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Show nl n Finn rr -- iv .i Hill AFB, mew x w. y Utah w y Vol. 84056-582- 4 54 No. 14, April 15, 1999 ..... HMHM .. by Steven R. Ford Hilltop Times staff For their efforts of the past in the skies year, keeping and returning other damaged planes to operational condition, the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron has been named the best in the Air Force. "We competed at the Air Force Materiel Command level first, F-1- 6s INSIDE: ACC commander retiring Page 2 primarily against other CLSS, f Events celebrate heritage Page 4 Secretaries keep offices operating Page 5 some avionics work and eat TSP nest egg? Will Y2K Page one at each air logistics center. We won at the AFMC level," said Capt. Brooks McFarland of the award process. "We then competed against one other unit at the Air Force level. We're the best Combat Logistics Support Squadron in the Air Force, at least for this year." The 649th deals mostly with structures, but they also do 6 per- form system upgrades and modifications. "It's an important job," said MSgt. Del Lyddon. "To me, this is the most elite unit in the Air Force. This is the only place we do this kind of work. We do a lot of pioneering repair pro- i. Hill attorney honored Page 9 r Food drive Saturday Page 13 cedures. This is the highest level of expertise that you can attain in the 6 community." "This is the only unit in the Air Force that has a crash damage repair program," McFarF-1- land said. "As far as sustainability for the Air Force's 6 fleet, these guys do a tremendous job in taking an aircraft that nor- F-1- mally would be sent to the bone yard and putting it back in the air as a combat asset." At the moment, the best CLSS in the Air Force is directly involved in the NATO efforts in Kosovo, just having com- bound pleted work on three for Aviano AB, Italy. A fourth, tail number 2026, is scheduled F-1-6s Employee ideas earn awards Page 14 O Earth Week celebrated Pages 16-1- 7 Programs help stop abuse Page 19 s Page 21 Recycled Paper for delivery on May 1, ahead of schedule and under budget. According to Lyddon, the repair crew replaced several important bulkheads on 2026 and performed a "Falcon 15-m- an up modification" on the aircraft. The work took seven months and 16,500 man-hour- to s that won't be repaired 6s "These are high performance aircraft and they the pilots expect incredible things from them," Lyddon said. "Everything we do matters to the man in that cockpit." In 1998 alone, the 649 CLSS generated over $7 million in revenue for the Ogden Air Logis- B See Repairs, page 7 li ' J by 2nd Lt Kristen Skopeck Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Senior Air Forte Materiel Command leadership received anthrax vaccinations April 9 to convey support for the inoculation of Air Force members. Gen. George T. Babbitt, AFMC commander, was the first to roll up his sleeve for the vaccination while several commanders, directors and chiefs waited their turn. Everyone receiving the shot Bowlers rock in Thunder Alley Photo by Steven R. Ford TSgt. Travis Cuochi of the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron riding the back of an due to inordinate cost, strips the bird of useable parts for future repairs. was given an information booklet and a schedule for the second shot in the primary series of six. An annual booster will ensure those vaccinated maintain immunity against anthrax. "There's been a lot of controversy about this shot," Babbitt said. "It is the position of the Air Force and medical experts that the controversy is a result of misinformation. Having the commanders get their shots is a demonstration of the trust we have in the vaccine. They have proven it is a mature vaccine and there is no reason not to want it or take it." Lt. Gen. Charles Roadman, Air Force surgeon general, reported to the House Com- i'j' mittee on Government Reform March 24 and said it is his duty to protect the health of airmen against the greatest biological enemy existing today, anthrax. He said he is convinced the anthrax vaccine is safe because g science of the v 1 o. , .jw.'.': - I long-standin- supporting it. - "Many years ago, people were unfamiliar with the smallpox and polio vaccines," Roadman said. "Although some may have initially feared the vaccines, people quickly understood the consequences if they were not inoculated. Already generations have forgotten polio, diph- theria and typhoid because vaccines have made them feel safe in forgetting. This discussion is being framed wrong we must fear the disease, not the immunization." Roadman commented that Hf, mm&m "uffMSmgiMmm :mr:m& ' 1 ' m!::-- fymmwrnffas xm:-:i2''- :( mm. jmrnsm' m j ' y I j - v - - - Photo by Bill Orndorff mis- information about the vaccine is causing undue fear. He believes little has been published about the horrifying consequences of contracting anthrax. The Department of Defense posted accurate information on anthrax and the vaccine on their Web site, Sr 'K A -- Brig. Gen. Thomas O'Riordan, Ogden ALC vice commander, rolls up his sleeve for the first in a series of anthrax vaccinations, given by Sgt. Robin Abrams. "This vaccination is important to forces protection," the general said. "It's safe and there's no reason for concern." "Having leadership step for- ward is important," said AFMC Command Chief Master Sgt. Mazza. "Getting this shot is part of readiness and force protection. We have to protect ourselves so we are ready to go where needed, when needed." Since the beginning of April, c AFMC's senior leaders are ing 66,000 other airmen who join-Mar- have begun the inoculation series. H See Anthrax, page 7 |