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Show 2 COMMENTARY Gratitude a very different place from which to face challenges TIMES June 23, 2011 RJ Hilltop TIME spite of challenges they face individually or as a team. Team Hill is no different in that regard. When we look back on the heritage of those who have come before us or reflect on who it is we support, I hope we can do our very best under the Braswell constraints that are placed on us. When faced with distinct challenges, those who have an attitude of gratitude find it easier to weather the storms than those who don't. A favorite saying in our family comes from an unknown author, "The choice to be grateful is the choice to be happy." We have the choice on how we will react to our uncertain circumstances. I used to work in an organization that had a motto over the door as you entered the building that read, "What are you going to do today to win the war?" and then as we departed the building on the other side of the door going out it read, "What did you do today to win the war?" So every day we show our gratitude not only in our attitudes and our choices but in the way we approach every day. BY ANTHONY BRASWELL Aerospace Sustainment Directorate _ -Ice 1948 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter ... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Anne Morrison Hilltop Times Writer Hilltop Times Krista Starker Correspondent Ryan Larsen 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 hilltoptimes@standard.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 Corp., 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 801-625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gorny, at mgorny@standard.net . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. I have been reflecting over the past few months on the economic times in which we find ourselves as individuals and as a nation. I wonder how we are dealing with the stress that it places in our lives and in our families. While I was mulling over my own challenges, I realized how truly grateful I was for all that I have and more specifically a great job and to be a member of this great organization we call Team Hill. I realized that the evidence of our gratitude may be the very mind-set that will, in fact, help all of us to meet our challenges. As an avid sports fan, being part of a team is very important to me and provides perspective in many aspects of my life. In today's sports world, the lack of gratitude is very apparent, but that was not always true. I really like the sentiments of Bobby Hull, the hockey great who once said, "Every professional athlete owes a debt of gratitude to the fans and management, and pays an installment every time he plays. He should never miss a payment." Great teams pay the price with hard work and dedication and play hard in suspicious activity via the AFOSI EAGLE EYES program Report tiTTJM 1:11k1 Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. Watch - Report Protect 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil Force Protection is Our Business - Everyone is a Sensor I work at Hill and want to report aHUGE "country store" being run in a squadron front office which is in direct violation of AFI 34-223 paragraph 10.9. They are using a massive full-size freezer to stock every known type of frozen snack and food (ice cream, sandwiches, burritos, pizzas, etc.) and also a full-size fridge full of cheese, sodas, water, sandwiches, pickles, etc. They also run a full dry snack area with cookies, candy, chips, crackers and nuts. At first it was a small box filled a few times a week by the secretary which didn't take too much time but now it's a full-blown operation which requires a trip to a local "quantitiestype" retail store (in a government vehicle no less) by at least two office staff once a week and they spend thousands a month and make who knows how much money it makes? Or if they're tracking the money? The time required to manage the food is obnoxious and a gross mismanagement of government/taxpayer funding. I am disgusted that people being paid $34 an hour are spending their work day stocking candy and selling sandwiches. All it would take is a casual visit to the front office of the squadron to see first-hand how full-blown the "country store" has gotten and how it is out of hand! I hope this will be investigated and taken care of, such a blatant violation of regulation and gross missmanagement of base dollars. HAWC Nest The Freshstart program to quit tobacco is a four-part series that meets weekly for one month. All active duty, dependents, retirees, Department of Defense federal employees and contractors are eligible to attend. Call Pat Cerone Health and Wellness Center at (801) 777-1215 for more information. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2011 DUIs: 19 Hill's Last DUI: Nag 28 Unit Involved: 3gra rietvectet Viciottegasice Sveeetebtoo 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. AIRMAN T'AIRMA: Q A Fitness Tip from the Health and Wellness Center So with the storms of uncertainty swirling around us, we have to decide how we want to live. We have to decide how we will react when faced with these challenges. I am convinced that being grateful will change the way we approach life in general but specifically our jobs and we will see possibilities that we otherwise might sequester because our minds are closed to those possibilities. John Milton stated, "Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change how we experience life and the world." Gratitude allows us to have the epiphanies that will permit us to make changes to improve the quality of life here at work and at home. We have to stop and smell the roses, don't we? We need to be great Wingmen. I hope we can stop and admire the work of those around us and express our appreciation for all they do. I hope we can be grateful that we work for the greatest organization in the world. Remember, smaller budgets and having less resources to do our jobs will be a reality in these economic times, but we have the choice — not to do more with less — but to do our very best with what we have! Nothing more! Nothing less! Thank you for reporting your concern. Although the intent of using organizational snack bar proceeds for morale-related events is laudable, these operations not only violate long-standing federal and departmental regulations, they also have an adverse effect on programs supporting the entire Hill community. The leadership in the wing concerned has been notified and the "country store" you referenced will be completely shut down as soon as the current inventory is depleted. AFI 34-223 prohibits continuous resale operations that directly compete with either AAFES or the Force Support Squadron (FSS). We recognize that snack bars are seen as squadron morale builders, but some have gone too far and become full-time, commercial ventures, competing directly with the restaurant operations. We would hate to have to close the base restaurants because we are allowing these illegal country stores to proliferate. In addition, the time used during duty hours to procure items for snack funds (which includes unauthorized purchase of items for resale from the base commissary) and using employees who are paid with government funds are violations of the Joint Ethics Regulation. Finally, organizations are authorized to hold fundraising events as long as they do not exceed two per quarter; are approved by the FSS; are not continuous sales operations; do not include raffles; don't compete with AAFES, Commissary or FSS; are not promoted through e-mail; and there is no direct solicitation of Department of Defense contractor or its employees. The Legal Office or the 75th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services flight chief are always available to shed more light on your particular situation. I ask your support and cooperation in shutting down these operations. The availability and variety of vending can be adjusted by our vendors to offset the loss of the country stores. My point of contact for the base vending program and Base Restaurants is Roger Braner, 75FSS/FSV, 775-3154. Work centers interested in adding vending can contact Eric Smith, Restaurant manager, at 777-2043. 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 work with you Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 24-hr. Crisis Information Force Support Squadron Base Restaurants Retirement/Compensation 777-3056 777-3056 777-4134 777-2043 777-6142 (civilian) Equal Opportunity Office about being in the Air Force is being a part of something that most people can't be. Another favorite is moving to new locations to see different cultures. If you were not in the Air Force, what would you want to be? That is a question that got me in the Air Force in the first place; I had no idea what I wanted to do, and now I am trying to figure out what I am going to do when I retire. I just bought my self 20 years to figure it out. What What are your hobbies? My hobbies include my family and since we moved here to Utah, hiking, camping and exploring new sites outside has become a huge hobby for us. 777-5455 777-7129 777-1851 777-6246 777-6901 777-9696 777-5305 777-5361 (recording) Loud Noise 1-877-885-9595 (complaints) 75th Medical Group Civil Engineering Hill Pride Hotline Public Affairs Military Housing Maintenance Safety Office Safety Office Hotline Union AFOSI Narcotics Hotline Family Assistance Center (when activated) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? If I could go anywhere in the world Europe and more specifically: Italy, Greece and Germany would be the ideal spots to visit. I would like to go to these places to experience a different culture, food, and landscape then what I am used to. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? My favorite thing to do on the weekends is get out and explore the state with my family. That could mean hiking in a national park or driving through small towns in the middle of nowhere. We just love getting outside after being inside all week. 777-5361 (after hours) Fraud, Waste or Abuse is your favorite type of music? I like all sorts of music; however, I don't care for rap and most country. (for appointment) IG Complaints Where are you from? Seattle, Wash. What is your favorite part about being in the Air Force? One of my favorite parts Hilltop Times. Employer Relations Military Pay Civilian Pay Air Force Suggestion Program Hill Straight Talk IG Complaints 12th Medical Support Squadron What is your favorite quote or movie quote? "It's almost Friday." in answering questions and solving problems before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777-7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 National Suicide (800) 273-8255 Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line (866) 284-3743 TriWest Behavioral (866) 651-4970 Health Contact Center EAP (800) 222-0364 Occupational Medicine 777-1163 Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 Staff Sgt. Derek Ramos 777-4918 777-1856 777-7433 777-5333 825-9392 777-3333 586-9300 777-3257 777-1852 777-3090 What are your future goals? My future Air Force goals include: finishing my last class for my CCAF and bachelor's, making rank and trying to figure where I want to take my Air Force career. My personal goals include: supporting my kids in their sports activities that they are trying for the first time this summer, keeping my family strong and performing well at the "Hurt in the Dirt" race. What is your favorite childhood memory? My favorite childhood memory is when my parents took my sister and me on a road trip down the Oregon Coast; we camped on the beach and saw a lot of cool things. We spent about a week out there, and I just remember having the time of my life, as much as a 10 year old could. |