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Show f IMES 11 r Oct. 6, 2011 Wingman Day features Hill Rod and Gun Club Turn energy awareness into action BY JENNIFER ELMORE ENERGY AWARENESS Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency T his October, the Air Force joins the nation once again in observance of Energy Awareness Month. This year's theme, "Power the Force, Fuel the Fight," encourages us to do more than just be "aware." Instead, military personnel and civilians alike should take action. "Our country is in a new energy paradigm and we can no longer use energy at will without regard to the consequences. We must make a commitment, plain and simple, to re-think the way we use 4 and view 4 energy," said Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer, Air Force Headquarters. The Air Force is making excellent progress toward satisfying federal energy mandates. "Some of the more prominent goals require us to reduce energy intensity 30 percent by 2015, reduce water intensity 26 percent by 2020, and increase renewable energy to 25 percent of all electricity use by 2025," said Rick Stacey, chief of the Air Force Facility Energy Center (AFFEC), a division of the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. "But as time goes by, the goals are getting tougher. We need everyone doing all they can do to help the Air Force continue our energy program successes." Since 2003, the Air Force has reduced energy use nearly 15 percent, water consumption 11 percent, and more than six percent of all electricity is obtained from renewable sources. "The Air Force is actively seeking ways to reduce our energy demand, increase our renewable energy supply, and make ourselves leaner, cleaner, and smarter when it comes to energy use," said Byers. The Air Force uses facility energy audits, utility meters, energy recommissionings and a variety of other tools to pursue aggressive reduction targets. At Kirtland AFB, N.M., audits led to an upgraded energy management control system that is expected to save $3.7 million over the lifetime of the system. Newly installed meters at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., allowed for better resource management and generated $2 million of new revenue through more accurate billing of nonDepartment of Defense tenants. And Air Combat Command's facility recommissioning, or building "tune-up," program incurred enough energy savings to cut $433,000 from utility bills in 2010. The Air Force leads the Department of Defense as the No. 1 producer and See BY ANNE MORRISON Hilltop Times staff M embers of the 367th Training Support Squadron headed out to Hill's Rod and Gun Club Oct. 3 to take part in a wingman shoot. The squadron, which creates training material for the Air Force, took some time to gain further experience in arms training, and have some fun. In conjunction with the Rod and Gun Club's Monday and Tuesday lunch specials, 367th TSS Commander Maj. Michael Bliss brought his Airmen out for the day for an event he has dubbed Mystery Mondays. The first Monday of every month, Bliss takes his squadron out for an event to help rejuvenate them. Last month, the first month of the now popular event, the 367th went to Electronic Arts in Salt Lake City to see how the company works and ask questions about graphics processes. This month, it was out to the shooting range. "It's a great opportunity for our squadron to get out and learn the trainee side, and it's a good team building exercise," Bliss said. The Airmen paired up and shot trap for the day, which is a form of competitive shooting in which clay pigeons are launched from a middle house in different directions. One Airman yells, "Pull," while another Airman behind pushes a trigger to launch the clay pigeon. Master Sgt. Christian Gott praised the idea as brilliant. "Most commanders aren't really down in the weeds, but Major (Bliss) is." ENERGY I page 8 AbilityOne employees honored with picnic at Hill BY MITCH SHAW Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau C urtis Richardson says he has found a career at Hill Air Force Base. Richardson is one of 100 Top of Utah residents who are blind or have another severe disability and are employed at Hill through the AbilityOne program. AbilityOne is a federal initiative and the nation's largest single provider of jobs for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. The 47-year-old Clearfield See PICNIC I page 10 ERIN HOOLEY/Standard-Examiner Nicole Martinez (left) and Petra Garcia get lunch at a picnic with other Hill Air Force Base employees who are members of the Pioneer Adult Rehab Center organization on base Sept. 30. The base employs people with disabilities through the federal AbilityOne program with the PARC organization. DLA MULTICULTURAL CAIC Four excuses Utah women use to avoid mammograms BY SHARI LOPATIN TriWest Healthcare Alliance W hen was the last time you put off a health screening? Do you remember why? "I only had time to take my kids to the doctor," or maybe, "Waiting a few extra months won't matter." Oh, really? Here are four common excuses women use to avoid getting their mammograms 4 and why they should stop "excusing" themselves from this lifesaving screening: 1. I'm too busy. ALEX R. LLOYD/U.S. Air Force Left to right: Caron Chavez, Lewis Powell, and Col. Jim Kinkade, commander of Ogden DLA, Aviation, cut a specially decorated cake at a Multicultural Day on Oct 4 at Hill Air Force Base. The Ogden DLA event featured food, exhibits and the cake decorated with the multicultural diversity icon used for the event. For photos and story on the Multicultural Day see page 9. Having a mammogram will only take a few moments 4 usually less than 10 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Typically, it's less than an hour from checking in to walking out the door. Additionally, a woman's risk for developing breast cancer grows as she gets older. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure web site says the sooner you detect breast cancer, the better your chance of survival. Remember, what's the point of "be- 7 ing too busy," if you can't be there for your family someday? 2. It hurts. As a general rule, having a mammogram may cause some minor discomfort. Yes, there is pressure on the breast tissue 4 but it is pressure, not pain. 3. Nothing can be wrong if I don't check. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women, other than skin cancer, according to the CDC. Therefore, the odds are against you if you don't check. Just getting older increases your risk. From the CDC, some of the warning signs of breast cancer include: " A new lump in the breast or armpit " Thickening or swelling of the breast " Nipple discharge, other than breast milk, including blood " Change in size or shape of the breast " Pain in any area of the breast See EXCUSES I page 8 |