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Show COMMENTARY Hilltop Times July 21, 2005 i • " at-1 , • Building a warrior's spirit HILM BY MASTER SGT. NEIL WERENSKJOLD best they could to teach us before we took off, winding through the countryside for the next day and a half. Fortunately, How do you build a warrior's spirit? nothing happened to us on that trip. But The 75th Air Base Wing recently ana Red Horse unit that was in country two swered that question by putting about 200 weeks after we left was hit. Eleven were of its Airmen through a gauntlet of sleep wounded, three seriously. deprivation, training, and the rigors of "war" during a three-day exercise at the Our leadership realized we needed more Utah Test and Training Range in June. combat training, but we couldn't generate enough interest to get the resources we The UTTR training reminded me of needed to conduct some kind of combat an experience I had years ago during a convoy training. humanitarian tour to Honduras during 1989. After bad weather delays kept us I commend Hill's leadership on their from flying out to where we needed to commitment to our troops and for taking work, we were suddenly added to a supon such a huge task and doing it very well. ply convoy. I'd had convoy training in the As the Army representatives pointed out early 70s during Vietnam, but hadn't on numerous occasions during the recent been taught anything about being amtraining, what happens in wartime is bushed since then. That meant only the permanent. "You better make the right few in our group who were Vietnam-era choices and know what your options are," vets had any idea what to do if we came said one Army sergeant. under fire. Everywhere we went in HonI was so pleased when I heard Army duras we were briefed about snipers, NCOs and officers barking the vaguely ambushes and the fact only a small group familiar hostile fire lingo with all the of individuals didn't want us down there. urgency they had learned as survivors Sound familiar? from hostile fire. These seasoned troops A few of us knew that a nice drive in the conveyed, in the most direct way, how not only to survive, but how to take control country can quickly go bad if you don't of situations by taking very deliberate react in a very deliberate and disciplined action. way. Standing there next to the convoy I requested a fast briefing from the Army Hat's off to Hill's exercise planners for folks to help our members realize the finding such a savvy mixture of Army and seriousness of our situation and what to Air Force Opposing Force teachers. From do if we were ambushed. They did the what I observed, our members in training 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs What unique holiday does your state or tolintfy celebrate that others do not? Staff Sgt. Scott Rumfield Air Combat Command Intelligence Squadron operations support manager "I'm from Pennsylvania. We celebrate all the holidays that everyone else does, but I can't think of anything special." Tech. Sgt. Mickey Brandon 508th Fighter Sustainment Group F-16 customer support specialist "I'm from Ohio and we really don't have anything except for football season." Vlbeke Nielsen Spouse "In Denmark, June 5th is our national day. We celebrate with the family and drink beer.", Airman 1st Class Burt Miranda 75th Security Forces Squadron patrolman "California is really big on Christmas, but who isn't?" listened during their after-action reviews .. and without hesitation applied the new knowledge. Each team-in-training that convoyed improved each time they went out. Hill AFB is lucky to have a facility like the UTTR so relatively close. The UTTR is a great asset to the Department of Defense in that, in addition to its normal munitions testing and pilot training mis- „ sions, the services can come and conduct,, very realistic convoy and in-country train- \ ing, In fact, I saw a small group of Mari nes . conducting their separate exercises at the same time we were out there. Taking advantage of the UTTR to get our members, •. ready for a deployment to a hostile region will increase the odds for them to return , to Hill safely at the end of their tour of.. duty. The facts are clear in my mind — the better the training the better the chances our troops will return if they face : hostile fire. This exercise was a great example of how leadership can show genuine concern for their people. I trust all the mem- ; bers who have had, and are going to have. . an opportunity to attend this training appreciate the hard work that goes into making this experience available. I truly hope this program continues and is even expanded so our Hill AFB team can be made savvy before they find themselves in an unpredictable situation. There are many roads to Texas stated without any hesitation, that having a loving family was indeed a sign of success in this life. On the other hand, I know of famous, BOLLING AFB, D.C. (AFPN) — As accomplished scientists who have many my husband and I prepare for a transfer to another base and mission, we have been publications and much prestige and recognition within the scientific community who making plans to take leave in Texas. As we're looking at the map and discuss- bemoan the fact they have not yet received a Nobel Prize. By their definition of sucing flying versus driving, the short route cess, they have failed to measure up. There versus a longer route to see more sites, and are many roads to success. how much time we want to take for the trip, I'm reminded of the many choices and posWhere am I going with this, you ask? sibilities involved with decisions. For any Well, as the discussions and charges of relitrip there are truly many alternatives based gious intolerance at the Air Force Academy on individual needs, preferences, and pri- swirl in the news, and our senior leaders enorities. There are many roads to Texas. gage to address the concerns, I think of the simple comparisons of travel and success. In a similar vein, there are many roads to success. I was privileged to attend a It seems that much in life offers us multiretirement ceremony recently for a1 midple choices and roads, regardless of the arelevel Airman who addressed the question na. And if there are many roads to Texas, or of "am I successful?" He then went on to to success, how is it possible there are not eloquently describe coming home late one truly many roads to God? For those of us evening and watching as his three kids who believe in an omniscient, omnipresent, ran down the stairs to hug and welcome loving Creator of our magnificent universe, him home from the office. Recounting this and the source of our individual beings, event brought a big smile to his face, as he how is it possible that any human can limit BY COL. LELA HOLD EN Air Force Surgeon General Office of Congressional & Public Affairs that Creator to only one road to understanding, loving, and worshipping Him? If human life is richly diverse and varied, is it not reasonable to say that critical matters related to God are as varied as well? Does it make sense to say that only one religion offers the definitive road to God? Religious tolerance, including tolerance of those who choose not to relate to formal religion at all, is critical for teamwork in the Air Force. But a deeper level is that of genuine respect — respect that others' roads to God are valid. Indeed I would emphasize that all the world's major religions have not only much to offer, but much in common. For example, they all have some version of the Golden Rule. I would also suggest that a thin layer of tolerance that barely conceals the underlying belief that one's own religion is superior is not sufficient to truly build the teamwork our Air Force and country need. We need respect for the rich complexity and variety of possibilities for1 us as humans, in relation to all aspects of life, and in relation to God. After all, there are many roads to Texas. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed below can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 7-5550 24-hr. Crisis Information .... 7-3056 Services 7-4134 Base Restaurants 7-2043 Retirement/Compensation .. 7-6142 (civilian) Social Actions 7-3516 Employee Relations 7-7129 Military Pay 7-1851 Civilian Pay 7-6246 Air Force Suggestion 7-6901 Action Line 777-7000 * action.line.pa@hill.af.mil Staff Sgt Kevin James 75th Communications Squadron base communications security accountant "Every second Sunday in June, there's a National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. I would hang out'with my friends and have fun." Master Sgt. Lori Grimes 75th Air Base Wing superintendent of military equal opportunity "Cinco de Mayo is a big celebration because Los Angeles has a significant Hispanic population. Fourth of July is also a big deal. We would go to the beach and watch the fireworks." When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Col. Sharon Dunbar Program 75th ABW Commander IG Complaints 7-5305 (for appointment) IC Complaints 7-5361 . (after noun) Proper respect Q A l want to express my thanks to an Airman for Thank yOU for Caring Fraud, Waste or Abuse 7-5361 enough to let US knOW (recording) demonstrating proper respect to the flag. ofr the impression this *?!? FMedical GrouP ^1® On July 6, I was involved in teaching a small . . . Civil Engineering 70856 group of Boy Scouts how to take care of and pay proper extra sharp, AAirman had on Hiii Pride Hotline 7-7433 respect to the flag. They practiced raising and lowering you and your Boy Scout troop. Public Affairs 7-5201 the flag and then folding it. This Airman Showed how it Military Housing 7-2963 , , , , , , Maintenance During the process of the boys folding the flag, I noticed that a young Airman dressed in his Air Force only takes a few minutes to Safety off)Ce 7.3333 7-3257 blues had pulled his car Into the parking lot, exited his properly demonstrate respect unionAF0SI for the flag that Symbolizes OUr Narcotics Hotline .... 7-1852 car, and was standing at attention. After several minhard-fought freedom. During utes and numerous attempts, the flag was finally folded Reveille or Retreat, military and correctly. The Airman gave a final salute and got back civilian drivers should safely pull their vehicles over to the side of In his car and drove off. the road until the last note is played. If outdoors, military members His example of what all of us should do, but often in uniform should face in the direction of the flag and render a sadon't, when the flag is in the process of being raised or lute, and civilian members should place their right hand over their retrieved, was outstanding. This was just for instrucheart, until the last note is played or until the flag is completely re- _ tion and practice, and wasn't even an official flag cer- moved from the lanyards (whichever is later). During Taps, which [ emony. is now played at 9 p.m., all should stop to reflect on those who havejj To the Airman who stopped - thanks for setting such given their lives in defense of our nation. a fine example for our youth and once again making us To our Airman who set this fine example, thank you for proudly i proud of our servicemen and servicewomen and the abiding by a standard that more should follow. It's an honor to;i excellent job you are doing. serve with you. . "the U.S. Air Force — meeting the challenge through Global Vigilance, Reach and Power." Hilltop. riMES Weekly Since 1948 Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm In no way connected with ihc U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract wiih Hill APB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspnper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department ofihe Air Force. 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