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Show 0HJitup Times June 6, 2002 Commentary olunteering needs team spirit I by Master Sgt. Thomas Wetzel P Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Quality Assurance chief 'What Activities would you well-bein- at Hill AFB?' like to see It Our actions Eachofusisa244iourrepTsentativeoftheAirForre. shape not only today's military and local communities, but tomorrow's too. It was through the dedication and and vohinteerism of airmen long gone that we have the strong air power presence we have today and the sense of community. How many times have you heard someone reply when asked to volunteer, Td like to, but I just dont have the time." If we look at what our Air Force has given us, I think they might change their mind. How many companies that you know have a work policy to give 30 days paid vacation (after working only one year!) , pay for learning a profession, give free medical and dental care, and teach a skill Jyou can rely on the rest of your life? Not one I know of. There are a few that come close, for example firefighters and law enforcement What would our lives and families' lives be like if we didnt perform outstandingly on a dairy basis? A heady thought When I was assigned in the desert at Khobar Towers in 1996, all I saw were heroes and volunteers after the barracks bombing. These airmen weren't concerned for themselves or their but solely for their fellow airmen. It made me proud! It didnt take a tragic act to give us that sense of duty before self we always had it! That night during and after the bombing we were a family Street views Hill V providing aid and consoling our fellow airmen who were injured and needed immediat e assistance. I thought about what if I needed help and people said Td like to help, but I just dont have the time-WhI recall the chief master sergeants I have known over the years, one thing that stands out they were always at every car wash and weekend fundraisers to raise money to help. I know they probably had more demands on their time, yet what drove them to participate? I know it wasnt for the recognition. I believe it was for their strong conviction of being part of an extended the Air Force! family Sure, our Air Force asks a lot of us, but again I ask you, what would our lives be like if we weren't in the Air Force, and what would the Air Force be like without volunteers? So next time when asked to volunteer to help a group or organization, or to donate resources, think back on what the Air Force has given you, and say yes! Pete Kaufman Retired military "I think they pretty well have everything covered here. I don't have any en f Li i. L.L J Airman 1st Class Peetra Cambell 729th Air Control Squadron "I would like to see a Big Sister, Big Brother program or if they have one to see more advertising so people know who to contact and get Duty to defend learned early who lived it. When the Southern states seceded from the Union over issues of state sovereignty and slavery, the stage was set for these by Ma. Dave Savllle 27th Component Repair Squadron , CANNON AFB, N.M. (AFPN) I discovered one of the most powerful lessons I ever learned in the short book, "What They by James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Fought For, g author of "Battle Cry For Freedom." The book was McPherson's summary of hundreds of letters written by Civil War soldiers in both the Union and Confed1861-1865- ," Prize-winnin- erate armies. I'd always wondered why so many thousands of Americans , would sacrifice themselves on the battlefield, fighting against each other. It baffled me. All other books I've read about the Civil War failed to answer this fundamental question. But reading this unique book clarified for me why they fought and why I am ready to fight. , The Civil War was the first war in history in which the average foot soldier was literate, and the last war in history in which personal correspondence was free of censorship or security guidelines. Civil War soldiers wrote lots of letters, and many of those letters are available today, preserved by families and museums. In fact, these soldiers wrote descriptively about their expec riences and their thoughts, revealing insights into their motivation for fighting. The most common motivation McPherson discovered in the ' letters, from both sides, was to preserve liberty and government "of the people, by the people, for the people. They understood they were responsible for preventing it from vanishing UJC involved." uai 111. How did they develop this sense of global responsibility? McPherson theorizes that most of these soldiers learned their duty to defend the Constitution by sitting on their and laps and hearing RevoluWar stories. tionary When the war began in 186 1 , it had only been 80 years since the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown and the end of the Revolutionary War. When the Civil War soldiers were children, they learned what the first war was all about from those great-grandfathe- great-grandmothe- young Americans to rise up and serve the Constitution themselves. The South saw the future of America one way while the North saw it another way. The letters from the soldiers reveal that the average soldier felt a profound burden to personally ensure democracy survived. This sentiment was captured in President Lincoln's Gettysburg address. "We are highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom," Lincoln said, "and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." Like the soldiers who died on that battlefield after writing these letters, Lincoln knew democracy was fragile, and its future hung in the balance, affecting not only Americans, but the whole world. Although America is much stronger now, the ideals of this country based on liberty are still under attack. The terrorist attacks on America over the past few years, including the attacks on Khobar Towers, the U.S.S. Cole and the World Trade Center and Pentagon, remind us that we have the same job our forefathers had at Yorktown and Gettysburg. We have our chance to "ante up," like our fathers did at Normandy, Inchon and Vietnam. We can now add to that list Kuwait, Kosovo and Afghanistan. It is in these conflicts that we find the stories and lessons we will tell our grandchildren as we bounce them on our knees. Imagine if our children and grandchildren don't learn the same sense of responsibility and patriotism we received from our forefathers. That would be a tragedy too colossal for words to describe. We must ensure the future of a government "of the people, by the people, for the people" or we risk losing it from the Earth. That is why we fight. ( Courtesy ofAir Combat Command News Service) J miI hLJ ( Angela Sturgill Military spouse "One of the programs that I personally work for is the garden plots on the west side of the base. One of the we would really like 1 things to do is contribute food to 4 the less fortunate active dutyj nL?M .13 families. We could do a fall harvest. Maybe additional space to do a corn maze so we could sustain ourselves and help the community." Capt. Kevin Strauss 75th Support Group Services "The BX and the commissary are all I really use and I 3 am totally satisfied with them." Action Line overtime Mandatory a mechanic and even our latest Ql'm Is finished, some people arethough still required to show up on weekends and work overtime. There's not and It's much to do now sweep floors and stuff Air a of to lot floors Force clean the money get costing because the sweepers are being paid time and a half. Mandatory overtime was initiated as a last resort, in an C-1- A effort to get aircraft back on schedule and support our It was terminated, as scheduled, on the production mission. line after May 11. If you were personally left out of the loop concerning this information we apologize, as we tried to let folks know a week in advance so that they could make different plans. The production line is now back to voluntary overtime, as needed, but mandatory overtime is currently being used in the Flight Test area as that is where the bubble of workload has moved. The team effort and cooperation displayed throughout most of the production line was, and is, very much appreciated. Housekeeping is a big part of the success of any production operation, but absolutely critical as it relates to aircraft. No one should have knowingly been brought in for the sole purpose of sweeping; however, requirements change as work progresses; Keeping aircraft on schedule includes all of the ancillary tasks associated with aircraft maintenance, including foreign object damage prevention of which housekeeping is an integral part. Sweeping requirements could certainly be reduced during the maintenance process if each individual would take care as they worked, use refuse receptacles and clean as they go. C-1- Cindy Williams Safety concerns machinists WG-1- 0 were moved out of the jf"JThe of the Bldg. 507 and brakes section wheels V machine shop, and now they're allowing WG-- 5 helpers to operate the machines without a Journeyman WG-1- 0 or 11 with them. A WG-- 5 is working by himself In the carbon disk brake section, which Is also part of wheels and breaks. This Is a clear and blatant violation of safe-- Hilltop Times Published by Ogden Publishing Co., a private firm In no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. Thi commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. 0 ty regulations. Ik Landing Atraining Gear Production's Branch's practices regarding and supervision of WG--5 workers comply with Air Force regulations and both AFOSH and OSHA safety standards. WG-- 5 machinists are allowed to machine components while supervised by a WG-1- 0 or a WL-1- 1 until they are fully The WG--5 machinist in qualified and promoted to WG-8- . question was under the direct supervision of a WG-1- 0 worker while working in the carbon disk brake section. When the WG-1- 0 machinist's experience was required to produce components on another machine in a different area, since the WG-- 5 machinist could not remain in the carbon disk brake section to work unsupervised, he was simultaneously moved to another section. The recent decision to rotate some personnel to other positions within the Landing Gear Production Branch was based on achieving optimal production capabilin ties through team "right sizing" while retaining a viable of experience levels and pay grades within individual sections. The health and welfare of Branch personnel is paramount section supervision ensures that the safe operation of branch machinery Isn't compromised during such personnel moves. "J I ' i - Nancy Ahlstromer Retired military "It would be nice if they had a nicer movie theater. I know that they have one here, but it would be nice if they had a better facility for cross-sectio- "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force Quality Systems for America's Air Force Retired military "Actually I think they do a pretty good job. The only thing 1 could think of is improvements. I'd like to see a bigger BX, much larger and bigger selection." Global Power and Reach for America. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Co., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sen, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 1 102, second floor. Call Ext. with to 'hil!top.ps,hill.af.mil". story ideas or comments, or send Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT, CALL 625-430- 0 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Scott Bargren MaJ. Shawn Mecham Bill Orndortf MaJ. Gen. Gary Boyle, Beth Young Deadlines: Commander, OO-AL- C Director, Public Attain Editor , Staff writer Editorial and "Around the Hill'' Items, 3 p.m. Friday, sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, classified ads, 2 p.m. TUesday, week of publication. For mors Information, call the editor, Ext |