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Show Hilltop August 14. 1997 Widnall looks at Air Force challenges by Sheila E. Widnall and this is something of which we can be very Secretary of the Air Force Dramatic changes and challenges are nothing new to our profession. Think back to your history lessons, to the stories of 7 crews being shot out of the skies over Europe during World War II. Airmen went on to help win the war, but in the process the price paid was enormous. Our challenges today are nowhere near the challenges of that period, but they point out a fact that cannot be disputed: The people of the U.S. Air Force proud. WASHINGTON (AFNS) Last week was one of the most challenging in recent Air Force history. In the midst of global deployments and continuing challenges as we downsize the force, you may perceive the sudden retirement of Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman and decisions by Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen with regards to last year's Khobar Towers bombing as setbacks for the Air Force. I'm sure many of you feel anxious or con cerned for the future. I understand your concerns and want to share my insights with you. General Fogleman has done a masterful job preparing the Air r orce for the challenges we tVi " 11 far He nrpr B-1- will weather any storm. In addition, the lessons learned from the Khobar Towers will not be lost. In fact, we have already acted on these lessons and continue to place the highest priority on force protection. I'm confident our troops deployed around the globe operate in the most secure environment we can provide. v npvt tVirfp HpraHpc has accomplished the agenda he set out for himself as chief. Last week, I nominated Gen. Michael E. Ryan to succeed General Fogleman, and the president accepted the nomination. General Ryan has a superb record in the most demand ing Air Force and joint positions, and I know he will provide out standing leadership as we move into the 21st century. You should expect no changes in direction, A It.. V ,. ft Lie f commitment to readiness, quality of life or modernization. The Air Force your Air Force is still very much intact and pressing on with its vital mis Secretary of the Air Force Sheila sions. While we are busier than ever before, ijt.lsjfor.good a,nd important reasons. Fact is, rrany nations and millions of people around the globe are depending on us. Today, our missions are more complex than those of the Cold War but just as vital to world peace. This is a time of great opportunity for our nation. As military professionals, our stock in trade is very much in demand, Change of Command, from page 1. At that point, Babbitt awarded Condon the Distinguished Service Medal and the formal change of command ceremony was performed. Babbitt said that Ogden ALC had won some notable awards during Condon's tenure. Among these: in 1996, Hill's 75th Security Forces swept the Peacekeeper Challenge competition; the Environmental Management Directorate has been recognized as one of the best in the Department of Defense, winning the Secretary of Defense Superior Management Award last year; in early 1997, the 6 Directorate was recognized as being AFMC's Outstanding Technical Management Team for extending the service life of the 6 Fighting Falcon; and Hill's dining facilities were named No. 1 in the command. Taking the podium, Roellig said, This is a special day for us as we (the Roelligs) become part of Team Hill.' When we were notified last spring that we were to move to Hill Air Force Base, I talked with people who had previously been stationed here at Hill and without a single exception, everyone said we would love the people, the area and the center. "Clearly, the reputation of Ogden ALC and Hill Air Force Base has been well earned." Roellig ennumerated the characteristics that are important in performing the role of commander. "First, a commander must provide the leadership to his organization and set the tone in executing the mission. He needs to establish clear, reachable objectives and set examples for performance, integrity and behavior and, yet, delegate accountability and responsibility to get the job done. "Second, the commander must look for innovative planning that allows creativity within the organization, and look into the future to prepare to meet the new challenges in other words, our crystal ball needs to work well," he said. "Third, a commander must be a good teacher and counselor. He must train and motivate people to be prepared to take the senior leadership positions of the future. A commander must be concerned not only with his people, but with their families. "Last, the role of a commander is to ensure that the organization is a good neighbor, an effective citizen of . F-1- As we emerge from these difficult times, I'm sure we will be a better Air Force. Our opportunity to show the world what we're marlp nf has pvervthin c to do with your actions in the field. Your professional demeanor in the execution of the Air Force's mission will be the true measure of Air Force resilience, E. not the decisions or actions in Washington. I know I can count on you and, to be very clear, I have come to expect nothing less. So as we deal with our recent challenges, we must continue to carry out the business of the Air Force in the outstanding manner that has become Widnall our hallmark. Every one of us is responsible for portion of our mission, and the nation expects all of us to do our duty in our standard excellent manner. For my part, I pledge my efforts will always have your best interests at heart and I will do everything I can to maintain our standing as the world's most powerful air and space a force. the community in which we reside. "In order to accomplish these goals, a commander has to have a strong team, and we have that," he said. Letters of commendation for Condon and his wife, Judy, were then presented and the general's two-st- news mmm Base housing open house home for the in Patriot The open house prototype Hills Area D housing is Aug. 21, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The prototype is the first of 78 homes to be completed. The project began June 9 and finished Aug. 15. All of 1998. the units will be completed by For more information call Al Collins, Ext. mid-Novemb- er in Blue concert set Tops Blue 50 is celebrating years of Air Force Tops in history at a concert Aug. 26, 8 p.m., at Northridge High School. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information call Ext. Accreditation survey planned The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations will conduct an accreditation surThe survey vey of the 75th Medical Group Sept. 15-1- 6. will evaluate the 75th MDG's compliance with nation- ally established Joint Commission standards. The standards have to do with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which the care is provided. Anyone with valid information about those issues may request a public information interview with the Joint Commission's field representatives. Requests must be made in writing and should be sent to the Joint Commission no later than five working days before the survey begins. Requests must be addressed to: Division of Accreditation Operations, Organization Liaison, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, 111., 60181. For more information call TSgt. Stephanie DeHor-ney- . Ext. American Legion offers assistance The Service Officer from the American Legion in Salt Lake City will be at the Ogden Job Service Aug. 22, 9 - 11 a.m. Assistance includes understanding and applying for Veterans Administration benefits, including compensation, pension, hospitalization, education and other benefits. This is a free service and veterans don't need to be members of the American Legion to receive assistance. For more information call retirement. Then, Condon, said goodbye to active duty service and to what he called "the best workforce he has ever commanded." He said if he had to use just one word to describe his career, "that one word would be 'fantastic!' I would not trade that experience for anything in the world." 1 F-1- Here's the end of the story . . . Gen Babbitt says organizations can determine own destiny Editor's note: Last week's interview with Gen. T. Babbitt, commander. Air Force Materiel Command, on page 3 had some lines dropped during the printing process. For those who want to know the rest of the story, the general said the best way to avoid further drawdowns was to offer Air Staff cost reductions produced by our own initiative. He went on to say: "The question is if we're going to do it because we in AFMC want to do it or if we're going to wait and be forced to do it by the secretary of defense," Babbitt said. He said this could be accomplished by processes and the job differently. doing it's a lot more fun to work in an organization that believes it's in charge of its own destiny." George 3. New telephone directories distributed The new Hill AFB telephone directories were distributed recently. Individuals who still need a directory should contact their organization's telephone directory point of contact. Employees who don't know who their POC is should call Mary Summers, Ext. to get that information. Individuals shouldn't come to the Public Affairs Office in Bldg. 1102 requestthe office doesn't carry ing telephone directories them. BDU ar flag was furled so he could take it with him into his Sept. 524-594- patch placement news As of Oct. 1, military members will be required to wear a subdued major command emblem on the right breast pocket of the Battle Dress Uniform. The emblem will be centered between the right and left edges of the pocket and centered between the bottom of the flap and the bottom of the pocket. Members will also wear an approved subdued unit emblem on the left breast pocket when an approved badge (Security Force, Fire Protection, Missile and others) is not worn on this pocket. Center the unit emblem between the left and right edges and centered between the bottom of the flap and the bottom of the pocket. Personnel assigned to an organization which doesn't have an approved unit emblem will wear the subdued emblem of the their parent organization. The g units who don't only exception are have an approved emblem. These units will only wear the subdued parent major command emblem on the right breast pocket. Unit commanders will fund the purchase of the unit patches for enlisted personnel. Morale patches are not authorized for wear (Prime Beef, Prime Rib, Gunsmoke, and others). Patches will be sewn on the uniform and not be affixed with velcro or velcro fasteners. For more information call the Hill Military Personnel Flight's Customer Serdirect-reportin- vice Section, Ext. D Balloon Fest in Eden The third annual Harvest Moon Balloon Fest is Aug. at the Eden Park in Eden. Balloons will be launching at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Aug. 23 balloon launches begin at 7:30 a.m. and compete for cash prizes. There will also be food booths, vendors and entertainment. A balloon glow will be Aug. 23, 8 p.m. On Aug. 24, launches will be at 7:30 a.m. and breakfast will be served. For more information call Wendy Hill, Ext. Carol Guthrie, or Jamie Hawkes, 22-2- 4, 745-451- 0; 745-413- 745-308- 0; 1. 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