OCR Text |
Show mtth, mrrdA HillAFB, Utah INSIDE: Tl if II 84056-582- 4 in o Times top www.hilltoptimes.com hilltop.pahill.af.mil Vol.61 No. 15, April 24, 2003 Two by Airman 1st Class Micah Garbarino Hilltop Times staff Speaker imitates Orviiie Wright Page 2 Moving outside the 'habit zone' Page 2 E3 vifus patient infected, both recovered and back to work SARS E--3.ll Test results confirmed Monday by the Cen- the Davis County Public Health Department withters for Disease Control and Prevention show that out incidence, and continued to recover. Both patients are now fully recovered, in good two retired Air Force officers, who recently returned health and have returned to work. No one living to Utah from a trip to Asia, had severe acute reswith the patients has been infected, and no new piratory syndrome, and have now recovered. One patient works as a contractor on base and cases of SARS have been reported from their conthe other works of f base. One patient was seen at tacts. Any new cases would probably come from the Hill AFB clinic, and the other was seen off abroad rather than stem from Hill AFB, said Screws. "There is no risk of spread at Hill AFB or the base, according to Col. (Dr.) Charles Williams, 75th Medical Group commander. surrounding community," Williams said, who "One patient came to us March 24 with recovpraised the clinic and laboratory staff for their We since the outset of SARS worldwide. in vigilance ering upper respiratory symptoms. got SARS is a new disease that has recently been touch with Davis County Public Health Department, and tests were sent to the Center for Disreported in Asia, North America, and Kurope. ease Control and Prevention. Despite the CDC's According to the CDC, as of April 13, about 190 low suspicion due to the absence of fever, we moncases of SARS had been reported in the United itored the patient for SARS," said Maj. (Dr.) Melinda States. Screws, the treating physician. "The tests for Anyone returning to Hill AFB from high-risSARS are new and unfortunately the results take SARS endemic areas (such as in some Asian couna while." tries), and presenting with upper respiratory The second patient was directly handled through symptoms, will be screened as part of our routine k approach to the prevention the spread ol SAKS u! in Utah, Williams said. SARS signs include, a lever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, headaches, an overall teel ing of discomfort and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms, overall closely mimicking other respiratory infections, including the flu, said Williams. People traveling abroad should be cautious, avoid close contact with known SARS patients, and wash their hands frequently. Anyone with the symptoms of SARS should consult their primary care physician and report any travel to SAKS related areas, or contact with anyone who has displayed symptoms ol SARS, Screws said. Those who have had direct, close contact with an infected person or health-carworkers who did not use infection control procedures while treating SARS are at the greatest risk, said Screws. e See Virus, page 4 649th returns from deployment mm4fl by 2nd Lt. Caroline Wellman IL Hilltop Times staff The 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron's team returned Friday after supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Deployed for over eight weeks, all 14 members F-1- Fisher rescued downed pilot of the crew were happy to be home. Page 6 The squadron sent two teams, three Reporting domestic violence Page 7 Games mui kujj uciycu International Photos by a insuiB nidi iiieir iduiurs receive a pauiouc welcoming ai Salt Lake City Airport. Staff Sgt. Maurice Milstead, below, holds his daughter Samantha shortly after reuniting with his family. Fourteen members of the 649th returned Friday after an eight-weedeployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. vi ian i laiiici k ww Page 9 A J. Q NCO 0 aircraft battle repair F-1- familiar. It's a great feeling, but a little intimidating at the same time." - uaugincia Hill's Highland A-1- teams and one team to the area of responsibility. Capt. Mark Emiley, ABDR engineer, described the feeling of coming home: "You get used to seeing a whole lot of nothing over there. It's dirt for as far as you can see. And then you get back to America and it's everything that's F-1- 6 J., -- VI - a Academy graduates "I couldn't be more proud of this team," said Lt. Col. Craig Hall, 649 CLSS commander, shortly after the team arrived at the Salt Lake City International Airport. "It's great to have them home again. It's great for their families and it's great for our country. But we've got a lot more guys over there that we need to get home too." Another of the squadron's ABDR teams, an team, returned Sunday afternoon. But the squadron's work in F-- support of the war isn't over yet. The other teams remain in the area of responsibility supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. With the pace of Operation Iraqi Freedom slowing, the Ogden Air Logistics Center is taking inventory and figuring out what contributions the center's directorates and squadrons made. For the 649th CLSS, the Center's aircraft battle damage repair and crash damage repair experts, there is no ambi- guity in that'contribution. The squadron deployed 83 of their personnel in support of current operations. The squadron, which routinely repairs and l 17s, travels in 13 to 15 man autonomous teams that include an engineer from the Center. The teams go to different active duty, Reserve, Guard and foreign, and forward operating bases to provide commanders with the maintenance expertise not generally available in most 180-perso- n Page 10 s, )':,.yi1 my Traveling with TRICARE Pages 11 A A-1- F-- Senior Airman Jennifer Smith welcomes home boyfriend Staff Sgt. Jason Topick. m maintenance groups. One of the ABDR teams is currently working on the that made headlines two weeks ago in Iraq. When B See Squadron, page 4 A-1- A-1- 0 0 Commander emphasizes transformation, safety by Bill Orndorff s, Hilltop Times editor mt tntmtt Sergeant shoes horses Page 13 Speaking to overflow crowds April 16, Maj. Gen. Scott Bergren praised Hill AFB workers for their efforts supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom and encouraged them to streamline work processes. Bergren's annual Spring Commander's Call was conducted in the Base Theater for all military and civilian employees during four sessions. He presented Air Force level awards and discussed important issues like transformation, terrorism awareness, security, readiness and safety. The general explained how Hill has been a major player throughout current Operations, respond- ing quickly, in one instance, when Air Combat Command requested more to support the conflict. "Our people in the section incredibly popped out 23 aircraft in 10 weeks, an average of seven days early, with almost no defects," he said. "ACC was very complimentary of the work you did to support the warfighters." Bergren shared current war stories how airpower without much publicity was used during a recent dust storm to bomb Republican Guard positions in Iraq, reducing their power weapon-wise- . "When our ground troops reached Baghdad, there was very little organized military resistance. You can thank our Air Force for that, you can thank our s A-1- COPY our for that, you can thank Hill AFB for that because you're the ones that pumped those aircraft out," the general said. "You can be very, very proud of your accomplishments. You did whatever it took whatever our Air Force asked us to do." Mentioning additional base warfighter support during ongoing combat operations, Bergren said Hill fielded smart weapons capability for the a phenomenal one year ahead of schedule; fixed a software problem with JDAM weapons on within 30 hours; configured the to drop weapons; and built and deployed 5,500 munitions pallets weighing 8,500 tons, plus 82 tons of other cargo. Emphasizing that 2003 is The Year of the Air Ixigistic Center commander encouraged every Hill member to find ways to simplify their work processes to save costs and increase efficiency. He related the example of another AFMC base that towed aircraft to different areas for various maintenance phases until finally an employee suggested parking the aircraft and doing all the maintenance work in one area. The result significantly reduced flow days and the job was finished quicker thus optimally saving the Air Force and taxpayer's money. "It was so obvious and lean is that way. We just need a little instruction and to get involved and make it happen here at Hill to remain competi- - 0 F-1- F-1- 6 F-1- A-1- 0 S laser-guide- d tive today," Bergren said. "The environment we work in has changed. We compete with outside industry for the work we do, and if they do it better or more efficiently, it doesn't make good business sense for the Air Force to bring the work to us. The commander then highlighted another base transformation success story citing the example of the Brake Housing Iran Cell. Bergren showed how workers here cut their work area in half, reduced the amount of work processes by 90 percent, cut down flow time and batch size, and shortened the distance various parts travel. "If we can see this kind of dramatic results in one section of this ALC, we can achieve this in all sections and nobody could beat us nobody could be better than we are," he said. "We have to do it not just in manufacturing and repair. everywhere You can lean out any operation we've got." The general also stressed other pertinent issues: Force Protection is paramount: the base conducts daily random antiterrorism measures, based on higher force protection conditions; does a 100 percent II) check at all gates; has a barrier plan for selected buildings; trains employees; and conducts vulnerability assessments. He added that construction on the South, West and Roy Gates would start in June to aid in increased force protection compliance. B See Commandor, page 4 |