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Show June 8, 2006 B I really had to hand it to the performers because they had to "We took extra care with all get up and give it their all at each the instruments," he said. "It was performance," he said. a critical concern because if an As for the most patriotic portion Continued from A instrument got damaged, there was of the tour, Sergeant McAfee recalls to take its no back-up instrument Hickam AFB, Hawaii; and three in Japan where a performance place." deployed locations in Southwest children of active duty members Following each show, the crew Asia. to join Lee Greenwood were asked packed everything up and traveled The tour covered about 25,000 on stage. on to the next venue site. "It was miles round trip. "A little girl, who couldn't have Sergeant McAffee said his main extremely tiring," Sergeant McAffee been four years old, stood near Lee said. concern was making sure the Greenwood and was belting out the "We were all exhausted, but equipment was loaded safely and TOUR 421ST Continued from A securely. words to the song 'God Bless the Force) are doing the same job at the same time, all around the world." USA,'" he said. Headquarters United States "There were two huge video Central Command at MacDill screens and a giant flag in the middle of the stage. It was really AFB, Fla.; Headquarters USAFE at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; neat to see." Headquarters PACAF at Hickam Sergeant McAffee also said he AFB, Hawaii; and Headquarters was struck by being in so many the Patriot AFRC co-sponsored different time zones and so many World Tour. ; different bases in such a short (1st. Lt. Mattie Fuller, AFRt time. "I've been in for 19 years, but you Public Affairs, contributed to this forget how many people (in the Air article) Reserve recruiters Global Hawk enables reach out to advanced operations community during air show Targeting Pod. The training during the Operation Readiness is another key to the Global we are seeing today the BY STAFF SGT. Exercises and Inspection held capabilities we've talked about Hawk's battlefield success. \ MELISSA KOSKOVICH last November has helped "The Global Hawk allows U.S. Central Command Air Forcesin the past," he said. them be more prepared. to rapidly r^Forward Public Affairs commanders In 2003, a test-model Global "We have trained at home task the aircraft in flighf. was sent to the theater Hawk and are now executing at the Recently in Afghanistan, w;e SOUTHWEST ASIA-with officials expecting it to joint/coalition level," said personnel and their families had an aircraft crash," said Battlefield awareness • BY SENIOR AIRMAN fly for only five hundred hours. Colonel Cline. volunteered to help out in has recently increased to Instead, the aircraft flew close Major Thomas. "By the time "Having the opportunity to NATHAN GREER 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs the recruiting booth by notifications of the crash were unsurpassed levels, with to five thousand. actively work with combined acting as representatives the Global Hawk in received, Global Hawk production-model With its multiple sensors ground forces gives coming Recruitersfromthe419th for the unit. the air at the time put an image aircraft now flying in the U.S. and ability gather vast amounts to work everyday that extra StaffSgt.EvaHenderson, Central Command Air Forces of imagery, the Global Hawk of the crash site in the hands Fighter Wing will be on sense of excitement you can hand to answer questions the wing records manager, theater. brings a welcome dimension to of the individuals planning the never experience back on plans to be at the recruiting and visit with community Reaching a breakthrough Intelligence, Surveillance and rescue." the home front," said Senior booth with her sons to talk members during the Hill point "It includes everyone from in April, the Global Reconnaissance operations. with visitors and give away Airman James Sankey, 421st Air Force Base air show the maintenance technicians Hawk team has maximized the "What's unique about the promotional items. scheduled for June 10-11. EFS intelligence operations to aircraft's sorties, collecting the intelligence exploiters," Global Hawk in comparison "My kids and I were "The recruiter's purpose apprentice. 96 percent of the more than said Major Thomas. "The to other ISR platforms is the looking for a way to for being at the event is The 421st EFS also target deck nearly five entire team has to be working persistenceitoffersinproviding twofold," said Senior Master volunteer and the air provides the conventional of enemy all cylinders to have thousand images together at imagery and intelligence," said show was perfect for them and non-conventional ground Sgt. Michael Formica, locations, resources operations reach and the levels of Maj. Ricky Thomas, Global senior recruiter in the 419th because they love it," she commander with a unique personnel. success we've recently seen." said. FW. Hawk platform liaison officer at perspective. Capt. Bradley Bair, 419th First and foremost, the The Global Hawk, surveying the Combined Air Operations The Global Hawk team is "During raid operations, recruiters are there to talk to Military Equal Opportunity large geographic areas with only one aspect of the overall Center here. With the ability we can see things the heroes people about opportunities chief, is another of the pinpoint accuracy and giving to loiter for up to 24 hours, the effort to ensure complete on the ground cannot, said the in the Air Force Reserve volunteers who plans to military commanders near real- aircraft can monitor the whole battlespace awareness. Colonel." This allows the pilots and in the 419th Fighter help out at the event. time information, has proven theater with few limitations. "Air power comes in all "Being there sets an to communicate events to the Wing, according to its worth in recent operations, different flavors," said Captain "We don't have to have a Sergeant Formica. "At the example and allows people said Capt. Ty Gilbert, Senior ground team so the ground black line; we can go wherever Gilbert. ; same time, we're there to to see firsthand what the commander can make more Intelligence Duty Officer at "ISR is the flavor that we' the images are needed," Major Reserve offers, and not effective decisions. The pilots be an ambassador to the the Combined Air Operations offer, and the Global Hawk is a Thomas said. just from a recruiter's can track the bad guys leaving community from the Air Center here. In addition to the platform's key element in providing that Force Reserve," he added. but also from a standpoint, the scene and provide the "With the Global Hawk, ISR capabilities, its flexibility punch for the war fighter." member's view," he said. Several Reserve wing ground unit with information on where they are hiding, explained the commander. "Our brothers on the ground never have to worry about being attacked by the Penemy from the1 air. Some have * even told me.they love hearing '• the aircraft overhead." But it isn't ail work and no play this time around. Toby Keith flew in and performed for the Airmen as part of his USO tour. "We were all very excited to have the chance to see him in concert. We really appreciate him taking the time, effort and risk to come perform at ; Balad," said Colonel Cline. They have also set goals for things they want to accomplish in their off-time. Many of the operations and maintenance Airmen volunteer at the Theater Hospital or Aero Medical Squadron, "They Photo by Carl Burnett spend their time cleaning up Lt. Col. Patrick Miller, 388th Operations Group commander, passed the 4th Photo by Todd Cromar or just talking to the wounded Fighter Squadron guidon to Lt. Col. Andrew Hecht, the new 4th FS commander,Maj. Scott Grover, assumed command of the 388th Component Maintenance troops," said Col. Cline. "I am during a change of command ceremony June 5. Squadron on June 5. He speaks to his squadron during the ceremony. extremely proud of each and every ops and maintenance professional. They are doing great things every day - they make me smile," said BY MASTER SGT. GARY JOHNSON Reserve and apply for positions identified in the senior recruiter in Denver, all force-shaped officers Colonel Cline. The 421st with less than eight years of total military service Reserve Management Vacancy System. Many Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service EFS is scheduled back mid- Public Affairs are required to sign an Inactive Ready Reserve of Reserve vacancies are in the pilot, navigator, September. September. special operations, command and control, combat agreement. The agreement automatically gives them a ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force control, space and missile, intelligence and health profession career fields, according to Reserve Reserve commission. ; lieutenants involuntarily separated as result of force reductions have until Aug. 1 to join the Air recruiting officials. Force-shaped officers can apply Also all force-shaped officers who qualify for for retraining into some of those career fields if they separation pay are required to sign and accept a Force Reserve to continue their military careers qualify. without a break in service. Continued from A Reserve commission. "It is imperative that our in-service recruiters continue to brief all of these On May 10, the Air Force released the names "We will do our best to place these officers using concept. 388th Airmen were officers and reiterate their options so they can make of 884 lieutenants who are to be involuntarily the resources available to us," said Col. Francis more aware of the summer a well-informed decision," said Sergeant Meyer. ; separated because of force reductions. The Air Mungavin, commander of Air Force Reserve safety hazards that exist Force removed 192 names from the list May 25 Command Recruiting Service. "We have begun contacting those officers who and the dangers they pose after a records review. Those officers will have Over the next few months, Air Force Reserve were on the non-retention list released on May to personnel and aircraft. their records reconsidered during a special review in-service recruiters will contact the force-shaped 10. The Air Force Reserve is one option that will They also ensure hazards are board June 26. allow them to continue to serve as part of the Total lieutenants to provide opportunities to continue prevented and will continue to Force," said Senior Master Sgt. Leslie Russell, Officers not selected for retention can submit serving as traditional reservists. Palace Chase applications to join the Air Force do so. According to Senior Master Sgt. Vincent Meyer, senior recruiter in Europe. New 4th FS commander CMS change of command Reserve offers force-shaped lieutenants chance to serve SAFETY 388th FW Editorial Staff Col. Robert Beletic, 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 The Total Force Viper 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 419th FW Editorial Staff Col. Gary Batlnlch, Commander Karl Tllton, Acting Chief of Public Affairs constitute 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 Fighter Wing 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. |