OCR Text |
Show HEADS UP Friday, January 10, 1986 Every inch Ship wiith i quQ pallot-hcarto- d Memd'yom coiini' commit eh By TSgt. Tom Sevcik 419th TFW Public Affairs Office (Reserve) Touching nearly every mission in the Air Force, the 68th Aerial Port Squadron could hardly be labeled the "untouchables." They are the linkers who get cargo there so the Air Force can do business. The 68th APS is one of two Air Force Reserve cargo handling units here at Hill AFB and every reserve weekend faces a big packing job. A prime example is a recent active duty annual tour to ' J . ; , (U.S. Air Force Reserve Photo by Maj. Len Barry) OJT A LA ZENITH TSgt. Lynn P. Weston, 68th Aerial Port Squadron training manager, records training information on a diskette using the unit's Zenith 100 word processing computer. on-the-j- ob Implemented in August, the innovative method of providing individual training data to supervisors was lauded during a recent higher headquarters staff assistance visit and was recommended for adoption by all Air Force Reserve units. McChord AFB, Wash., where members processed 2,687 tons of cargo and built 278 pallets in two weeks a formidable chore for a rookie aerial porter, but one notices there's no groaning when the pros are around. CMSgt. Gary C. Mecham explains squadron make-up- . "The air terminal operations center is the of 'brains' the aerial port. It's the area that directs all the other functions and is naturally very hard to train people into," he said. The chief is in charge of most special handling and cargo personnel. He points out that hazardous cargo could be nuclear, chemical or anything of a sensitive nature and he has the people necessary to handle such materials. Addressing how the work gets done, "We have shift chiefs who are responsible for two separate teams. Each team is made up of 12 to 25 people. Then there's the team chief who supervises six to 10 people." The squadron makes a sojourn three times a year to gain training and support the called a fly-a-wa- y active duty. On many occasions their teams are large enough to completely man an aerial port for a weekend or annual tour stint. a The aerial port's active duty advisory wing at McChord is the 446th Military Airlift Wing, which lends assistance in maintaining the 68th's proficiency with Military Airlift Command's airlift system. If mobilized, both of the base's reserve aerial port squadrons would be gained by MAC. Proficient and record makers they are. During a annual tour in 1984 to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 25 68th APS members handled two C-- 5 Hercules Starlifters and 36 Galaxies, 35 of final to tons their and cargo unloading loading destination. The 68th APS has been a reserve tenant at Hill AFB since its organization in 1971. Training assemblies were initially held in a hangar cafeteria. World War II barracks followed and finally a brand new building in the west area of the base which is home for the 67th APS also. One of the hooks to be an aerial porter is the tremendous travel opportunities. The challenge of change for a short time bolstered by seeing millions of pounds of cargo meet their takeoff deadline is what keeps their services in demand worldwide as they support the Air Force mission. two-wee- k 45ii,!h) BDofles supports ffexereiise; coll SinrDipcsKsiJ" By TSgt. Patrick Moore 405th CLSS Public Affairs Representative (Reserve) Late Friday evening before the November Unit Training Assembly, reservists of the 405th Combat Logistics Support Squadron were alerted for recall. Twelve hours later, 32 members of the aircraft to squadron were transported by a then to Brooks bused AFB, Kelly AFB, Texas; Texas, for participation in Exercise Port Call, a Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Logistics Command four-datraining exercise in employment, ness and organizational skills. Bivouacked in the "war zone" for 60 hours assigned to perform battle-damag-e repair to aircraft, their accommodations included tents, chemical 400-ma- n C-1- 41 y ire 5$ mm warfare gear, flashlights, rain, fog and other war realisms. Return to Hill AFB took place the following Monday. Team chief, SMSgt. Larry Acree, said, "I was impressed with the mission's realism; communication was excellent and well coordinated and a lot of planning went into the logistics of the overall exercise with every aspect of a wartime situation present." Maj. John C. Hunter, squadron commander, said, "We appreciated the opportunity of being invited to an exercise of this magnitude. Aside from the training we received, it provided coordination with Air Force Logistics Command our gaining commandand four of the six CLSS reserve units assigned to AFLC bases." Q: What can you tell me about tax preparers who offer to prepare my tax return by discounting the refund for fee before it is received? A: The practice of discounting a federal income tax refund violates federal law and frequently victimizes the taxpayer by imposing excessive discount rates when paying the refund. Frequently the opportunity arises where the tax preparer advertises to give immediate payment in cash for tax refunds. This is accomplished by the taxpayer assigning the tax refund to the tax preparer. Then, the taxpayer also signs a special power of attorney for the tax preparer to sign the refund check substituting the tax preparer's address for the taxpayer's address. This allows an opportunity for the preparer to understate the refund on the return and the taxpayer is unaware of a later corrected refund. Q: Are child support and alimony deductible? A: Yes and no. At no time is child support deductible. But, generally, alimony is deductible for the person paying it and must be declared as income by the person receiving it. However, there are instances of high alimony payments where this is not the case. Consult with your lawyer or accountant to determine the applicability. 15-da- y C-1- 30 C-1- 41 Personal car mileage is deductible for travel other than to and from the local duty station and personal residence. am a school teacher. When I am away from a normal teaching day of school my pay is reduced by a percentage of the total number of paid school days. Is this fair? A: Under the statutes dealing with reserve employment rights, this is not improper if your treatment is no different than other employees. Your absence for duty, however, must not adversely affect your normal tenure or promotion progression. Q: I Q: How will the new urinalysis program oper- ate in the reserve? A: Although reservists may one day be subject to random urinalysis testing, presently the reserve forces are required to submit to testing when probable cause is present such as under the influence of a drug or when the member is involved in an ah' craft mishap. If a reservist is determined to be a drug user, discharge is almost automatic whether evidence is obtained by urinalysis or other means. Q: My spouse and I both work so I am aware of the child care credit on my taxes, but are there other child-reariexpenses we can deduct? Q: What items can I deduct if I itemize deducA: If you send your child to summer camp, the tions which pertain to my reserve duty? A: Required uniform items, rank, insignia, dry entire expense is deductible. Some expenses inn school trip cleaning or laundry costs, plus billeting and food curred to send a child on an deductible. also are vacation from home. during costs if they are not reimbursed away ng Maj. Frank Wells Staff Judge Advocate 41 9th Tactical Fighter Wing out-of-tow- , |