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Show n n nn 3D(g lf(airwUU ruisnn (2) iruiiuu Vice commander says hell take good memories with him to Keesler assignment by SSgt. Barbara Fisher Hilltop Times staff m It was only 2lA years ago that then Brig. Gen. selectee Clark Griffith and his wife, Jean, were learning their way around Hill AFB. Griffith had come to Hill from Randolph AFB, Texas, to be the vice commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center. And while the Griffiths were settling into a new home and exploring Hill, the vice commander was adjusting to his first assignment in Air Force Logistics Command. In the 25 years he's been in the Air Force, Griffith has primarily flown airplanes in the Tactical Air Command and Air Training Command. At Hill, he found he had to learn a new language, "logistics," and a different aspect of the Air Force. This wasn't a problem, he said, because of the "absolute masters" who work at Hill. "They took the time to drag me along as they pursued their excellence," he said. "They taught me the kinds of things I needed to know." And now as he readies for a new assignment at Keesler AFB, Miss., to become the commander of the Keesler Technical Training Center, he says he's taking with him a better understanding and knowledge of a part of the Air Force of which he knew very little until he came to Hill. "(This assignment) has opened my eyes," he said. "Now I can put a logistics point of view with the operations, tactical and personnel views I've gained over the years." Griffith's replacement as Hill's second in command will be Brig. Gen. Lester L. Lyles. Lyles will come to Hill from Air Force Systems Command Headquarters, Andrews AFB, Md. As the commander at the Keesler training center, Griffith will be responsible for the training of the Air Force's young enlisted troops. It's a job he says that has to be done right or the Air Force suffers. Right means training them not only in the jobs they're going to do for the Air Force, but reinforcing the standards of the Air Force, he said. "I found out a long time ago if you teach them the standards early on, they will adhere to those standards and do their job extremely well," he said. "If we don't do a very good job, then we shouldn't expect them to have very good standards." Being a commander isn't something new for Griffith. He's served as commander of fighter squad- rons and as the commander of a training wing at Laughlin AFB, Texas. He says his experiences at Hill have added to that. "I've been blessed by having two of the best commanders (Maj. Gens. James W. Hopp and Dale W. ! '"Mi WM. - "We were not structured here to compete and now we are. them do the job." velopment. "This was a tremendous change for the center," he said. "We were riot structured here to compete and we are now. We're going to be very competitive and that's exciting." He said watching and being a part of the countdown to the merger of AFLC and AFSC into Air Force Materiel Command has also been very worthwhile. "Done right, we will continue to have an extremely Air Force from a readiness standpoint," he capable said.- "And, the key to that is the acquisition and logistics support that we will be responsible for at . AFMC." While the center has achieved several successes, he said he can't claim any personal successes. "My success is that I've been able to stay out of the good people's way and let them do the job like page 1 in July 1990. Smith, Hawaii, He became the director of fighter training and tactics at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley During the change of command ceremony, Sandstrom praised the winning heritage of the 388th, stating Hilltop Times Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Tihies are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Griffith said the best memory of his assignment he'll take with him is the victories of Hill during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Every aspect of the operations went right, he said, from the surprise deployment of the 388th Fighter Wing to the Gulf, the center's role in supporting the 388th and other Air Force requirements, to the final homecoming of the 388th members. "It brings tears to my eyes with just how well everything was done," he said. And it all goes back to training. "It speaks very well of how we operate in a peacetime environment," he said. "We have trained over the years to fly and fight in peacetime as we're going to in wartime. That paid off many, many times over. "We did things we didn't even think we could do, ' ' he added. "We did them in a very timely fashion and, obviously, the results proved we were ready and capable to do them." He says its these memories and one other that he'll take with him to Biloxi, Miss. "I'll take away from here the same thing I've taken from every base I've been at," he said. "The people are what counts. They're what's going to make it or break it. "The one word that describes Hill is teamwork. One of our biggest pluses is the support of the local community and the state. The Hill team is the military, civilian work force and the local community." I am proud and deeply honored to take command of the premier fighter wing in the U.S. Air Force. 99 that as a team the wing would build on its legacy of excellence. "We will focus on leadership on all levels, the quality approach to each task and every challenge and on building the finest training possible," Sandstrom said. it's supposed to be done," he said. 66 - AFB, Va., in August 1991. 1 "The one word that describes Hill is teamwork.' V I've been able to stay out of the good people's way and let "... Thompson Jr.) that I could have in the business," he said. Griffith said the two allowed him to participate fully in running the center and taught him well, or, as his friend, Lt. Gen. Billy J. Boles, says, "They gave me all the rope I needed, but they untied the knots before I hung myself." The general, who was nominated for his second star while here, says the years he spent at Hill were exciting and successful ones. During that time he saw the center undergo a major reorganization called IOD, Integrated Organizational De- B Continued from Col. James E. Sandstrom i i -- Col. James E. Sandstrom New commander, 388th Fighter Wing "Our future is bright, our goal is clear ... to be recognized Air Force- - The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc. 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 Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff, Bldg. 1102, Room .1148, Ext. 77321. Unless otherwise" indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. wide as the No. 1 choice for global power, anytime, anyplace." Sandstrom is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flying hours in T-3- 7, airand craft. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf T-3- 8, F-- 4, F-10- 4, OV-1- 0 F-1- 6 cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. He was promoted to colonel Aug. 1, 1989. Sandstrom is married to the former Jean T. Mclnerney of Elk Point, S.D. They have two children, Kelly and Brett. . Hill AFB Editorial Staff i Maj. Gtn. Dale W. Thompson Jr Maj. Wade J. Habthiy Gary Hatch SSgt. Barbara Fisher Frances Kosakowslty, Lisa Colgate C Commander, Dirtctor, Public Affairs OO-AL- Editor Assistant tditor Staff writers Deadllnesi Editorial and "Around tht Hill" Items, 3 p.m. Tuesday, nine days before publication; sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, week of publication; classified ads, noon Tuesday, week of publication. Fof more information, call the editors, Exts. |