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Show Hilltop Times October 27, 2005 Voting assistance AROUND THE AIR FORCE Air Force meets recruiting goal Photo by Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell Sather Air Base, Iraq Iraqi poll workers board an Iraqi Air Force C-130 enroute to their respective polling stations. Iraqi pollsters airlifted to polls Deployed Hill Airmen provide help with effort BY MASTER SGT. RANDY L MITCHELL 447th Air Expeditionary Group SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq —When Iraq recently took its next step toward democracy — voting on a constitution — Airmen and Marines helped ensure the process worked. That included getting 1,320 Iraqi poll workers safely to and from Baghdad International Airport to their polling stations around the country. It was a job that lasted until Oct. 19. "I volunteered for this deployment because I believed in the mission and wanted to do my part," Capt. Robert Farkas said. He is the aerial port flight commander with the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here and deployed from Scott AFB, 111. The aerial port flight worked with Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters group to move the poll workers on 10 missions over two days, including two on Iraqi Air Force C-130 Hercules. The captain said working on the flightline moving U.S. and coalition troops and cargo to the field has been a very rewarding experience since day one of his deployment. "But when the call came from the Marines for help in uploading Iraqi poll workers in support of the (constitution) referendum, I was overwhelmed with excitement knowing we could make a difference," he said. The difference was evident because getting poll workers safely to their site enable Iraqi voters to express their will. "Captain Farkas and his flight set up communications, office space and lodging for the eight Marines they helped," said Lt. Col. John Foden III, commander of the 447th ELRS, who is deployed here from Hill's 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "He made sure the poll workers got to their stations on time. "It has been nothing short of awesome to witness this squadron's hands-on leadership and contributions to Iraqi historyin-the-making," Colonel Foden said. Colonel Foden also praised Hill's Maj. Mike Bennes, deployed to the area from the 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron. "He was also jtey to the success of the poll worker movement," the colonel said. "He oversaw many of the mission uploads and downloads." The aerial port flight provided the Marines key flight information updates to coincide with the logistics of ferrying the poll workers on buses to the flightline, Captain Farkas said. "It was a wonderful experience to see the faces and smiles from the Iraqis as they departed the buses and boarded the aircraft," the captain said. "They were happy. But I could tell they were also very nervous." For most, if not all, it was probably their first flight on an aircraft. So aerial port members buckled the Iraqis in and gave them hearing protection and water. "Everyone on the plane was all smiles," Captain Farkas said. "I thought to myself how each one of them was risking their life and possibly those of their families - by taking part in the voting process." The emotion was most evident when some poll workers boarded an Iraqi Air Force C-130 - where an Iraqi flag hung just inside the cargo bay. The captain said the Iraqi crewmembers were visibly excited to be taking a lead role in an effort that was 10 months in the making. Iraq elected a government in January. When the elections ended Oct. 15, Airmen and Marines helped move the poll workers back to Baghdad. Sandstorms caused some delays, but all returned safely by Oct.19. "In all my experience, uploading aircraft, I'll remember these missions for the rest of my life - knowing I played an important role in helping a country in build a democracy," Captain Farkas said. Sky warriors help ground troops BY TECH. SGT. PAUL DEAN 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFPN) — The Air Force exceeded its fiscal 2005 enlisted recruiting goal by sending 19,222 men and women to basic military training. And while the service had success recruiting for Officer Training School, it fell short in recruiting in some medical fields. This was a challenging year for Air Force recruiting," said Brig. Gen. Dutch Remkes, Air Force Recruiting Service commander. "We had to scale back enlisted accessions recruiting in order to meet the Air Force's manning needs, yet we remained successful at recruiting a diverse, high-quality force representing the best our country has to offer," he said. Recruiting service began the fiscal year with a reduced recruiting goal of 24,465 - part of Air Force's force-shaping measures to meet the congressionally mandated end strength of 359,700 Airmen. End strength is the limit set by Congress on the number of people the military can have on active duty. The recruiting goal was cut again, in January 2005, to 18,900 new recruits. Recruiting service was successful in recruiting line officers and chaplains. It recruited 727 line officers against a goal of 720, and 35 chaplains against a goal of 31. line officers include pilots, navigators and other officers in technical and non-technical fields who attend Officer Training School. OTS is one of three commissioning sources. The other two include Air Force ROTC and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The service continues to struggle in finding enough physicians, dentists and nurses to meet its health professions requirements. The Air Force recruited 753 health professionals against a requirement of 1,123. General Remkes emphasized that America's Air Force needs hundreds of physicians, dentists, nurses and pharmacists. It also needs people qualified for special operations, such as pararescue and combat control. The enlisted accessions goal for fiscal 2006 is 30,750 new recruits. The goal for line officer recruiting is 485, representing a reduction from fiscal 2005 due to continued force-shaping measures. Being nosey pays off BY CINDY DEWEY Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs DENVER (AFPN) - Because Sara Simms was nosey, the U.S. government saved more than $424,000. And she received a surprise, too. During a data review, Ms. Simms, a lead human resources.assistant, noticed an unusual annotation on a Reservist's record. Convicted of first degree felony, the reserve officer's status was "dropped from the rolls" as of Jan. 30,2003. Ms. Simms, of the directorate of personnel services, also found the officer was transferred to an unassigned Reserve section, but was still collecting voluntary separation incentive payments. She contacted finance officials here, who told the member to repay $35,254.18. If Ms. Simms had not caught the error, the man would have continued to receive annual payments for 20 years, which would have totaled nearly $400,000. Senior Master Sgt. Janet Riley, individual ready reserve program management branch chief, found a way to reward the vigilant Ms. Simms. After researching Air Force Instruction 361004, Managing the Civilian Recognition Program, the sergeant submitted her for a Special Act or Service Award. This is a monetary award that recognizes General Schedule employees for special achievements. For her diligence, Ms. Simms received a $3,500 award on Oct. 18. Ms. Simms says she was shocked for getting an award for doing her job. "Wow! Just for being nosey," she said. "All I asked myself was "what does dropped from the rolls really mean?'" ALI BASE, Iraq—The sky above Balad Air Base was thick with dust and sand when four F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots completed another mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were headed to their deployed home at Balad Oct. 17 when they were eventually diverted here. Their mission started early that morning, but it was well past lunch when they traveled in a holding pattern above a dusty Balad. The four F-16 pilots, from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, had aerial refueled and were waiting for the sandstorm to pass. But weather forecasters determined the storm wouldn't break until much later in the eveLANGLEY AFB, Va. (AFPN) — "Check ning, so the planes were diverted floaters" beware. here. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service will It was just another instance that start to electronically process checks in January. proves there's no such thing as a Now, instead of taking up to three days, checks U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt Paul Dean routine day when you're an F-16 may process instantly or in one day. The move pilot supporting ground forces in After spending the night at AM Base because of a weather diversion, Maj. Darren Censullo, an F-16 Fighting Falcon is so the exchange service complies with "Check Iraq, said Maj. Darren Censullo, pilot, does a preflight walk around his aircraft before takeoff Oct. 18. A reservist, the major files with the 332nd Ex- 21" Legislation. a Reserve pilot deployed with the peditionary Fighter Squadron at Balad Air Base, Iraq. He Is deployed from the 482nd Fighter Wing at Homestead Air A person floats a check when he or she writes 93rd Fighter Squadron - known Reserve Base, Fla. The fighters provide air support to Operation Iraqi Freedom coalition ground forces. one for a purchase without having the actual as the Makos - from Homestead guys. We have Army guys all over yell into the radio, 'We need help Seeing ground combat from his amount in their accounts - and using the typical Air Reserve Base, Fla. It was just (Balad Air Base) so I get to know now! Take care of it"1 vantage point in the air is an expe- three-day processing time to get paid or move another long day in a small cock- some of them and talk to them funds to cover it. Now, check writers must have Colonel Monteagudo said help- rience Colonel Monteagudo said pit. about their jobs," said Lt. Col. Jose ing the ground forces is the most he'll never forget. F-16 pilots spend the funds in their account, or their check will Major Censullo and his fellow Monteagudo, commander of the gratifying part of what's been an a lot of time supporting ground op- bounce. pilots were diverted to a deployed diverted combat air mission. exciting deployment. erations, including watching areas Electronic processing is cost-efficient since air base similar to Balad where But unlike relaxed conversa"Every day something's happen- where insurgents have attempted there is an automatic payment for each purAirmen and Soldiers serve along- tion at the dinner table, Colonel ing. Every day we're up here pro- to ambush coalition forces. chase. side each other. It was another Monteagudo also knows the tense viding cover for (ground forces). I By sunrise on Oct. 18, remnants With the new system in effect, money-manageopportunity for them to see the chatter while on the job. really respectthejob they're doing of the sandstorm had arrived at ment becomes a necessity rather than a recomground customers they serve from "There's no simulator that can down there and I am glad we can Ali Base, but it was safe enough to mendation for customers. Now people must actuthe air. teach you the feeling you get when help anyway we can" the colonel depart for another day of support- ally have funds in their accounts if they want to "I eat dinner with some of these you hear the guy on the ground said. make a purchase. ing coalition ground forces. Floating checks thing of the past |