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Show O September 9, 1999 conn in amder recognize d for program Automated ATO system eases computations for flights, produces worksheets for tasked missions By Airman 1st Class Cindy Huston Editor, Fighter Country Lt. Col. Randy Peterson, 388th Operations Support Squadron commander, received a plaque from the C2 Battlelab at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Aug. 1 7 as a thank you for his help in developing the Hill Air Force Base Air Tasking Order (ATO) defragger. The computer program converts an ATO to concise planning worksheets and charts summarizing ATO taskings. "The program automates some of the tedious O work involving computations oftakeoff times, munitions expenditures, and exposures to enemy threat systems," said Colonel Peterson.. "It also enhances wing battle management, by pro- ducing sortie-trackin- g worksheets and a visualization of the ATO through a 'fly out' of all ATO tasked missions," he added. It took Colonel Peterson almost two years to develop the program and send it up to the 388th Fighter Wing leadership for review. Once it received leadership approval, the program was sent to the battlelab at Hurlburt 71 o o - - r' I'M;" SSSSSSSSSSSSS? iiililll lliWpll commander. iiiiiiiaitfci! wmrnmmmmmmmm Other capabilities such as summaries of weapons ? ; ex- penditures, fuel consumption, flying window, takeoff and landing times will help wing leadership to forecast potential logistics and airfield traffic-floproblems, to the colonel. according wmm llllllifc - sif, wmmm:m Photo by Senior Airman Sara Banda w Lt. Col. Randy Peterson The number may be going down but even one is too many: look for signs and seek help too precious and we need to look out for each other and work together to eliminate suicides. Even one is too many. "jLriie is Field, Fla., where they decided to develop the program and distribute it throughout the Air Force. "This program provides an ability to quickly and accurately break out wing takings during combat operations," said Col. Ronald Oholendt, 388th FW vice By Gen. Ed Eberhart Air Combat Command Commander LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) In 1998, 34 active duty Air Force people ended their own lives. Thus far in 1999, six Air Force people, including one from Air Combat Command, committed suicide. number of suicides among Air Force is going down each year. that is good news, we need to remember even one suicide is too many. The There are many reasons people commit suicide. The leading cause is stress. All of us are concerned about the stress our people cope with in the face of our high operations tempo. We believe the implementation of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force will help alleviate stress by adding predictability to deployments and spreading the commit- ments to units across the Air Force. tress comes in many forms. Issues such as relationship difficulties, people facing adverse actions viewed as "career ending," financial difficulties, substance abuse and the perception that seeking help will have a negative impact on a person's career can all lead a person to choose suicide as a way out. We have many agencies on our ACC bases that Still, it is leadership, family members and friends who are key in preventing suicides because they are usually the first to become aware of any changes in people considering suicide. rs, offer preventive services: mental health, health care professionals family advocacy, health and wellness centers, family support centers, child and youth centers, and the chaplains to name a few. Everyone must be aware of the danger signs of suicide such as eating or sleeping problems, loss in personal appearance, drastic behavinterest of ioral changes, increased use of alcohol, unnecessary risk taking and talk of suicide and encourage " those people to seek help. ithout people, we can't do the mission. T agencies teach people how to handle and cope with challenges. The professionals in these organizations are trained to recognize risk factors associated with suicide victims and are part of a referral network to assist people in seeking help. Seeking help will not have a negative impact on a person's career and is not a sign of weakness it's a sign of strength. OurAir Force members should not be afraid to seek help. : W More importantly, life is too precious and we need to look out for each other, take care of each other and work together to eliminate suicides.: Even one is too many. ? Pick up the phone; help is only a call away or someone you know needs help. Dick ud a phone and call one of the following agencies. Help is available both on base and through community resources. If you I - f , V & ! - , On Base Mental Health 777-453- A 7 6 Chaplain 5 Urgent Care Clinic After duty hours, call the Hill Consolidated Command Post at They can 777-210777-528- 777-300- 7. contact an ll representative from one of the agencies. For assistance off base, call 911. The dispatcher will contact an emergency response agency in your area. on-ca- 'Saifffmtiiii . iiifttfiiyx!------ ' I . ' insula annuls is published for people like ... Name: William L. Huston Rank: Airman 1st Class Job: Electrical and Environmental Systems Specialist Unit: 34th Fighter Squadron Hometown: Reno, Nevada Time in Service: 2 years 3 months Most recent accomplishment: Recently became 100 percent qualified on five level core tasks on 6 aircraft for his career F-1- field. ' i mmmmm What would I change at Hill AFB: "There would be a dining facility closer to the flightline." Fi'?i-P,acif 1 Col. M,ke i I ' Sma" commercial-enterpris- e newspaper and 1 998 Air Combat Command Media Contest Editorial Staff Hostage J2i St StaffSgtSonjaWhittington Airman way U 1 st Class NC0IC, Public Affairs Edjtor Cindy Huston 2nTilh .nTTr ,0 pMisM e" Z ?V S menSepaenfoTrSZ "1" 'TMy f " for members of mwISR! Monday, noon, two weeks orior 3200. Pbl.cat,on. by MoMedia, Inc., . private fim, in no " M authonZed fficial views of. A" Frce- csSvr0 d. commander Affairs Chi - OT Unless e" 388,h Fi8hter Wing y me U.S. Pho,os Affaire 0ffice- ,he off,ce- - subm,ss'0s to Fighter Country - 5887 to the editor is no later than For more information, call the public affairs office at 777- - |