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Show Page 3 A FigiiterCountry Suggestions lighten 729th's load By SrA. J.C. Woodring StaftWrker When the way something is done just doesn't make sense, many disregard it as "the way things are." This is not the case of MSgt. Gerald E. Garfield, 729th Air Control Squadron Security Supervisor. In a combination of two suggestions, Garfield recently received cash awards totaling $1,619. Both suggestions dealt with items taken to the field during training. With people in the 729th averaging 135 days in the field per year, Garfield's first suggestion was a welcomed one. He reduced the number of slap flares carried when the unit deploys to the field. These flares are slapped with While lightening the load for the the palm of the hand to set them off. troops, the suggestion made Garfield's "We had to take a whole bunch of wallet $350 heavier. them into the field," said Garfield. "They are heavy, hard to load and take up a lot of space." He suggested the requirement be reduced from 40 to 14 cases. The reduction has made a difference for the people packing the equipment. "It gives us a little more room to play with," said SSgt. William Wilk, the squadron's superintendent of Logistics Plans. Decreasing the number of cases will take about 2,000 pounds offof each shipment. "That's a lot of weight on an aircraft. It means we could send four or five more people with all their gear," said Wilk. John Levitow Winner 388th OSS TSgt Michael Whitney Distinguished 388 LSS 34 FS 388 MS James Weidendorf 4 FS David Lully 84 RADES Michael Ohman 388 OSS Jimmy Peavy 84 RADES Craig Williams Graduate Winner TSgt Roy Hahto MSgt Gary Norton MSgt Scott Sexton MSgt Kim Wagner TSgt Gregory Elman TSgt Billy Hopkins SSgt Joseph Clarey SSgt John DeRade SSgt James Juntunen SSgt Chris McNamara SSgt Lee Trask SgtGary Bruce $25 $58 $58 $350 $75 $58 $50 $169 $58 $58 $58 $25 By SrA J.C. Woodring Staff writer You plan a little vacation to Wendover to do some gambling. Before you leave, you stop by the automated teller machine to get cash. On the road you stop and charge some gas. After a couple hours of losing, you dig in your wallet only to find it empty. You stop by the ATM to some cardholders in the Air Force that have charged $1 5,000 new cars and $44,000 European vacations," he said. No one in the 388th has gone that wild, but abuses haveoccured. "The worst I've seen here is ATM withdrawals from Wendover, but I've seen catalog orders, calls,' said department store charges and even withdraw another $100 think no one will notice, , they're wrong." Ya In the current billing cycle, 388th people 3M Gwofacharged $ 1 9,000 and of has that, $6,600 gone unpaid for over 120 days and $4,000 for 80 days, said Manker. Failure to pay an American Express bill and other misuse can result in disciplinary action. Currently, the 388th is investigating one officer and one senior noncommissioned officer for credit card abuse. Neither were TDY while they charged a total of over $9,000 on their cards. "Although there have been a few abuses, the program is there to make our lives easier," said Col. Daniel Dick, 388th commander. "I have full confidence in our people to use their cards responsibly."But if you're thinking about making an unauthorized charge, Manker reminds you, "I'm watching." You have a little too much to drink, so you charge a ho-tel room for the night. On - 388th holds Safety Day 1 m gonna get - card. unless the credit card you used No problem d American Express Card, was your government-issuemeant only for official expenses. "If you're misusing the card, I'm gonna get ya" said Maj. Jamie Manker, 388th Fighter Wing comptroller, with a grin. As the wing American Express card program coordinator, Manker receives a monthly report detailing every card transaction by individual, location of charge and account status. "Anything that is not official government travel is considered abuse," said Manker. "There have been tory. RC Model Flyers Wanted People interested in starting a Remote Control Flying Club on Hill, contact 1 st Lt. Mike Waters at or TSgt. Patrick Breen at 98 63. Manker. "If people if you're misusing the sard, the way home the next morning, you put one more tank of gas on the credit The wing's safety day is scheduled for May 19. Activities will include a safety fair, food court and guest speakers. It will be a no work day and participation is manda- 7-0- SMSgt. Larry Etzler gambling with Air Force career Graduate from NCO Academy 8 TSgt TSgt TSgt TSgt TSgt 388th Maintenance Squadron Playing your cards right prevents Briefly TSgt Daria Ernst Garfield's second suggestion was to delete the requirement for personal distress flares. Each person carried one of these flares to the field, but the flares were only used for training, not during war. "We shouldn't be required to train with something that we won't use in war," said Garfield. Adopting this suggestion saved the Air Force $18,972 and earned Garfield $1,269. So far in 1995, the 388th Fighter Wing has paid out $5, 1 3 8 for 26 Suggestion Rewards 388th Fighter Wing honors quarterly, annual winners ' - i - ' ' i i J) i f r - f mmt x - f w ) j r W n ' Senior NCO MSgt.Tlm Randolph 388lh Quality Assurance NCO Airman TSgt. Mike Crudele SrA. Sean Andrew 388th Operatons Support Squdron 34th Ffgnter Squodnaii 1 Company Grade Officer oftheYcar Capt.Steve Moranl 42 1st Fighter Squadron |