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Show 4 1M HILLTOP TIMES Hill unveils new fire station The new three-bay facility cost $5.4 million to construct BY MITCH SHAW Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau I t's been 68 years, but Hill Air Force Base finally has a new fire station. Base officials unveiled a new three-bay fire station May 17 that will provide necessary fire and emergency services to the east side of the base. The station comes to Hill in large part because of a 2008 provision sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, in the annual Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. The provision secured $5.4 million for the construction of the new facility. "This fire station was desperately needed on the east side of the base," Bishop said. "This will have a very positive impact at Hill for years to come." The east side of the base has undergone major development during the last year or so. In September 2010, Hill opened two new F-22 aircraft maintenance hangars, three aircraft paint booths and F-22 support space that includes new offices. Maj. Gen. Andrew Busch, commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, said the new fire station is "very important for several reasons." First, Busch said, only 200 yards to the south, Hill crews are performing depot maintenance on the F-22, and the station's proximity to the F-22 facility will allow firefighters to respond to a possible emergency faster than ever. In 2012, Hill also will begin performing work on the F-35 on the east side of the base, near the new fire station. Busch also said Hill firefighters will be able to respond to other east side base facilities faster than they used to. When the east side of Hill is all built up, more than 2,000 people will be working in the area every day. Patrick Vega, base assistant fire chief, said Hill's main fire station, which is just a few miles north of the base's South Gate, will remain open to serve the rest of the base. The original east fire station was built in 1943. "We're glad to have this new station," Vega said. "Sixty-eight years is a long time. This is a great morale booster for our firefighters." The new station includes sleep- TODD CROMAR/U.S. Air Force With large oversized scissors in hand, Ogden Air Logistics Center Commander Maj. Gen. Andrew Busch, Fire Chief Paul Erickson, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Col. Patrick Higby, installation commander, prepare to cut the ribbon for the new fire house near the flight line at Hill Air Force Base on May 17, as (left to right) contractor Ron Remkes, Deputy Commander of the 75th Civil Engineer Group Stephanie Binggeli and Lt. Col. Andrew Kiger from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, observe. ing quarters, physical fitness and kitch- The fire station also includes en- en areas, and state-of-the-art equipment ergy and water-saving features, natural lighting, solar panels and motion lights. and decontamination rooms. Elevated sensor system achieves 100th mission Brig. Gen. Ole Knudson, program executive officer for missiles and space, observes the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Elevated Netted Sensor System's fire control radar during JLENS 100th flight mission. BY DAN O'BOYLE Redstone Arsenal, Alabama Public Affairs T he Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System has moved closer to a key developmental test this summer. JLENS flew a landmark 100th mission March 31 at the Utah Test and Training Range. Attendees included Brig. Gen. Ole Knudson, program executive officer for missiles and space; Col. Warren O'Donell, Cruise Missile Defense Systems project manager; and Dean Barten, JLENS product manager. JLENS is an Army-led project for development of a sensor system to provide long-range target detection and tracking for superior land-attack cruise missile defense. The system will fill a crucial need by providing battlefield commanders with enhanced situational awareness and elevated communications, enabling sufficient warning for air defense systems to engage and defeat threats at ranges far beyond what current radar systems can support. The Utah Test and Training Range sites will be used into fiscal 2014 for further system integration activities and for the developmental and operational testing needed to certify the systems as being ready for production and fielding. Courtesy photo Teens looking for summer experience might say YES to AFAS program BY KRISTA STARKER Hilltop Times correspondent S tudents looking to earn money for college and a reason to get off the couch this summer may look no further then the Youth Employment Skills Program (YES Program). The program sponsored by the Youth Center and the Air Force Aid Society helps student's grades 9-12 to earn money for post- secondary education and give back to the community by volunteering. "It's a really great program because it teaches job skills like computer knowledge. And it helps them learn about careers they might be interested in," said Drew Ulsh, assistant director and teen coordinator for the Youth Center. The Yes Program allows students to volunteer at various base agencies at a rate of $4 per hour and over the course of 4 years students have the potential to earn $1,000 to go toward post-secondary education. The Youth Center also earns $2 for every hour each student volunteers. Once the students have graduated from high school the money earned is dispersed directly to the institution of the student's choosing. Emily Gates, a sophomore at Northridge High School, has been partici- pating in the program since last summer and said she's enjoyed her experience volunteering at the Youth Center. "Its fun; people should join," said Gates, "It's been a really good experience because you get to work in all atmospheres." Students in the program are able to volunteer at many various base agencies including but not limited to: Airman and Family and Readiness Center, library, Youth Center, golf course, Outdoor Recreation and Public Affairs. "I plan to get better at public speaking and learn how to help others," said Austin Johnson, a ninth-grader at Syracuse Junior High school, who has played sports with children at the youth center for two years. The eligibility requirements are that the student must be a high school student (grades 9-12) of active duty Air Force members and be enrolled full-time. The volunteer hours have to be completed on the base and must be approved first. "You won't know what it is until you try it," said Hannah Chesmer, a sophomore at Northridge High School. "And besides, it looks good on job applications!" For more information about the Yes Program please contact the Youth Center at (801) 777-2419 or stop by to pick up an application. |