| OCR Text |
Show i 388th Fighter Wing supplement to the Hilltop Times Thursday, October 4, 2001 Twice Monthly f Self-hel- p Celebrating the Air Force superstars Hi Improvement projects at CRS.EMS net big bucks By Airman t 7 t--- V n's ? z M 'i First Class Naklta Carlisle 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Tech. Sgt. Roland G. Wilcox. 388th Component Repair Squadron resource advisor, and Senior Airman Justin J. Stoneberg, municomp tions journeyman, have won many major and minor petitions for the last year and a half for their continual work in remodeling rooms in Building 58. The 388th Equipment Maintenance and Component Repair g rooms from squadrons are gaining more than just these men. They have gained around $8,300 from the competitions Sergeant Wilcox and Airman Stoneberg have won. The two men. w ith years of remodeling experience between them, have been working many hours and even weekends on this project, said Sergeant Wilcox and Airman Stoneberg, w ho have known each other for more than two years. To improve the the rooms, self-hel- great-lookin- self-hel- p they have been painting and wallpapering, taking dow n and putting up walls, and fixing rooms from the ground up. "Most of the rooms in the building had not been remodeled for about 10 years," said Sergeant Wilcox, who has spent 1 1 out of 1 8 years of his Air Force career at Hill AFB. "Everything from the carpet to the ceiling has been redone. It makes everyone here a lot happier in their work areas and that makes us feel good." Airman Stoneberg agreed. "Basically we are remodeling the building to accommodate EMS and CRS splitting," said Airman Stoneberg who has been stationed at Hill AFB for his entire five years of Air Force service. "I really enjoy doing it, and I take a lot of pride in it," Airman Stoneberg replied when asked how he felt about working on the project. Improving the quality of life for the squadrons here, according to Sergeant Wilcox, is the best part about working on this project. With pride, hard work and the support of the people around them these men continue their projects and continue to improve the quality of life for the men and women in Building 58. JLary By Staff Air people can become Sgt. Matt Miller personnel center hubiic Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Beginning Oct. 9, airmen who may have joined the service for education, training, travel or patriotism will now also have the opportunity to amass a retirement nest egg. The Uniform Services Thrift Savings Plan, which opens for the first time to military people Oct. 9, is the vehicle for the potential financial windfall. This retirement savings and investment plan, initially established in 1986, is similar to a 401(k) plan in the private sector, said Lt. Col. David Zeh, chief of the field operations branch here. ."This is an outstanding benefit that the Department of Defense and Congress worked to make available to the military," said Maj. Gen. Michael McMahan, Air Force Personnel Center commander. "The program gives members a flexible financial opportunity that could help with their financial peace of mind during the retirement years." People can contribute up to 7 percent of their pay initially which can be increased up to 10 percent by 2005. And it is totally separate from, and in addition to, a person's regular military retirement plan. Members who enroll in TSP will also gain a tax advantage for doing so, Zeh said. This benefit comes via the monthly allocation being taken straight from a person's gross income. "Not only is the money going into TSP not being taxed, but the member's taxable income is less," he said. "Any way you look at it, it means more for you." . People signing up during this Oct. 9 to Jan. 3 1 initial "open season" the initial period where people can enroll in the TSP program will begin to see the money deducted from their paychecks and deposited into the plan as soon as January. People will be able to designate where their money goes after their first contributions have been received. "The potential is there for someone to increase (his or her) retirement reserve with a great deal of flexibility," Zeh said. The benefit can add up to a significant retirement fund. A staff sergeant for instance, whose annual base salary is $21,351, could decide to invest 7 percent of his monthly income, or $125 per month. Assuming he gets 7 percent return (not even including any future salary increases) after 10 years he will have saved more than $2 1 ,500. After 20 years of investing at this same rate he would save about $65,000. And after leaving it there for 40 years, he would have more than $326,000 in his TSP savings. "Basically, (members need) to devote some time to figuring out theit financial status and how TSP can fit into their lifestyle," Zeh said. Economic conditions change and it is up to each person to determine how to invest his or her money, he said. People can get help with their financial planning at their local family support center's financial management section. "Although the family support center's financial counselors cannot give advice (about) which funds one should invest in, they can give investment-typ- e counseling," Zeh said. Airmen can pick up the enrollment and designation forms at base finance offices, military personnel flights or base family support centers and turn them into their finance office. "As with the current civilian system, military members will be able to enroll, disenroll and change their allocations over the Web directly through (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) in the near future," Zeh said. More information is posted on the TSP Web site. Air Force News Service) j (Courtesy -- , six-ye- ar . AtfwrrJsamanta comalnarj i hn do not constitute andwMmant by It Photo by Airman Fast Class Nahrta Carlisle The Air Force's 54th Birthday was celebrated here at the 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadrons conference room In bldg. 58, coordinated by Senior Master Sgt Jerry L. Bradley, 388th EMS first sergeant. The celebration kicked off with Senior Airman Jeremy J. Brown, survival equipment trainer, singing the Star Spangled Banner and followed by a speech from Lt. Col. Steven J. Moranl, 388th EMS commander. After the speech a slide show dedicated to the birth and history of the Air Force was presented to all who were in attendance. Finally near the end of the celebration was a traditional cutting of the cake. The cake was cere- moniously cut by Airman Thomas Podgorskl, aircraft armament systems, and Chief Master Sgt. Craun R. Fansler, squadron superintendent, representing the of the Air Force. young and the not-so-you- Watch what you say Protecting information from eavesdropping remains important By Airman First Class Nakita Carlisle 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The past few weeks have energized the pub- lic's curiosity on what is happening on the base. Rumors are rampant in the neighborhoods surrounding the base. Is the 388th Fighter Wing part of the nation's homeland defense? Are people from Hill being sent overseas to fight terrorism? How much can you tell your neighbors? Or your parents? What information should you be careful about discussing in public places? "Every person has a responsibility to protect information that could potentially help the adversary," said Tech. Sgt. Sonja C.R. Whittington, NCO in charge of the 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Regardless of your rank or duty position, you are looked on as a subject matter expert by those who are not affiliated with the Air Force, she said. What you say to your neighbor or your cousin may be taken as 'inside information,' even if you are only expressing your thoughts, opinions or speculations on future events. Specific guidelines have been established on what can and cannot be discussed. These apply not only to discussions with members of the media but w ith anyone, said Sergeant Whittington. "We don't know where the adversaries may be getting information so the best advice is to consider any means of communication potentially overheard by the enemy," said Sergeant Whittington. This includes telephones, cell phones and conversations with people at the corner grocery. The 'need to know' rule applies as well, she said. Does your spouse or family have a need to know what is happening at your unit? Probably within reason. Does the waiter at the local restaurant or the cashier at the video store? Probably not. The guidance comes from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and cannot be deviated from at all. Sergeant Whittington explained. "We have been authorized to confirm that the 388th was tasked as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Operation Noble Eagle for homeland defense," said Sergeant Whittington. But, she cautioned, there can be no discussion of operational details, tactics, locations, rules of engagement, number of personnel or aircraft or any other aspect of the tasking. Any other comment concerning Operation Noble Eagle or any other potential operation is not authorized at this time. Remember, she cautioned, communication is frequently more than a two-wa- y street. You never know who else may be listening. If you have any questions on w hat can or cannot be said, call the wing public affairs office at 777-320- 0. Duty, Honor, Country OSS commander reflects on meaning of retreat, flag in wake of Sept. 11 tragedy Commentary by Lt. Col. Paul Strickland success. Not to substitute words for actions, not to seek the path of comfort, but to face stress, and spur difficulty a challenge. They also teach you to learn to stand up in the storm and to have compassion on those who fall. To master yourself before you seek to master others. To have a heart that is clean, a goal that is high. To learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep. To reach into the future, yet never neglect the past." As we lower our flag today, I'd like you to focus and reflect on how you can physically and spiritually contribute to not just the meaning, but the very expression of the quality of those words: "Duty, Honor, Country." I owe all Raptors thanks for your patriotism and positive attitude over the last few weeks. I'm sure we will continue to uphold our mission. Take a moment to quietly pause and be grateful for the freedoms we cherish. They are well worth fighting for. 388th OSS Commander The 388th Operations Support Squadron 'Raptors' participated in a formal retreat of our country's flag Sept. 26. For those of you who were unable to attend, I want you to read the thoughts I had during the ceremony. "I've asked you, members of the Raptors, members in our U.S. Air Force and patriots of your country to participate in today's retreat for a particular reason. I want all of you to remember this retreat, the honoring of America's flag, as a defining moment that should stay with you for the rest of your serif vice to this country and your life. If Our United States was f! V IMA deliberately and maliIt is ciously attacked. The flag waves in gravely important that all the breeze before American's pause to lowered reflect on that moment and being Sept. 26. realize that freedom isn't free. It is my intent that I you and will take this moment during this retreat to pause, reflect, and use it as a marker to remind ourselves each day of those who paid the dearest price for freedom. They shall not be forgotten. General Douglas Mac Arthur once uttered the words 'Duty, Honor, Country as the highest concept of patriotic integrity. He specifically stated that the words Duty, Honor, Country builds your -t , 'i-t .t'. basic character, molds you for your future roles as S jaraaaaaaaaalaaBaaai M j..; V;v. j the custodians of the nation's defense, makes you I strong enough to know when you are weak and brave enough to face yourself when you are Photos By Staff Sgt. Matthew Lohr afraid. They teach you to be proud and unbend- Members of the 388th Operations Support Squadron stand In formation ing in honest failure, but humble and gentle in before paying respects to th U.S. flag during a retreat ceremony Sept. 26. DapMmant ot Oatansa, tha (.'?2 ifcfKlJ if mtf - W- Jj j&'V U.S. Air Fore ot H AFB. Evanthing advMIMd It availaM without raoard to raca. cokx, i raltglon. wx. or othar nonmatlt factor ot tha purchaaar, mar patron. |
