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Show Page 3 a Fighter Country C ritical Days Uniform changes ByAIC Aimee Groben The snow nss melted and the flightline Circled insignia takes final bow, patches prepare for comeback drying. Streams ofVitamin D from the sun are melting away our winter coats. Folks from the 388th playing softball, rock climbing, water skiFighter Wing are pumped up ing and fiendishly looking for summer activities to plunge into... And so begins the 101 Critical Days of Summer, the annual Air Force-wid- e safety awareness campaign. The real challenge between Memorial Day and Labor Day is to prevent mishaps in the wing, both to individuals to wing resources, according to Safety officials. 'The key to a safe summer is common sense and personal commitment," said TSgt Cheryl Clayton, ground safety manager for the 388th. Common sense, however, doesn't always guarantee immunity from accidents. Playing sports is a favorite pastime for many folks in the 388th, but for one enthusiast it proved to be a painful experience. "It was the last game of the season, I was playing second base and a ball came straight up the field, I dove for the ball and my shoulder drove into the ground," said SSgt Luke Balstar, an ammo crew chief in the Maintenance Squadron. "It even put a dent in the ground. When I got up I realized I couldn't lift my arm, and I certainly couldn't throw." The only thing Balstar's fearless efforts got him was a dislocated shoulder is which he said was extremely painful. He hasn't played ball this year because of his shoulder, he said. The difficult part of the 101 Critical Days is knowing how to prevent mishaps. "I'm not sure I could have prevented it. I know that next time I'll make sure I'm all stretched out and I won't dive for the balls; not hard enough to leave a dent anyway," said Balstar. While the safety folks advocate caution, their purpose is not to take all the fun out of summer. "We understand that some things just can't be avoided. And we're not saying you need to take up knitting for the summer, just know your limits and make sure you're in shape," said Clayton. Knowing your limits and the area where you're going can be key in preventing accidents and injuries. If you've never "been there, done that," use caution. SrA. Keith Hanse learned the hard way. "We were out at Lost Creek water-skiin- g. I saw a mountain and decided to climb it," he said. Hanse is dedicated By TSgt. Daria J. crew chief for the 4th Fighter Squadron. "I just began climbing and lost my footing, I fell about 13 to 15 feet" That may not seem like a long way to fall, but Hanse ended up with a fractured back, fractured right foot and a bruised right shoulder. "I was laid up and lame for about four weeks and I was in a cast for about twelve." Hanse said looking back now, there were a few things he would do differently. "Next time I would wear the right equipment, I'd definitely have somebody climb with me and pay a lot more attention to where I was placing my feet." Being prepared and aware is what the safety folks are trying to drive home, according to Clayton. There are some things everyone needs to be thinking about while they're out swimming, boating, hiking, rock climbing and playing sports. Heat cramps they are a warnhas the lost too much ing sign that body salt through sweat characterHeat exhaustion ized by dizziness, nausea, pale and clammy skin, rapid pulse and low blood Ernst NC01C. Pvbfic Affairs The highly polished look is in, subdued is out As oftoday, officer and enlisted members must w ear only the highly polished U.S. insignia without the circle on the old and new service dress coats. AH accoutennents such as badges must also be highly polished oa both the old and new coat The alignment is the same - align the bottom of the insignia halfway up the seam of the collar and horizontal with the ground. Like the U.S. insignia with the circle, the aircrew-styl- e name patch is also making its final curtain call on the uniform. Although Air Force members have until Oct 1, 1997, to replace the patch on the Battle Dress Uniform with the U.S. Air Force and name tapes, the 3 8 8th Fighter Wing is already looking at ways of making the transition easier. "The Air Force has au tho-rizthe issue of four U.S. Air Force tapes and four sets of emed Ed today. 'Sir tomorrow Staff sergeant picks self up by Bootstraps, broidered name tapes to each enlisted member to try to cut down on the cost of the change," said Michael CMSgt. selected to attend officer training school ByAIC Aimee Groben that allows enlisted people to attend excited about finally getting started. He Editor, Fighter Country e to finish their four-yeschool ..III. ii.iu..j.i degree. After coming from Offutt AFB, Neb., he took the position of NCO in charge of target After nine years in the Air Force of SSgt. Ed Horner is getting out the enlisted force that is. Homer was the only 3 8 8th Fighter Wing member selected for Officer Training School from Hill this year. The graduate of the University of Nebraska says he wants his degree to work for him. And in August he'll begin reaping the profits of his hard work and persistence. Although he knows exactly where he wants to go in his career, he wasn't always sure it included becoming an officer. "I began to consider it seriously after I finished Bootstrap. I always knew that I wanted to get my degree, but wasn't sure how I would use it," said Homer. Bootstrap is a program full-tim- .1. ar . J, Pattarozzi, senior enlisted advisor for the wing. "Right now we're looking at the best w ay to do that" began working on his degree shortly af ter joining the Air Force and was later accepted to the Bootstrap program. But he didn't let up there, he went through a year of There were mounds of paper work to hurdle, numerous boards, interviews and a lot of scrutiny by higher-up- s before he was accepted. The transition from sergeant to sir sounds good to Homer. "I think I have an advantage here because I have a good understanding of the enlisted structure, the importance of Enlisted Performance Reports, and experience working as enlisted." "It will be nice to be called sir, but I won't ever forget where I came from. My experience in the Air Force has made me what I am today," said Horner. Command nail-bitin- g. intelligence in the 421st Fighter Squadron. "Working here in a fighter wing got me charged up again. This is what the Air Force is all about I'm right there in the squadron with the pilots and I play a part in the daily planning of operations," he said. While the thought of another "basic training" doesn't thrill Homer, he is Survey results are in, numbers are being crunched, analysis of results is and soon. Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R, Foglcman will receive the findings of the Quality of Life Survey. on-goi- In February, Widnall and Foglcman sent a Quality of Life Sur vey to all Air Force members. rs Nearly 360,000 Air Force and civilian members completed and returned the survey, according to Charlie Hamilton, chief of the Surveys Branch at the Air Force Military Personnel Center. "We had a phcnomcnol return rate of 66 percent," Hamilton said. "That's unheard of in the civilian sector." blue-suite- The chief and secretary asked for input to quality of life indicators such as operations tempo, recognition, promotion and evaluation systems, assignments, housing and base-levservices, according to Hamilton. Air Force members can expect to see the analysis of the results 1 cased by the end of summer, acae J- ing to Hamilton. patches are available, which is estimated to be June 1996. The wing is also looking at who will wear what patches in addition to the command patch," said Pattarozzi. Base commanders are the approving authority for the wear of additional squadron patches, according to the chief. Once the 388th decides who will wear what, it will be submitted to the base for inclusion in the Hill AFB supplement to AFI 3, Dress and Ap36-290- pearance. "The wing leadership is committed to making this change happen with" the least el b-- unit military member, once the Survey Says...Quality of Life results expected by end of summer Air Force News Service and patches are also making a comeback to the uniform, with a mandatory wear date of Oct 1, 1997. One Air Combat Command patch will be given to each I wnount of confusion and cost to the people in the wing," said Fattarozzt. We 11 let, people know when the items become available." |