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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES 3 October 1, 2009 419th maintainers support Afghan elections BY KARI TILTON 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs A small group of maintainers from the 419th Fighter Wing helped make history when they readied F-16 aircraft for missions in support of the Afghan presidential election Aug. 20. . "I worked on the flightline for 12 hours straight on the day of the election and we were very busy," said Senior Airman Dallin Smith. "Later, we watched the world news and saw coverage of the (events) that our jets participated in. It was great knowing we were contributing to such an important mission and our efforts were visible around the world." The 419th maintainers are deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and are assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group. They are responsible for around-theclock aircraft maintenance including weapons loading, sortie generation and aircraft launch and recovery. The group deployed in July with nearly hundreds from Hill's active duty 388th Fighter Wing, 421st Fighter Squadron. The deployed Hill personnel make up the first U.S. F-16 unit to be based in Afghanistan. The F-16s deliver close air support to the ongoing multinational joint operations throughout the country. "The operations tempo here is high," said Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Thompson, deployed 419th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. "Operations are 24 hours, seven days per week." In addition to working long hours on the flightline, the maintainers have been busy laying the groundwork for an infrastructure to support ongoing F-16 operations. "Most of our challenges came early on because the F-16 supply lines weren't established when we first arrived," Thompson said. "In the beginning, we didn't always have all the necessary tools, equipment, or parts." Mother Nature has also made things a bit more difficult from time to time. "With daily temperatures hovering in the mid-90s or higher, heat is definitely a factor," Smith said. "We're drinking a lot of water." "Darkness is also an issue as the fiightline has very little lighting," added Airman Smith, who works the night shift. "A lot of my duties are accomplished by the light of a headlamp or flashlight." SENIOR AIRMAN FELICIA JUENKE/U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Adrian Pamintuan (foreground), from the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, loads missiles onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Additional Airmen (background), also from the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, perform a final safety inspection before the F-16 takes off for its mission, Aug. 20. The F-16s and the Airmen from the 421st EFS are deployed from Hill Air Force Base. The 419th maintainers are due home in October. They are deployed alongside 5,000 Airmen who make up the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram. Three-day bash to shower Airmen with free prizes, food and gratitude BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY Hilltop Times staff D oes the term "Airman's Bash" sound vaguely familiar to Airmen who were stationed here last year? That's because the social extravaganza was previously referred to as the "Dorm Bash," and this year the event organizers extended the invitation beyond dormitory residents to all E-4 ranks and below and their families, including those belonging to other military branches stationed at Hill Air Force Base, in honor of the Year of the Air Force Family. The event will also honor enlisted heritage by incorporating a Tribute to Military Families, which will include certain military guests and their families dressing in periodstyle uniforms and casual wear of war eras ranging from World War I until Operation Iraqi Freedom. This year's bash started with an opening event yesterday with a barbecue which included an invocation by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Carl Wright, 75th Air Base Wing chaplain, and a visit by 75th ABW Commander Col. Patrick Higby and Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Candler, Ogden Air Logistics Center and 75th ABW command chief. "The chapel is and has been a major contributor for this event," said Chaplain (Capt.) William Brown, 75th ABW chaplain. "We have also had great support and guidance by base leadership in planning this as well." Brown said the Base Chapel provides $2,000 of the event's $3,000 budget and the rest of the funding comes from the Hill Top 3, First Sergeant's Council and the Wing Activities Committee. "Team Hill and the local community were also integral contributors to this event," Brown added. "The event started years ago by one chaplain and one Airman, and that is how the chapel got involved. Now it involves many other organizations and has evolved into this three-day bash." The event now extends over a three-day period "to incorporate as many schedules as possible," said event organizer, Master Sgt. Anthony Beasley, of the 75th Communications Group. Tonight's event will include a Madden 2010 Football Tournament video game competition complete with a cash prize. Free food and beverages will be served to Airmen and their See BASH I page 4 USA A AUTO INSURANCE RATES BEAT THE COMPETITION. $904 $936 $957 $842 $646 USAA State Farm GEICO Allstate Nationwide Average Auto Premium (six-month policy)1 ' USAA beats GEICO-saving you as much as $516 on average.1 Save with flexible payment options with no fees,2 safe driver discount and a discount of up to 90 percent for vehicle storage.3 USAA General Agency also offers coverage for motorcycles and boats, with year-round protection and great value. 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