and ultimately the United States Air Force. '-1;*' All maintainers, personnelists, secu- '' ' rity providers, contracting and financial specialists, acquirers, logisticians, trans1' porters, suppliers, engineers, medical %r<: professionals, administrators, communicators, service providers, operators and ' others are all key cogs in the system that provides expeditionary combat power to combatant commanders worldwide. Additionally, many who traditionally provided indirect support to the warfighter are now at the forefront of operations helping to rebuild and stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan, which is essential to success in those countries and the contingency efforts there. So if you wake up in the morning wondering whether your job matters the answer is an unequivocal and resounding, "YES!" So as we celebrate the center's many successes I want to say hats off to all of Team Hill for a job well done. Every member of the OO-ALC and its tenant organizations should reflect back on our accomplishments and say, "I was a part of that success." There isn't a more important job in the world today than defending our country and the noble principles we stand for. 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: work with you in answering questions and solving problems T^foflTfcalling' th.e Action Line.^h'is will help, me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Security Forces , 777-3056 Civilian Pay :.::..;.::.;.:.:...;.. 777-6246 24-hr. Crisis Information 777-3056 Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 Force Support Squadron 777-4134 Program Base Restaurants 777-2043 Hill Straight Talk 777-9696 Retirement/Compensation 777-6142 IG Complaints ". 777-5305 (civilian) (for appointment) Equal Opportunity Office 777-5455 IGCom laints (riployer'Relatiorc 777-7129 P py - ••''• " —" ""•- (after hours) Report suspicious activity via the AFO5I •EAGLE EYES program Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/3058. WatchReport - Protect Force Protection is Our Business - Everyone is a Sensor Fraud, Waste or Abuse ."'i;;;.'..777-S6i (recording) Loud Noise 1-877-885-9595 (complaints) : 75th Medical Group 777-4918 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline : 777-7433 Public Affairs... 777-5333 Military Housing:;..:;.::.:.;.^; 825-9392 Maintenance Safety Office 777-3333 Safety Office Hotline 586-9300 Union 777-3257 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-1852 Family Assistance Center 777-3090 (when activated) \j^^ Military Pay 777-1851 GATES AIRMAN *> AIRMAN From page 1 last 40 or 50 years, it would look like the EKG of a fibrillating heart," he said. "What we need is modest, sustainable growth over a prolonged period of time that allows us to make sensible investment decisions, and not have these giant increases and giant decreases that make efficiency and doing acquisition in a sensible way almost impossible." The effort to find savings in the department not only is the right thing to do, but also is a way to make a "persuasive case to the Congress, and through them to the American people, that we are spending tax dollars wisely in the Department of Defense and in areas where they would like to see it spent," Gates said. "And that is in capabilities and in our fierce structure and investment for the future, as well as our troops." The only way the department can make such a persuasive case is if it tackles poor acquisition practices, poor business practices, excessive reliance on contractors, waste and abuse, the secretary said. "We need to be able to show that we are actually doing something about thes^programs in a systematic way that affects every part of the department," he said. "I think under those circumstances, we have a pretty good opportunity to make our case." • • 1. Where are you from? Charleston, SC. 2. What do you like most about being in the Air Force? The constant changing of things. No two days are ever the same. 3. What is your favorite food? Pasta. 4. What are your hobbies? Cooking. 5. What are your future goals? Finishing my degree in computer science. 6. Where is your favorite place to be? On the beach. 7. What is your greatest accomplishment? Making it through basic training at an older age. 8. Who is your favorite cartoon • character? Mickey Mouse. ; -. •••' % Airman 1st Class Pepper Palmer 75th Comptroller Squadron 9. What is your favorite quote? "If it wasn't for crazy people, the world would be a boring place. I like to think that my insanity adds to helping the world become a better place." 10. What is your favorite holiday and why? ThanUfeiving because it's not about gifts, it's about spending quality time with my family and friends. * |