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Show W IGHTER OUNTR Y ACC commander visits wing, Hill 388th Fighter Wing supplement to the Hilltop Times Twice Monthly July 16,1998 By Capt. lames R. Wilson 388th FW Public Affairs Office Air Cqrrtbat Command's first family visited Hill Air Fprfie Base July to discuss several hot '.topics with the troops and witd ness some of the base's benchmark programs. Gen. Dick Hawley explained key initiatives he feels offer renewed hope to airmen weary of deployments and other irritants through a commander's call in Hangar 37. Mary Ellen Hawley met with various base agencies to discuss support programs for military members and their families. "We've recently drawn down our forces in Southwest Asia in both Southern Watch and Northern Watch," said the general. '"For the first timejn a long time we've got less than a wing offighters deployed in those areas. This reduction will have a dramatic effect in reducing the OpTempo pressure on our people. "We've also totally the Palace Tenure tasking process for our support troops," added the general. "We've allocated a portion of the 5,000 taskings that we keep issuing to our support people for y deployments to each of the major commands. In ACC, we can give these taskings to our wings on a permanent basis so that they can provide people ample lead time to prepare for deployments." The final initiative aimed at managing operations tempo involves the Air Expedi-- . tionary Force concept.. In the past 10 years, the Air Force has been downsized about 40 percent, but infrastructure has only been reduced by 20 percent according to General Hawley. Those who deploy as part of an air expeditionary force are drawn from the fixed : 'i ''-- .6 z. ' ' " ' "' first-han- - V'-- . ' :f ". .., . . MM--t- ....... t' .. .. .. ... ... " ., ftftHmii1wnMt Photo by Senior Airman 120-da- -- 0- - Sara Banda Gen. Dick Hawley, ACC commander, addresses 388th Fighter Wing troops during a commander's call in Hanger 37 July 9. .. infrastructure leaving a unit like the 388th undermanned on any given day. "In order to deal with the future, we're also reshaping how we manage the Air Force in order to deal with these taskings." he said. "Forget the term 'superbases.' The Air Force will meet this challenge with robusted bases and the Air Expeditionary Force concept. "The objective is to find the manpower resources to permanently assign these overseas deployment authorizations to units throughout the command. In doing so. people scheduled to deploy can leave an appropriately manned unit behind to do the work at home station." Overseas deployments have played a significant role in the decision of military members to leave the Air Force for higher paying jobs in the civilian workforce. While numerous publications have written scathing articles on the subject of pilot retention in particular, the general offered a candid, yet simple, explanation for the problem. "Quite honestly. I try not to worry about retention." he said. "I'm more concerned about the things I can control, like making (See Hawley, page C.) Wing cuts extra activities Holiday flyover support -- halted to preserve 'sustainable operations tempo' promise By Staff Sgt. James A. Rush Editor, Fighter Country The 388th Fighter Wing commander renewed his promise to try to preserve a "sustainable operations tempo" during a speech July 10 in Hanger 37. Col. Mike Hostage discussed recent moves taken by the wing and Air Combat Command to reduce commitments in his address to wing members. The most recent of these actions is the transfer of support for all,.Fqurth of July flyover requests, including the Stadium of Fire celebration in Provo, Utah, to the"4 1 9th FW ' : . . (Air Force Reserve). "'We've been very busy, and we're going to remain busy," said the colonel. "Most of these commitments, we can't do anything about, but this was one where we could. This was a tough call to make, but I felt it was important that all our people be allowed the opportunity to enjoy this holiday with their families." Six exercises, training support requests and other assignments are scheduled for support by the 4th, 34th and 42 1 st Fighter squadrons over the next three months. Two of these require the involvement of all three units. Upcoming flying squadron commitments are: Air Warrior, July 1 2, Rams Electronic Weapons Assessment Program, July Fuujins, Rams, Black Widows Combat Hammer, Aug. 1 -- 7, Rams Black Widows Red Flag, Aug. Air Combat Command Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection, Aug. Fuujins. Rams. Black Widows 7. Fuujins Operation Northern Watch. Aug. t. Chief among these commitments is the y deployment in support of Operation Northern Watch. This will be conducted in conjunction with the Air Combat Command Phase I inspection. Events supported by the 729th Air Control Squadron and 388th Range Squadron add to the wing's hectic operations schedule. The Angry Warriors take part in the 109th ACS (Air National Guard) Operational Readiness Exercise July a 12th Air anACC Systems Training Exercise August and Joint Systems Force Staff Assistance Visit Sept. Training Exercise 3 Sept. Range controllers are a part of all the wing's flying commitments over the Utah Test and Training Range. Range activities include Global Patriot July 30. an ad5 and an vanced cruise missile test July The range squadron supports cruise missile test Aug. several monthly unit training assessment weekends also. Readiness Inspection The 388th Fighter Wing undergoes a Phase I ACC An Operational Readiness Inspection Aug. exercise outbrief is scheduled for Sept. 8 or 9 following Labor Day Weekend. 17-2- 5. Leadership School Ten 388th Fighter Wing senior airman are among those who graduated from the Class of 98-- F at the Airman Leadership School Monday, during a ceremony held at the Hill Air Force Base Officers Club. course started June 9. The month-lon- g Class leader Timothy D. Smith. 388th Logistics Support Squadron, received the Academic Achievement Award for this class. Other 388th FW graduates include John D. B'artlow. Robert L. Cartwright Jr.. David Gonzalez Jr and Daron C. Kolb. 388th Maintenance Squadron: Gerald T. Salyers Jr.. 729th Air Control Squadron: Shawn L. Watkins. 388th 20-2- 6, 2, 17-3- 1, 24-Oc- 'up U!l :. t Operations Support Squadron; Shauna M. Poe. 4th Fighter Squadron: and Bret C. Hadley and David E. Bohach. 34th Fighter Squadron. The next class begins Aug. . 1 1 General Officer Speech 14-2- 2. 1 9. Gen. Russell E. Dougherty speaks at the Hill Aerospace Museum July 28 at p.m. The general brings wealth of Air Force experience with him as a former Commander in Chief of Strategic Air Command and Chief of Staff NATO Allied Command in Europe. General Dougherty has also served as 2th Air Force commander and Operation Deputy of the U.S. Air Force. His speech will be held in the museum classroom. 8-- 14-2- 5. 98-0- Photo bv Stall Sut. James A. Rush pilot, Capt. Kelly Alton, 4th Fighter Squadron check prior to leaving for rum through a r Green Flag earlier this year. F-- pre-flig- " AdvamMwtt con'ttinM ht tfm do not contrtut ndoriwriorit oy tr Dpftmnt ol DtlwiM. th 1 1 -- 21-2- 1 5. U S. Aii Fore or Hill AF8. Evyir.ing MvartiMO a waiafiK without rcgaid 10 tact, cotot. rtugwn m or etrwr noomtm Helot ot in punhmi um a oation 4 |