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Show AIR FORCE NEWS I'll buy a vowel if you Hilltop Times February 24, 2005 GIVE ME A CAR BY JULIE RAY Air Warfare Center Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) — Personality and perseverance, mixed with a little luck, made an Airman here a big winner on the "Wheel of Fortune" game show which aired Feb. 17. The "Wheel Mobile" visited the base in November to screen potential contestants for future tapings. Applicants played a mock version of the game with a "traveling Pat and Vanna" who were looking for fun, energetic people to play the game. Three weeks after making the second cut, 2nd Lt. Eric Mason, of the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron, received the call that he was selected to appear on the game show having the military on the show had a special meaning for his chance to spin the to hosts PatSajak and Vanna wheel for cash and prizes. White. Lieutenant Mason said he "We call the 'Wheel1 Amerbelieved his personality was ica's game," Mr. Sajak said. a deciding factor for him to "Being a veteran myself who appear on the show. "During the interview, (the served in Vietnam in 1968 as a radio broadcaster, (the show judges) wanted to see how has) a special place in our enthusiastic and personable we were," he said. "I have a heart for all the armed services." vibrant personality." However, Lieutenant Mason Vanna White, who visited almost did not go to the try- Nellis before, explained what a wonderful time she had and outs. how great the people were. "I stopped watching game "The Airmen are very speshows in 2001 after a disapcial, to me and what they are pointing turnout on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,'" doing for us and this counhe said. "I missed the $1,000 try," Ms. White said. "Anytime we can do anything to question and lost all my help or support the military, money." Thousands of people watched we're all for it. We love Nelthe two days of tapings, and lis, and I hope the Airmen Airmen get a taste of Raptor BY JOHN INGLE 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) — It has been called an F-15 Eagle on steroids because of its advanced technologies. The F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force's newest aircraft, has gained recognition as the first stealth supersonic fighter in the world. The $1.5 million cockpit simulator brought here Feb. 16 to 18 gave Airmen a chance to learn more about its capabilities and even fly it. "You can't compare it to anything," said Jim Conlin, of Lockheed Martin Corp., about the aircraft's revolutionary capabilities. "It's like bringing a gun to a knife fight." Mr. Conlin, the F/A-22 manager of customer requirements operations for the company, said the cockpit demonstrator is the tip of the iceberg of what is actually on the aircraft. He said some components of the actual cockpit could not be included for security reasons. The Raptor is the first fighter that is stealthy and can fly at supersonic speeds without igniting the afterburners. Mr. Conlin said this allows the fighter to get to a fight faster and stay longer because of better fuel efficiency. The aircraft is set to cruise at Mach 1.5-plus without afterburners. The demonstrator is somewhat like a video game, he said. That could change the stereotype of future fighter F/A-22 Raptor pilots. "I hate to admit it, but the kids who are video gamers will ; be your best pilots," Mr. Conlin said. ; Senior Airman Tim Sikardi of the 82nd Mission Support ; Squadron said he is into flight simulator games at home, , but this simulator was nothing like he has ever encoun- | tered. . ; "It's just a lot more realistic," he said after his turn at the ! controls. "The graphics are incredible." | Airman Sikardi said, even though people are around you, you focus on the three-paneled screen and do not even : notice the others in the hangar. ! This was a chance to see one of the newest aircraft that j Airmen will be training on in the near future, said Ron Dev- ! ereaux, the single point manager for F/A-22 avionics at the j 365th Training Squadron. ; "We're trying to get people here at Sheppard excited about the F/A-22 training here," he said. "That's what this is about." U.S. A!r Force photo by Airman Jeffery Hall LAS VEGAS — Second Lt. Eric Mason visits a local dealership to check out the BMW he won on the "Wheel of Fortune." He Is assigned to the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron at nearby Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. win big money." and a $1,000 gift certificate," Big money was only part of Lieutenant Mason said. "I what the Airman won. He made it to the bonus round took home cash and prizes. by figuring out a phrase — "I won $24,450, a 2005 BMW'corny jokes.' I figured out Z4 convertible worth $36,220, the phrase because my wife always tells me that I tell corny jokes. That's when I won the car." Another Nellis Airman, Capt. Ray Pearson, will be featured in Friday's episode. Jumper says AF will uphold standards squadron commanders accountable for the fitness of their unit. The Air Force is developing the tools to ensure that happens. "And the payoff will be huge" future. because the Air Force will be The Air Force will tackle its a fitter, more capable force, problems "head on," General he said. Jumper said. "That's not going General Jumper said the Air to change." He said the thouForce will continue developsands of Airmen at home and ing Airmen who demonstrate deployed worldwide, facing the service's core values, day hardships and risking their ' in and day out. But, along the lives, deserve no less. way, he said, "Sometimes we have deviations. "These Airmen live our core Gen. John P. Jumper values, especially the one that "In the press, you will find says 'service before self,'" he When asked to relocate for people who are talking about said. The Air Force, he said, the good of the Air Force, they the Air Force Academy or this will ask those who do not live resist. He said that attitude is problem or that problem within the core values to leave the not part of the service's core our Air Force," he said." (Probservice. lems such as) the issue of sexvalues. General Jumper said Airmen "We're asking people to be ual assault (or) the issue of also must consider other impor-fit," he said. "The fitness pro- religious tolerance at the Air tant issues that are now part gram is taking root through- Force Academy." of the everyday reality of being out the Air Force, and things Why such issues are in the in an Air Force where every are getting tougher, not eas- press is apparent, the general Airman is part of a deployable, ier." said. expeditionary force. "The reason they are writThe general said the Air For example, the general Force will soon start to include ing about it is because we are said there are Airmen who are fitness evaluations in perfor- visibly out there attacking (the content to stay in one place, mance reports. And he said problem) — not hiding it," he who are not willing to move. the service will also hold said. In the face of pressure core values cannot buckle BY_LOU1S_A^A_RANA-BARRADAS. Air Force Print News ORLANDO, Fla. — The Air Force will uphold its standards, and people who break the service's core values "will pay the price," the Air Force chief of staff said. Gen. John R Jumper also told the more than 1,000 attendees at the Air Force Association's annual Air Warfare Symposium here Feb. 17 the service will not hide from media scrutiny. ' "We will maintain the standards of our U.S. Air Force. Those standards are high," he said. "And we're not going to back away from the glare of reporting that puts things in another light." The general's impassioned remarks came during his more than 35-minute speech to the association where he outlined the Air Force's course for the Thrift Savings Plan will see changes BY GERRY J. GILMORE American Forces Press Service TSP Info • Starting July 1, memDefense Department civilbers can make account ians and servicemembers changes at any time. building tax-free retirement • Starting this year, paraccounts through the Thrift Savings Plan soon will be able ticipants can invest up to to change their investment 15 percent versus 10 peroptions at any time instead cent under the old plan. of just twice a year. • Next year people will Current biannual TSP "open be able to contribute as season" investment-choice windows will end July 1P said much as they can afford. WASHINGTON (AFPN) — Army Lt. Col. Janet Fenton, executive director of the Armed Forces Tax Council. TSP participants, she said, will be able to switch their retirement account options at any time. Colonel Fenton said "there's not going to be the two open seasons during the year" where people can sign up for the retirement savings and investment program, change their contribution levels or change investment options. Military people and civilians covered by the Civil Service Retirement System can contribute up to 10 percent of their paycheck to establish tax-free retirement accounts that growfrom accumulated savings and investments in bonds, stocks and international funds. Employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System can contribute up to 15 percent in 2005. From 2006 on, no limit will apply to any participants in TSP. AnotherTSP change also slated to start July 1 gives participants the choice of having a financial manager automatically adjust how funds are invested as market conditions change, officials said. "They'll move you from equities to bonds when you need to," Colonel Fenton said, which should assist participants in maximizing their contributions. Servicemembers have been eligible to establish tax-free TSP retirement accounts since January 2002, she said. Establishing a TSP account is a good idea even for those servicemembers who do not serve long enough to qualify for a pension, Colonel Fenton said. TSP funds accumulated during military service, she said, can be transferred to participating federal agency TSPs if a departing servicemember takes a government civilian job. And, TSP savings can also be rolled into nongovernment civilian employers' individual retirement accounts, the colonel said. Troops deployed in combat areas get tax credit options Enlisted troops serving in combat WASHINGTON —Servicemembers areas already have receiving federal tax exemptions for some all of their military or all of their military pay may now elect pay excluded from federal taxes, Fento apply for certain tax credit options, the chief of the Armed Forces Tax Coun- ton pointed out, while officers in cil said here today. Troops deployed to combat zones can combat zones can now apply for tax refunds based on earned exclude up to $6,529 income tax credits, as well as additional of their monthly pay. child-tax credits, explained Army Lt. Col. Troops deployed Janet Fenton, the AFTC's executive direc- to non-combat overtor. The AFTC monitors and coordinates seas areas have until File photo tax issues involving active and reserve- June 15 to file their component military members. income taxes, Fenton said. because they may be due a refund. MilThe earned income credit, Fenton Troops serving in a combat zone, she itary-operated tax centers at stateside explained, primarily involves lowerpointed out, have up to 180 days to file and overseas locales, she noted, can protheir taxes after departing the area. income filers with children. The addivide service members with tax filing tional child tax credit, she added, may For example, "someone who is in Iraq assistance. provide refunds for children under age right now," she noted, "would not have And, married service members deployed 17. to file their 2004 tax return until they to combat and non-combat overseas Servicemembers who want to apply for leave Iraq." locales can opt to have spouses file tax the credit refunds are required to fill out However, some overseas servicemembersreturns, she noted, provided there's an applicable power of attorney. and file a federal tax return, Fenton noted. would want to file early, Fenton said, BYGERR_Y_J:.GILMOR_E American Forces Press Service Air Force photo by John Ingle SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — Contractor Rich Brlggs explains some of the features of the heads-up display of the F/A-22 Raptor simulator to Airmen here. Contractors brought the demonstrator to give base Airmen a glimpse of the future of fighters in the Atr Force. |