OCR Text |
Show B April 4, 2002 Crisis or opportunity: preparing for the unexpected Force or Noble Eagle. We have already experienced activation, with some of our members serving a backfill mission and others by Col. Gerald Yearsley 419th Logistics Group commander . find myself in the midnight hour of my career, with mixed emotions and time to reflect on my military experience that, like my emotions, included both good and bad times. I have learned from the school of hard knocks to expect the unexpected and be prepared for any outcome. What is a crisis? Our good friend Webster defines a crisis as "a crucial or decisive point or situation" As military members, we are likely to be directly affected by action prompted by the second definition "an unstable state of political, international or economic affairs with an impending abrupt or decisive change." I am reminded of a quote by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.: "Every crisis has both its dangers and its opportunities. Each can spell either salvation or dixm" What makes the difference? The answer is Col. Gerald I generally found in the extent of the responder's personal preparation. The dreaded Operational Readiness Exercise is a good source for examples to illustrate my point about preparing for the unexpected. Having been a member of the wing since the brown shoe days, I have experienced my share of these marathons. The preparation is extensive, involving vehicles, equipment and people. Processes involving everything from security to resource accountability are carefully planned out, briefed and practiced. But each ORE I have been in has had a reoccurring problem communication. Retirement changes proposed ROBINS AFB, (la. Legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 28 to lower the minimum age required to claim reserve retirement pay. Currently, reservists must wait until age 60 before applying for this retirement benefit. If adopted, the resolution would lower the age to 55. H.R. 3831, introduced by U.S. Representative Jim Saxton of New Jersey, seeks to amend Title 10 of the United States Code, which includes details on who receives military retirement pay and benefits. To qualify for reserve retirement, reservists must complete 20 qualifying years of service with the final eight spent as a member of a reserve component. Before age 60, they are classified as "gray area" retirees, a category that allows them to claim many reserve benefits but not retirement pay. Although introduced in the House, the resolution has a long road to travel before becoming law. A committee must review the proposal before it is considered by the House, and the US. Senate has to concur with the wording or consider a comparable bill. During the process, the wording of the bill may be modified in order to reach a consensus. If approved by both chambers of Congress, the proposal is included with other legislation and sent to the president for his approval and signature. People can learn more about the proposal by accessing the Internet website www.liouse.gov. Newcomers get with Self-AidBud- dy hands-o- n Care James R. Wilson 419th FW Public Affairs Office by Capt. Self Aid and Buddy Care class administered to 419th Newcomers Flight became very real on March 10 when a student was overcome by a few gruesome scenes contained in a training video. The individual, assigned to the 419th Logistics Group, went into a dead faint, right in the middle of the class. Instructors and fellow classmates quickly came to the fallen airman's aid, and helped her regain consciousness. After determining her health was not in serious jeopardy, officials in the Newcomer's Flight were able to breath easy. "This training is designed to invoke a realistic response from students just not this realistic," said Master Sgt. Ed Carey, an instructor on the staff. "When she finally came to, she said she just couldn't handle all that blood. Somewhat tongue in cheek, we reminded her that the purpose of the training was to help Reservists to learn to manage our responses to these kinds of scenes and situations. By her unexpected contribution, she greatly enhanced the quality of the Self Aid and Buddy Care training." The incident provided a rare chance to see the men and women of the 419th Fighter Wing respond to reality, rather than training. Master Sgt. Jody Canfield was attentive enough to see the beginning of the fainting episode. He rushed to the airman's side and gently guided her unconscious body to the floor, avoiding any chance of injury in the fall. Airman Carol Norris, who was participating in the newcomers program before beginning her tour of duty with the 419th Medical Squadron, was also fast to respond. She immediately took charge of victim treatment; assessing breathing, vitals, possible injury, and overall condition of the victim. She directed cooling of the victim by applying cool compresses to the forehead, corroded artery, and wrists. "Airman Norris did a great job of improvising using paper towels for the compresses at first, then using gauze pads from the Self Aid Buddy Care training kit," said Sergeant Carey. Newcomers Commandant, Master Sgt. Eric Elieson called 911. Tech. Sgt. Terry Boltinghouse, another student, assisted Airman Norris in attending to the victim. "Really, every member of the class and staff either directly assisted, or cleared the area so that the victim and responders had room to do their work," said Sergeant Elieson. "The Emergency Medical Technicians arrived and after thoroughly assessing the airman, concluded she was cleared to resume her duties. Her only souvenir of the episode was a pounding headache." After resting on a nearby sofa, she rejoined the class after the video was over. A preparing to forward deploy. I am not certain the real question is "What's next," but rather, "How prepared am I for what's next?" Have I conducted a personal inventory, putting my affairs in order so that when what's next happens, it will be resolved to my salvation as opposed to my ruin? The need for reparation applies to everyone married, single, with children or without The obvious elements of our lives to have in order usually involve others employers, bill collectors, and family and loved ones who count on us. Less obvious are those that involve just yourself. What Have you seen your doctor lately just for a personal check-up- ? about your credit card debt or other personnel finances, or other items of personal interest to you? Each of our lives are built of different factors, but we all need to have them in order. I challenge you ponder, take the time to make a list, and take the steps to be prepared. The first step is often the hardest American social philosopher, Eric Hoffer, said, "There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still have to prove our worth anew each day: we have to prove that we are as good today as we were L Yearsley 419th Logistics Group Commander Think about how often in the course of a day you use the telephone. One thing is for certain, when you pick up tlie handset, the telephone will work. This is true until you are in an ORE. Somehow this most reliable instrument repeatedly fails. The telephone instrument that has worked so well is suddenly leaving some tiling to be desired in the reliability column. This example is a little bit like life itself, especially life as a member of the military and a member of the Reserve. The question on everyone's mind is, "What's next?" so we know how to prepare. The answers could range from the Operational Readiness Inspection to a deployment in support of the Air Expeditionary yesterday." I can assure you, attaining this most marked achievement will be well worth the effort. I also assure you will like the outcome. Safety day gets troops back to basics off duty. Everyone needs to keep safety in the forefront of our lives." While the Air Force Reserve has experienced fewer safety-relate- d incidents than their active-dut- y 4 19th FW Public Affairs Office counterparts, their members still are still vulnerable to the same hazards a message 419th Fighter Wing An increase in mishap rates across the Air Force resulted in the officials sought to make clear during a safety day March 10. "Our biggest issue remains complacency," said Brig. Gen. EC. service's top leader declaring a safety down day for troops recently. in "Pink" have increase witnessed an "We our mishap rates and it's time to Williams, 419th FW commander. "Many of us have been doing focus this do what and on can we Gen. said John reverse to this," pause job for a very long time and sometimes think we don't need to staff. Force follow established procedures. We're very confident Air of chief Jumper, In fiscal 2002, officials said there have been 13 in our ability to get the job done and that often leads Class A flight mishaps with five fatalities, three to complacency." "We're at a point Class A ground mishaps with two fatalities, Another risk to sound safety practices is the high y and 25 Class A ground mishaps with 27 where It's appropriate operations tempo the 419th FW and Air Force fatalities. Reserve have been under in recent months. to step back, Class A mishaps are those incidents which result "The number of Reserve deployments and in more than $1 million in damage to government our processes from a mobilizations are quite possibly as high now as any time in the recent history of the Air Force Reserve," safety perspective, property or loss of life for the military member involved. said General Williams. "I know there's lots of and then carry on the in time same fiscal there were 2001, During uncertainty out there right now. People are wondering with the work our six Class A flight mishaps with one fatality, three if they will deploy and are working hard to make sure nation is counting on they're prepared for that possibility. These factors all Class A ground mishaps with one fatality and 23 off-duClass A ground mishaps with 20 combine to create stress and fatigue which affects our us to complete." fatalities. ability to make good decisions." "All of us are fully engaged in the war against To deal with this problem, people need to monitor for problems brought terrorism, and this isn't the first time we've seen our John Jumper, themselves and their flight and ground mishaps go up as our tempo Air Force chief of staff on by high ops tempo, according to the general. The final message the commander relayed to the increases," said General Jumper in a letter to the "We're at where a it's and women of the 419th was one of priorities. men to troops. point appropriate from assess our "I realize are there occasions when people think 'We're at war, so I a and then back, step processes safety perspective, don't have time to fix it'" Said General Williams. "But in fact the carry on with the work our nation is counting on us to complete." Active-dut- y units were required to observe the safety down day no exact time you need technical orders the most is when you're in a later than Feb. 15. Guard and Reserve units were given an additional hurry. The bottom line is that safety comes before mission 30 days to comply. accomplishment" Officials hoped the additional emphasis on safety would help In Fiscal Year 2002, Air Force Reserve Command has had zero Class members regroup and return the Air Force to its history of solid safety A flight mishaps and zero off-duClass A mishaps. The command in a suffer December when a pararescue member did, however, practices. fatality should be died a while consideration in a rescue of "Safety primary operatiofi. performing any aspect Last year, the Reserve had one Class A flight mishap, one off-dusaid General Jumper. operations, "Risk management continues to be central to our success, both on and ground mishap and zero Class A incidents. by Capt James R. Wilson on-du- ty off-dut- assess on-du- ty ty ty k, ty on-du- ty P' r Corn d by Chief Master Sgt. Marva Harper 419th FW Command Chief Master Sergeant Changing shirts: First Sergeants g rotate in program career-broadenin- time to rotate some of the first sergeants for career Every time this comes up there are questions why we do it. It's not for any reason other than to give the shirts the opportunity to see what other squadrons in the wing do, understand their role in the total wing picture, bring new perspectives, ideas and solutions and to give growth to the squadron. Not all shirts are rotated at the same time, but all shirts are rotated within a two to four year time span. Every unit wants to hang on to their shirt, which speaks volumes about the value of this program. We currently have and are grooming the best first sergeants in the Air Force. Our shirts will have a great advantage when called on for contingencies, annual tours or Unit Training Assemblies. They'll have a broader knowledge of what a unit needs to be successful. When it's your squadron's turn to rotate shirts, help the new shirt learn what you do, who you are and why you are essential to the Air Force. It will go a long way towards building up a professional and successful squadron. We are currently training "undershirts." These individuals are in training and may end up as a first sergeant at some point in the future. They will be shadowing various first sergeants getting a feel for what their responsibilities will be, where to go for answers and networking with the first sergeant group. The undershirt program is one we feel will help us to groom better, more experienced and successful first sergeants. It's 419th Fighter Wing First Sergeants 419th CMI Engineer i ' J To 419th Operations Support Flight Master Sgt. Judy Nordstrom Squadron Senior Master Sgt. Sheila Brown 419th Logistics Support 419th Security Forces Squadron Master Sgt Squadron Master Sgt. Ed Carey Phillip Nycum 419th Mission Support 419th Maintenance Squadron Squadron Senior Master Sgt. Ross Childs Senior Master Sol Norton Thurgood 419th Communications 41 Sth Combat Squadron Logistics Master Sgt. Paul Faulkner Support Squadron Senior Master Sgl Brian 419th Medical Squadron Garrett Master Sgl Dale George 419th Newcomers Flight 466th Fighter Squadron Master Sgt. Eric Elieson Senior Master Sgt. Scott Master Sgt David Warner Master Sgt Jody Canfield Hennessy 67th Aerial Port Squadron Senior Master Sgt. Al Hepler Air Force Reserve Command if u u Ft Mission Statement Citizen Airmen to defend the United States and provide its interests protect through aerospace power. HeadsUp Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 419th Fighter Wing public Affairs Office. DEADLINE for submission of articles is 10 working days before each scheduled wing unit training assembly. Articles should be typed and double-space- d on a 60character line. HeadsUp is a Reserve supplement to the Hilltop times, published by Mor Media, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air force, under exclusive written contract with the Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office, this civilian enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for Air Force Reserve members of the U.S. military services. Contents of HeadsUp are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Air Force. " Undershirts Sgl Gary Kendell Sgt Ralph Thompson Tech. Tech. 419th Fighter Wing Ml$spjiaIejMnJ To Fly, Fight and Win! 419th FW STAFF Brig. Gen. F.C. Williams Capt. James R. Wilson Senior Airman Lara Gale Stephanie Johns Commander Chief of Public Affairs staff Writer tmmm Edtor |