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Show -- "T- TfpJ -I 1 JI ID cards prepare airmen By Capt. Amle Brockway Air Combat Command Public Affairs - LANG LEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. Air Combat Command people's thanks to projected deployment information can fit inside their wallets availcard the new Air and Space Expeditionary Force identification able at AEF Online. "The cards were designed because many airmen don't know when they are deploying," said Master Sgt. Tonya Brinkley, officer in charge of Web site development and maintenance for the center. can now be more aw are of the details so they can I! FOD They plan better and get the training they need to deploy." A visit to AEF Online results in a personalized card that can be printed on any printer and kept in a wallet or purse. People should see their unit deployment managers to receive their cards, which take only a few minutes to complete, Sergeant Brinkley said. The card tells airmen what AEFs they belong to and their individual unit type codes. The UTC is a code that, when referenced on AEF Online, lists the duties an individual w ill be required to perform for a check OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH -Senior Airman Trent Fairchlld, 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron crew chief at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.. doea foreign object debris check on an Fighting Falcon prior to a quality assurance Inspection. The 77th Fighter Squadron Is deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch. The operation was established Jan. 1997 to enforce the United Nations no-fl- y zone as well as monitor and surveil north of the 36th parallel to forces Iraqi ensure compliance with Security Council resolutions. F-- deployment Xomrnanders must ensure their airmen are assigned to UTCs, to perform the UTCs misaligned with an AEF, and trained-to-tas- k Photo Dy Srwr Amrum Jmmt Harpar LANTIRN Continued from page A sion," said Brig. Gen. Al Peck, AEF Center commander. "There are a variety of tools available to commanders to assist them, like the AEF Online Web site and the AEF UTC Reporting Tool, which tracks the ability of wings to meet their expeditionary requirements. The AEF ID card is one more tool they can use to keep their people informed." The idea for an AEF ID card was adapted from cards already in use by the ACC Directorate of Communications and Information Systems and a few other organizations. Peck said. "We designed the cards to be and contain the information people want to know. The AEF is designed to offer more predictability and stability to our airmen and their families." "My goal is to provide every airman with as much notification and information on their deployment as possible," said Gen. Hal Hornburg, ACC commander. "I'd like to see every ACC airman have his or her own AEF ID card within the next 30 days. I've asked my commanders, first sergeants, and supervisors to help their folks make this happen." The card can be found at https:aefcenter.acc.af.milAEFCidcard.htm. Airmen can find answers to other deployment-relate- d questions at AEF Online, located at https:aefcenter.acc.af.miyeafonline. Both sites must be accessed from il domain. computers in the ( Courtesy of ACC News) user-friend- difference to our units that deploy a lot. "For example, when we w ould go to Turkey we averaged about 50 percent mission capable (with the pods), but since we've had the simulator we nearly doubled our mission capability." Having a higher mission capable rate saves mem even more money, according to Sergeant Murphy. For example when a pod failed in Turkey it had to be shipped to a different base for repairs via commercial carriers. Depending on parts it could take anywhere from 10 to 90 days to repair and cost about $7,000 to ship it there and back. "We went from sending 12 to 13 pods a rotation down to maybe two or three, which makes quite a difference," he said. "Other bases around the world asked for our info, and they built simulators and deployed them successfully," he said. "So, our creation, if you will, is kind of being benchmarked around the Air Force, and we're pretty proud of that." With the goal of designing a machine that could deploy quickly with the jets and have the ability to repair pods in remote locations, the team met their goal. The team, made up of Sergeant Murphy, Sergeant Leo Raduske, Sergeant Meyer, Master Sgt. Darwin Moore, Staff Sgt. Jamie Clements and Airman 1st Class Jacob Bender are scheduled to return today. ly dot-m- Keeping stress in check helps beat holiday blues By Airman Madelyn Waychoff 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Stress is the body's natural response to any physical or emotional demand. But, with an increase in security, operations tempo and the approach of the holidays, stress can easily become overwhelming. This doesn't mean that stress can't be helped, though. Stress can't be prevented, but there are ways to help get through it, said Maj. Marriner Oldham, 75th Medical Group director of Family Practice. The base offers different avenues for stress management that are open to military, civilians and family members. "Stress isn't always a bad thing," said Major Oldham. "Stress helps motivate people to work harder. And, there are good kinds of stress, like the stress of having a baby or getting a promotion. "But, if stress is causing family or work problems, or making life harder, there are a few simple ways to help relieve it," Major Oldham added. "You can exercise, take some time during the day just for yourself, or just get more sleep." One of the resources for stress management the base offers are the chaplains. Chaplains are available to talk or they can help make referrals to other agencies. "I encourage people to come in and talk to us," said Chaplain John Harris, substitute 388th flightline chaplain. "There are a lot of situations that can be stressful, and sometimes all it takes to relieve that stress is talking. But, if we can't help, I can always help find someone who can." The Family Support Center on base is another avenue people can take. They offer different classes that teach stress management for different situations. One of the classes offered is the Single Parents Support Group, which brings together single parents to share stories and ideas. The Parenting Children in the Age Group of8-1- 4 years, is another class offered which offers techniques, one-on-on- rules, consequences and methods for these age groups. There is also a class on Divorce, and its Effect On and Ways to Help Children, & Marriage Under Construction class, which offers tips for marriages, a Parenting Children in the Age Group of 8 years class, and an Anger Management class. The Health and Wellness Center offers a stress management class that's offered when enough interest is shown and enough people sign up. The class brings in an outside chiropractor to discuss the effects of stress on the body, and a hospital worker from the clinic on base. The HAWC also has a variety of pamphlets and informational papers on stress, stress management and the effects of stress on the body. "The biggest stressors are usually family, holidays, deployments and (permanent changes of station)," said Major Oldham. "But, stress doesn't just affect adults. Children 14-1- e, also have stressors that shouldn't be ignored. Some of the stresses children have are moving from one place to another or having deployed parents. Services are also offered o kids.". " p.-.- There are a lot of stressors out there, but a major onels" approaching quickly the holidays. Some tips to keep in mind for the holiday season are to relax, get enough sleep, keep organized and make a budget, according to the International Health Awareness Center. Stress can help someone improve their performance, but having too much stress in life can cause mental and physical damage. For example, if stress is left unrelieved, it can lower the immune system, cause stomach problems and insomnia, and change the body's chemistry in a way that affects the health of the heart. When a person is stressed the body pumps out adrenaline, making the heart race, increasing blood pressure and breathing, and elevating fat and cholesterol levels; all of which make the blood thicker. One good way to relieve the stress is to take time to let the body relax before another stressful situation comes up, even though sometimes this isn't possible. When the body goes from one stressful situation to another without a break the heart can get overworked, and blood pressure and cholesterol levels stay up. Over a period of time constant stress can cause damage to arteries, increase the chances of developing a coronary artery disease and increase the chances of having a heart attack. Another way to relieve stress is to breathe deeply. Breathing deeply helps the body slow down, counteracting stress. For more information on stress management contact your physician. For stress class times and information contact the Health and Wellness Center at or the Family 1 . 8 Support Center at - 777-121- 5, 777-46- mmm& Published for People Like... w Airman Basic Kim Hernandez - t; Editorial Staff Colonel Steve Hoog Captain Angie Chang Tech. Sgt. Sonja Whi ttington Senior Airman Nakita Carlisle Airman Madelyn Waychoff Unit: 388th Fighter Wing Information Management A Job: Publications Manager W' 1 Time In Service: 5 months j Most recent accomplishment: Graduated technical school Goals: To finish college and get my bachelor's in If could change one thing at Hill AFB what would it be: The weather i of Fighur Country are not necessarily the official views of. or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the DepartDefense or the Department of the Air Force. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos arc U S Air Force photos. Fighter Country is edited, prepared and provided by the 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office, 5887 D. Ave., Suite Contents ment 0 113. HiU AFB UT. I .....NCOIC, Public Affairs Public Affairs Apprentice Public Affairs Apprentice Fighter Country is i supplement to the Hilltop Time j, published by MorMedia, Inc.. privite firm in no way conAir Force, under ejclusive written contract with the Ogden Air Logistic! Center Public Affairs Office. Thij commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper U an autboriied publication for members of the U.S. military services. nected with the U S. business and psychology Commander Chief, Public Affairs 84056-501- submissions for Fighur Country can be brought by the office, to the editor at figbtercountry hili.af mil or fased to Deadline for submissions to Fighter Country is no later tbsn Monday, noon, two weeks prior to publication. For more information, call the public affairs office at Story POOR |