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Show Fighter Country May 20. 2004 Squadron personnel ensure pilots are safe at home and in combat Life Support: By Senior Airman Nakita Carlisle 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs i ! The job of ensuring 388th Fighter Wing pilots and aircrew have a fight-- I ing chance at survival should an ejec-- j tion occurs either while training at home or fighting in a combat zone belongs to the life support section in each of the wing's fighter squadrons, "Life support encompasses every thing related to pilot and aircrew pro-- f tection," said Staff Sgt. Anthony Foster, 421st Fighter Squadron air- crew life support craftsman "We are responsible for the pilots' safety on whatever mission they fly. The life support section manages about 35 different programs relate to pilot protection one way or another. Sergeant Foster said. "We ensure the safety and protection of the pilots in regard to the equipment they wear and the equipment that would be with them if they had1 to eject," said Sergeant Foster. "During an ejection all their equipment must work properly. The equipment not only helps pilots get to the ground safely, but life support also gives them the survival equipment they'll need until they are rescued." Another part of life support is con ducting inspections on the pilots' flying equipment, he said. They also conduct decontamination procedures and the installation and removal of aircraft recovery chutes and survival kits from the ejection seats. Life support members attend additional training after technical school to . ensure they are better suited to train the pilots on survival. Combat survival school, ., every day is different," said Sergeant water survival school and artic survival schools are examples of additional teachings they receive to instruct pilots on their various training requirements as well as post ejection procedures to get them to the ground safely and rescued, said Sergeant Foster. "Its always a cliche to say, but " Foster. "Every time a pilot deploys, we go with them. So, we are afforded the opportunity to travel abroad and to go there to support the pilots." Life support is responsible for the lives of pilots and other aircrew at home and while deployed. i'l.1'J.i.n.,.,pIIH " "" " in At;.- o I I IV'1 Photos by Senior Airman Nakita Carlisle Captain Cloer and Tech. Sgt. David Emrick, 421st FS life support noncommissioned officer In charge, explain to Civil Air Patrol members the various kinds of life support equipment. Right: Capt. Greg Cloer, 421st Fighter Squadron pilot, demonstrates the use of night vision goggles to members of the CAP during a tour here Friday. Above: 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign begins Memorial Day, ends Labor Day By Senior Airman Madelyn Waychoff 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Memorial Day kicks off the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign, which draws attention to increased safety aware- ness until Labor Day. The campaign focuses on driving, summer recreation and sports safety. During the summer, people are more active, said Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Taylor, 388th Fighter Wing ground safety noncommissioned officer. "But, this is also the time when we see y more injuries from activities." The 101 Critical Days of Summer is a campaign to raise people's awareness of safety issues, she added. "And driving safety is one of the most important because it's the most fatal." During the 2003 campaign, the 388th had no fatalities and only two reportable accidents. Throughout the Air Force, though, more than 83 percent of the total fatalities involved vehicles, including motorcycles. This was up from 77 per off-dut- cent the year before. "Last summer we lost 36 Airmen to needless mishaps -many more than in 2002, and almost double the number of 2001 ," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper, in his safety message earlier this . month. "Despite our concentrated focus on mishap prevention, we have seen an increase in the number of injuries and deaths due to senseless accidents. To date, we have accumulated our worst fatal mishap record in over 10 years. It is time to reverse this trend." Sixty-thre- e percent of motorcycle accidents last year happened during the 101 Critical Days, as well as 33 percent of vehicle accidents, according to the Air Force Safety website. In 2002, 328 people died from vehicle crashes; the U.S. had a total of 42,815 deaths. This means that for every 100 miles a car traveled on Utah roads, there were 1 .34 deaths, 1.5 for the U.S. and a fatality rate of 14.16 people per 100,000, according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. "Driving can be dangerous," said Sergeant Taylor. "Personal Risk Management in all off-duactivities is the real key to reducing mishaps during the 101 Critical Days. "You need to make sure you get enough rest, don't speed, wear your seatbelt, limit your driving to what the situation warrants and prepare for traffic - like taking extra time if you know you will hit heavier traffic. Also, make sure your car is in good condition and that someone knows where you're ty Many Airmen face retraining into new Air Force specialties AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER - Many Airmen have taken their careers in their own hands by volunteering to change career fields or separate under the initial phase of the Air Force's Fiscal Year 2004 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. As part of the program's Phase II, Air Force officials have notified 88 Airmen selected as most vulnerable to retrain and asked them to submit their choices of shortage career fields they would most like to retrain into. If they to do not voluntarily apply for retraining by May 24, those without approved retraining or special duty assignments will have another Air Force specialty chosen for them by AFPC, and their class date scheduled by June 7, said Chief Master Sgt AJvin Diaz, chief of the skills management branch here. "This phase of me retraining program is necessary to help meet the needs of the Air Force by putting Airmen where they are needed most." Under Phase II, not everyone is guaranteed his or her first choice. Major commands continue to accept volunteer applications and personnel officials encourage all eligible NCOs to also consider special duty assignments that need to be filled such as recruiting jobs, military training instructors, first sergeant duty or professional military education instructor, officials said. However, the member must be approved prior to the May 24 deadline. There's still time for those who have been identified for possible retraining to volunteer," said Chief Diaz. "It's up to each Airman, but if it were me, I'd think having control over my career would be a priority and help reduce the stress of not knowing whether or not I will get that notification asking me to make a selection I'd volunteer." The retraining program is designed to help balance the enlisted force by moving NCOs in specialties with surpluses to those with shortages, said Chief Diaz "We will work with those who have been selected for retraining, as we would any retraining case, in order to make the transition as smooth as possible for the Airman and his or her family while still meeting the needs of the Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Derek Hughes, noncommissioned officer in charge of Air Force retraining here. Vulnerability listings by gradj and Air Force specialty code are posted on the web and will be updated weekly on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at https:www.afpc.randolph.af. d summer vacation, remember to make safety part ing." As always, there is zero tolof your plans," said General erance for drinking and driving Jumper. "Some of you are at anytime, she said. planning vacations that will Not getting enough rest include sailing, rock climbing, before driving has the same sky diving, motorcycle riding effect as driving drunk, accordand other challenging activities. "These can be fun, but they ing to www.mrtraffic.com. all involve risk. Even if you Staying awake for 24 hours don't partake in risky activities, straight impairs a person as if he had had enough alcohol to remember to stay alert on the be considered legally drunk in road, and to plan your trip with breaks and rest stops included most states. In one study, half the particiin your travel time. Almost 90 pants stayed awake for 28 percent of our fatal accidents hours. In the other, they drank and the overoccur alcohol every half hour until whelming majority involves they reached a blood alcohol private motor vehicles. concentration of 0.10 percent. "Every day our superb Airmen demonstrate their proAfter 7 hours, those who fessionalism and training in a stayed aw ake were about as ' dangerous profession," General impaired as they would be with an alcohol level of 0.05 perJumper added. "The same standards you embrace on the cent. Every half hour, the subjects took a computerized test job pertain outside the gate as well. When you relax from the coordination. The of hand-ey- e results showed that after 24 job, don't relax your good hours of sleeplessness, particijudgment. The Air Force goal pants were about as impaired as remains zero mishaps; I ask they were at the 0. 0 percent every Airman to make that your level of blood alcohol. personal goal. Let's turn this "As you begin to plan your thing around!" going and the route you're tak- well-earne- off-dut- y, 1 1 -- Til): i . 1 V T i milenlskillsRetrainingretrai ning.htm. Anyone interested in more details about the program can contact their local military personnel flight. Photo by Senior Atrman Uadetyn Waychotr Summer driving safety is one of the points emphasized in the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign which begins Memorial Day. To prepare for driving safety ensure you get enough restsdon't speed, wear a seatbelt limit driving to what the situation warrants and prepare for traffic |