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Show The Total Force Viper March 09, 2006 B News on the Street "What positive outcomes do you foresee from the ongoing Total Force Integration here?" Commentary: "Witt you be ready when duty calls?" became a matter of focusing "When duty on the job and remembering calls, don't run Just one year ago on January 30, the training and 2005, I found myself in a field in Iraq from the challenge, putting it into surrounded by U.S. Special Forces, action as events Marines and the British Special Air run to it. Be ready took place. We Service. The question I had to ask spent several to do your duty myself when flying out at 10 p.m. that hours out there night was "Am I ready to spend a night when the call field with in that in a hostile environment searching the no sleep, contincomes in." wreckage of a downed aircraft?" uous sweeps Captain Stephen Lee Would you be? — Maj. Dean Judge and eating 419th Fighter Wing Military Deployment 388th EMS meals-ready-toIn January 2005, I deployed to Personnel Flight *" eat. I really Balad Air Base, Iraq, as the 332nd learned to appreciate what our young The question was still running Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron "The Reserve has a commander. This was a unique opportu- through my mind, am I ready for this? Marines and SOF individuals go through every day in Iraq "outside the tremendous experience Setting up nity since I was going to command a We immediately set up at the entry wire." They are always ready to do their base the [active duty] Air maintenance squadron in a combat Force can draw from in zone. I felt I was ready for the chal- control point for the crash site with the duty because they are trained to do so. lenges that were ahead for the next four security forces personnel and received a They take pride in what they do and manyAFSC's." and a half months. Little did I know I brief on the status of the site. My job know that their mission comes first. In our continuous Air and Space would find myself in the middle of an was to identify any possible mechanical Expeditionary Force rotations, many of or find any abnormalities with failure Iraqi farmer's field in the middle of the you may be called upon to do things outthe aircraft components. Again, the night, recovering personnel and equiptr side your normal duty descriptions. We question arose in my mind, Was I ready ment from a downed aircraft Lt. Col. Doug Alston On Jan. 30, 2005, those of us at Balad for this? What would I find out there in have Airmen doing convoy duty in Iraq 388th FW Director everyday. They did not enter the Air were watching with the rest of the world the dark? Would I remember the ofStaff Force with the expectation of manning a lessons from my mishap training classas the Iraqi people made history when gun on a gun truck or driving a convoy es? Were there any unexploded munithey went by the millions to the polls to "We are tapping a huge vote in a hostile environment. tions around the area? Were there posfor the first time in their long histopoo! of experience and Prepare ry for a democratic government. That sibly any survivors?" However, we now send them to spestrengthening the team Mission evening, we learned that a Royal Air cialized training to prepare them to do Force C-130 had gone down after take to The Marines gathered around by adding diversity." off from Baghdad. Being the closest Air escort us out and assist us. There were these missions. I met so many of these Force Base, we were tasked to send a about five young Marines assigned to brave young men and women while at team of interim investigators. When the walk with me through the debris. I had Balad. They were all ready to do their group commander called, I responded to brief the personnel to not disturb'any missions when called upon. One of the immediately and grabbed my bags to aircraft parts as we proceeded out for young officers that led these brave head out the door. No one knew what the search. While we were doing this, Airmen was from Hill Air Force Base, Master Sgt. Sara Drake was in store for us when we arrived. additional Marines and SF personnel set 1st Lt Eddie Torres. Lieutenant Torres 419th FW command post We were loaded on a couple of Army up a security perimeter to protect us. As did not enter the Air Force expecting to we began walking, we were each given lead convoys in a combat environment, HH-60s to fly out to the last known location of the aircraft. We hooked up to the items to begin our recovery and were yet he did his job so very well. He lost "The opportunities will straps, since there were no seats in the told how to identify human remains that no Airmen or vehicles assigned to him provide a cultural during his 6-month deployment as a back, and headed to the crash site. The we might find. change for both the While walking, I kept asking myself convoy commander in Iraq. crew, to include the gunners, all had Reserve and the active We must all be ready to deploy by night vision goggles on and could see how I would react to finding a body, a duty, hopefully blending outside clearly Everyone in the back body, part, etc. Would I be strong keeping ourselves fully trained and was quiet as we flew out, and I was ask-enough to stomach it? Could I make the medically qualified. It is very important the best of both." ing myself, would I remember all my rigfit evaluation on the equipment or for you to listen and learn when you are components of the aircraft to help the in the training classes we send you to. training? primary safety board? Well, I found I Some day you might find yourself in a Arrival When we arrived at our destination, had more strength than I thought possi- situation where self aid and buddy care it was pitch black and the dust was blow- ble. I quickly remembered the things I will become critical in saving a fellow Tech. Sgt. Kristen Lewis Airman's life. Or, you may find that We had to keep our had been taught in the Jet Engine ing everywhere. 388th FW when that Combat Arms Training and Mishap Investigation Course and the heads down to avoid sand and dirt getcommand section Maintenance instructor pointed out Aircraft Mishap Course that I had taken ting in our eyes. The only thing any of where to fire your M-16 rifle at the tarin college. us could see were the fires still burning "Better understanding of where it was an important lesson to get, fuel had spilled out onto the Findings both sides and a better ground. The next thing I knew, as the While not going into details, we did remember when escorting a convoy. working relationship HH-60s lifted off, there was a SF indi- find human remains of crew members Take your training serious no matter vidual standing next to* me with night and aircraft components that helped in what it may be. Some day it may between active duty vision gear on, asking me to follow him. identifying possible causes of the air- become the difference between life and and Reserve." As my eyes adjusted to the night, I craft going down. In the end, I found out death. When duty calls, don't run from the challenge, run to it Be ready to do noticed there were several SF personnel that I was ready, because I had been your duty when the call comes in. surrounding our group guiding us in. trained properly to do this job. It simply Master Sgt. Charles Freeman 419th FW Legal office BYMAJ. DEAN JUDGE 388™ Equipment Maintenance Squadron Commentary: Diversity achieves success "I think it consolidates efforts under one roof. We BYLT. GEN. JOHN BRADLEY could save money, and Air Force Reserve Command commander possibly lessen confusion with the taxpayers and the Diversity optimizes the unique abilities of all Citizen community." Airmen to sustain our competitive advantage at home and in Tech. Sgt Thomas Ruffing 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electro-environmental systems craftsman "We will have better teamwork, more tools to work with and more money." the expeditionary environment. A new era of asymmetric threats and uncertainty requires all of us to tap into individual talents and abilities to better improve performance and mission success. Achieving mission success means producing our distinctive air, space and cyberspace capabilities and sovereign options. 21st Century warfighting requires Citizen Airmen to operate beyond individual cultural perspectives and functional mindsets. Our diversity of culture, background, education, problemsolving ability, civilian work experience and creativity are strategic enablers. Strategic enablers provide the United States Air Force Reserve an unmatched and lethal capability. These attributes, integrated with cutting-edge technology 388th FW Editorial Staff Col. Robert Beletlc, Commander Capt. Rob Goza, Chief of Public Affairs Airman 1st Class Stefanle Torres, Editor The Total Force Viper is a 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 75th ABW Public Affairs Office. This civilian enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of Fighter Country are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. Advertisements contained herein do not con- and weapon systems, help us pursue excellence and enhance coalition and joint warfighting. Cutting-edge technology alone does not win wars. Capabilities and their effects emerge only when commanders and leaders, deliver on the combined competencies and abilities of Airmen. To develop these effects, I expect leaders at all levels to establish high performance standards, facilitate preparation and create opportunities for all Citizen Airmen to fully contribute to mission success. 419th FW Editorial Staff Col. Gary Batinich, Commander Lt. Col. Jamie Goodpaster, Chief of Public Affairs Kari Tilton, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs stitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force or Hill AFB. Everything advertised is available without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. The Total Force Viper is edited, prepared and provided by the 388th and 419th FW Public Affairs Offices. To discuss submissions or content, contact the appropriate Public Affairs office at the following numbers: 388th FW/PA 777-3200; 419th FW/PA 777-2713. Deadline for submissions is no later than Monday, noon, two weeks prior to publication. For more information, call the public affairs office at 777-3200. |