OCR Text |
Show Hiili Hillmp flMES July 22, 2010 HILLTOP TIMES Col. Scott Zobrist (left), 388th Fighter Wing commander, and Lt. Col. David Lyons, 34th Fighter Squadron commander, prepare to furl the 34th FS flag as Tech. Sgt. Kellie Boisse, of the 34th FS, assists. JAMES ARROWOOD U.S. Air Force down." 3. "Every action that we take on this battlefield is going to have a strategic From page 1 impact. You've got to go into the fight prepared for that and you've got to act acall learn from every one of those expericordingly. ences and there are valuable lessons to "The time we spent over there — I be learned every time an Airman comes think the Rams did it right as we've been home." doing it through history," Blauser stated. Twelve F-16s and more than 250 34th After honoring their experiences at FS and 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Bagram, the Rams gathered to begin Airmen deployed to Bagram from Januthe solemn duty of furling their flag and ary to May of 2010, though one of their inactivating their squadron and the 34th own just recently returned from an exAMU, even though the 34th AMU is under tended tour of six months. the 388th Fighter Wing. "This last combat deployment with the "The 34th AMU deploys with the 34th Rams and F-16s was really a culmination FS whenever and wherever-they go," of the rich history for the 34th dating all the way back to World War II," said Capt. said Col. Scott Zobrist, commander of the Mike Blauser, 34th FS weapons officer. "In 388th Fighter Wing. "They're an inseparable team." some way, shape or form the Rams have Zobrist and Lyons both thanked the been involved in every major conflict the 34th FS and 34th AMU for their outstandUnited States has been involved in since ing service to their nation and teammates World War II." and the families of the Airmen for their While there, the Airmen found that continuing support of the Rams team. tljeir previous four months of training They also thanked past members of the Was a key element to their success. Rams. "The common thread here through"Thank you also to the Rams who have out is if you talk to any one of these guys paved the way for us," Lyons said. "In our they'll say that, when push came to shove final deployment we continued your tradi... the training took over and things haption of excellence." pened automatically," Blauser said. "I think that's a testament to the time we "But all good things must come to an took during the months leading up to our end ... for a while," Zobrist said. "While deployment to make sure we were adthis may be the end of the Rams history in equately prepared." the F-16f we hope it's only the beginning "We had two F-16s airborne 24/7 for 122 of the next chapter ... "So when (Col.) 'Detroit' (Lyons) and I days. We flew over 1,400 combat sorties, furl the Ram flag in a few minutes, don't and over 6,000 combat hours," Blauser worry, we won't furl it too tightly," he said as he described the successes of the continued. "Expect to see that flag flying Rams' last deployment. "Just to put that again in a few years in front of a similar into perspective, that's really the equivalent of what we do in an entire year when group of ops-maintenance warriors joined we're stateside. The 34th FS plus AMU ac- as one team like the one you see in front of you today. complished that in just over 4 months ... "To the men and women of the 34th FS Not once did we lose a sortie to a broken aircraft." ; and our herculean AMU, I stand in awe of you and your accomplishments," Lyons Overall, the Rams and their comstated. "This day is mander are proud of the work they did in Bagram. "The entire deployment can kind really your day and as we furl this flag in just a few moments, I hope that you will of be summed up in the phrase, 'Ordinary people doing extraordinary things,'" take a moment to reflect on your services Blauser said. to our great nation... It is no overstatement to say that this squadron is a naAfter his time spent with his Ram tional treasure. The 'Rude Rams' have ... teammates at home and abroad, Lyons risked it all for America time and time had three lessons to share with every Airagain." man: Though its flag is now furled and this 1. "Train like you fight. You hear that all the time but it's absolutely true bechapter of the 34th FS "Rude Rams" hiscause you are going to fall back on your tory has ended, each Airman — no matter training. If your training is found lacking, what rank — can be proud of the work you're going to get hurt." they've done and the tradition they've car2. "Rely on each other. You can't acried on. complish the mission by yourself, I don't "I couldn't be more proud of each and care how great you are ... Rely on your every one of these 'Rude Rams,'" Lyons teammates and they'll never let you said. "They are truly America's finest." RAMS KIM COOK/U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kyle Eckert, 388th Component Maintenance Squadron, Airman 1st Class Christopher Kirchner, 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Steven Watson 388th EMS7 assist with the ceremony of rolling up the 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing guidon and enfolding it in a cover. The 84th Combat Sustainment Wing was also inactivated in the ceremony. The Aerospace Sustainment Directorate will now take on the role of overseeing five platform program offices as the two wings' former groups take on new names. They include the A-10 Program Office, the F-16 Program Office, the Mature and Proven Aircraft Program Office, the Munitions Program Office and the Space and C3I Program Office. Aerospace Sustainment Directorate takes on platform program offices BY MARY LOU GORNY ment Wing and two in the former 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, now become program ol. Scott Stapp, commandoffices under the auspices of er of the 84th Combat the Aerospace Sustainment Sustainment Wing and Directorate. All program office 508th Aerospace Sustainment names will clearly designate Wing, has formally changed job what weapons platform they titles as a long planned merger direct. of the two wings took place at Club Hill on July 16 after an , For example, by making inactivation ceremony. The orit clear to both military and ganizations are now assembled non-military around the world into the Aerospace Sustainment that the A-10 Programs Office Directorate under the direction oversees all things related to of the Ogden Air Logistics Cen- the A-10, communications effiter with Stapp as the director. ciency is gained. In a numbered "The Air Force is not telling wing, it was not necessarily as you anything different about clear, as Stapp pointed out. what we expect from you as Both Busch and Stapp leaders in this organization," praised the leadership of all said Maj. Gen. Andrew Busch, involved. OO-ALC commander, to those Before this move, all leadpresent at the inactivation cerership positions had been emony for both wings. "I will screened by a command board tell you that as the ALC comand none of that will change. mander, my expectations later Clearly both Busch and Stapp today are the same as they feel certain that they have the were earlier today." best people, both military and The 508th ASW and 84th CSW non-military Air Force-wide, assembled in leadership posiwere inactivated and respections in the platform. tive guidons enfolded into covers in the ceremony held to "I really do have an amazing formally note the change. group of people and they will continue to perform like they Col. Stapp, as director of the have in the past," said Stapp as Aerospace Sustainment Direche described how little would torate following the ceremony, actually change. pointed out the streamlining efficiency of having one staff The five program office take care of the functions two names now are the A-10 Prowing command staffs had been gram Office, the F-16 Program Office, the Mature and Proven in charge of until he assumed the role of commander of both Aircraft Program Office, the Munitions Program Office and wings some months ago. the Space and C3I Program OfFive groups, three in the forfice. mer 508th Aerospace Sustain- Hilltop Times editor C Alliance Credit Union 6 Reasons to Choose... ...ALLIANCE'S VISA CREDIT CARD Where I>ream.* (.•>/ Wingi! Four 34th FS "Rude Rams" F-16 Fighting Falcons soar across the sky at the end of the inactivation ceremony. • Hill AFB Job Openings Site Internal civilian announcements are posted on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site. Announcements for bargaining unit positions are posted on Fridays. All other announcements may be posted any day of the week. The Civilian Announcement Notification System is a subscription e-mail service available to £ assist employees in their job search. $ Self-nominations for posted announcements can be made on-line atwww.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb. or via theiiteractive voice response system at 1-800-997-2378 and TDD 1-800-382-0893. • For info on NSPS visit http://www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps. 6.99%*APR/OAC Fixed 6-month Visa Special **Offer good for balance transfers from other financial institutions and New Visa Card Accounts from July 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010! v WV- i '\t ,. \ I r, L.,,n i , I; ,•. i\, \|; ,..,, 11 i, l,< i".,.t,..i i .i, ,lr ii. t • i '. !• \ Miii ' ;,1 -I i Vi -n I i .,.!•• 1 •""• . M'K'Yiii-M. .,.1 - . . \| |; \ . .M. I •, \ I- \ II-M.I (•• i >| •:••'• . » ii.I ••=" Vi i 1-. Mt T.U \l- >.( I I r | i I.1 , • \D, \ mil I, ,!il\, il • II- p|t • t. I .1.1 i- M ' V I; \ ,i.,l I , •, \(. \ * I. •, . V " I •• ; i" H • ' \IK I in.'i ,,,.1 \(- \i I. .. < V!> 'l •' I ' ' ' M h \ tu'!.>,•! IM I .VI.1 .'.hill ..1' :mih ,11, i,.,n n. tl|, ,., , , ,],. -P •'• I I '. , •!.. ik•••;•! ••!'!. .,..,.I ii .n-i.r I-II,II.I «[>' s h Ii. , iki ,i. l.r. i . it. . tl, ... Ml, i... I , l.i I •• . i, ...il, i r.;i,<,.i»i->i ,.1 -1 ' Vi ..(, t!tM. j .-• Ml-.iM M n,!,]. ".I. •.,•..'.••, in. i. |... it... ..i . . Kill, '1 -1J.... II.I. I- 'I.-i i -T... rui.l. . • wil, ill....Ik, . -M ,1 . |[li. I..i- .. \ 1- \li ,,|..i |., , . j . !• ! ( 11 . I-..1 (..,.- .1. I ,1 , I. t ,, | ', I,.. ,,( ,1 ,,,. . K ,,, i, „, i. rr,.h •,, .(, • I., i Ml. .ii.. I . .hi II. •; • I -.• i.t • .." |