OCR Text |
Show itiillcop ^_ TIMES Weekly Since .1948 Takin< al awards Innovative Airmen help the B-1 take a step up Airmen participate in mission of mercy Winners from across the 75th ABW Hill AFB, Utah 84056-5824 www.hilltoptimes.com hilltop.pa@hill.af.mil Vol. 64 No. 7, February 17, 2005 College grants offered to Airmen's families Bridge to the theater WASHINGTON (AFPN) — Air Force Aid Society officials said they are offering as many as 4,500 college education grants to Air Force family members through the Gen. Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program. Applications for the $1,500 need-based grants must be received by March 11. The program is open to dependent children of Airmen on active duty, in the Guard or Reserve performing fulltime active duty, retired or deceased. Spouses of active duty and deceased Airmen are also eligible . Applicants must be enrolled as fulltime undergraduates at an accredited college or university during the 2005-2006 academic year, and they must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Selection is heavily based on cost of attendance, family income and the number of eligible applicants competing. A final need assessment will be made by an independent agency. Students can find an application and review full eligibility requirements, procedures and application instructions on the society's Web site at www.afas.org. They also can call (800) 429-9475 for an application brochure. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Smith The program averages a 50 Marines, Airmen and Soldiers all worked together to establish a bridge along a supply line in As Sindiyah, Iraq. Civil engineers from Hill were percent-plus selection rate, among those who worked on the project. officials said. Air Force completes taskings with aging air fleet BYJIMGARAMONE American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON —Today's Air Force is a deployed force, the service chief of staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 10. Gen. John Jumper told the committee that the Air Force has 30,000 Airmen deployed around the world. In the U.S. Central Command area, the service has 14 active bases. Airmen continue to patrol American skies as part of Operation Noble Eagle. Jumper said the service continues to mature the Air Expeditionary Force concept begun in 1997. "We now have 270,000 out of 360,000 active-duty members in the AEF deployment cycle," he said. "As a matter of fact, we have about 100 people from the air staff in the Pentagon deployed today, taking advantage of their skills." The Air Force is also helping on the ground in Iraq. About 2,000 Airmen are on convoy duty with the U.S. Army driving trucks through "some of the most dangerous regions and dealing with the [improvised explosive devices] right alongside their Army colleagues." He said that while Airmen are doing well, the operations tempo is putting stress on the force. The Air Force is putting the full weight of its air mobility, its special Eight contracts to operations, its close-air supBYSHAD WEST ^ port, its surveillance activbe investigated Hilltop Times staff ity ... in support of our grand operations in Iraq and in Last year, the Air Force agreed to support Army operaWASHINGTON — Eight Afghanistan," he said. tions in Iraq for three years. March will mark the deployAir Force defense contracts At the same time, aircraft not previously identified for in- ment anniversary for 19 Airmen from the 75th Civil Engineer based in other areas of the depth review have been referredSquadron who were the first to deploy under the agreement. world help assure stability. to the Department of Defense The Airmen here combined with civil engineers from VanThe Air Force reserve cominspector general for investi- denbergAFB, Calif., to fill an Army-type unit. They reported to Camp Virginia, Kuwait. Officers, enlisted, men and women ponents are playing huge gation. roles in the worldwide operThe referral resulted from a lived in a Bedouin-style tent during their training. This was ations. "About 55 percent of review by Defense Contract their first taste of deploying Army style. While at Camp Virour 170,000 airlift sorties and Management Agency officials ginia, they received convoy training including live-fire operational scenarios at the Udairi live-fire range. our 36,000 air refueling sorof 407 contracts under the conties last year — more than trol of or influenced by former half of those were flown by Iraq Air Force acquisition official Air Force — are Air National Their final destination was Balad AB, Iraq, where the AirDarleen Druyun. She previGuard and Air Force Reserve," ously pleaded guilty to violat- men were assigned to support all the Army posts in the he said. ing laws affecting personal and region. Typically when Air Force civil engineers deploy to financial interests related to forward locations they are assigned to a base and stay there Air Force mobility forces U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Smith job negotiations with the Boe- in support of its operations. showed their capability during Co. while a government "This was a new mentality for us and the Air Force," Capt. Staff Sgt. James Crisp and Staff Sgt. Darryl Cuppy from the 372nd ing relief operations followEngineer Group, look over plans for construction of a bridge over the employee. Andrea Lehn, Maintenance Engineering flight commander ing the Dec. 26 tsunami in Tigris River in As Sindiyah, Iraq Nov. 18. South Asia. Air Force and DOD acquisi- said. "As CE troops, we are used to checking our weapons The Air Force is also looktion officials were concerned into the base armory and supporting its mission. That's not equipment usage, the deployed Airmen accomplished over ing to the future. Jumper said that contracts that fell under happening anymore, you have to be familiar with your weapon $700,000 in construction and repair work. unmanned aerial vehicles, Ms. Druyun's influence might and you have to know how to use it in a fire fight." "We took team kits that included small hand tools," CapDespite Army idiosyncrasiesin command and control and have been tainted. As a result, See Bridge, 4 the FA-22 Raptor and the Joint Strike Fighter are all they asked the contract mansystems needed to maintain agement agency to examine aerial dominance in the years all Air Force acquisition actions to come. Developing better executed or influenced by Ms. worldwide command and conDruyun during her tenure from trol systems and integrating 1993 to 2002. The agency review make lifestyle changes and installations earlier this year. information and intelligence identified eight contracts with improve their health and well- The voluntary program will suspicious anomalies, besides being," said Kathy Cooper, a allow participants to monitor seamlessly across the command spectrum is also part seven others already being human resources specialist personal health through free of the Air Force mission, he investigated by Defense Departin the Ogden Air Logistics annual assessments, includsaid. ment inspector general at Air BY 1ST LT. CAROLINE WELLMAN Center Personnel Directorate, ing cholesterol, blood preswith Federal Occupational Force and DOD request. Air Ogden ALC Public Affairs Health, a component of the and the base's point of con- sure and glucose screenings. The Air Force has the oldForce officials said they are tact for the wellness program. "The glucose screenings A new wellness program for Department of Health and est aerial fleet ever. The avercooperating with DOD officials all Hill AFB civilian employ- Human Services, to provide Gen. Gregory S. Martin, will allow us to identify if some-age age of the aircraft in the to ensure the eight additional ees is scheduled to debut here civilian health promotion ser- AFMC commander, called the one is diabetic or pre-diabetic," service is 23 years, accordcontracts, worth more than $3 in early March. vices for Air Force civilians program progress toward the said Donelle Ricketts, a reg- ing to most recent statistics. billion, are further investigated Air Force Materiel Comgoal of sustaining a "safe, throughout the command. istered nurse who is the nurse Some aircraft— such as the for any wrongdoing or improper mand has developed and funded "The goal of the program is healthy, fit, and ready work B-52 bombers and the KCinfluence by Ms. Druyun. force" in a letter to AFMC See Mission, 4 a commandwide agreement to empower participants to See Wellness, 4 CE troops bring home combat lessons Hill, AFMC plan for civilian fitness Optional wellness program debuts in March 42° Low 30° ram '•T:;*V.'- '•: Mostly cfloudy with snow 43° Low 33° Mostly At the movies - Pg. 10 Friday, 7 p.m. "First Daughter" - PG Saturday, noon "Agent Cody Banks 2" - PG Saturday, 7 p.m. "The Grudge" - PG-13 |