August 2. 2001 419th members to present colors during 2002 Olympics 419th FW Public Affairs Office Three members of the 419th Fighter honor guard will be part of the Winter Olympics award ceremonies in February. As part of the awards presentation, the flag of each medal winner's country will be raised by a team of Hill Air Force Base honor guard members. One of the three teams will include 4 1 9th Honor Guard representatives Master Sgt Rulon Walker, Tech. Sgt. David Graham and 419th FW Honor Guard officer in charge. Senior Master Sgt Scott Hennessy. Sergeant Walker and Sergeant Graham were among members of the Hill Air Force Base Honor Guard who raised the national flags for medal winners at the figure and speed skating world qualifying championships last fall. The Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee was impressed by the team's performance there and requested it's return for the Olympics, said Staff officer in Sgt Mike Harden, charge of the base honor guard. "It's going to be quite the experience," Sergeant Harden said. "We're going to be right there among the athletes, it's really exciting." These kind of rewards make participation in the honor guard worthwhile, said Sergeant Walker, who has participated in nearly 70 details since joining the honor guard more than a year ago. For most Reserve members, it means shuffling work and family schedules to seven-memb- accommodate practice time and short-notidetails. But the rewards are so immense, it makes it worth it he said. This is a really unique opportunity. That's one of the things about being on the honor guard," he said. "You get to meet people and see things you wouldn't be able to otherwise." Veteran funerals and retirement ceremonies make up about half the details he's participated in. He's also found himself involved in parades. Boy Scout ceremonies. Independence Day events, memorial unveilings - and now, Olympic award ceremonies. "Every detail is different," he said. "It never becomes old hat" As the world w atches, the honor guard, suits of Olympic dressed in the warm-u- p volunteers instead of their formal uniforms, w ill march out for each ceremony with the flag that represents the winner's country and position them on posts. "And you have to do it just right or the flags will sway," Sergeant Walker said. "You don't want that" But he said he's not nervous. "You get to where instead of 'Oh, I hope I don't mess up, you're just concentrating and enjoying yourself," he said. The 419th Honor Guard meets Saturday of each Unit Training Assembly from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Reservists are also welcome to practice honor guard team on the with the active-dut- y first and third Wednesday of each month from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Sergeant Hennessy during the UTA at ce by Senior Airman Lera Gale er A k I i I i Photo by Stephanie Johns ; 777-966- 9. retirees welcome to join Air Force Reserve Active-dut- y WASHINGTON The Air Force Reserve is offering active-dut- y military retirees the opportunity to return to military service. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2001 added Section 12741 to Chapter 1223, Title 10 USC, which permits retired service members who later serve in the Air Force Reserve to elect retirement as members of the retired reserve. In addition to helping Air Force Reserve retirees Command fill a critical need, active-dut- y will receive several benefits for continued military service as reservists. These incentives active-compone- nt Air Force photo An helicopter like HH-60- G this one was used to rescue a downed pilot Reservists rescue - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. Within minutes of getting the call, an Air Force Reserve Command HH-60helicopter crew scrambled to retrieve a pilot whose 6 Fighting Falcon crashed July 1 8 near Batman, Turkey. The rescue crew from the 305th Rescue n Air Force Base, Ariz., Squadron, was on deployment to Turkey when it picked up ' Capt. Michael A. Nelson Jr. of the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The captain's home unit is the 510th Fighter Squadron, part of the 31st Fighter Wing based at Aviano AB, Italy. At the time of the accident, the 6 was en route to a mission enforcing the northern no-fl- y zone over Iraq. The accident location is in eastern Turkey, near the Iraqi border. Members of the 305th RQS are providing support for the no-fl- y zone mission, which is called Operation Northern Watch. The rescuers were at a forward-operatin- g location, preparing to go on alert, at the time. "Our people picked up the pilot soon after he G F-1- Davis-Montha- F-1- ue in Turkey recently. pilot in Turkey F-- 16 bailed out," said Lt. Col. Harold Maxwell, 305th RQS deputy commander for operations, who had tour of duty in just returned home after a y took their to him "After base, they Turkey. they where the two transferred the pilot to a pararescuemen and our flight surgeon treated him on the one-hoflight to Incirlik." Colonel Maxwell said this was not the first time his unit has come to the aid of a pilot in that part of the world. He said the last time occurred seven years ago when rescuers flew into Iraq to get a downed British Harrier crew. During this deployment, most of the 305th RQS members volunteered for the squadron's entire commitment. Reservists usually serve overseas for two weeks. "They are an experienced, dedicated group," Colonel Maxwell said. "Most of the crews have over 3,000 flying hours. They have given up their civilian vacation time because they believe in what they've been trained to do. "We are glad they didn't have to go into Iraq to get the pilot, but they would have been ready to go if the plane went down in Baghdad." 25-da- C-1- ur six-we- ek include: Increased retirement income by earning points andor pay while serving; Promotion opportunity to a higher grade and retirement in that grade; Renewed esprit de corps and camaraderie enjoyed on active duty; and The possibility of serving in another career field and receiving new training. To be eligible for this program, people must be Air Force retirees who retired regular active-dut- y not more than five years ago or current active-dut- y members with an approved, projected retirement date. The program is open to all career fields. The Air Force Reserve will consider all applicants as long as there are valid vacancies to be filled, and they meet the program's criteria. Some people may have to retrain to meet the needs of the Air Force. kQ 11Q4-- Reservists should know what it takes to have a 'good year' concerning their retention-retiremeyear or RR for short. "An RR year is not based on the fiscal year, but the year the individual entered the military," said Chief Master Sgt Kathy Farmer, chief of military personnel programs for tiie 419th Fighter Wing. To complete a good year, a reservist must earn a minimum of 50 points to achieve a satisfactory year nt of service. "A reservist with a Dec. 1 RR, date must accumulate 50 points by the next Nov. 30th in order to have a satisfactory year of service," said Chief Farmer. When planning annual tours, it's important that reservists take into consideration their RR date. Bad annual tours planning could result in two one in RR year. performed 'Tor example: if a reservist completes a 1997 and then another 15 annual tour on Dec. 0, 1998. Although, the annual tour days on Nov. December annual tour was performed in fiscal year 1997 and the November annual tour was performed in fiscal year 1998, both were accomplished during the same retention-retiremen- t, (RR) year," explained Chief Farmer. Commanders, supervisors and reservists, should pay close attention in order to eliminate a bad year or to prevent the result of having completed two annual tours in the same year. Reservists earn the minimum 50 points through a combination of attending unit training assemblies, completing annual tour requirements and earning Reserve membership points. Those reservists who never miss a UTA and put in 15-d- ay 15-d- ay 15-3- ctqaJcc n high-year-tenu- re to'-reti- re ' y y y they-qualif- points 14 days are the minimum requirement; 15 days are the maximum. One point is earned for each day. Membership points These are awarded 15 upon completion of points a good ''- - in I i I ' Date received: Prior participation: Invitestandby: Invite sent: 1 Status: Acceptdecline: October 13, 2001 I i Nominations must be forwarded to the 419th FW Public Affairs Office, 5713 Lahm Lane, Suite 105, Hill AFB, Utah 84056-541NO LATER THAN August 17, 2001. n U i hIA Reserv st's name and rank: k Reservist's unit: I 1:1 Reservist's daytin-- e phone: year. Name Total: y 777-333- multiplied by 12 UTAs. 15 e, : Unit Training Assemblies 48 points One point is earned per four hour training period. Four points are earned in a UTA weekend, then Annual Tour . Force---Reserv- Appreciation (Day Earn points for a good year The minimum: 50 points Office C J Once they become members of the Air the retirees will participate within the of the Reserve's rules for ' boundaries regular and;' promotion, continuation, utilization retirement. In addition to being physically qualified, they must meet current Air Force1 Reserve or mandatory-separatiodate rules, which require reservists or separate by age 60. For example," participation in the Reserve is limited to a total of " 33 years service unless enlisted reservists ' request and obtain an extension. ' The retirees will continue to draw active-dutretirement pay but will not receive dual ' retirement pay and compensation for active-dut:; participation in the Reserve. Their active-dutretirement paycheck will be reduced by l30th for each day of reserve duty; however, they will receive a full reserve pay check for dutyu performed on that same day. During a,'; reserve drill weekend, reservists receive the equivalent of one day of active-dut- y pay for every four hours of service. If promoted, members may elect reserve'" retirement pay in the higher grade at age ' 60. Even if not promoted, they may request " recomputation of their retired pay due to' 'I reserve participation. Interested people who believe for the program may contact the;' 0 419th Recruiting Office at for ' details. for PA Office use only Adding up good years for retirement by Stephanie Johns 419ihFW Public Affairs ' 419th FW members, Master Sgt. Rulon Walker (left), Senior Master Sgt. Scott Hennessy and Tech.- Sgt. David Graham, practice folding the American flag during one of their practice days. 78 points Of civilian employer, (Mr. Mrs. or Ms ), only one name per reservist can be submitted. Reservists can eam one point per day for the following: Extension Course Institute courses (ECI) Military Personnel Appropriation (MPA) Readiness Management Period (RMP) AircrewFlight Training Period (AFTP) . SpecialSchool Tour all 15 annual tour days within a year will accumulate 78 RR points. Extra RR points are accumulated by performing military personnel appropriation days and special or school tours. An Air Force Form 526, Point Credit Summary, lists the points credited during your inactive and active-dut- y training, special tours, MPA tours, Extension Couse Institute, Readiness Management Period courses, and membership points. The AF Form 526s are sent out annually from HQ Air Force Reserve Command, about 2 months after the reservists RR date. For more information, contact the Military Personnel Flight at (801) 777-002- 4. Employer's job title: Company name: Civilian employer's mailing address (include ZIP code): Civil'an employer's daytime phone (include aea code): Check her if you would like u to keep your employer's name In our file to periodically receive Information concerning 419" FW news and events. Please Inform the civilian employer, that he or she will receive a letter ot invitation with additional details on Employer Appreciation Day. Employers MUST reply to the letter of mvitat on in ordc to attend. If the employer has not received an invitation letter from us by July 3 1 please resubmit hisher name tor nomination. I !rfc(pinjj empfoijcrs understand your rofe in the Air 'force 'Jescwe I r i"