D Hill AFB, Utah " -- www.hilltoptimes.com hiiltop.pahill.af.mil Vol. 57 No. 40, October 4, 2001 X TIM CS? XX nirr x 84055-582- 4 $k Y INSIDE: luncheon Tuesday CFC Page 2 Photos by Tech. Sgt. Lance Cheung Actions after tragedy Page 3 Captains promoted to major Page 4 1 tteamni Arana-Barrad- rates Increase Page 8 i as Air Force Print News A-1- '1 6th Fighter Wing Heads Up 41 ' PagesA-- C A-1- itis." 0 At Hog Heaven, Steven Burger said the sense of importance is strong. The 0 work leader and jet engine mechanic said the would be a main player in any Air Force action over Afghanistan. A-1- W 0 A-1- A-1- All . Page 9 . Jit The hangar where she works dubbed "Hog Heaven" after the nickname given the jet is V' tank-bustin-g full of aircraft in various stages of repair. n 4 J t 11: where to exit Knowing i ' Page 11 Some are getting new wings. Others a new, combined internal navigation system-globpositioning system. Others await new paint jobs. But no matter what work they're doing, Sullins said there's a new sense of urgency al Sullins Installs a wire harness Thunderbolt II. Page 11 COLUMBUS DAY OCLOBER 8 mm mm mmm . In an 0 among her They want to s to the back their units quickly. get "And everyone wants to do the best job they can," she said. The same spirit permeates the base. There are signs everywhere that the base work force is rallying behind President Bush in the aftermath of the Sept 1 1 terrorist attacks on the nation. American flags flutter from car antennas. Ball caps and with American flags are commonplace. And "God Bless America" is on billboards. civilian and military Base workers alike have a new appreciation for T-shi- 1 They're more conscious of their work. He said most have actually been waitshifts because ing to go into the units need their airplanes back. But people aren't rushing their work at the expense of quality, he said. On the contrary, most are paying more attention to details because "these airplanes will soon be flying in some pretty tough places," he said. "It's going to be turn and burn out there," he said. "These airplanes will be doing a lot of work. We want to put out the best product we can so our pilots can get their job done." As the 0 crews go about their work, Pat Murphy walks the floor of the huge hangar. As a production line supervisor, he overseas the work in progress. He's proud of the new Air Force emblem painted on the hangar floor and the sign with the pink pig that lets everyone know they're in Hog A-1- life 's Heaven. Since the terrorist attacks his coworkers have shown a new attitude. They're more dedicated to their jobs and morale is up, said Murphy, who crew chief for was an Air Force nine years in the 1970s. T-3- "The A-1- 8 could be our primary 0 weapon system in the upcoming war," he said. "And people seem to have taken that to heart. It has energized them." More work won't bother his workers, who expect a work surge soon, Murphy said. They realize they may need to compress or speed up their work schedule to get the aircraft back into service. "But we all know something needs to be done in response to those terri- ble attacks," he said. "That's some pretty strong motivation." Sullins has mixed emotions about what could soon happen. Less than two years ago, she was in uniform. So she still has a strong sense of Air Force mission. Her husband, David, is an active duty 6 crew chief with the base's 388th Fighter Wing. They have F-1- old son. She expects her husband to deploy somewhere, soon. They've talked about it and she's ready for his departure. But it's what he's trained for and something she knows he must do. "Yeah, I'm scared, but he has my 100 percent support," she said. "And knowing we'll be OK here is what's going to get David us through a separation." In the meantime, she doesn't want to speculate about what might happen. She just wants to continue to crank out at Hog Heaven. And help maintain the home front. a ar A-l- Intern program trains contracting employees the end of their involvement are either an 11 or 12 grade. Hilltop Times staff team builds city FB-11- 12-ho- by Gary Boyle Hill understand that, at work longer to work on the airplanes. The center's civilian work force repairs, upgrades and modifies many Air Force aircraft or parts. Some of the planes are no longer in production. And some are more than 40 years old. But the aircraft all still play a key role in the Air Force. As the United States gears up for military action against Afghanistan's Taland Hill's is much iban, her job more vital, Sullins said. "It will put Hill right in the middle of the fight," she said. his Burger has noticed people staying these planes modified so they can perform at their utmost capability." 388th Fighter Wing Fighter Country 0 said Burger, a former Air Force crew chief in the early 1980s. Aircraft Directorate. "We must get " 0 Steve Burger and Shauna Sulllns 0 Thunderbolt II in the Aircraft Heaven," "Hog 0 Directorate's production section. They believe their work on the home front will be vital In the war against terrorism. work on an - A-10- the Mature and Proven Aircraft Directorate. The unit provides program management and logistics for the Aircraft Directorate. While people are working to get the job done, Yates also thinks "they have a stronger focus a new sense of purpose of what we do and how important Shauna Sullins regrets she won't be able to take up arms and join those on the front lines of the war on terrorism. But the former Fighting Falcon avionics specialist is ready to do her part on the home front. Sullins is part of a team that extends the life of an Air ThunderForce workhorse, the bolt II close air support aircraft. The plane will play a key role in Air Force actions during the war on terrorism, she said. That now makes our job more imporelectrician tant," said Sullins, an at the 0 production section of the A-1- c the value of their work, and the seriousness and impact of what they do, said Lynn Yates, deputy director of F-1- 6 Lodging . extending by Master Sgt. Louis A. Contract work earns award . . -- 'Hog Heaven' - w ' if The Contracting Directorate is attracting the best and the brightest employees through the Copper Cap training program. Copper Cap is one of more than 15 programs the Air Force has for recruiting outstanding college graduates. To be considered for the program a person must have a bachelor's degree, a 3.45 grade average or be ranked in the top 10 percent of their class. Also, they should have business as part of their degree emphasis, be a U.S. citizen, and sign a mobility agreement The criteria can only be changed for the severely disabled and disabled veterans. Though active recruitment is done on college campuses twice a year the Air Force allows open application using the same criteria. "We have people in the program at Hill from age 22 through 50 with a variety of backgrounds and experience," said contract analyst and Copper Cap training monitor Kellie Farr. "It's wonderful to have the enthusiasm that flows through the directorate when these people come in. They are the ones who will be guiding the directorate in the future and taking on the tasks of those who will retire." The program varies in length from two to four years r depending on the base; Hill uses the plan. seven at start a Participants position and by grade nt four-yea- T t III " ., U.II, . "All four years are mapped out for the participants and provides them with a complete overview of contracting," said Manage- ment Division chief and Copper Cap supervisor Kathy Anderson. "They get to work with different managers and learn different styles, which enables them to create their own working style of management and find where their strengths and interests are." The program is more than just a professional experience; recruits also work together and enjoy a unique esprit de corps as they move through the program. "One of the cool aspects of the program is you instantly have a Copper Cap Interns Rachel Larson, Jarie support group when you start," Davis' computer. The Interns are In a said Jarie Muir who works in Force contracting specialists. Photo by Gary Boyle Muir, four-yea- r small-doll- ar buying. "It's the great combination of education and experience that the program offers that makes it a rewarding growth opportunity and the beginning of a challenging career." Besides taking certification courses and working with military counterparts Copper Cap interns are- 1 and Ryan Jones gather around Jim training program to become Air also working with private industry. "During their four years they spend three months outside of contracting in either a contract manage- m See Interns, page 2 t