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Show mam Fighter Country February 13 2003 388th FW names 2002 annual award winners Company Grade Officer of the Year Squadron flight commander, is a world-clas- s officer, leader and 6 fighter pilot - the driving force behind every 421st FS success, according to his superiors. Captain Spinelli Master Sgt. Richard Bunch, 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant, has been an exuberant and highly respected leader, dedicated to sustain unit readme:, and morale of 200 personnel, according to his superiors. - Master Surprise, spirit at ceremony Capt. Christopher Spinelli Capt. Christopher Spinelli, 421st Fighter First Sergeant of the Year c 1,000 training events, he achieved a 99.5 the 388th Fighter Wing. Captain Spinelli is also a nominee for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He was recognized for his air- percent training completion for the fiscal year 2002, giving the 421st the best rate in manship, discipline, attention to detail, technical expertise and Hying skills. handpicked as flight commander and is responsible for the combat training of 10 pilots. Managing over w as rVil t iff j "- -i Sgt. Richard Bunch young airmen -dedicated to the Sergeant Bunch has served as the first sergeant of three different squadrons making improvements in admin- continuos improvements of dormitory conditions. He has promoted and raised the quality, of life for over 60 individuals residing in two housing facilities. istrative, disciplinary, and morale processes w hile assigned to each organization. Sergeant Bunch is also an advocate for Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Photo by Gregg Witom Jvw C5 Col. Steve Hoog, 388th Fighter Wing commander and Lt. Col. Glenn Ferguson, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, tack technical sergeant stripes onto Robert Rafferty. 388th AMXS crew chief, who received a STEP promotion during the 388th FW Annual Awards ceremony, Feb. 7. A Stripes for Exceptional Performance is an instant promotion given only to those airmen who exemplify the highest military standards. Also during the Annual Awards ceremony, as with all wing commander's calls, the spirit award was presented to the squadron that demonstrated the most esprit de corps. The 388th Component Repair Squadron nabbed the award for their creativity in showing their readiness and spirit in "going to war." Squadron members were dressed up with web belts, harnesses, Kevlar helmets and canteens to show their warrior spirit. They're "rock steady, combat ready" chant helped clinch the award. f jg "1 Master Sgt. Bobby Booten load-bearin- g Master Sgt. Bobby Booten, 729th Air Control Squadron radar maintenance element chief, leads a 37 personnel work center responsible for 24 major pieces of equipment valued at $14.8 million. Sergeant Booten was Noncommissioned Officer of the Year staff Sgt. Amanda Light, 388th Operations Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of external intelligence training is an exceptional performer integral to the 388th OSS INTEL'S 12th Air Force Outstanding Intel Unit Award for CY F-1- according to his Civilian of the Year Category directs the wing's hazardous material program for the maintenance complex, three fighter squadrons, 729th Air II Mr. t -- Jimmy Hawkins- Hawkins, 388th Range Squadron group operations range systems test specialist, develops and executes acquisition, installation, and integration plans for ..1 1 com- state-of-the-- munication assets Civilian of the Year Category Mr. Clyde Rexroad, 388th Range Squadron current operations flight chief, supervises 19 personnel exercising direction of all Utah Test and Training Range plancoorning, e dination and training and test real-tim- COPY' IV July-Augu- By 1st Lt. Brandon Lingle AFPC Public Affairs - AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER -Airmen are now able to claim more than one race in their official personnel files because of a change in how the Air Force records racial information. Some airmen's race designations will automatically be changed to fit the new categories as part of the data conversion The new choices are part of a government-wid- e effort to standardize race data. "Everyone should take a minute to ensure their race preference is correct," said Colonel Gary Smith, chief of the field activities division here. In the past, airmen could select only one race preference, said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Knudson, superintendent of the military equal opportunity branch here. Now, they will be able to select any number of five newly designated race groups. The revamped choices are American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and White. hands-o- n according to his superiors. Airman Kneeberg has demonstrated strong leadership skills by supporting commander's programs such as volunteering to be a designated driver supporting the Airmen Against Drunk Driving organization. - The WASHINGTON Air Force will realign more than 13,000 active duty and ' civilian manpower authorizations now through the end of the decade to better iff support the service's highest priority mission require- ments, personnel Training Range, Dugway Proving Ground, North and South Ranges. Mr. Hawkins resolved a crisis following a lightning strike that caused a partial collapse of the Cedar Mountain leadership of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed Quick Reaction Test. Working with senior leaders from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Command he orchestrated UTTR efforts to put "This radar radome, which is used for air traffic control. He arranged for a crew to tear down the remaining radome to avoid damage to the radar dish. His actions prevented $500,000 in damage to the pedestal of the radar, according to his superiors. together the most aggressive test in the shortest amount of time in UTTR history, according to his superiors. Information from the test was used by national defense leaders in the nation's war against terrorism. officials said Dec. 19. - worth $30 million for the Utah Test and The easiest way for members to view and update their racial designation is on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight by clicking the "vMPF" button at http:www.alpc.ran-dolph.af.mil- . Race choices and descriptions of the new race categories are located on the "personal information" page under the he "records said. review" link, "Most people's current race selections will smoothly transfer into the new categories," said Knudson. Sergeant But some categories will automatically be "AsianPacific Islander" will be converted to the "Asian" category, plus the former "other" and "unknown" options will be switched to the new "declined to respond" category. The federal guidelines also call for a new "Hispanic and Latino" ethnic category, he said. Now all airmen will be asked whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino descent. More information is available by calling the Air Force Contact Center toll-fre- e at l 0 or DSN or by visiting your local personnel flight. 665-500- (Courtesy of AFPC) AF realigns 13k military - Mr. Clyde Rexroad Mr. Rexroad provid- ed Airman Kneeberg epitomizes the whole-perso- n concept and is a model airman, said his superiors. He mentors and provides advice to fellow airmen. Enhancing their desires for and a continuing career in the U.S. Air Force, Control Squadron and 388th Range Squadron. Mr. Christiansen revitalized the wing's hazardous waste minimization program resulting in reduced hazardous waste disposal by five percent and increased recycled material by 10 percent. Mr. Jimmy v V.. according to his supe race, ethnic categories st Robert Christiansen ProgTam. Mr. Christiansen Civilian of the Year Category : Mr. I Command Environmental Compliance Assessment and Management I mission's success, Air Force identifies new er Senior Airman Robert Kneeberg Kneeberg's performance and technical abilities are well above current grade and skill level, protection specialist, manages the environmental compliance program for the 388th FW and ensured the wing was ready for the Air Force Material making prudent decisions, he ensured the Sergeant Booten earned the wings 2002 Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Comm. Electronic of Supervisor-Managthe Year Award; his unit's Senior NCO of the Quarter for March-Apr- il 2002 and 2002. intelligence training. Sergeant Light is also involved in the community. She has tutored several sixth grade students in English and coordinates the fundraising for a local Big Brother and Big Sister program. Maintenance Squadron electronic warfare systems journeyman, Senior Airman Robert Mr. Robert 3. riors. - Staff Sgt. Amanda Light- A 388th Component Christiansen, 388th Maintenance Operation Squadron environmental ft effectiveness of external 2002, according to her superiors. Sergeant Light has created pilot intelligence training tests to reflect updated threat data and comply with Air Combat Command guidance. These tests are used to , evaluate an 6 pilot's readiness for combat and Airman of the Quarter requested by name to fill a night-shiradar site commander position for exercise Angry Warrior 02-0Controlling all exercise scenarios and i restructuring of manpower positions isn't an attempt to reduce our overall end strength," said Brig. Gen. W. P. "Bear" Ard, director of Air Force Manpower and Organization at the Pentagon. "Rather, it's an effort to shape our workforce to meet our future steady state." The increased operations tempo, workload and security requirements created by the global war on terror and budgetary realities have prompted the Air Force to review its authorizations to create a workforce that is better prepared to meet future challenges and missions, General Ard said. These changes will identify the functions and job types that are central to meet the needs of the Air Force, specifically, the stressed career fields such as security forces and intelligence, The major commands are working to identify approximately 9,300 military and 3,900 civilian positions, which will be realigned. The active duty positions identified will result in more airmen being available to perform expeditionary duties such as operations, maintenance and combat support. This will help the Air Force relieve some of the stress on the most critical career fields, General Ard said. The civilian positions identified by this review will facilitate work force shaping. "Throughout this whole process, we're committed to making the impact on our people as minimal as possible," General Ard said. People whose positions have been identified for realignment will be able to take full advantage of the wide array of personnel programs available. Some of these programs include career job reservation and retraining opportunities for military members and priority placement, vol- retirement untary early and the authority voluntary separation incentive gram for civilians. pro- It's important that the Air Force's manpower authorizations accurately reflect the military and civilian workforce because every- thing from deployment task-ing- s to accession programs are based on manpower authorizations, he said. Today's challenges have forced the Air Force to make some tough choices, according to William H. Booth, senior advisor in the Directorate of Manpower and Organization. "We've been directed by the secretary of defense to conduct a review of our entire workforce in order to accurately determine our ability to meet mission Mr. requirements Booth said. If the final results of our ongoing review support an increase in airmen, the secretary of the Air Force will have the information needed to go to the secretary of defense and Congress to ask for an increase in end strength, he explained. "Getting our manpower levels right is essential to shaping the force to meet the challenges of the 21st century," General Ard said. (Courtesy of AWN) |