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Show 419th FW 388th FW "Hill Total Force Fighter Wing" Thursday ^m^lmericas J^irmeft (Defending our Nation at "Home andflSroacf... Liberty or (Deathl November ie. 2006 12th AF/CC sends holiday message 388th Thanksgiving Feast The 388th Fighter Wing is holding a Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for 388th Airmen. At any time that afternoon, 388th members may stop in for a full Thanksgiving meal and entertainment for the kids. The feast is a part of 388th Wingman Day activities. AFBC natch nostnoned Air Force Reserve Command has postponed the mandatory wear of the AFRC patch on battle dress uniforms and flight suits until May 1, 2007. AFRC unit reservists were supposed to start wearing the patch last month, but command officials delayed it because of a lack of patches. We have just completed one the of our Airmen to able to celebrate the holidays with safest years in U.S. Air Force his12th AF/AFSOUTH Commander feel depressed our families and friends, many of or to take unnec- our fellow Airmen will be spending tory—a fatality-free 101 Critical Days The holiday season is rapidly essary risks. It the holidays deployed, away from of Summer campaign, significant approaching. This is special time of is important we loved ones. Adding the stress of a reductions in ground fatalities, and year for sharing and enjoying time watch out for deployment with the normal holiday the lowest number of aviation mishaps ever. These accomplishments with family and friends. The holiday each other and hustle and bustle underscores the season is an excellent time to relax, be good wing- importance of supporting and assistingreflect an unsurpassed commitment unwind and recharge your batteries. men. We must our Airmen and their families. It is to safety by each and every one of Unfortunately, for many, the holidays Lt. Gen. Norman all stay focused imperative we continue to encourage you. I applaud your efforts and Seip can bring significant stress and worry. and continue to and stay connected with our deployedthank you for what you do everyday Whether it's determining where to use sound judgment when making Airmen and their families. No mat- for our Nation. It makes a differgo, the cost of travel and gifts, or a decisions about traveling, finances, ter where our folks are during the ence...it is noticed...and it counts. holidays, they are a special part of Kathleen and I wish you a joyous number of other stressing issues, and winter activities. holiday season! anxiety and pressure can cause some Although a good deal of us will be our extended military family. BY LT. GEN, NORMAN SEIP 419th FW honors extraordinary boy 419th Maintenance Group ready for inspection BY SENIOR AIRMAN NATHAN GREER 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Defense Bill This week, the 419th Maintenance Group will receive a Maintenance StanAir Force Reserve Comdardization and Evaluation Program mand will have a slightly larger Team visit from Air Force Reserve force in 2007. The fiscal 2007 Command Logistics and Maintenance Defense Appropriations Act directorate staff. signed by President George The evaluation, which takes place W. Bush Sept. 29 funds an every four years, will focus on the end-strength of 74,900 reservmaintenance group's compliance ists. That's 900 additional with Air Force, major command and reservists compared to the fiscal year 2006 end-strength locally-developed publications|g)roof 74,000. cesses and programs. &" "This is to ensure maintenance The new legislation also standardization across the command approves 10,214 full-time and across the Air Force to make We air reserve technicians and 2,707 full-time Active Guard our F-16 maintainers do their job to the and Reserve personnel. The same level as an active duty or guard defense bill funds a 2.2 percent maintainer doing the same job," said Photo by Todd Cromar across-the-board military pay Major Max Stitzer, deputy commander Local news media capture images of Lt. Cot. Bill "Hobbes" Lyons, Operations Officer for the 466th Fighter raise for active and reserve of the 419th Maintenance Group. Squadron, helping prepare a special young man for a "ride" in an F-16D. Gabe Adams, who was born with no forces as requested in the To prepare for the inspection, which arms or legs, sits in the backseat of the jet with his father, Ron Adams before the aircraft was towed around the President's Budget earlier is known as an MSET, the maintewing's ramp. The 419th FW hosted a tour for Gabe, his family, and his 2nd grade classmates, in recognition of this year. nance group has reviewed all local how the boy has overcome his disability and has worked very hard this school year. publications and processes to make sure they are in compliance with Air PMEPush BY KARI TILTON Force and headquarters regulations Master sergeants must now 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs and directives. finish the Air Force Senior While Major Stitzer acknowledges NCO Academy before they Seven-year old Gabe Adams wore a flightsuit and there are always things to work on fill a senior or chief master a smile Oct. 19 when the 419th Fighter Wing made when it comes to preparing for an sergeant position in the Air him an honorary pilot. inspection like the MSET, he said that Force Reserve. Lt. Gen. John Gabe, who was born with no arms or legs, was the maintenance group is prepared. A. Bradley, chief of the Air given VIP status during a tour of the wing with his "If you're doing it right you're not Force Reserve and commander 2nd grade class. Gabe was also joined by his parents, going to be surprised at anything [the of Air Force Reserve Comand his grandparents. inspection team] finds," he said. mand, announced the policy The group visited the 419th FW after Gabe's teacher This inspection is the last MSET in a Sept. 27 memo. and her aide asked to bring them out to the base in that the 419th Maintenance Group Before master sergeants recognition of Gabe's accomplishments in the classwill receive due to the ongoing assohad to complete the top enlisted room. ciation between the 419th and 388th professional military edu. "[Gabe] never lets anything stop him," said Ms. Fighter Wings. cation before they sewed Jackie Poll, who is Gabe's teacher. Once fully associated, the 419th on senior master sergeant Gabe writes with a pencil tucked under his chin. Maintenance Group's MSET will be stripes. However, they could He can also swim and can even walk by balancing on replaced by the active duty Logisfill a higher-graded position his hips. This extraordinary little boy worked hard tics Standardization and Evaluation as long as they enrolled in the to improve his reading this year and his teacher and Program, or LSET, which is broader academy within six months of aide wanted to do something to recognize these in scope. their duty effective date. accomplishments. Since Gabe loves airplanes, a trip The LSET evaluates logistics funcThe new policy still requires to the base seemed appropriate. tions outside of the maintenance group, getting the academy done "In the classroom he's treated just like any student; but is of the same level of rigor as before promotion but gives he just does amazing things with his limitations," AFRC's evaluations. Photo by Tech. Sgt Brian Pusey added emphasis to the imporsaid Ms. Poll. "I am continually impressed with what According to Major Stitzer, the Gabe Adams is carried by his father as they prepare tance of enlisted PME. and how he accomplishes things we so often take for to climb into the backseat of an F-16D at the 419th reason for the move to the LSET is granted." Fighter Wing Oct. 19. because the associated 419th and The wing's operations and maintenance personnel Promotion Changes 388th Maintenance Groups will operate came together to create a special day for the remarkable overwhelmed by the feeling of good that comes from according to Air Combat Command's More Air Force Reserve little boy and his classmates. Lt. Col. Bill "Hobbes" helping to make this a special day for so many people. guidance and supplements to Air Force officers will compete against publications, rather than Air Force each other for promotion. line Lyons, Operations Officer for the wing's 466th FighterI'm confident that our newest Diamondback will Reserve Command's guidance and officers will have less chance Squadron, who took the lead in organizing the tour, remember this day for the rest of his life." presented Gabe with a flightsuit that was tailored to Gabe's mother snapped pictures and his classmates supplements. to make colonel. Lieutenant fit the boy's tiny frame. cheered with delight as Gabe and his father stepped This week's MSET is scheduled colonels won't be able to Gabe and his fellow students got a chance to sit in put of the aircraft after the ride. to run concurrently with the 388th stay past their mandatory the back of an F-16D, take a peek through some Night 'To be able to be in that plane, and to wear those Maintenance Group's LSET, allowing separation date. Vision Goggles, and take the stick of the wing's F-16 helmets... and, to be treated with the respect that he the two groups to work together to These are some of the flight simulator. I think he deserves that," said is being treated with... prepare for their respective inspecpolicy changes Air Force The tour ended with Gabe and his father getting a Mrs. Janelle Adams, Gabe's mother. "This was such tions. Reserve Command imple"Even though these are two separate mented for officer promotions surprise "ride" in the backseat of an F-16D as it was a special experience." towed around the ramp. Gabe and his father wore Following the tour, Gabe and his family attended inspections, our great partnership starting with the October helmets that were rigged so both could communicate a base luncheon honoring persons with disabilities. with the 388th Maintenance Group 2006 AFR Line and Non-line with the pilot during their ride. During the luncheon Colonel Lyons presented Gabe has allowed us to better prepare," Colonel Promotion selection M I think Gabe was somewhat overwhelmed by with an F-16 lithograph signed by pilots from the Major Stitzer said. "We've appreciated board. the whole thing," said Colonel Lyons. "I myself am 419th Fighter Wing. their help." 419th FW FORCE RESERVE |