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Show TIMES October 4, 2007 Hilltop TIMES Wl l,l\ Mil. Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter... Standard-Examiner publhhd AndyHowell Standard- Examines managing editoi Tomfiusselberg Standard-Examine. Hilltop Times editoi Mitch Shaw Military affairs reportci Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimesSstandard.net or call 629-5250. For advertising, call 625-4300. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corp. in cooperation with Hill Air Force Base. Ogden Publishing is a private company in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force and is solely responsible for the content and advertising. Contents of the Hill Top*Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Air Force. 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 Standard-Examiner's Davis County Office, 67 S. Main St., Suite 104, Layton, Utah, 84041. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 629-5250 with story ideas or comments, or send e-mail to Editor Tom Busselberg at tbusselberg® standard.net. Call 625-4300 for advertising needs. COMMENTARY We are not so different from each other COMMENTARY BY MICHAEL HACKETT 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing H ILL AIR FORCE BASE — Military, government civilian, contractor: These are the three parts of the team that builds, sustains and fights as the world's premiere air and space force. A lot of people like to focus on what • appears to make these groups different, but what's important is how those differences and similarities help the team in its common goal — supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States through judicious application of aerospace power. T\venty-six years ago, I took an oath and entered the Air Force as a second lieutenant. Most of the bad things I heard about officers in the Air Force revolved around their being ambitious and changing things for the sake of change. The key distinction of the military part of the team is that they almost exclusively fight for our force. Although I remember fondly the camaraderie of generating jets for deployment or leading a team in aircraft battle damage repair exercises, I was not called to battle. I have great respect for our deployed aii-men and their families for the sacrifices they make every day, and I continue to pray for their safety. I'm proud of the 24 "years I spent as an engineer and aircraft maintenance officer in the Air Force and equally proud of the quality individuals I served with, and those who still serve. I then became a contractor for the government. During this time, I felt that my job was to find win-win solutions for the government and the company, since our success was made in facilitating the success of Air Force projects. Most of the people I worked with shared that "patriotic" mindset, and about half were prior military. I remember one of our financial analysts brought in a bunch of American Hackett flags one day because her husband told her that Private 1st Class Daniel Dolan's funeral procession was going to be passing our building. She wanted to make sure our company paid its respects to this fallen hero, and we were all honored to do so. It was a small thing, but it reinforced my opinion that contractors understand the sacrifices of our countrymen and would do our part to help them do their jobs as safely as possible. We put a lot into developing requirements and detailing how we want systems to be designed and built. Contractors put a lot of work into planning the development and manufacturing process for these items: ordering materials with different lead times, staffing the program with engineers, designers, developers, managers, financial analysts, contracting officers, etc., and then, change happens. Many of the civilian engineers I've worked with in the labs, product centers and here at Hill have been experts in their fields, driving the development and integration of cutting-edge technologies into new weapons systems. I've profited from the mentorship of civilian leaders as they led the formation of integrated product teams for the F-22 support systems. N Here at Hill, I learned a lot from Alan Dalpias and Derryl Israel as they led the strategic planning and stand up of the Engineering Directorate on base. Far from resisting change, they promoted it, creating new ways to better support weapon system acquisition and sustainment. The engineers and program managers in the F-16 program office have constantly demonstrated an innovative spirit and a willingness to do anything needed to get the job done. In my work here at the center I've seen that same pride and can-do spirit in our commodities group and across the maintenance organization. A recent example of the great teamwork between the military, government civilians and contractors was shown in the F-16 program office's response to an urgent need request for secure radios on the F-16. We supported development of this new capability for aircraft here at Hill and for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve jets at other bases. Developed at Wright-Patterson and Hill AFB the team was led by a military program manager, a contractor program manager and two civilian engineers. The team created an innovative plan to manage the risk associated with developing this capability on a compressed schedule. The Wright-Patterson and Hill teams did a great job sharing information and resources for their designs. We are not so different, you and I — and I would know because I have been all three — a military member, a contractor and government civilian. In the three different jobs I've had, one common experience with the people I've worked with is that they are all quality people eager to serve their country. 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil 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 beforecallingthe Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Col. Scott Chambers, 75th Air Base Wing commander, picks up a piece of trash on the base grounds. He literally pulled over and stopped to remove the fitter. He believes in creating a beautiful environment in which to live and work. COL GENIEVE DAVID U.S. Air Force Security Forces 777-5550 Military Pay 777-1851 24-hr. Crisis Information...777-3056 Civilian Pay 777-6246 Services 777-4134 Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 Base Restaurants _ 777-2043 Program Retirement/Compensatioa.. 777-6142 IC Complaints 777-5305 (civilian) (for appointment) IC Complaints 777-5361 Social Actions 777-3516 (after hours) Employer Relations 777-7129 Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5361 (recording) 75th Medical Group 777-4918 Civil Engineering 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Public Affairs 777-5201 Public Affairs Information ..777-96% Control Une Military Housing 777-2963 Maintenance Safety Office 777-3333 Union 777-3257 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline.... 777-1852 Family Assistance Center...777-3090 (when activated) | What do you enjoy most about the fall season? Balance is a skill. Like any skill, if you practice your skill will improve. Challenging your ballance every day is the best insurance in fall prevention. Good balance aids in maintenance of proper posture and therefore less strain on your back, hips and knees. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2007 DUIs: 16 Hill's Last DUI: Sept. 29 Unit Involved: Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers •re unavailable. Caff 777-171J any time to requests ride. O Tech. Sgt. Don Coffee 75th Aerospace Medical Squadron Airman 1st Class Phillip Northam 75th Aerospace Medical Squadron Jenipher Sears 75th Medical Operations Squadron Katie Sutton 75th Medical Operations Squadron "I enjoy the changing of the "When it's close to winter, the "My favorite part is Halloween colors, football season and when "I'm sorry, but did you just say snow starts falling and we can and dressing up. Being somemy kids take up soccer." that Utah has a fall?" go snowboarding is when I reaily thing that you don't normally get enjoy fall." to be. This year I'm going to be a cheerleader." O O o |