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Show Q Hilltop Times April 4. 3002 HillAFB weather outlook 5-d- ay wwvr.alrfleld-opt- . hlll.8f.mEloswweather in traces chemical confirms Roy Sampling by Charles Freeman Enviromental Public Affairs Hill AFB environmental officials have recently discovered trace levels of TCE trichloroethene vapors in the living areas of a residence in Roy. The detected levels don't pose an immediate health threat to the residents. Hill environmental officials are working to resolve the problem expeditiously. The finding resulted from a request by a Roy resident who attended an Info-Fahosted by Hill environmental officials. "We are concerned anytime anyone is exposed to contamination, and right now the well being of the occupants is ir 64 High 39 Low our first priority," said Bob James, Hill's director of Environmental Management. Hill personnel began contacting residents at their homes on March 27 to arrange additional air sampling to determine if this is a widespread problem. If a problem is discovered, Hill is prepared to take appropriate action to rectify the problem. What concerns Hill environmental officials is a small area where a unique set of conditions exist that make it particularly easy for TCE vapors to enter a home through cracks or gaps in the foundation. These conditions haven't been found in other contaminated areas around the base. Hill has provided this information to state and local health officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The base works closely with these agencies on issues dealing with environmental clean-u- p and will continue to work with them on this. "We regret what has happened and understand this is a major inconvenience to the residents," James said. "Unfortunately, we can't take back the actions that caused this contamination. Thirty or 40 years ago, when this happened, the Air Force didn't know how its disposal practices would affect the environment We've learned a lot since then. Now our procedures are such that this kind of thing won't happen again. "The best we can do right now is to comtry to fix the problem, and we are said. mitted to doing that" James Trichloroethene is a common solvent that was used at Hill AFB in the 1960s and 1970s. Widespread use of TCE on base was stopped in 1976. Hill began an active environmental cleanup program in the early 1980s. Prior to that time waste solvents from the base's industrial facilities were dislandposed of in unlined trenches and fills. The practice was consistent with the disposal practices of the day. Once in the ground the chemicals dissolved and moved offbase in the shallow groundwater. Contaminants are not in the drinking water. Stingers offer half-pric-e tickets Partly cloudy The Salt Lake Stingers will celebrate "Freedom Forever Night," also known as "Air Force Appreciation Night," Saturday in Salt Lake City's Franklin Covey Field. All Air Force members, civilian and military and family e members with valid identification, will get in for is admission admission. $6. Regular general The game, against the Portland Beavers, starts at 6:30 p.m. Franklin Covey Field is located at 77 W. 1300 South in downtown Salt Lake City. activities, starting at 6 p.m., Maj. Gen. During Scott Bergren, Ogden ALC commander, will throw out the first pitch and the Hill Honor Guard will present the colors. The National Anthem will be performed by Shaye Jennings, daughter of Master Sgt. and Mrs. Joseph Jennings, Team Hill Career Assistance Advisor. At the top of the fifth inning, Bergren will and enlist members from Hill AFB and recruits from the local area. During the seventh inning stretch, Hill family member Brady Chavez will sing "God Bless America." In addition, the 75th Explosive Ordnance Detachment and the 75th Security Forces, with their working dogs, will perform. The Stingers are a AAA affiliate of the Anaheim Angel3 in the Pacific Coast League. The first 1,000 fans to enter the game will receive a free Angel 3 e Air Force members will also get in for general admission at all other Stingers games now through April 11 with a valid ID. Photo by Tech. Sgt Jim Vamegyl Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Jim Finch, shown here appearing half-pric- 68 High 39 Low Mostly cloudy pre-gam- 151 f5Vi (()J Mostly cloudy with of rain showers chance half-pric- mm -- acquisition products by Ted Squyres FAST deputy program manager, Lockheed Martin 55 High 38 Low Displays and demonstrations of products related to acquisition and sustainment will be held as part of the FAST Contractors' Fair on April 11. After opening remarks and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., the fair will be open until 4 p.m. in Bldg. 150, the former Officers' Club. FAST is a Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Tool new, streamlined contractual vehicle for supporting war fighter and customer needs for services, spares, repair and modifications for all Air systems and components. Partly cloudy Force-manage- d Prime contractors Boeing Aerospace Operations, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems, Modern Technologies Corporation, Science Application International Corporation, Support Systems Associates Incorporated and Technical and Management Services Corporation and many of their subcontractors will demonstrate and explain their products throughout the day and door prizes will be Six FAST .J 50' High 34' Low Mostly sunny given. Take Pride' day planned May 23 by Staff Sgt. Carl Bersch 75th Civil Engineering Squadron that time of year again, when the grass turns green, birds start chirping and all the trash from the long winter months is exposed. In commemoration, the 75th Civil It is Engineering Squadron is sponsoring the annual Take Pride in Hill Day. Take Pride in Hill Day is a spring cleanup and landscape improvement effort involving " volunteer labor and special CE funds set aside for materials. This year's event will focus on revitalizing the base's existing landscape as "self-help- well as a general cleanup around building perimeters. Each building will be allot- ted $500 to replenish flowerbeds, and to possibly plant new trees or bushes. The target date for Take Pride in Hill Day is May 23. All organizations are asked to send a representative to the Take Pride in Hill Day kickoff meeting on April 11 at 9 a.m. in the Base Chapel annex, Bldg. 445. For more information, tact Steve Weed at Ext I con- sij ' FAST is changing the way government contracting and manufacturing interact. Using FAST, it takes an average of 19 days to place an order with one of the six prime contractors, who have more than 323 subcontractors under them. In the past, the contracting process could take 12 to 18 months, and sometimes longer, to issue a major or complex contract for goods or services. The Prime Contractors, and their team members, were selected under a formal competitive process using standard Source Selection procedures. Since FAST contracts awards have already been made to the six prime contractors and labor rates approved for the primes and their teammates, government customers may discuss their needs freely with FAST contractors prior to actual task order award. It is this involvement between industry and government that allows FAST to take advantage of the best industry has to offer. Task orders are awarded under FAST through a competitive process where the prime contractors compete for awards, by providing the best resolution for lowest costs. While there are provisions for Sole Source awards, the majority of awards are done competitively. Not only are there large awards given to small business, but also to teams comprised of large, small and businesses. Specialized markets can be reached because some small businesses have particular niches, and they are very good at what they can achieve. Consistency is another FAST benefit for small and large businesses alike. One of the complaints often heard from industry was that each air logistics center had a different conup-fro- tracting process. Under FAST, contract terms, conditions and structures are the same at all three centers, providing a consistency that was previously lacking. FAST increases competition and teamwork as well. Program managers, engineers, equipment specialists, item managers, PCO's, or others involved in the acquisition process should make plans to attend the opening session and visit the fair during the day. For more information on FAST, call Stephen Weiss at Ext. or Linda Andrews at Ext. Both have forms that can be completed in about 15 minutes to begin the FAST process and will answer any other questions. on-lin- e announced Congress, March 28 his plan to retire after more than 28 years of service, and nearly three years as the 13th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Chief Finch retiring WASHINGTON (AFPN) The Air Force's announced March 28 his enlisted leader top to three retire after plans nearly years in the A formal 28 and service. of ceremony job years is scheduled for June 28 at Boiling AFB, D.C. "Selecting an appropriate retirement date was a very difficult decision due to the current state of world events," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Jim Finch. "However, after careful consideration of various options and benefit for the Air Force, my the long-terand family, my replacement, I concluded this was the most appropriate time to make the transition. m "I Fair displaying w- -,. V"-'-'"- e re-enl- ist 54 High 38 Low before also know there are some outstanding chiefs ready to move up and lead our enlisted force into the future, and I hope you give them the same great support you've given me during my time as the 13th chief master sergeant of the Air Force," he said. "When I first met Jim Finch, I knew our enlisted force and their families were in good hands," said Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche. "During his tenure, Jim always put the mission of our service first, and worked hard to improve quality of life for our people," Roche said. "Jim's dedicated service in America's Air Force sets a new standard of excellence. Although I will miss his wise counsel and good humor, we all wish Jim and his family the best in his future endeavors." Finch's retirement signifies the culmination of a distinguished career of service to the nation, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. "His tenure as chief master sergeant of the Air Force proved instrumental to our service's success as an expeditionary air and space force," Jumper said. "Our Air Force is far better for (Finch's) service and we wish him, his wife Pat, and their son Brian, the best of luck and Godspeed." Reflecting back upon his career, Finch said it has been very fulfilling, and this latest assign- ment was one of the highlights. "I've enjoyed working with the Air Force's senior leadership team, and I'm delighted about the current direction General Jumper and Secretary of the Air Force Roche have our Air Force headed," he said. Finch is also proud of the many positive initiatives that the Air Force has accomplished during the past three years, he said. "Some (of these initiatives have) helped us better identify ourselves as part of a team of air and space force professionals," he said. "Others improved the way we develop our members for today and the future." Finch also said that becoming more expeditionary in nature not only improved deployment processes but also helped create a better "total force" team. "We have received outstanding support from Americans both on Capitol Hill and throughout our nation during the past few years,? Finch said, citing the many gains in the compensa-- i tion and benefit arena with more on the horizon. Finch said all of the accomplishments made during his time as CMSAF were done through a team effort, and that he departs with the satisfaction of knowing that the Air Force is in better shape today than it was when he arrived. "I leave confident that (the next CMSAF) and the rest of the Air Force team will continue to make tomorrow better than today," he said. Finch began his career in 1974 as a missile maintenance technician and later transitioned to professional military education. He served in the United Kingdom and several locations throughout the United States. He became the 13th CMSAF in August 1999, coming into the position after serving as the command chief master sergeant for Air Combat Friday forum studies housing by Beth Young Hilltop Time staff In a continuing effort to privatize Hill AFB housing, there will be an Industry Forum to introduce the 1,141 military family homes to any parties interested in owning and operating the rental properties. The PSC Military Housing Company will host the forum at Club Hill Friday. The forum gives an overview of the project and includes bus tours of the housing areas between 3 p.m. Arrangements have also been made for the approximately 100 visitors to see inside several homes. The forum will con 1-- clude with a question and answer session. Military family homes are being privatized so that they can be upgraded, maintained and improved faster. Under current funding, upgrading homes would take years, a private developer would be required to 20-2- 5 make the improvements within six years, explained Doug Arave, Base Housing Flight Manager. "This will accelerate the process. So there will be better homes, quicker for the military," added Arave. For information on housing privatization, call Arave at Ext. For information on the contract, call PSC at 363-227- 3. April shopping helps USO by Carrie Williams Defense Commissary Agency FORT LEE, Va. Shoppers can stock up, save money and support the United Service Organizations all in one trip during the commissary's "We Deliver America" sale through April 24. This year, 22 manufacturers will donate money to the USO from the sales of nearly 50 brands of products, helping the organization "Deliver America" to military service members throughout the world. Manufacturers will kick in 50 cents per case for all cases sold. Special flyers will be available in the commissaries and details published in Family In 2001, participating companies presented the USO with a check for $150,000. This was in addition to saving commissary customers thousands of dollars through price reductions and coupons. This is just another way the Defense Commissary Agency supports the worldwide mil- itary community. The USO supports American men and women wherever they serve throughout the world by providing more than 100 hospitality centers; special airport centers that are open day and night to help military families on the move; fleet support centers at many U.S. Navy and Marine mobile canteens that support troops deployed to remote locations; and celebrity tours to entertain service members stationed overseas. ports-of-cal- l; |