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Show tit ir ; ir i , I f If r x It ei . .... J -- Hill J v - is i. i If .it I ' it I f v h .j,T r .1 419th Fighter Wing Supplement to the Hilltop Times AFB, Utah Newslinen Volume 18 Number 2, February 20, 2003 84056-541- 0 IMP, k . f I vivfv - i ..j : -- B Overseas Donations and Letters Prohibited Department of Defense policy states that letters and donated goods are prohibited from being sent to deployed members overseas. Previous programs such as "Operation Dear Abby" and "Any Service Member" have been suspended due to force protection concerns. While DoD is working hard to educate the general public on this matter, there have been cases where military members have undermined these efforts by providing (deployed) organizational mailing addresses to community groups seeking to send care packages. Family members, friends and citizens are asked to such donations to other worthy causes. For more information, contact the 419th Public Affairs Office at well-intend- ed ct 777-271- 3. v ' w 0'v -- r- 0 B Job Rights Two basic rights granted to reservists by federal law are the right to deploy and the right to return to his or her job. Employers must allow reservists and Guardsmen to report to their military station when orders are received without taking personal or sick leave. Reservists, however, must notify their employer of the date, length of time he or she will be on orders and a point of contact in the 419th FW. For information on Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve issues, contact Master Sgt. Marva Harper, 419th Employer Support of the Guard and r 777-78- - 3 &ritmi i'i im mT 'ii. Wnii Photo by Staff Sgt Martha Hill Senior Airman Amanda Woods, 419th Services Flight, presents Mr. Seiko Arakake with a 419th coin during a recent visit to the Salt Lake Veterans Affairs Hospital. Airman Woods and other members of the 419th Fighter Wing spent several hours talking with local veterans as part of the Air Force Reserve's ongoing community outreach program. Reserve representative at Employers with questions should contact 1 Mr. Jerry Derrick at 5 775-242- w . 6. irmen visit hospitalized veterans . B Employer Recognition America is relying on its guard and reserve forces now more than ever, and employers of today's Citizen Airmen continue to bear hardships to support the nation. Secretary of the Air Force James Roche and Chief of Staff General John Jumper want to thank employers of reservists personally by sending each of them a letter and an Air Force employer recognition lapel pin modeled after the "E" flags of World War II. 419th reservists are asked to submit information on worthy employers on line (http:www.yourguardiansoffreedom.co mthanks). H Financial Help Activated reservists are eligible for emergency aid from the Air Force Aid Society for. such things as basic living needs, car repairs, childcare problems, serious illness or death of an immediate family member, and other problems associated with an activation. To contact the AFAS, call Master Sgt. Cindy Ross, 419th Family Support repre3 sentative at or visit the AFAS website at www.afas.org by Maj. James R. Wilson 419th FW Public Affairs Office Airmen of all ranks at bases across the United States participated Feb. 9 to 15 in the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans by visiting their local Veterans Affairs hospitals. The purpose of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Program is to pay tribute to hospitalized veterans; increase community awareness of the role of the VA medical center; and to encourage citizens to volunteer at Veterans Affairs facilities. "Our great nation is richly blessed with ordinary citizens who, without asking, became heroes because they were willing to make a personal sacrifice to protect and defend the freedoms and security we enjoy today," said Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff. "This is an endearing and heartfelt way to say 'we care' and 'thank you' to those hospitalized veterans who have served and sacrificed to keep our nation free." Reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing traveled to the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center Thursday bringing with them valentines and unit patches for hospitalized veterans. "By nature, I'm the kind of person who really likes to talk a lot," said Senior Airman Jessica Rodriguez, 419th Military Personnel Flight specialist. "This time I wanted to listen." Airman Rodriguez said the veterans appreciated seeing military members in uniform and loved to share stories about the time they spent serving the country. For most of the vets, the time spent in the military was a defining period in their lives. There was, however, an irony behind their visit one that became apparent almost immediately to Airman Rodriguez. "Almost every vet we talked to wanted to thank us for coming to see them," she said. "It sur prised us since we were "Almost every vet we really there to say 'Thanks' to them." talked to wanted to thank While the outing by us for coming to see them. Hill's reservists was a It surprised us since we're definite highlight for many, another group of really there to say Thanks' visitors managed to capto them." ture the attention of at least one eager veteran. Senior Airman Jessica "I remember one of the l Rodriquez, 419th hospital administrators saying 'We have three Flight specialist lovely ladies here from the Air Force' to a gentleman who was carrying a Polaroid camera," said Airman Rodriguez. "Don't you want to have your picture taken with them? He smiled and said, 'Oh, no thanks. ..I'm looking for the Jazz girls.'" - Military-Personne- See VETERANS, continued on page B 777-966- U Media Queries Any media requests made to Air Force Reservists must be coordinated through the 419th FW Public Affairs Office. This policy, which is required by Air Force Reserve Command, is in place for operational security purposes. Call the Public Affairs Office at 3 prior to any contact with media representatives for topics which focus on the military or are related to reserve duty with the 419th Fighter Wing. 777-271- 466th pilots keep night flying skills honed for combat by Stephanie Johns 419th FW Public Affairs Office 466th Fighter Squadron pilots know too well the myriad of training that into putting bombs on a target. Each Air Force Reserve fighter pilot is required to fly eight sorties a month to retain currency and proficiency. The 466th normally flies an average of 60 night sorties a month during the winter. But because more than half of the wing's pilots and maintenance crew are currently deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, fewer Reserve will depart Hill Air Force Base after dark this The F-1- New Name Tags New name tags for the blue service uniform (except mess dress) may be worn now, but will be mandatory Oct. 1. Enlisted personnel should contact their squadron clothing issue representative or first sergeant to place their order. Officers can order their nametag through Clothing Sales, Bldg. 420, located on 6th Street. Allow three to five weeks from the time the order is placed for delivery. Defense, the Department of the r Air Force or spring. "Normally we fly nights from November through February," said Maj. Bill Lyons, 466th FS chief of scheduling and training. "Because many of our resources are deployed overseas, we've had to curtail our night sorties substantially." When pilots from the 466th FS are supportzones over northern or southern ing the no-fl- y Iraq, they are flying in shifts to provide 'round-the-cloccoverage. Although, most of the pilots would say night flying doesn't differ k' "The main difference is, there Is less visual acuity flying at night. It's almost like looking through a straw when you're wearing the NVG's." -- Capt. Benjamin Harrison, 466th FS Scheduling Officer much from flying during the day, all would agree that proficiency with Night Vision Goggles or NVG's is a must. Without these goggles, the pilots would not be able to night train to the extent they can today. The goggles, which are mounted on the pilot's helmet, are a critical addition to the pilot's flying gear. Although somewhat cumbersome, it gives them an upper hand when fighting the enemy at night. "The main difference is, there is less visual acuity flying at night," said Capt. Benjamin Harrison, 466th FS scheduling officer. "It's almost like looking through a straw when we're wearing the NVGs." There is a significant amount of difference flying in the dark with the NVG's than flying at night without them. The goggles take the guess work out of night missions. "Before the wing had NVG's, (lying sorties at night made it difficult to see the other aircraft," said Major Lyons. "It was like trying to drive down the street at night facing oncoming cars with their headlights turned off." "The goggles enable us to see lights as far as 30 miles away," said Captain Harrison. "Whether it's a full moon or a small ray of light, the goggles are able to magnify images so they're recognizable." The 466th FS received the first pairs of NVG's the fall of 1996. Use of the goggles has increased the pilots level of lethality tenfold said Major Lyons. r, As during the day, the pilots train in and aerial refueling over the Utah Test and Training Range. take off and landing times depend Night-tim- e See NIGHT FLYING, continued on page C Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. Advertisements contained herein do not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Utah. Everything advertised Is available without regard to race, color, religion, sex or other nonmerit factors of the purchase, user or patron. Hill AFB, |