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Show COMMENTARY Why did you choose to serve? TIMES June 1.2006 flMES BY COL ROBERT "SHOF" SHQFNER 526th ICBM Systems Wing Vuvkl\ Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Col. Scott Chambers 75th ABW Commander Charles Freeman Chief, Public Affairs Barbara Fisher Editor Tech. Sgt. Crystal Robles Assistant Editor Beth Young, Mitch Shaw, Airman 1st Class Jenny Chong and Airman 1st Class Clayton Murray.... Staff Writers Shannon Smith Page Layout & Design Deadlines: Editorial and news items, 3 p.m. Friday. For more information, call the editor, 7774598. Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper 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 of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Corp., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 152. all 777-4598 with story ideas or comments, or send e-mail to "hilltop.times@hill.af.mil". Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2006 DUIs: 9 Unit Involved: Was it for the training, education, and experienge? There's no doubt the Air Force offers incredibly valuable training opportunities. Was it the high tech Air Force that drew you in? Was it the images of working on the F-22 or maybe the ICBMs/conventional ballistic missiles that got to you? Was it a sharp recruiter or even a parent or relative that influenced you like me? My dad was (in his mind) the world's greatest fighter pilot, and the first 18 years of my life I lived on Air Force bases around fighters and the Air Force life. Was there no other choice? Are you one of our younger members growing up in the 9/11 era motivated by those cowardly acts to fight in the war on terrorists who seek to threaten our families and homes? The question, "Why did you choose to serve?" is one I routinely ask my junior officers, enlisted and civilians during our first feedback session as one way to understand why they are in my office. I've got to tell you, I am always impressed with the answers I get! But 1*11 come clean, I've lured you into a trap ... I've asked you the wrong question. While it may be interesting why you selected to serve in the Air Force, it really isn't pertinent. The real question is: "Why do you choose to serve today?" As a wing commander I want to know what motivates you to come into work each day, to hustle in when you get the 2 a.m. recall, to not leave until the job is complete even though your day is officially done, why you take pride in your work spaces or dress. Many of the reasons I cited above for joining may be the same reason you're serving today - that's OK. The question is, "Have you sat down recently and asked yourself why?" Or have you asked those you supervise? I did and it's only fair for me to tell you what motivates me to serve today. • It's the lump in my throat when during the National Anthem I look at the flag and start thinking that each strand in the fringe is a symbol to me for every life given in the Global War on Terrorism. • It's the pride evidenced by the father's tears as he gave his son his first salute at an ROTC commissionCOL. ROBERT "SHOF" SHOFNER ing ceremony last month. enthusiastic and hungry. Last week • It's the senior leadership I have in the I saw representatives of the next ju526th that every day is pulling hard nior force when I spoke to 100 eighth with me to lead this team in extraorgraders in Ogden. In times full of so dinarily tight times. much cynicism, they were intelligent, • It's the safety of my family guaranenthusiastic and yes, patriotic. If that teed by a nuclear missile fleet that is doesn't get you going, nothing will. healthy, with operational availability So, that's what motivates me. " Do you above 99 percent and our modificaknow why you and those under your care tion programs are ... on cost ... on choose to serve today? If you haven't asked schedule. yourself that question recently, it's time. • And finally it is because our future is bright with a junior force that is 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil Costly to swim T he base pool Is now charging $3 per person a day and up to $265 for a family of four season pass. This is outrageous! Does the 75th Mission Support Group Services Division or the Air Force recognize that a single season pass for Lagoon (which offers more than just a pool) is $77? For that same family of fourtdjgp to Lagoon it would be only $308. The pool doesn't even!h^A^M9i.9idtii.yJbg board! Why are lifeguards contracted (for a ridiculous amount of money, I'm sure) when a job could be offered to people on base (I'm sure that's a legal issue)? Whatever happened to parents watching their children? Photo by Airman 1st Class Jenny Chong Col. Scott Chambers, 75th Air Base Wing commander, speaks to students from Hill Field Elementary School during Kid Deployment Day held here May 17 to allow local children to experience the process that military members go through when deploying. Most of the students who attend Hill Field Elementary have one or both parents currently serving in the military. / understand your concern with the fees at the pools, but the base is faced with severe funding cuts this fiscal year. Because of this, we were unable to pay for lifeguards with appropriated funds and instead have hired non-appropriated funded civilian lifeguards (not contractors) paid for from customer revenue. This is similar to how we operate the bowling center or golf course. Most of our lifeguards are family members of Hill military or civilian employees, and we only hire the most qualified. The individual and family pool passes are reasonably priced and lower than pool fees in off base aquatics centers and comparable to fees charged at other Air Force Materiel Command bases. You compared us to the Lagoon amusement park, which is open 100 days a year, but a better comparison would be the Layton, Clearfield or Syracuse municipal pools. You also stated we don't have a diving board or water slides. The Indoor Pool and Pool 2 (adjacent to Club Hill) both have diving boards and Pool 3 (near the skate park) has a water slide. As an authorized guest at the base pools you have three pools available to you and the Indoor Pool is open 362 days a year. You also have a wide variety of recreational and instructional aquatics classes available to you at nearly half the cost of off base programs. We're going to continue to see our funding cut in the months ahead and we all need to look into ways to do things smarter and better with the funds we do have available. 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. Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 any time to request a ride. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly If you have a complaint or a problem with their services: HILI Military Pay 777-1851 Civilian Pay.. 777-62-16 Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 Program IC Complaints . 777-5305 (for appointment) IC Complaints 777-5361 (after hours) Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5361 (recording) 75lh Medical Group 777-4918 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Public Affairs 777-5201 Public Affaira Inlormaiion.. 777-9696 Control Line Military Housing 777-2963 Maintenance Safely Office 777-3333 Union 777-3257 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline... 777-1852 family Assistance Center .. 775-3090 (wh What are you most excited about for the upcoming Air Show? Airman 1st Class Gregory Lentz Airman 1st Class Kathryn Brown 4th Fighter Squadron 526th ICBM Systems Wing "Witnessing a child's innocence as they gaze upon the epitome of freedom -theF-16." Security Forces 777-5550 24-hr, Crisis Information . . 777-3056 Services 777-4134 Baie Restaurants 777-2043 Retirement/Compensation 777-6142 (civilian) Social Actions 777-3516 Employee Relations 777-7129 Greg Riddle Sarah Knight Ken Foster Airman 1st Class Mark Fredrlckson 507th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron 884th Combat Sustainment Group 309th Maintenance Wing 4th Fighter Squadron "I like watching the "I am hoping to get a "I would like to see a Con- "My kids are excited to go Thunderbirds perform and spending time at the better view of the show stellation, an old aircraft, or and sit up on the roof and displays of the different because during the last air a P-51 Mustang." watch the air show." aircraft." show, I was working for my squadron's booth." "Showing the local community the wonders of air power." |