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Show B HeadsUp February 17, 2005 Merger not the 419th s only challenge on the horizon by Col. Al Hawley 419th FW vice commander The Future Total Force merger with the 388th Fighter Wing has been the primary concern in all of our minds lately. It is a very big deal for the 4J9th Fighter Wing and we need to keep it moving along. Both Col. [Gary] Batinich and I will continue to provide new data as we find things out. I can tell you both Air Force Reserve Command and Air Combat Command are very interested in our continued progress. There are reservists who are IMAs and AGRs at ACC who understand the reserve involved in the development of the (concept of operations), which is a good thing.. There are obviously many unresolved issues and there are some things the active duty doesn't fully understand about us yet. But they are trying as hard as we are to make this work. This is better than a glass half full, its three quarters full. This will ensure our ability as Citizen Airmen to protect American Freedom into the foreseeable future. We are pressing ahead at every opportunity. We are going to start sending more of our pilots to fly with the 388th and we'll have some more of them come fly with us. We are having regular meetings with maintenance supervision from both organizations looking for ways to start sharing our maintenance experience. Expect to see some active duty Airmen working on our flight line soon and some of our maintenance workers will like- Combat lessons every Airman should know before deploying by Staff Sgt. Lee Watts 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — There I was, deployed in the war on terrorism, when I found myself under attack, again! I am not a pilot or a security forces troop; I do most of my work in an office; but while in Iraq, I had to repeatedly face enemy fire nonetheless. If you are in the military, you can expect to deploy. It is what we train for. Whether you work in an office, on the flightline or have some other job, training with a warrior's mindset here at home can keep you alive when you are under attack. ...... '7 •<, When you literally see the rockets' red glare and bombs bursting in air, there is no time to think. Your training, or lack thereof, will take over. During exercises, do you ever grumble about having to wear the helmet or flak vest for hours? Are you one of those Airmen who takes it off when no one's looking? Yes, it is uncomfortable; but let me stress why we all need to train the way we fight. A few weeks ago I was in Baghdad and was headed to the gym, which was a short walk from the trailers where we slept. I will admit, it looks ridiculous wearing a t-shirt, running shorts and sneakers with body armor and a helmet. But while outdoors, orders were to always wear your protective gear. It was a quiet night, but halfway there, four rockets broke the silence. They came without warning; no alarms sounded until after the explosions began. That night, I chose to put on the uncomfortable armor. ly go down and work for awhile on the active-duty's jets. I also anticipate active duty members to begin participating in our deployments and sign up sheets in 419th workcenters for volunteers to go on their deployments. Colonel Batinich and I would like to encourage al! of you to go meet your counterparts and talk about things you can do to help each other. The best ideas will come from the people who do the work, Col. Al Hawley finding ways to help each other and don't be afraid to ask about ways they can help us solve our issues. I recently put a new document on the T drive in the "0 388419 associate" folder called "FTF_Associate Unit Best Practices." The document is a study, completed in the year 2000, of lessons learned and best practices of all associate units. The same survey questions were asked of every associate unit allowing a comparison of all units. But this is not our only challenge, we are scheduled for A guy 50 yards to my right did not. Today, I am safely home with my family; he is not. His family must now go on without him. Orders are for a reason. Following them saved my life, and not following them cost another man his. Train the way you fight! We are all given orders to go to training. The military provides the training, but your mindset determines its effectiveness. Have you trained for war or just checked a box? Whether it be self-aid and buddy care, chemical warfare or small arms, treat your training as if your life depends on it. It may. Right now, if the bullets started flying, could you quickly clear a jam in your weapon and get it operational again? This "office" Airman had to do that. Could you treat someone going into shock? When car-bomb shock waves hit my building, that scenario became real. During a Phase II exercise, when you're showing new Airmen how to do unexploded-ordnance sweeps, are you showing them exactly the way you want them tO'check around your tent when it really counts? There were more than 100 sweeps in the short time I was there. During attacks, your training will take over, and so will the training you have provided to others. When mortars begin to fall, it is too late to prepare. Whatever preparations you make now will be all you have then. In Baghdad, it was obvious who was fit to fight both physically and mentally. They had trained with a warrior mindset and came to the fight combat-ready. In this war, fear is the enemy's greatest weapon. The terrorists want' us to be afraid: afraid to fly, afraid to visit our own monuments, afraid the costs will be too high to see this fight through to the end. The way to defeat our enemy is clear. In the fight against terrorism, Thomas Paine once said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." Southwest Asia next fall and we still have an Operational Readiness Exercise in May. There was an article printed on the AFRC web site about wearing protective equipment in the AOR and how some people chose to leave their flack vest and helmet in their room if not on duty. There were dire consequences for that action. Our goal is to bring every single member we deploy home alive and complaining. That means you must remain focused on our mission. Be smart and take care of yourself with every protective measure you can. Pay attention when you receive self aid and buddy care training, it might save your buddies life and by the way encourage him to pay attention since he may save your life. Our ORE will be focused on improving our reactions to the kind of threats we think are possible during the AEF deployment. There will likely be some confusion since things will not be exactly like they were during the ORI last May. The 388th just finished an ORE and they found communicating mortar and rocket attack data was much harder than preparing for Scud and aircraft attacks. We are asking all of you to put on your game faces again and use the ORE to prepare for the AEF keeping in mind we will be closer to the threat than we have ever been before. Be safe, be smart, and don't forget we are doing this to ensure freedom and safety for our children and their children. Black History Month: a chance to learn, reflect by Tech. Sgt. Freddie Reyes 419th Military Equal Opportunity Office New law to eliminate TSP Open Seasons Last month we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Public Law 108-469, which was signed into law an opportunity to remember events during the Civil on December' 21, 2004, eliminates the Thrift Rights movement that revolutionized American society. It is a tribute to Dr. King that this month we recognize the Savings Plan open seasons and-restrictions on conaccomplishments of members of the black community. tribution elections which are tied to open seasons. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Why is it important to focus on black history this will implement this law on July I, 2005. After the month? Partly to remember how far we have come. close of the current TSP open season (December Younger generations can leam only through studying history about the roots of today's society. It's important 31, 2004), there will be one more open season, they leam the ways society has changed, to avoid repeat- April 15 through June ing the mistakes of the past and to appreciate the empha- 30, 2005. Fast Fact sis on tolerance and appreciation we're engendering for This means particithe future. pants may file contriWe are all aware America is a country of diversity. The bution elections with TSP offers history of ihe land and the history of the nation is painttheir agencies at any Federal ed with a palette of hundreds of ethnicities, all of which time beginning April have had an impact on the shaping of the country and employees the played crucial roles in making these United States great. 15. Through June 30, same type of these elections will be No matter what our separate cultural backgrounds, savings and together we aspire to be a great nation. As we leam more processed under the about one another, we can be freed from barriers that hin- current rules. tax benefits der our military professionalism and effectiveness when Beginning July 1, conthat many pridealing with others. tribution elections will vate compaLearn what you can by challenging yourself to go to a be processed under the function or watch the Discovery or History Channel, stopnew rules - that is, the nies offer by a book store—grab something warm to drink and just workers under elections must be read about our past. There are historical facts we seldom made effective no later 401K plans. hear or read about in the building up of our great nation. than the first full pay If you haven't observed Black History Month in the past, this month offers you an opportunity to take just a period after they are little time to learn something new about the history of filed. • your country. Try a new source of information. Last Participants must continue to file contribution year, I watched the history channel on television and elections with their agencies, and the agencies and learned a great deal more about the Lewis and Clark services must continue to implement the elections expedition. The history books I read in-school didn't by deducting contributions from participants' pay cover many significant contributions of minorities in the and reporting these amounts to the Thrift Savings story of American development. Did you know a Black Plan each pay period. American man was part of this famous expedition? His The law does not affect the waiting period new skin color and size helped keep the expedition alive, allowing the famous explorers to continue further that employees covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System must serve before they become they expected. To help spark your curiosity, I'm offering a challenge eligible for agency contributions to their accounts. Guidelines for contribution allocations or interto all 419th Reservists. If you think you know the fund transfers, which can be made at any time via answer, please email them to freddie.reyes@hiil.qf.mil. What is the name of the African-American that encoun- the Internet or the ThriftLine or by submitting an Investment Allocation form to the TSP are not tered the Indian tribe during the Lewis and Clark affected by the new law. Expedition? rushed beneath the aircraft and within one minute had the fire under control. "I just did what any other loadmaster woukfve done," said Sergeant MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash.—Two Air Force Withrow. Both NCOs were mobilized to active duty Dec. 1 to continreservists here were presented medals for extraordinary achievement Jan. 11 for their heroic acts that resulted in saving lives and two $200ue to support the war on terrorism. The medals were presented by Maj. C-130s grounded Gen. Robert Duignan, 4th Air Force commander. million aircraft. SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, 111.—Thirty E-model C-130 Tech. Sgt. Eric Olson; a loadmaster with the 313th Airlift Squadron Hercules were grounded Feb. 10, and 60 other models including here, was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross for.his participa-Reservists Shine at Aero India some E, H, HI and HC-130P/N were placed on restricted flight tion in safely landing a C-17 after it was struck by enemy fire on depar- BANGALORE, India—Pacific Air Force, Air Force Reserve and status. ture from Baghdad International Airport Dec. 9, 2003. Olson expedi-Naval aircraft and people were well received at the 2005 Aero India a Gen. John W. Handy, commander of Air Mobility Command, ently and skillfully executed emergency action checklists, tended to International Air Show at nearby Yelahanka Air Station here. wounded passenger, and calmly prepared other passengers for an Gleaming under sunny Indian sky and surrounded by Indian air directed the grounding and restricted flight status to minimize emergency landing, force and other international aircraft, C-130 Hercules, Navy P-3C wing stress and increase the safety margin. During a ceremony Dec. 22,2003, Sergeant Olson and other aircrew Orions, KC-I35 Stratotankers and F-15 Eagles and their crews from The aircraft were grounded after a recommendation by C-130 Medal by Vice President Dick Cheney. members were presented an Air bases in Japan and the United States were real crowd-pleasers, officials System Program Office officials at Robins Air Force Base, Ga, The medal was upgraded. said. Since 2001, a series of inspections of the center wing box structure Additionally, Tech. Sgt. Robert Withrow—also a loadmaster with As thousands of Indian and international flying enthusiasts greeted revealed that were greater in number and severity that originally and smiled at the Americans, Indian air force demonstration teams, the 313th AS—was presented the Airmen's Medal for his quick expected, they said. response in extinguishing a fire that engulfed the landing gear of a C-helicopters and fighter aircraft filled the sky. Aircraft with plumes of Most of the aircraft affected are in AMC's inventory, but affect- 17 upon landing at an airfield in Uzbekistan April 16, 2003. multicolored smoke, paratroopers and death-defying aerobatics were ed aircraft are also assigned to Air Education and Training Sergeant Withrow saved the lives of six crew members when he, also on display. The C-I30J Hercules crew arrived at Aero India after visiting the Czech Republic and is scheduled to stop in Brunei on its Command, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the Air upon opening the entry door, saw the raging flames, notified the crew, National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command. and then went to action. He grabbed extinguishers in both hands, way home to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Inside the Reserve Washington Reservists honored Air Force Reserve Command Mission Statement To provide Citizen Airmen'to defend the United States and protect its interests through aerospace power. • HeadsUp Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office. DEADLINE for submission of articles is 10 working days before each scheduled wing unit training assembly. Articles should be typed and double-spaced on a 60-character line. HeadsUp is a Reserve supplement to the Hilltop Times, published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office. This civilian enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for Air Force Reserve members of the U.S. military services. Contents of HeadsUp are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Air Force. 419trf Fighter Wing Mission Statement To Fly, Fight and Win! 419th FW STAFF Col. Gary M. Batinich Commander Maj. James R. Wilson Chief of Public Affairs SeniorAirman Lara Gale Staff Writer Senior Airman Nathan Greer Staff Writer |