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Show 388th FW Hill Total Force Fighter Wing 419th FW America's Airmen (Defending our Nation at Home and Abroad... Liberty or (Deathl AFAF helps 388th FW Airmen RIEFLY Keep 'em flying 419th Family Care 419th Fighter Wing members are reminded to update their Family Care information with their unit first sergeants. BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS STEFANIE TORRES 388™ Fighter Wing Public Affairs APBI1 SOCIAL The Hill Officers' Spouses' Club will host "Beautiful Things Bingo" at 6:30 p.m. April 13 at Club Hill. Each member will receive one bingo card and chances to win crystal, polish pottery, various serving pieces, two Coach wristlets and more. Bingo menu includes fried chicken salad with rolls, breadsticks and crackers with ice tea. Cost will be $11 for club members and S13 for nonclub members. This is a members only event - no guests allowed. Reservations are due by April 10 at 5 p.m. Contact Victoria Grant at 776-0860 or email her at oscrescrvations "Ifhotmail.com for reservations. If this is your last Hill OSC social of the year please let Reservations know so that you may receive your farewell gift at the social. Photo by Capt. Lennea Montandon Senior Airman Trevor Hanson, a 419th Fighter Wing crew chief, performs a routine inspection on an F-16 after the aircraft reaches 300 flight hours. Winning hearts, minds of youth 419th SNCO is Utah's Mentor of the Year BY CAPT. LENNEA MONTANDON 419TH Fighter Wing Public Affairs OSC SPRING CRflFT BAZAAR The Officers Spouces' Club is currently accepting applications for vendors to their annual Spring Craft Bazaar to be held Thursday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Club Hill. The booth fee for this one day event is $30 and all proceeds benefit Hill OSC Scholarships and other charities. Vendor applications can be found at the website: www.orgsites.com/ut/hiUosc or you may contact Allison Jakus at 475-6528. No duplicate vendors of non-handcrafted, name brand items allowed. Air show volunteers The 419th Fighter Wing's Recruiting Office is looking for volunteers to help with the recruiting booth at the base's airshow slated for June 10-11. To volunteer, contact Senior Master Sgt. Michael Formica at 775-4685. Promotions Congratulations to the following 419th Fighter Wing members for being promoted to the rank indicated: 419th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron Chief Master Sgt. Norman Rogers 67th Aerial Port Squadron Senior Master Sgt. Kelly Wood 419th Medical Squadron Senior Airman Stephen Lyon Senior Airman Laura Drew Airman 1st Class Philip Reichert 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Senior Airman Nicholas Mancheno Photo by Master Sgt. Nancy Immormlno Members of The Animal House 4-H club, a group started by Master Sgt. Nancy Immormino, show off their creative talents as they paint their meeting house. In January 2002, President Bush called on Americans "to dedicate at least two years-or 4,000 hours-over the course of their lives to serve others at home or abroad - building a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility in America that will last for decades to come." Master Sgt. Nancy Immormino, 419th Military Personnel Flight Career Enhancements chief, has made serving others a way of life. She exemplifies the Air Force Core Values of Integrity, Service before self and Excellence on and off duty. On March 2, she was honored by the Youth and Families with Promise organization as Utah's Mentor of the See MENTOR, B Viper West demonstration team brings good spirits to children at SLC hospital BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS STEFANIE TORRES 388™ Fighter Wing Public Affairs Ear-to-ear grins can be seen on children's faces as three members of the Viper West team make their way through different hospital rooms at the Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. The team members visited the hospital to lead a scheduled game of Bingo and give the children coloring books and stickers March 15. Their 30 minute drive to the hospital turned into a two hour crawl as the weather and traffic impeded their chance to get their on time for the game. Their dedication to the community was apparent even after they were told they didn't have to come because of the drive. "No way are we going back to base because we can't lead Bingo. They are expecting us," said Staff Sgt. Griffith, a dedicated crew chief with Viper West. "If we can bring joy to the kids and have a chance to make a difference in their lives, then the weather is not going to stop us," he said. The members arrived at the hospital just before the game was over. Bingo was played through a television and the members were able to talk through a microphone to the 150 kids who were watching. This gave the kids a chance to stay in their rooms and call in a win- shows throughout the United States ner if they played. The team also took and around the world. The Viper West some time to answer any requests from crew members are on the road March the kids and tell their jokes. "We had a to November and are scheduled to perchance to answer their calls and if they form at an air show in Chile at the end had a joke to tell, they could call in and of this month. we would relay it back to everyone watching," said Senior Airman Kenneth Umeck, an avionics specialist with Viper West. "It was fun to play with the kids and tell their jokes," he said. They made their way through each room to have a better interaction with the kids. The team was able to relate with them and talk about the Air Force mission. "I didn't want to leave. It is rewarding to be able to see the kids' faces light up," said Senior Airman Mark Vandevender, a dedicated crew chief with the team. "To go out to the community and give something back is part of what I wanted to join the team fdr," he said. Viper West is tasked to support Air Force recruitPhoto by Airman 1st Class Stefanie Torres ing programs while main(Left to right) Staff Sgt. William Griffith, Senior taining an ability to have Airmen Mark Vandevender and Kenneth Umeck, community involvement with the Viper West demo team, speak to 150 kids during their season. They via a television link during a Bingo game March 15 are able to perform air at Primary Children's Medical Center. He had only deployed for a little more than a month at Balad Air Base, Iraq, when Senior Master Sgt. Steven Hoyt, 729th superL intendent of the networks systems flight, received a call that his wife was found unconscious in the backyard. He knew he had to act fast. His first sergeant called the Air Force Assistance Fund for help and within 24 hours, assistance was on the way. Sergeant Hoyt's sisters received two plane tickets from Illinois to take care of family. "They kicked in so quickly. I am impressed that they worked so fast and that they could be there for us in an event that something else could have happened," said Sergeant Hoyt. "I was relieved and I didn't have to make any arrangements. It took a huge weight off my shoulders." Senior Airman Amber Couvilier, 729th surveillance technician, has also received fast assistance from the fund. Her brother was killed in a car accident in 2004. She was unable to get home due to financial reasons but reached out for assistance. "My mother called me at 4:30 a.m. to tell me the bad news and I had my plane ticket the next day from the AFAF," she said. The AFAF is dedicated to helping Air Force members in emergency situations by providing assistance to them and their families, sponsoring educational assistance programs and offering a variety of base community enhancement programs that impact family welfare. "I have regularly contributed even though I have never had a personal claim to get any benefits," said Sergeant Hoyt. "It was nice to See AFAF, D Royal Air Force fighter squadron trains at Hill BY CAPT. ROB GOZA 388™ Fighter Wing Public Affairs About 200 Royal Air Force personnel from the Marham Tornado Wing are at Hill Air Force Base to conduct joint training with F-16s from the 388th Fighter Wing. The nine Tornado fighter jets are conducting an average of 12 air-toground daily sorties at the Utah Test and Training Range using laser-guided and unguided bombs each day. "This is an excellent opportunity for British and American pilots to train together and gives our pilots the opportunity to hone their combat skills using the Utah Test and Training Range, which is a great training resource," said Wing Commander Dean Andrew, Royal Air Force, during a media event held March 15. The various RAF personnel include pilots and maintenance, intelligence and communication personnel. The deployment is an opportunity for the unit to practice its wartime capabilities. |