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Show 4IVth ngmer vv.ng spp,c,e, ,u ,c , ,,.H ...CJ Nov. 3, 1994 headsUp 3 readiness a top priority as deployment nears Family to help families who need support in areas such by Maj. Ken Warren 419th FW Public Affairs Office as automobile repairs, carpentry and yard care. "We need volunteers to help families in need," baby-sittin- g, Family readiness is a top priority in the 419th Fighter Wing as the unit prepares to go to Turkey to participate in Operation Provide Comfort II. TSgt. Junell Scheeres and SSgt. joe Derring are the wing's family readiness liaisons. Their primary purpose is to ensure that military members and their families are prepared for the changes that will come when the military member departs. "We're here for the families, to get the word to them about all of the services and benefits available. Family care is what we're all about. We want to do everything we can to ensure the families are taken care of ... before, during and after the deployment," said Scheeres. "Reservists' families aren't as aware as active-dut- y families are of what they're entitled to when their sponsor is on active-dutorders for 31 days or more. We want to educate and help them," she y added. One way they're helping is recruiting volunteers said Scheeres. Derring said the liaisons' jobs don't end when the sponsor, deploys. "We're going to be available throughout the deployment period. We plan to stay in direct contact with each family and keep them informed. There are no dumb questions or requests; people shouldn't hesitate to call or stop by." Derring and Scheeres have scheduled four briefings for military members and their families: Saturday, 9 a.m., Jensen Room; Sunday, 2:30 p.m., Carroll Room; Nov. 19, 9 a.m., Carroll Room; and Nov. 20, 2:30 p.m., Carroll Room. "We'll have representatives from key agencies there to answer questions in areas such as personal finances, powers of attorney and military benefits. A military family whose sponsor is deploying should make attending one of these sessions a priority," pre-deploym- said Scheeres. For more information, call or 775-261- 2 Reservists support response to Iraq ROBINS AFB, Ga. (AFRESNS) Air Force reservists loaded and transported cargo and passengers, air refueled and maintained aircraft and prepared to care for patients in support of Operation Vigilant Warrior. Thousands of reservists were ready, but only a few hundred of the volunteers went on duty in response to Iraq's military buildup on the Kuwaiti border in early October. The showdown between Saddam Hussein offered the Air Force and Air Force Reserve an opportunity to makelhistoric 7 Globemaster III landings in the Arabian Gulf region. An active-dut- y aircrew flew the Charleston AFB, S.C., aircraft's first operational mission Oct. 15 from Langley AFB, Va., to the gulf region. The next day, a Reserve crew from Charleston's 315th Airlift Wing performed the second mission, transporting another 40 tons of vehicles to the region. "For the Air Force and the Reserve, this is part of the initial operational testing of the aircraft in a combat situation," said Capt. John Cobb, for the second 7 mission. "This shows an awful lot. I love it." C-1- co-pil- ot C-1- Both aircraft carried trucks and soldiers from the U.S. Army's 7th Transportation Group, Fort Eus-tiVa. Stratotankers air refueled the c twice during their flights. As of Oct. 20, Reserve airlift support had transported 1,610 passengers and 3,523 tons of cargo. 5 aircraft from Selfridge ANGB, Mich., deployed to Ilajes, Azores, along with Air National s, C-1- 7s KC-13- 5 15-ho- ur trans-Atlanti- KC-13- Guard KC-13- as part of the European Tanker 5s Task Force. Reserve aerial port people, along with active-dutpersonnel, processed passengers and prepared and loaded cargo onto transport aircraft. In Travis AFB, Calif., put 73 Reserve aerial active-dutorders. McGuire port people on y Charleston 21; March AFB, AFB, N.J., had 62; McChord AFB, and Dover AFB, Del., 11; Calif., 12; on four Wash.,had duty. C-- 5 Forty-seveand 37 aircraft maintainors went on duty at March. They volunteered to prepare transport aircraft to airlift elements of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif., to the gulf region. The reservists from March and Travis repaired several aircraft before being released from duty because the deployment of the Marines" was put on y mid-Octobe- 31-da- r, y C-1- 41 n hold. A strategic aeromedical evacuation crew from Charleston's 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and another from McGuire's 714th AES left home Oct. 18 for the Arabian Peninsula on orders. five-perso- n 120-da- y In mid-Octobe- r, Defense Secretary William Perry said the United States would deploy 30,000 ground troops to the region. A week later, there were only 5,000 soldiers on the ground and 2,000 Marines on ships in the Persian Gulf. Perry credited the Air Force with helping avoid another Persian Gulf war. Reserve gets explosive ordnance disposal role The Air Force Reserve is ROBINS AFB, Ga. seeking applicants for explosive ordnance disposal duty at six locations. EOD is a new job for the command, which will inforce with itially augment a shrinking active-dut- y 122 traditional reservist positions: 115 enlisted people. six officers and Units filling the positions, with one officer slot offered at each unit, are: n 315th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C., 20 positions 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif., 22 positions D 446th AW, McChord AFB, Wash., 22 positions D 512th AW, Dover AFB, Del., 22 positions D 514th AMW, McGuire AFB, N.J., 20 positions a 932nd AW, Scott AFB, 111., 16 positions Command officials say the Reserve EOD flights are initially being placed at these bases where active-dut- y flights are present to ensure proper upgrade and proficiency training capability is available. The flights reservists will depend upon the active-dut- y for EOD instructors for initial and recurring training and briefings, training classrooms, teaching aids and equipment, and demolition training at a prac- tice range. Reserve officials hope to eventually establish flights at other locations. EOD is generally associated with fighter and bomber units because their air- - Happy J "on - ..A.... Family readiness liaisons SSgt. Joe Derring (left) and TSgt. Junell Scheeres display family readiness packets. First sergeants sponsor awareness campaign by TSgt. Neil Werenskjold 419th FW Public Affairs Office "It's Hot to Not" was the buzz phrase around the 419th Fighter Wing during the October unit training assembly. The 419th's First Sergeants awareness Association promoted a wing-widFedershow to for the Utah support campaign ation for Youth Incorporated's Ribbon Week, Oct. Members of the 419th wore red ribbons as a show of support for this campaign, which originated in response to the murder of drug enforcement agent Enrique Camarena by drug traffickers. People across the nation wore red ribbons in October to demonstrate an attitude of intolerance to violence and the use of drugs. "We in the association wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of our reservists and their families," said MSgt. Ginger L. Dahilquist, first sergeant of the 419th Logistics Support Squadron. "We hoped reservists would not only wear them around the unit, e 14-2- 2. but at home too. Hopefully the ribbon would re- mind them to talk to their children about drugs and violence," said Dahilquist. for most people be"It was a real cause they didn't know that it was Ribbon Week," said SMSgt. Wesley L. Stewart, first sergeant of the 419th Combat Support Squadron. "We need to show that we're concerned about our communities. We in the 4 19th First Sergeants Association thought this would be a good way." eye-open- er Command civil engineers, who oversee the program, hope to attract experienced, prior-servic- e people... craft are armed with bombs. Airlift units also need EOD support because transport aircraft sometimes carry bombs as cargo, the officials said. Since the program began early last summer, the Reserve has filled a handful of vacancies. Command officials estimate that it will take as much as four years to recruit, train and equip the Reserve EOD flights, followed by intensive training with the active-dutunits to attain full combat readiness status. i $) ' 7 J y One major drawback to recruitment of non-prio- r technical service people is the mandatory in school located training course at the Navy EOD who civil Command Indian Head, Md. engineers, oversee the program, hope to attract experienced, people who separated from the Air Force with less than four years of service. recruiters at the six bases have more about details qualification requirements for EOD 26-wee- k prior-servic- e In-servi- ce duty. Anti-dru- gs Thank sgi v ing! 1 and violence SSgt. Marvie Knox, of the 419th Mission Support Squadron, wears a red ribbon in support of a public awareness campaign. |