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Show OHilhop Times April 15. 2004 HillAFB weather outlook 5-d- ay www.alrfield-ops- ple adapt. Unless it directly affects them, honestly, a lot of people just don't care," said one Airman who asked not to be named. by Beth Young Hilltop Times staff Cigarette butts and beer cans littered the floor. Chairs were overturned and plaster crumbled from a hole in the wall. This is was the scene in the dayroom of one of the dorms here two weekends ago. Not every Airmen living in the dorm was at the party, but everyone there may have to pay for it. "That TV room was not just for those people but for everyone in the dorms. They not only messed it up for themselves but for everybody else," said Airman Yolanda Pistolis, dorm resident. Dayroom stereo equipment and the large screen television were also damaged. This . hlll.af.miloswAireather 1 L7 a Airmen abusing their place on base " ad 4 65 High 42 Low Mostly cloudy with a chance of late isolated showers It's this apathetic attitude that has Chief Koenigkramer concerned about the Airmen in the dorms. IP such as sexual assaults, drinking underage, DUIs and even suicides," he said. Base leadership is urging other Airmen to stand up to those who damage their home. "The bottom line is, if you see people doing something they shouldn't call somebody - your first sergeant or Secugraphic by Airman 1st Class Micah Garbarino incident isn't the first time dorms have been damaged ' I 4 JJ 15" 62 High 42 Low a chance showers Mostly cloudy with of late isolated Ji ' Koenigkramer. "I am frustrated with the lack of respect for where they live." This incident is currently being investigated by 75th Security Forces. The responsible parties could, not only be required to pay for the damages, but also face criminal charges, according to Hill's legal office. "This is taken seriously not just by Security Forces but by all the squadrons with people living in their dorm," said Senior Master Sgt. Collette recently and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Koenigkramer, Ogden Air Logistics Center Command Chief Master Sergeant says that toleration for this behavior is at an all time low. "These young people say, 'this is our home you should treat it like my home you shouldn't come over here and bug me and do dorm inspections.' Well, if it's your home you need to treat it like it's - your, home," said Chief Geiss, 75th Security Forces First Sergeant. "They have a total disregard for the rules and the fact that somebody else has to clean up after them." mess, I would be a very unhappy camper. Someone is going to talk (about who did the damages) especially when G.I. parties are held," said Ms. Stowell. Even with the possible pun- Another consequence for disregard of the dorms by Airmen is possible G.I. parties, says Merry Stowell, senior dorm manager. All dorm residents could awakened very early in the morning to complete a thorough cleaning of the dorms, she said. "I know if someone got me up to clean up someone else's ishments, the dorms continue to be treated with varying degrees of disrespect. "Loud music, graffiti and the broken beer bottles outside - people just walk around them. It's sad to say but some people have just gotten used to it. It comes with the dorms. It's to be expected and a lot of peo Tax Cen ter ends walk- - ins Th r if ft The Hill Tax Center closes its walk-i- n serthe year on Friday, and will provide service by appointment only starting Mon- vice for day. The final walk-i- n service is today from 10 p.m. in the Thornton Community Center, Bldg. 460. Appointments may be made by calling Ext. a.m.-- 2 Vw- - 55 High 43 Low Partly to mostly cloudy with late showers Taxpayers who wish to apply for an extension of time to file their federal tax return may do so by filing Form 4868 by today. This form toll-fre- return. Taxpayers who served, or are currently serving in a combat zone, have an automatic extension of six months from the date they leave the combat zone to file and pay. Additional information about combat zone participants can be downloaded from http:www.irs.gov and tax benefits can be found at by clicking on the "Need an Extension?" link. http:www.irs.govnewsroom It is also available at the tax center. article0id97273,00.html . Jt National Transportation and debris field spread from the Worth area. Safety Board came to the Dallas-FoRADES for help finding the "The mission at the RADES is altitude changes of the jet just great because we constantly see before it crashed. This helped the real impact of what we are in the investigation, which doing," Sergeant Short said. from page 1 eventually found the plane had Although they have been in been intentionally crashed by the spotlight, most of the had never entered Cuban air the RADES success stories are space. Another RADES memSept. 11, 2001, the FBI quiet ones because they keep ber traveled to Cuba to vali- contacted the RADES within the ADSs functioning, which date what Cuban radar officials hours of the 911 attacks to get prevents sensational events said in their depositions to the detailed information on the flights from happening. That's the hijacked by the terrorists. RADES prosecution. way it is supposed to be, and the RADES will continue to Trans operpersonnel went to July 17, 1996, World Airline Flight 800 ations to accommodate all the operate with a "history of excelwent down in the Atlantic requests for information they lence" as long as they retain Ocean outside of New York. received after the attacks. The people who work with proThere were rumors that a mis- RADES is still providing infor- fessionalism and dedication, sile or "streak of light" may mation on those flights to the Mr. Clelland said. have been seen heading from 911 committee investigating The same radars on America's northeastern seaboard the ground to the plane. what led up to the attacks. NORAD and the NTSB immeFeb. 1, 2003, the Space are spinning today as were diately contacted the RADES Shuttle Columbia was years ago, proto learn weather it was, in fact, destroyed on and viding defensemen with the a missile. Because of the inforthe 84th RADES gathered radar information they need to keep mation collected by the RADES information to track the debris the CONUS safe. Hopefully, they were able to rule that out path across the Gulf states. By as long as the people in the Oct 31, 1999, an EgyptAir evaluating the information fed 84th RADES maintain our jet bound from New York to them from regional radars, nation's sight, the faster, inteto Cairo crashed60 miles the 84th RADES helped NASA grated system will continue south of Nantucket Mass. The and search crews pinpoint the to produce "quiet" successes. rt squadron unique co-pil- 55 High 44 Low Mostly cloudy with showers y, I -- ( 60 High 43 Low Mostly cloudy Safety emphasized from base 1 "We're doing this to enhance safety awareness, to get the word out and to hear your voice and your concerns," said Colonel Sokol, who also explained that a certain number of safety days will require mandatory attendance, but that the new club will be a voluntary association aimed at providing mentorship to new riders and a voice for all riders. "My vision for this motorcycle association is for it to be by riders, for riders." Safety requirements there are certain requirements with which all riders must comply. Security Forces is working with base leadership and will work with the new club to make sure that those standards are enforced consistently, no matter what time of day or what gate riders come in. "Riders must wear gloves and helmets with face shields or safety glasses," said First Lt Sarah Babbitt, Security Forces Operations Officer and Harley rider. "Windshields aren't enough. The regulations state that you have to wear glasses. You must have your headlight on at all times." She also added that long sleeves and sturdy shoes, inter Still, full-finger- ed . Koenigkramer wants to see. "I want the folks in the dorms to police themselves so we don't have to do it for them," he said. t plan dpcBESTGRBEBIS.htm For more details, call Cindy Klepacz at Ext. at Ext 91-20- 7, 91-20- 31-20- 4. T-sh-irt isn't the action that Chief d 91-20- 7, n - d preted to mean over the toe with a solid sole, well, but that, under the current instructions, are mandatory. Hill riders are required to wear colors that are Perhaps the biggest issue of contention with contrasting to the background during the day riders is the requirement to wear brightly coland reflective at night, over specially made ridored and contrasting clothing and reflective ing gear if necessary. material at night, Lieutenant Babbitt said. "We know there is a lot of vagueness when it Air Force Instruction "The U.S. Air comes to interpretation of the regulations," said Force Traffic Safety Program," states that motorColonel Sokol, "but we're asking you to comply cycle operators on an Air Force installation will with the intent of the regulation when there wear "brightly colored or contrasting vest or seems to be room for interpretation. You can jacket as an outer upper garment which will be take up concerns about the regulations through clearly visible and not covered during the the riders' association once it stands up." Riders seeking more guidance about riding day and reflective during the night beginning at sunset." requirements can reference Department ofDefense Many riders feel that the safety regulation is Instruction 6055.4, Air Force Instruction too vague on some points, allowing for incon4 Air Force Instruction and the Hill Supsistent interpretation, and that it is illogical on plement 1 to Air Force Instruction other points. Canyon Carvers "What exactly does contrasting mean?" asked Specifics about the Hill Field Riders Associaone rider. "Why is it safer for me to wear a red tion have yet to be determined, but Major Devoe e cotton than a black riding has been working with other organizers to build jacket with built-i- torso protection simply because a web site and write an interim club charter, to of the color of the clothing?" asked another. be finalized and officially adopted by the club Admitting that there are some seeming vague once officers are elected and membership is interpretations in the regulations about motor- established. "We know there are different types of motorcycle safety. Colonel Sokol expressed that he hoped the Hill Field Riders Association would cycles out there and that mixing cruisers with become the means to address those issues here sport bikes doesn't always work," said Major and perhaps at higher levels in the Air Force as Devoe, "so the club will be split into two seg long-sleev- the atmosphere that is desired for all Airmen," said Ms. Stowell. Commander of quarters, or CQ, has been implemented in one dorm and may begin in others senior officers are walking through the dorms checking on the Airmen; however this Open season for the Thrift Savings Plan begins today and continues through June 30. All federal employees are allowed to contribute portions of their wages to the Thrift Savings Plan, with the amounts depending on whether they are in Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employee Retirement System. For 2004, CSRS employees may contribute 9 percent of their wages; FERS employees may contribute a maximum of 14 percent. and aren't included Employee contributions are in an employee's taxable gross income in the year of contribution. For example, if during 2004 an employee earned $60,000 but contributed $6,000 to the TSP, the taxable wages on a W2 form would be $54,000. For employees covered by FERS, the agency automatic contribution, 1 percent of an employee's gross wages or agency matching contributions aren't considered as elective deferrals. This is because agency matching contributions aren't considered part of an employee's compensation. In addition to a percentage limit to the TSP, there is also an annual dollar limit for contributions. Current law limits the amount of income that an employee can defer under all cash or deferred arrangements during a tax year. The limit for 2004 is $13,000.The limit increases yearly by $1,000, until it reaches $15,000 in 2006. FERS employees should remember the annual limit when deciding how much to contribute each pay period. To receive the maximum matching, 1 percent automatic and dollar for dollar on the first 3 percent of salary and 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2 percent of salary, an employee must contribute at least 5 percent of basic pay earned each pay period. FERS employee must determine a dolHowever, the higher-pailar amount to contribute to ensure that contributions are spaced out over all pay periods normally 26 in the year. To help FERS employees determine their contribution each pay period, a worksheet in the fact sheet "Annual limit on Elective Deferrals," is available under Forms and Publications on the TSPWebsiteatwww.tsp.gov. Because Hill AFB is a limited service base, employees who want to start contributing to TSP or increase or decrease the amount they contribute need to access the automated BEST system at (TSP-- 1 forms are no longer used). On the Internet, they can check www.afpc.randolph.af.mil High-salarie- 24-ho- ur f3 rity Forces. Reporting misconduct would help provide season open e The IRS also has a special phone - for people to request line extensions by telephone. It is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-4:3- 0 p.m., local time. Use Form 4868 as a worksheet to prepare for the call and have a copy of your 2002 tax Radar Nfeuta.jmu,nj!ujjj,:.j.,,L-...ji..- "There is a greater perspective here. This lack of personal responsibility in the dorms could lead to bigger issues or Joni Iver-so- n ments, but we also hope to have some activities where both parts of the club can come together." "Just looking at the number of people in this room, we can all see that it's important to recognize the riding population on this base," he said. "We can be a powerful and positive influence on this base." Riders interested in becoming members of the club, to participate in standing up the club or who need to address motorcycle issues can contact Major Devoe at Ext Motorcycle training "We define safety as the absence of risk," said Terry Olsen, weapons safety manager and lead motorcycle instructor for the base, "but we know that with motorcycles, we are never going to eliminate all of the risk so we need training." Basic Riders Courses are available off base for new riders and have occasionally been offered on base depending on instructor availability. New riders can check with the safety office for more information about Basic Riders Courses. This year the safety office will teach Experienced Riders Courses throughout the summer months. The courses meet national Motorcycle Safety Foundation standards and are run through the base safety office. Experienced riders should contact Amanda Bowden at Ext to schedule a class date. . |