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Show 2 COMMENTARY TIMES June 7, 2012 309 MXW to inactivate; members to be part of 00-Air Logistics Complex By COL. ALLAN DAY TIMES /eddy Since 1948 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter ... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Katina L. Ventura Hilltop Times Writer Krista Starker 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. Commander, 309th Maintenance Wing I n the next few weeks, the organization that is the 309th Maintenance Wing will ceremonially inactivate and furl its guidons, then pick up and continue working as part of the new Ogden Air Logistics Complex. Our wing began as the Maintenance Directorate, led by Gene Hathenbruck, followed by the 309th MXW, led by Brig. Gen. Robert McMahon, Brig. Gen. Art Cameron, Brig. Gen. John Cooper and Sue Dryden. I am proud to have served in this honorable lineage. The seven units that make up the wing — the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group, the 309th Commodities Maintenance Group, the 309th Electronics Maintenance Group, the 309th Maintenance Support Group, the 309th Missile Maintenance Group and the 309th Software Maintenance Group — will function as they do now, just under a different organization. The 309th Maintenance Wing and three other wings were initially stood up at Hill AFB on Feb. 24, 2005. Our 2005 mission statement highlighted our depot maintenance on the F-16, A-10, C-130 aircraft, and the ICBM Peacekeeper and Minuteman missiles; our overhaul work on landing gear, rocket motors, guided bombs and other aerospace related components; our team that performed crash damage repair; and new manufacturing work for the B-2 and F/A 22. In the seven years since, the Peacekeeper missile was deactivated, the F-22 now receives depot maintenance in its newly dedicated heavy maintenance facility and we're gearing up to work on the F-35. In 2007, we added another group — the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and now have additional units in California, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Wyoming and Japan. And we adopted the slogan, "Built Right, Ready to Fight." The 2005 mission statement, as well as the one we have today, generically de- scribes only part of what we have accomplished. In the last seven years the 309th Maintenance Wing: • Was again certified as an AS9100 organization following an intense evaluation where the inspectors had no findings in several areas and Col. Day only minor ones in others. • Worked with local applied technology colleges to train students through the Student Career Experience Program for employment in composites, electronics and other wing areas. • Sent depot field teams around the world to perform routine maintenance or repair damaged aircraft on site, reducing down-time and saving costs. • Celebrated the on-time completion of depot maintenance on 100 T-38 Talon aircraft in 18 months. • Expanded the wing's capability to perform depot maintenance on the F-22 by opening the final phase of the 96,000-squarefoot F-22 heavy maintenance facility. • Saved the Air Force millions, and likely billions of dollars by finding a better, more efficient and cost-effective way to do our jobs and submitting them for Air Forcewide use through the Idea Program. • Started work on the structurally improved A-10 wing designed to keep the vintage, dependable Thunderbolt flying until 2040. • Modified 11 Block 52 combat-capable F-16s for the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds, an improvement that one pilot says takes them "from a Corvette to a Ferrari." • Staffed the Wing Operations Center daily, around the clock, to respond to emergencies, ensure security and direct customer calls. • Successfully applied Lean, cell concepts, the Common Configuration Improvement Program, Falcon STAR, Precision Engagement, Propulsion System Rocket Engine program, Aerospace Maintenance Quality Standards, Service Life Extension Program and Process Improvement to speed up delivery of aircraft, missiles and related components, and maintain quality standards. • Sponsored car shows, golf tournaments, bowling tournaments and other morale-boosting employee activities. • And yes, made some mistakes, then worked hard to fix them and ensure they won't be repeated! I could echo the noisy television commercials that boldly proclaim "BUT WAIT — THERE'S MORE" because there is indeed more to the wing and its excellent production record, but I think you get the idea. What makes the 309th Maintenance Wing so successful? People. As a commander, I know that if I take care of the people who work for me and give them the resources, training and the room they need to be successful, then the mission will be assured. We may have airplanes that fly semi-autonomously, but it still takes people — people to expertly maintain them, people to check and recheck them and people to test them before returning them to the war-fighter. Our mission is 100 percent dependent on people, and I can confidently and proudly say we have the best workforce in the Air Force and the Department of Defense. We have a very broad mission, but when you boil it down, we are war-fighter enablers. Our wing slogan says it all — it tells the war-fighter that we're going to provide parts and aircraft that they can trust will work the first time they turn the switch. When they get in that A-10 cockpit after it's come through the depot, they can take it straight to the war zone and it'll execute the mission perfectly and safely. The 309th Maintenance Wing has kept aircraft flying, missiles ready, software upgraded, landing gear functioning and the war-fighter prepared. Even though the name and structure will change, the hardworking, dedicated men and women in these groups and squadrons will continue to provide quality products on-time and belowcost for years to come. That's our commitment, now and in the future. "Built Right, Ready to Fight!" The Minuteman I was initially designed to be launched from underground silos as well as what other platform? A. Mobile Railroad System B. B-52s C. Aboveground Hardened Facilities D. Satellites A GLIMPSE BACK HAWC Nest JUNE 1-7, 1962 On July 20, 1962, Ogden AMA shipped the first production model of the Minuteman I missile to Malmstrom AFB, Mont. The missile was transported by a specially designed railcar. fitness Tlp tram the Health and Wellness Center Up to 12 weeks of FREE tobacco cessation medication is available to federal employees and up to 6 months is available for active duty, dependents and retirees when attending the tobacco cessation series. Call the Health and Wellness Center at 801-777-1215 for further information. tualsAs AumpH allgoix In October 1959, Strategic Air Command announced that a highly mobile basing system using the nation's railroad network was under development. This scheme would make the missiles invulnerable to enemy ICBM attack since they would be constantly moved around the nation on special railroad cars, preventing precise targeting. Ogden Air Material Area tested this concept in June 1960 (Project Big Star), finding it to be a feasible platform, but the project was cancelled in 1961 because the Defense Department opted for the cheaper alternative — silos. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2012 DUIs: 8 Hill's Last DUI: Waif 26 Hill Air Force Base South Gate entrance marker, 1960. Unit Involved: 3rre A'neizajt Nalatemaptee Squacbteut 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. k\t - 41.:t)A i=b 8\1_1. 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE 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 (civilian) Equal Opportunity Office Employer Relations Military Pay Civilian Pay Air Force Suggestion Program 777-9696 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 777-3056 Hill Straight Talk Public Affairs IG Complaints 777-5333 777-5305 777-3056 Military Housing 825-9392 777-4134 (for appointment) 777-2043 IG Complaints 777-5361 Maintenance 777-6142 777-3333 Safety Office (after hours) Safety Office Hotline 586-9300 777-5361 Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5455 Sexual Assault Response 777-1985 (recording) 777-7129 Coordinator (or) 777-1964 1 877 885 9595 777-1851 Loud Noise Union 777-3257 (complaints) 777-6246 777-1852 777-4918 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-6901 75th Medical Group 777-3090 Family Assistance Center Civil Engineering 777-1856 - - - (when activated) 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 777-1163 Occupational Medicine Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 |