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Show Page 2A Jan. 11,1996 Fighter Country 1995 review Ops Group Commander reflects on wing's busy year By Col. Tim Murphy 388th Operations Group commander Southwest Asia deployment This Fuujin deployment under unusual and adverse circumstances was singled out for praise by the 9th Air Force commander. In the meantime, the 421st FS and 34th FS completed exceptional shorter deployments to Combat Archer while participating in several home-base- d exercises and other smaller deployments. We accomplished this high ops tempo with one of our lowest --ever ground and weapons safety mishap rates. This year saw successes for our wing in many other areas. The 388th Maintenance Squadron earned high distinction as one of the maintenance units in the Department of Defense. The 729th ACS developed a world-clas- s training program that has been adopted intact by Air Combat Command for all air control squadrons. Of course, the wing earned high marks in the ACC Inspector General's Quality Air Force Assessment and the operations side earned more high three-mon- a very Happy New Year. good year for the 388th Fighter Wing. Like the years before, our ops tempo was very high. The year began with the 421st Fighter Squadron in Southwest Asia for New Year's celebratheir second-straigtion, and a team from the 729th Air Control Squadron celebrating the New Year in South America participating in our nation's counterdrug efforts. In April, the 729th ACS completed a magnificent 30-ddeployment to Holloman AFB, N.M., including an accident-fre- e 2,400-mi- le round trip road deployment, to support training for German air force pilots. In May and June, all three fighter squadrons completed successful deployments to Maple Flag in Canada, with the 4th FS turning to a 1995 was ht ay short-noti- th Wing honors 1995'stop performers , It's the time of year for the 388th Fighter Wing to recognize its outstanding performers for 1995. The388th Fighter Wing's Outstanding Airmen of the Year Awards Banquet will be held Jan. 26 at the Officers' Club, with the social beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30. The guest speaker will be CMSgt Frederick "Jim" Finch, senior enlisted advisor for Air Combat Command. "We're looking forward to an evening of good food and a great program," said CMSgt Mike Pattarozzi, senior enlisted advisor for the 388th FW. "This is a chance to come together as a wing to honor our top performers and their hard work that goes into making the 388th Fighter Wing a great team.? ;: Dinner will be breast of chicken veloute. Tickets can be obtained from wing first sergeants. Costs are: $9 for airman basic through senior airman, $U for staff through technical sergeant and $ 13 for master sergeant and above. "Mark now and don't miss it," , your calendars , , said Pattarozzi. Fighter Country Published for people like... '.: SSgt James v --vMfr Ferrang 729th Air Control Squadron rtri 1ft flwltr mrfc t Vehicle Body ..... .... Maintenance six-be- st Standardratings from the 12th Air Force izationEvaluation team 1 995 enhanced the 388th FW's reputation for excellence in fighter and air control operations and maintenance. Of course, there is room for improvement. We lost an aircraft, and loss of an aircraft must never become an acceptable cost of doing our job. Results from the last two local exercises have given us plenty to workoa The QAFA team left us many ideas for improvement How shall we guard our excellent reputation while becoming better at our business? Here's my prescription: Training, training, training. We'll have a constant influx of new people, some with experience and many just out of tech school. We must have world-clatraining for each of them. It is absolutely the foundation of a world-clas- s organization. Training can never become the hostage of a busy schedule. Trust Workers who are ss well-train- and disciplined, as ours are, can be trusted to do their job. Leaders at all levels must exhibit that trust Leadership trust of a and disciplined work force is characteristic of world-clas- s organizations. Teamwork. The natural result of workers who know their job well; workers who know who they depend on to do their job and, in turn, who depend on them to do their job well; and workers who know how to continually improve on what they do. Teamwork is the result of leaders and supervisors who are willing to listen to and implement good ideas, no matter whose ideas they are. 1996 promises to be at least as busy as the year just past But, with people who trust each other and are trusted by their leaders and supervisors, and with each of us working together as a finely-tune- d team, we will maintain our high reputation and in 1996 we can make it even better. I look forward to working with you! well-train- ed well-train- Fightin' Fuujins mark 55 years of dedication By SSgt Bryon M. Beers 388th Fighter Wing Historian It was 55 years ago, Jan. 15, 1941 when the Fuujins, like the wind of the Okinawan god, blew into aerospace history upon activation. The people of the 4th Fighter Squadron can be proud to work in an organization with such a broad and encompassing lineage. During the 4th's tenure, they flew a wide variety of aircraft from Spit Fires to Falcons. Pursuit squadron (interceptor), fighter squadron (single engine), fighter-a- ll weather squadron, squadron, tactical fighter squadron and fighter squadron are the titles carried by the 4th during its continuing history. The 4th inactivated Nov. 7, 1945, then reactivated Nov. 20, 1947. During this period it served under numerous wings and commands until its assignment to the 388th fighter-intercept- or Fighter Wing Dec. 23, 1975. The 4th flew from numerous stations throughout the globe, from Northern Ireland to GoxhilL England, with 30 stations totaL The 4th participated in the Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert ShieldStorm demonstrating its combat capability. The honors of the 4th include one Service streamer for the Korean conflict, 14 Campaign streamers for World War n, eight Campaign streamers for the Vietnam conflict and two for the Southwest Asia conflict The 4th achieved numerous decorations with two Distinguished Unit Citations, one Presidential Unit Citation, four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device, two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and one Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. There is not enough words to pay to this gallant squadron but we would like to say thanks for the sacrifices made by the men and women assigned the 4th FS. tritg Fighter Country is a supplement to the Hiltop Times, pub- Fighter Country is edited, lished by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way conprepared and provided by the nected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written 388th Fighter Wrig Pubfic Afcontract with the Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office. This fairs Office. Submit editorial commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper Is an authocopy to: 388 FWPA (BHg. rized publication for members ofthe U.S. miitary services. 120. Suite 113). For more inContents of Fighter Country are not necessarily the offi- formation, call the public afcial views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the fairs office at Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force Fighter Country Editorial Staff photos. Advertisements contained herein do not constiCol BenrJey Raybum Commander, 388th F&lerWng tute enoxsementbytheDeparu7ientofDefense,theU.S. 1st Lt John D. Smith Chief. Public Altar Air Force or Hill AFB Everything advertised Is available TSflt Dart J. Ernst NCOIC. Public Affairs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or other SrA J.C. Wood Editor, Fighter Country ring nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. SrA Aimee Groben Relations 777-320- 0. Community |