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Show rs Country October 7, 2004 388th Fighter Wing 'Round-up' contributions By 1st Lt. Vernon Thompson 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The 388th Fighter Wing Officers' Spouses1 Association raised more than $10,000 at the Spouses' "Round-up" Friday at Club Hill, doubling last year's total. More than 300 people attended the festivities, which included a live auction, a silent auction and a mock casino. The crown jewel of the auction was a 90-by-71-inch handmade quilt, created by Mrs. Karen Lyon. It was purchased at the auction for $1,800 by Ms. Vickie McCall, the 388th FW honorary commander. Mrs. Lyon explained that the front of the quilt features 12 eagles: four holding American flags, and the other eight holding "flowers of hope" for a brighter future. Around and among the eagles are 10 blue Air Force stars, one for each squadron in the 388th FW. Stars and swags surround the outer border - a symbol of unity. On the back of the quilt, Lady Liberty holds an American flag, which states, "When this you see, remember liberty." She points high to a four-ship of F-16s. Ms. McCali. who was inside the Pentagon when the terrorists struck, reportedly was very moved by the symbolism on the quilt. Her son was in New York City that day, only several blocks from the World Trade Center when it was attacked. Proceeds from the "Round-up" will benefit base Airmen and their families by supporting the following programs: Hearts Apart. Operation Warmheart, Airmen Against Drunk Driving, the Junior Enlisted Center, the Officers' Spouses' Club, the wing recognition program Photo by 1st Lt Vernon Thompson and the Diamond One truck program. Mrs. Karen Lyon's quilt sells for $1,800 at the Officers' Spouses' "Round-up" fundraiser, which raised more than $10,000 for several base programs Friday Mrs. Caroiyn Hagan, chairperson of Spouses' "Round- night at Club Hill. More than 300 people attended the festivities, which included a live auction, a silent auction and a mock casino. up," said she was grateful for the generosity of people who attended the fundraiser. "I want to thank the people $725. He also bid on an item, competing with Chief Master Sgt. straight back to the people who work at Team Hill, said Chief who came and the people who donated." Robert Koenigkramer, Ogden Air Logistics Center command chief Weseloh. This was the third consecutive "Round-up" Mrs. Hagan coordi- for a final tally of $500. The command chiefs surprised the auc"All of the programs affect our Airmen in different ways, nated. tioneer by contributing $250 each and putting the item back up for whether it's quality of life for the people in the dorms, or families Chief Master Sgt. Paul H. Weseloh, 388th FW command chief, bid. having financial difficulties," Chief Weseloh added. "The overall contributed autographed baseball memorabilia, which sold for impact is positive:.Airmen helping Airmen." "Everybody who donated anything understands that it comes Fit Continued From Page A of the Air Force. This is about our preparedness to deploy and fight. It's about warriors. It is about instilling an expectation that makes fitness a daily standard — an essential part of your service." At Bagram AB, Afghanistan, 1st Lt. Bryan McKay is serious about being fit to fight. "If you're in the profession of arms, you should be in good shape," said the chief of the 455th Expeditionary Communications Flight. "You should show up in good shape because it speaks positively of you and establishes confidence in the team." Being fit also plays a practical role in his job when it comes to running heavy cable wire in blistering summer heat. "The better shape that you're in, the better you can do your job," said the 24year-old. And if Airmen on his team are not in shape when they arrive, they will soon be. Despite 12-hour shifts, six days a week, the lieutenant and five people from his flight work out as many as six days a week, including two six-mile runs along the base perimeter road in the early morning before the heat gets ugly. Some people on base, as well as his commander at Scott AFB, 111., question their sanity. Lieutenant McKay said. "I think we're a little crazy, too," he said, admitting they are a bit "gung-ho." Also fighting and staying fit at Bagram is Senior Airman Charles Chandler. He made a pact with five fellow Airmen of the 109th Aerial Port Flight before going to Afghanistan to "motivate and discipline each other to go to the gym every day." Arriving physically fit, he said, is important because Airmen do not know what to expect when they show up at remote locations. Staying fit also helped the New York Air National Guardsmen remain "team oriented" and to "stick together like a family." The extent of such resolve was a pleasant surprise to officials at the Air Force Surgeon General's office. They expected only about a 75-percent pass rate during initial startup of the new test, said Maj. Maureen Harback, deputy chief for health promotions operations at the office. She attributes the early success rates, which represents half of the Air Force, to Airmen taking the six-month heads-up by General Jumper seriously. "It reflects what Airmen are focused on," the major said. Also, she said, it seems that many are willing to make the effort to train for the new test because they believe their hard work in the gym will have direct payoff with a good score. That was not always the case with cycle Combined Federal Campaign kicks off By Capt. Tracy Watkins 388th Fighter Wing comptroller Photo By Staff Sgt. Naklta Carlisle Airmen take advantage of the flight line gym, located In Bldg. 50 on Canberra Street. ergometry, said Col. Philip LaKier, deputy command surgeon for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, who oversees the command's testing. The old test suffered from stories commonly heard at most bases - the couch potato who easily passed the test while the marathon runner failed. While that scenario could possibly prove true in less than 1 percent of all cases in a base population of 10,000, it still becomes the stuff of urban legends, he said. That is not the case with the new test, which about 85 percent of command Airmen passed, Colonel LaKier said. He said Airmen seem to view the new test as "effort dependent — if they try harder they should do better." And it has a practical application. With the new test, people can make the connection between push-ups and filling sandbags — a hot and strenuous duty performed by Airmen at Balad AB, Iraq, where they fill bags and stack them around tents for protection from mortar attacks that have claimed the life of one Airman. The new test also makes sense logistically, he said, explaining that cycle ergometry requires special equipment and training to test people one-on-one. With fit to fight, the test can be given in the field by a physical training leader who can monitor severaKpeople at the same time. 'This is a much better test," said Staff Sgt. Joshua James DiTullio, a physical training leader at Soto Cano AB, Honduras. "Before, it wasn't a true test of your physical ability. You were at the mercy of the computer." With the new test, he said he is definitely "more fit to fight." Getting started into the new way of working out was a bit slow and painful at first, but now Sergeant DiTullio said he enjoys greater "mental clarity" and a more toned body. "I think it's a move in the right direction," said the quality assurance evaluator for the base's liquid fuels and water systems. But like Sergeant Hartmann, not everyone was moving in the right direction when testing began. At Pacific Air Forces, about 14 percent scored in the poor or marginal category, said Leyla Kelter, the-» command's fitness program consultant. In many cases, she said, the problem had more to do with being unprepared than a lack of effort. Some underestimated how much time they needed to prepare, while others overestimated their running ability. Even factoring waist size to determine points for body composition can be tricky because it is easy to squeeze the tape measure a bit tighter than appropriate, Ms. Kelter said. "It's just a matter of education and using their time better," Ms. Kelter said from her office at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. But for those who fail the test, help is there. Airmen with a marginal score must attend a healthy-living workshop at the local health and wellness center where they receive about two hours of counseling on subjects such as behavior modification, nutrition and fitness improvement. These Airmen must retest within 180 days. Airmen with a poor rating must attend the healthy-living workshop and participate in a fit ness-improvement program with one-on-one fitness counseling. These Airmen have 90 days to retest. In some instances where physical limitations prevent running, cycle ergometry can still be used along with a combination of pushups and sit-ups. (Courtesy of Air Force Print News) Each year, members of the 388th Fighter Wing have a chance to give back to the community and help those less fortunate. The Combined Federal Campaign provides an opportunity to donate to nonprofit organizations and make a difference in people's lives. President John F. Kennedy established the CFC through Executive Order in 1961, and it is the federal government's on-thejob fund-raising drive. The campaign, which kicks off today and runs for six consecutive weeks, and ends Nov. 17. It is an efficient, meaningful, once-ayear appeal to serve the charitable needs of our community, and it eliminates other solicitations in the federal workplace. "It is like a United Way drive for federal employees and military members, but it includes a much broader range of charities." said 2nd Lt. Steven Gilmore, 388th FW project officer. Last year the wing's donations totaled $55,226, which is an average of $120 person. This year, the 388th FW's monetary goal is $52,500; the Team Hill monetary goal is $1 million. "While donations are important, our primary and perhaps most challenging focus is contacting 100 percent of our wing personnel," Lieutenant Gilmore said. Making a donation is voluntary, but the CFC program coordinators want to make sure each person has the-;' information to make a contribution if desired. "The decision to give, including the amount to give, is an individual decision," said Lieutenant Gilmore. CFC is an efficient way to choose among 1,700 tax- deductible charitable organizations. For every dollar, 92 cents goes directly to helping people in need. Charitable organizations registered with the CFC must meet 10 accountability standards, one of which is low overhead, allowing the organizations to spend the maximum amount received on the people who need it most. Federal employees can contribute either with a onetime cash donation or a payroll deduction. To use the payroll deduction method, civilians must donate at least $1 per pay period; and military members must donate a minimum of $2 per month. The CFC contribution will be deducted and identified on individual Leave and Earnings Statements for military members for 12 months beginning in January 2005. CFC has established four award levels that recognize exceptional generosity. - $1,000 = Super Eagle Giver - $750 = Gold Eagle Giver . :'.-^ - $500 = Silver Eagle Giver - $250 = Bronze Eagle Giver (only $10/pay period) Alt Eagle Club members receive a picture of an eagle in a glass-covered oak frame. Organizations with overall 50 percent participation and an average donation of $50 per person are eligible for a 50-50 Club Plaque. The Combined Federal Campaign is a great opportunity that gives federal employees the opportunity to give back to the community by donating to the organizations of their choice. When making the decision to give or not to give, remember - "It takes every Tofus." For more information regarding CFC, contact Lieutenant Gilmore at 5861094, or contact the alternate 388th FW project officer, 1st Lt. Caleb Honsinger at 7775379. . |