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Show Hilltop) TIMES U.S. AIR FOI Weekly Since 1948 MlAFB, Utah 84056-5824 www.hilltoptimes.com hilltoptimes@standard.net Vol. 70 No. 31, Augusts^ IN THE KNOW Medical clinic hours limited on Aug. 9 The base clinic will delay opening its doors until 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9, and will remain open until the normal time of 5 p.m. This is to allow the 75th Medical Group to participate in the base ORE. For more information, please contact the base clinic at 801-728-2600. Lane restrictions on Wardleigh Road VERA/VSIP applications begin Aug. 16 (This is a first in a series about the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Program early retirement options.) VERA/VSIP Program Office T he Ogden Air Logistics Center has announced that eligible employees are being offered the opportunity for early retirement. Continuing through Aug. 15 Wardleigh Road will experience lane restrictions to allow manhole access for workers. One eastbound lane will close from Building 849 to Building 847 and one northbound lane at Building 1205. The closure is needed to ensure the safety of workers. For questions, contact Gerard Babauta at 801 -777-1696. Some employees may be eligible to participate in a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or Voluntary Separation Incentive Program. Applications will be accepted through Hill AFB's VERA/ VSIP Interactive Program Web site (https://wbhillO3.hill. afmc.ds.af.mil/vera^vsip/), beginning Aug. 16. Employees approved for this VERA/VSIP program could receive a lump sum incentive payment of up to $25,000, before taxes, as part of their separation. VERA is designed to help reshape or reduce the workforce. It creates vacancies for placement of current employees who may be subject to involuntary separation by a later See VERA/VSIP I page 4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE Changes to effect driver's licenses The Air Force has created a new universal vehicle licensing moduie that is accessible Air Force-wide through the Air Force portal. This new module will allow drivers to transfer their licenses from base to base without having to create a whole new record. The government license will expire on the same day as your state driver's license. If you're active duty military and have an expired state license from a state that allows expired licenses {Utah does not), your government license will expire on the same day as your Common Access Card (CAC). Due to the new module, all government driver's licenses that have an expiration date of "indefinite" or a Social Security number listed on them are considered invalid as of July 1,2010, in accordance with AR 24-301-8.4. Drivers are still required to stop by their licensing office to update their licenses to reflect any base changes due to PCS. This is to stay current with state and military requirements. If you have any questions, please contact your Vehicle Control Officer or Staff Sgt. Jordan Umphress at 801 -586-2546. Never too late to join Air Force Special Duty The AETC Special Duty Team conducted their regularly scheduled visit last week. Air Force members who may have missed the team's visit do not have to wait for the next visit to apply for an Air Force Special duty. For more information about the Air Force Recruiter, Military Training Instructor (MTl), Military Training Leader (MTL), Professional Military Education (PME) instructor information, contact the Wing Career Assistance Advisor Master Sgt Julie McQueen at 801 777-7829. Volunteer opportunities For a current listing of handson volunteer opportunities with local CFC-registered charitable organizations, call 801-399-5584 Extension 110, or e-mail IntermountainCFC@gmail.com with the subject line "Volunteer." Base Theater Free Movies Friday, 7 p.m. - "Avatar" (PG-13) Friday, 9 p.m. - "Sherlock > Holmes" (R) Saturday, noon - "WALL-E" ! (G) Saturday, 3 p.m. - "Tooth Fairy" (PG) Saturday, 6 p.m. - "The Bounty Hunter" (PG-13) Sunday, 7 p.m. - "Cop Out" •: (R) KIM COOK/U.S. Air Force Fire fighters John Little and Zack Zondervon, both of the 775th Civil Engineering Squadron, carry an "accident victim," Kyle Harayda, son of Bruce Harayda, exercise management chief for the 75th Air Base Wing, during an exercise conducted at the East Gate of Hill Air Force Base on July 28. During this exercise participants responded as if an F-16 had crashed. For more pictures see page 5. Reservists support Afghanistan surge BY KARI TILTON 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs A bout 30 members of the 419th Fighter Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron set out July 31 for a sixmonth deployment to Afghanistan in support of the troop surge under way as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The team of Air Force Reservists will be based at Bagram Airfield and will provide engineering, master planning and light troop labor for existing facilities and new construction at the massive military hub. They will also provide civil engineering support to nearby forward operating KARI TILXON/U.S. Air Force bases and combat outposts. Several civil engineering personnel from the 419th "Our specialized teams of carpenters, Fighter Wing check in their weapons with airline security electricians, heavy equipment operators at the Salt Lake International Airport prior to departure and plumbers will support the build-up July 31 for a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. effort and supply our boots on the ground some of the most bare and essential necessities," said Col. Walter Sams, 419th for this mission," Sams added. Fighter Wing commander. Bagram Airfield currently houses about "The mission of Bagram Airfield is to 'defend 30,000 multinational forces. An additional 30,000 the base, supply the fight, and win,' and our folks will quite literally be laying the foundation See DEPLOY I page 4 AFBa 'preferred alternative' for F-35 BY RICHARD ESSARY 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Lighting flashed across northern Utah last week when the Air Force announced it selected Hill Air Force Base as a "preferred ' alternative" for operational ; basing of the F-35 Lighting : II Joint Strike Fighter. • If selected, the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB could expect to be the first operational units in the Air , Force to fly the fighter as early as 2013. , "We are honored to have been selected as one of the preferred sites for initial operational basing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter," said Col. Scott Zobrist, 388th Fighter Wing commander. 'The fact that Hill Air Force Base was included on the initial basing candidate list isf* a testament to the important role it and all of Utah plays in our nation's defense." If Hill AFB is chosen to house the F-35, it will be at least the second time in history the base has been selected as a first to receive the newest weapon system in the Air Force arsenal. "If s somewhat fitting that Hill AFB be selected as one of the first candidates to get the F-35, because it was also the first Air Force base to receive the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1979," Zobrist said. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley previously announced five operational candidate bases Oct. 29,2009. In addition to Hill AFB those bases included Mountain Home AFB, Id.; Shaw Air Force Base/McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.; Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt.; and Jacksonville AGS,Fla. The secretary also announced training base candidates that included Boise AGS, Id; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Luke •• AFB, Ariz.; and Tucson AGS, Ariz. The other preferred alternative locations announced on July 29 were: Operations - Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt. and Training - Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. See F-35 1 page 6 Look inside this week's Hilltop Times for... Resurrecting F-16s Team Awards Who brought s'mores? Maintained build future targets See who got recognized Family campout event See page 6 See page 9 .See page 11 |