OCR Text |
Show Twice Monthly 388th Fighter Wing supplement to the Hilltop Times Thursday, April 8,1999 gears Woinig QM vZ)D (LQp) I V 1 i By Capt. James R. Wilson 388th FW Public Affairs Office 4. A full compliment of training venues, readiness exercises, overseas deployments and an airshow featuring the Thunderbirds will keep 388th Fighter Wing airmen on the go in the new quarter. The 729th Air Control Squadron set the pace for a hectic quarter when approximately 100 members of the unit departed Hill Air Force Base for Southwest Asia March 29 on a y deployment. While deployed, the unit will detect, track and identify air traffic. If necessary, they will direct allied forces in action against enemy targets. Squadron members perform combat control missions by collecting radar input " j-- .J 90-da- from a variety of forms. land-base- d 'vo:'-- v and airborne plat- ! Members of the 4th Fighter Squadron apparently will not have the opportunity to join forces with the 'Angry Warriors' over the Persian Gulf skies as previously expected. The 4th FS, scheduled for a y deployment to the 'sandbox' later this month, will remain home conducting normal training operations ensuring a high readiness posture for future exercises and deployments. The 421st FS 'Black Widows' return to Hill Saturday after supporting a k Green Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev. Green Flag, a complex electronic warfare exercise, allows pilots and maintainers to 45-da- two-wee- ! llVrfriiilKy - - .. - - t. Graduation The following thirteen airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing gradu- Cellular Phones 388th Fighter Wing members are prohibited from carrying cellular phones and beepers on duty unless these items are required to perform Air Force duties per Air Force Instruction 36-290- 3. Fighter Country The next issue of Fighter Country, your wing newspaper, will be published April 29. warfighting tactics. The strategic philosophy behind Green Flag training was first devel- oped after the Vietnam War when the Air Force looked for ways to improve pilot sur- vivability. :; "It was our opportunity to provide train- ing benefits for the other guys," said Lt. Col. Jeff Harrell, 421st FS commander., "We and almost 100 people brought eight to Nellis for this exercise. Our primary role has been has been as adversaries providing 1 6 during a recent preflight inspection. realistic and effective training for the Blue friendly forces. The 'Black Widows' will head north of F-1- 6s See OPSTEMPO, Page C face as new squadron commander By Airman I st Class Cindy Richards Editor, Fighter Country ated from Airman Leadership School March 31. Michael E. Brown, Shiela C. Cregger, Steven R. Marrufo and Dale W. Tolgo, 388th Maintenance Squadron; Joseph A, Carello, 729th Air Control Squadron; Kimberly K. Carter, 388th Operations Support Squadron; Duwayne A. Douthett and Juan A. Gonzalez, 34th Fighter Squadron; William C. Fields, Jessie L. Westfall and Matthew C. Yates, 421st FS; and Cristolyn V. Ingalls and Brent W. Johnson, 4th FS. evaluate weapons systems and practice Photo by Airman J st Class Cindy Richards F-- 388th MXS welcomes, familiar j - Airman I st Class Elliott Weir, 4th Fighter Squadron crew chief, looks for defects to the seat of an 71 i I The 388th Maintenance Squadron :M wel- u comes a new commander in a ceremony April 15 at 9 a.m. Lt. Col. Vic Wager will replace Lt. Col. Rolando "Pete" Robles as the new maintechange-of-com-ma- . by f ch tenance Squadron from December 1994 to August 1995. "It wouldn't be right to credit one assignment or job as preparing me for this assignment. It has been the combination of all assignments and people who I have worked Advertisements cortaned herein do rxoonsStuleendoreenient V nd nance squadron commander. "I've always viewed the maintenance orgasquadron as a professional, nization and I'm looking forward to joining the team," said Colonel Wager. "My goal is to take care of the men and women of the 388th Maintenance Squadron, to make the squadron better than it is how and have a good time doing it," he added. Colonel Wager has been a member of Air Force family for the past 1 7 years and the has a long line of experience to help him function in his newest command role. Among these credits, he has spent the past two years as the squadron maintenance officer of the 34th Fighter Squadron here at Hill AFB. At Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, he was the commander of the 366th Transportation Squadron from August 1995 to July 1996 and the maintenance supervisor, 366th Maintop-not- ft ,AV the Department of Defense, Photo by Airman 1st Class Cindy Richards Lt.Col.Vic Wager, 34th Fighter Squadron maintenance officer, reviews an 1 6 Technical Order with Chief Master Sgt. George Nicholaou, 34th FS maintenance superintendant. F-- with, which has helped to prepare me for tak- Honesty, working well with others, being on the responsibilities as commander ofjing fair minded and a good listener are cer- in traits Colonel Wager feels are essential the maintenance squadron," said Colonel " ". .' to good leaders, . j j Wager. 'Lieutenant Colonel Wager is a! sea- The biggest challenge in transitioning from squadron maintenance officer to com- soned professional and has been a part of mander is going to be grasping the size and various maintenance squadrons for almost the diversity of the squadron, said the colo- - his whole career. There is no doubt that he nel. will do a great job, said Colonel Robles. WaColonel Robles, who has been com"I have a lot to learn," said Colonel I I like like mander "But hands of the unit for the past three years, dirty. ger. getting my making the mission happen and I've always departs for Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., where had a desire to become the commander of a he will be the 56th Operations Group deputy i ; big squadron." : commander of maintenance. ; |