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Show ft - i f r-s- n .: ' ....j. 419th Fighter Wing Supplement to the Hilltop Times AFB, Utah Hill CUNewslineCZ Volume 18 Number 4, May 22, 2003 84056-541- 0 Exercise tests 419th's capabilities B Promotions The following wing members have been promoted to the rank indicated: Chief master sergeant: Jack Ryder. Senior master sergeant: Reed Findlay and Janet Sammis. Master sergeant: Gary Boerns, Danielle Burke, Clair Schultz, Ralph Thompson, and Brent Tribett. Technical sergeant: Jason Barlow, Seth Beaudoin, Craig Benson, ii 1 I W ; Albert Blackmon, Brett Carbo, Mark Osweiler, Rodney Ruiz, and Robert Vancanneyt. Staff sergeant: Bartholomew Bates, Jeramy Berkholder, Brian Bennion, Juan Cabrera, Paul Cocanour, David Falls, Lewis Jessop, Thomas Miller, Marcus Owens, Larry Pehrson, Russell Reynolds, Shawn Stewart, Robert Thompson, and Samuel Tobler. Senior airman: Benjamin Clark, Alan Burton, Jay Carlton, Ryan Jensen, Lucas Mace, Steven Morley, Paul Shaw, Tyson Smothers, and Matthew Thorsted. Airman first class: Clayton Harper. CCAF 0 r t- , 0 - .fv I ;y ' V! o(f r? Graduates The following members graduated from the Community College of the Air Force, May 5. : - .i Senior Master Sergeant Elizabeth Atisme; Master Sergeants Grady Forte and Daniel Hoyle; Technical Sergeants Brian Anderson, James Byrd, and Mark Staff Sergeants Rebecca Howell; Howard, Matthew Page,, and Phillip Rustad; Senior Airman Melissa Stolz. s . v x Photo by Stephanie Johns B Commissary Gift Program A new commissary gift program could give reservists the opportunity to help others in need. This program allows members of the Armed Forces to purchase and donate commissary gift certificates. The commissary gift certificates can only be redeemed by authorized shoppers who can spend them at any of nearly 280 commissaries worldwide. With this certificate members can get the products they need at a great savings. Donations can be made through the website at http:www.commissaries.com or by calling the toll free number The certificates are good for one year from the date of issue. A standard cost of $4.95 covers the cost of handling, printing and mailing the gift certificates. B Stop Loss Update Air Force members who were affected by the Stop Loss initiated on March 12, 2003 are now released. Servicing military personnel flights will contact released members with a previously approved or suspended retirement or separation date to review their options and establish a new retirementseparation date. For more information, contact the 419th MPF Customer service office at 3 or 777-002- 777-002- 4. B SGLI Rates Decrease for both Premium rates Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Family Member SGLI will decrease July 1. This is an automatic reduction and no update action is required. As members who a reminder, previously elected to decline or reduce coverage must complete a certification of good health, SGLV 8285 for SGLI and SGLV 8285A for FSGL1, before restoring or increasing SGLI or FSGLI coverage. To see the current as well as reduced rate charts, visit the SGLI web site at http:www.insurance.va.govsglisitesgli. htm B Correction Staff Sgt. Heather Wokurka's name and rank were incorrect in the last issue of the Hcadsllp. Sergeant Wokurka passed her CDC end of course exam with a score of 90 percent or higher. Congratulations on a job well done! During the Phase Operational Readiness Exercise, guards were placed at building entrances as security measures to ensure only authorized personnel entered. Above Tech. Sgt.D6yleMcKlnney, 419th Maintenance Squadron has his identification badge checked by 2 Lt. James Harrison, 419th Operations Group, before he is allowed to gain access to the building. I by Ma. James R. Wilson 419th FW Public Affairs Office A good effort overall that's how the senior evaluator assessed the 419th Fighter Wing's performance following a Phase I Operational Readiness Exercise May y The exercise was intended to test the wing in a number of areas after officials received a mock deployment tasking order from higher headquarters. This, and subsequent exercises scheduled over the next 12 months, are needed to prepare the 419th for an Operational Readiness Inspection in May 2004. The scenario required members to palletize cargo and process through a 16-1- 9. four-da- mobility line as though they were being sent to an overseas location. "If you put this in terms of Unit Training Assembly days to prepare, there's a fixed amount of time left to perfect these skills before demonstrating them to higher headquarters," said Col. Jack Reed, senior officer f or the 4 9th Exercise Evaluation Team. "Our attitude w as to take a hard look now and see what we have to tweak before practicing again. Clearly, we would expect to see improvement before the next phase I exercise in November." Evaluators saw the effort as a good first step and an opportunity for all to get familiar with grading criteria that has changed in recent years. While the See EXERCISE, PageC Medics get up close, personal view of war by Lt. Col. Wayne Sumpter 407th Expeditionary Medical Squadron OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM - Imagine a delay in of takeoff because not maintenance, or weather or waiting for the flight crew to arrive, but because a firefight at your final destination makes it too dangerous to land. That's what two reservists from the 419th Medical Squadron had to overcome when they arrived at Tallil Air Base, Iraq shortly after the base was captured in March. Capt. (Dr) Brian Duncan and Staff Sgt. Aaron Kennedy are both traditional reservists with the unit. When he's not working as an emergency physician from Boise, Idaho, Captain Duncan serves as a flight surgeon for the 419th. Staff Sgt. Aaron Kennedy, an aeromedical services technician with the reserve, is employed as an operating room technician in nearby Salt Lake City. When the Utah reservists arrived at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in January, they never imagined they would "be the medical "tip of the spear" for the first Air Force airpower flying from a captured Iraqi air base. When the U.S. led offensive against the Iraq commenced, the two knew this would be an experience like no other. The hot bumpy flight began with an unexpected delay of two hours until coalition forces could overcome enemv around the airfield. Once they got aboard next aircraft, they experienced a turbulent, hot and noisy ride aboard a lights-ou- t the 0 route at low level. Nearly tossed out of the aircraft at Tallil, its engines still running they ran out onto the muggy, dusty ramp of a blacked-ou- t base. They were fully decked out in body armor. Kevlar helmet and war gear. Hying a See Page zig-za- g MEDICS, B Community pays tribute to military by Stephanie Johns 419th FW Public Affairs the time the war with Iraq began, community members banned and showed their support for those serving in the Middle East. Care packages, pocket flags, cards, letters and yellow ribbons were among many items sent or to show Utah troops supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom their community is standing behind them. Now that most of Utah's military have returned from the war, community organizations have scheduled events and celebrations to appropriately welcome them home. "These community organizations wants to show their appreciation to the all the military From who risk their lives and for their family members who are often left behind," said Capt. Monica Bland, Deputy Director Ogden of Air Logistics "Ail branches of the service and anyone In the community are welcome." -- Mr. Claude McKinney, Chairman of the Tribute Hill Center, Committee Air Force Base. The local Military Affairs Committee is the event. "Salute to our Nation's Defenders". The event is scheduled on May 30 at Centennial Park. Hill Air Force Base. The family oriented event begins at 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Along with the many activities. Music with a disc jockey, carnival rides and games for the children. A picnic style dinner will be served. Cotton candy, ice cream and other refreshments will be available as well. Committee officials expect approximately 2.5(H) military members and their families to attend this event, but would like to see more. All military and their families are invited free of charge, The second event. "Tribute to Utah's Guard and Reserve," is scheduled for next month at the University of Utah's Stilwell Field. ( See TRIBUTE, PageC Unless otherwise Indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. Advertisements contained herein do not constitute an endorsement by the Department ot Defense, the Department of the Air Force or AFB, Utah. Everything advertised Is available without regard to race, color, religion, sex or other nonmerit factors of the purchase, user or patron. Hill |