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Show August 10, 2006 B FLYING Continued from A Ihe 388lh Fighter Wing al Hill ever since. They are no strangers to flying in Ihe combat environment. According to the 388th FW historian, the Black Widows have deployed nine times and flown over 13,000 combat sorties in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, five deployments in support of Operation Southern Watch and three deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The dedicated crew chief on aircraft 88-0471 is Senior Airman Trent Nelson with assistants Senior Airman Jason Wall and Senior Airman Tom Manues. The DCC on aircraft 88-0428 is Senior Airman Victor Alvarez with assistant Senior Airman James Speicher. "It is an honor to crew such a great jet, especially doing what she was made for here in a combat zone," Airman Nelson said. "It's a great feeling to crew the flagship and launch Colonel Cline for a milestone like this, but it's just 0471-- the pride of the fleet-- taking care of business." "I would like to lake credit for this accomplishment, however, credit should go to all the Black Widows, as well as previous DCC's and Assistant DCC's," said Airman Alvarez. "Its pretty awesome to. be one of the first to achieve this, especially with 0428, the finest jet in the wing." "Upgrades and improvements to the internal structure, engines and parts of the F-16 through various depot level programs have helped extend the life of these aircraft," said Capt. Mark Sloan, the 421 Aircraft MaintHnance Unit Offjcer in charge. "However, for these jets to have reached this milestone is a testament to the maintenance professionals that work these jets every day." "I've seen these jets roll over the 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 flying hour mark, and the incredible thing is that after all these hours, they are flying as well today as they did when they were accepted off the production line," said Chief Master Sgt. Dave Edwards, 421 AMU noncommissioned officer in charge. "The reason these jets have performed this well, for this long, is the blood, sweat and tears maintainers pour into these aircraft." Questions for wing vice commander Below are the "Top 10" questions and answers as noted during a recent interview with the new 388lh FW ViceCommander, Col. Todd P. Harmer. What made you want to join the Air Force and become an F-16 pilot? Col. Harmer: It was July 20, 1969; I was 5 years old. I remember silting in front of the TV with my parents and watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon for the first lime. It was after seeing that incredible event that Photo by Airman 1st Class Stefanie Torres I told my Dad and Col. Todd Harmer, 388th Fighter Wing vice commander, begins the afternoon meetings in the wing conference room. Mom that I want to do that! Then when the support of the Reserves. is to become the expert in what you as the senior national representative I was in the 7th grade, I remember As a fighter squadron commander, do, regardless of what that may be. for the U.S. personnel assigned to talking to a young man who was Do it better than anybody else. Those approximately 50 percent of my pilots the NATO HQ in Izmir. I feel the a senior from West Point. He was were from the Reserves. The model who become the best in their jobs dressed in his uniform, looking very responsibility of that position has we used there of integration will be are the ones that are given greater sharp. I remember asking him if, 'If I prepared me tremendously for this different than here, but I believe opportunities. Then once you become go to West Point can I fly?' He told me position. my experience there has given me out how you fit into the best, figure thai if I wanted to fly, I needed to go to a good view of how to make it work the big picture. Thus far in your career, what was the Air Force Academy. So I did. effectively for both the active duty I'm also a strong advocate for your best assignment and why? and the Reserves. I believe the mode education. I believe that every Col. Harmer: Naturally, my Tell me about your family? is currently being developed at that Airman should be continually striving current assignment would be my Col. Harmer: I met my wife while Hill today for the integration of the to better themselves by actively answer, but like most people, your stationed at Moody AFB in Georgia. 388th FW and the 419th Reserve FW and developing themselves learning first assignment is always the one that We've been married almost 15 years. will serve as a model for the rest of the professionally. you are emotionally attached to and I have three beautiful daughters, Air Force. This will not only help you to will be the one that you remember and as a family we enjoy spending better perform in your current job, time together. Whether it is going to most. During my first assignment What are some hobbies and but will also open doors for greater I was a brand new first lieutenant. I the pool or traveling, we enjoy being interests that you have? opportunities in your career and was a fighter pilot, and I felt like 1 was together as a family. Col. Harmer: I'm an avid reader, throughout your life. somebody. I believe that the success I of military history books. especially enjoyed in my first assignment set the How do you think your last I just finished reading General When you look back at your time tone for the rest of my career. position as executive officer to Lt. MacArthur's autobiography. I'm as the vice commander at the here are only two jobs in the There Gen. Glen "Wally" Moorhead III currently reading Sir John Winthrop 388th FW, what do you want people whole Air Force that I ever wanted to prepared you for your position as Hackett's The Profession of Arms vice commander of the 388th FW? do. The first was Air Force Squadron to remember? and Grant's Memoirs. The best book Col. Harmer: Whenever I PCS Weapons Officer and the second Col. Harmer: Two very important that I've read this year was Dave to a new location or take on a new things came out of my experience as was to become a fighter squadron Lt/Gen. Moorhead's executive officer commander, both of which I have had assignment, I set 3 personal goals that Macaulay's biography of Truman. that 1 feel have prepared.-rne.for my the honor of doing. I believe that my I want to accomplish^vhile I'm there. Although it is large, it is well worth One of these goals is to always leave the read. position as the vice-wing commander experiences in both .these positions I also love to wood work. I enjoy the place better than when I arrived. here. Priorlo my previous assignment have served as stepping stones in working with my hands and creating my two years here, I hope At the end of preparing me for this position. working with NATO, I remember something out of wood. I've built a lol that people will say that the 388th FW thinking that NATO was no longer of furniture, but my prized pieces of is a belter place because of my service What do you see your roles to be relevant; it was a relic of the cold war wood work are two cherry end tables. here. as vice commander? and was no longer needed. After I cut down the cherry tries from my Col. Harmer: My job as the vice serving as an executive officer, dad's farm in New York; had the wood What role do you see the wing commander is to support the my yiew about Ihe NATO alliance milled into planks, and did everything 388th FW playing in the overall wing commander. My focus is to 180 degrees. I learned changed take up the slack where I can and to development of the Air Force's Total else in the entire process to build how the Alliance worked, what an these end tables. relieve the commander so that he can Force Integration? roll the U.S. plays and important Col. Harmer: Since the end more importantly, how much the U.S. perform his duties for the wing. I will How would you describe your do what ever he needs me to do so that of the Cold War, the Air Force has needs the Alliance. This educational leadership style? fundamentally redefined what the he can concentrate on the two most experience played a big role in my Col. Harmer* If you wanted to word Reserves means. overall view of how the Air Force fits important things for the 388th FW; describe me as a philosopher, I'm a the combat capabilities of the wing as The pace of operations that we've into the U.S. strategic plan. measure twice and cut once kind of had since a whole and the health and well-being 1990 has altered how we Also, because General Moorhead guy. of our Airmen. perceive our Total Force for the was dual hated, meaning he was I like to really analyze and think better. Gone are the days of having Commander NATO Allied Air things through before I make a a strategic Reserve where we 'break What kind of advice would you Component Command Izmir, Turkey, decision. I don't like to micromanage in time of war' for back-up glass give to Airmen today who want to and Commander 16th Air Force, U.S. people, but I prefer to let people do support. We cannot do the current one day be where you are? Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air operational tasking that we have with their jobs and make their own mistakes Col. Harmer: The most important Base, Germany, he spend most of his and grow from the experience. thing for any person in the Air Force the active duty alone. We must have time at Ramstein AB. This left me Dad was a Kentucky boy and former coal miner who joined the Army Air Corp during World War II. He worked in aircraft maintenance Continued from A his entire 30-year career and retired as a Chief Warrant officer. Dad was our reserve assignments. They are a one of only 17 CWO4's remaining in the separate set of friends from our civilian Air Force at that time. friends and, hey, the more friends the After he retired he began to suffer better. terribly from Alzheimer's or dementia. We are generally proud of the work we do and it makes us feel good. We can When I took him golfing for the last time, see the results of our labor and it gives he had reached the point in his disease where he didn't even recognize me, his us a feeling of worth. oldest child. Dad was 80 years old at the Our civilian friends often admire time, three years before his death. us for our dedication and we all like At the pro shop on this last father-son admiration. And, yeah, they do pay us golf outing, I paid both of our green fees something (albeit, some more than for the first tee. As I walked and started others and often not enough), and don't away from the counter, my dad opened forget the typhoid shots are free. his old wallet and took out the twenty But I think the real answer to the my mom always made sure dollar bill "why?" is often very private and much he had with him. He gave it to the clerk more noteworthy. I can sum it up for who had just taken my money. The clerk myself with this quick anecdote about my dad, "Your friend has already told my dad. Making 6,000 hours RESERVISTS Photo by Tech Sgt. Penny Black Senior Airman Thomas Manues performs launch procedures for Lt Col Cline in the 421 Fighter Squadron Flagship, Aircraft 88-0471 before the 6,000 hour flight at Balad Air Base. 388th FW Editorial Staff Col. Robert Beletic, Commander 2nd. Lt. Beth Woodward Airman 1st Class Stefanie 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 r) U paid for your golf." My dad looked at the clerk as he handed him his twenty and said, "I want you to take this and buy a new American flag. The one you're flying out'front is faded and ragged and when you fly that flag, you should fly it right." Well, I retrieved Dad's twenty from the dumbfounded clerk on the way out, but we were only able to stumble and it* fumble our way through Lhree holes of golf before we called it quits. But that morning my beautiful old man, who didn't even recognize his own son or the game he had loved for 50 years, did somehow remember the wonderful pride he felt for the flag that represented his country. This story makes it a little easier for me to hit the button on that coffee maker on a UTA morning. I also think it helps explain why many of us continue to do this work. My dad would be proud of all of our Citizen Warriors and he would thank you as I am. 419th FW Editorial Staff Col. Gary Batinich, Commander Kari Tilton, Acting Chief of Public Affairs Senior Airman Nathan Greer, staff writer Senior Alrrnan Christina Wright, staff writer 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. |