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Show O ti AWARD SUPPLEMENT TO THE HILLTOP TIMES THURSDAY, May 10, 2012 7 DoD honors AFMC bases, including Hill, for environmental work Air Force Center of Engineering and the Environment Public Affairs tj DINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced May 1, the Defense Department's environmental awards for fiscal 2012, and Hill Air Force Base, and Vandenberg AFB, Calif., were among nine Department of Defense installations selected for top honors. Each year since 1962, the secretary of defense has honored individuals, teams and installations for their outstanding achievements to conserve and sustain the natural and cultural resources entrusted to them. A panel of judges representing federal and state agencies, academia and the public make the annual selections in installation, team and individual categories. When it comes to environmental restoration, Hill AFB has proven for the third time that it has a superior program after wins in the same category in 2003 and 2010. During the award period, Hill AFB's restoration team led the way in identifying, developing and implementing innovative techniques and technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of remediation efforts while leaving behind the smallest possible environmental footprint. The team also embraced several projects that led to cost- and timesaving measures such as cutting energy consumption by 35 percent, reducing its carbon footprint by 30 percent and saving the Air Force more than $250,000 in energy costs annually. According to the award nomination, the success of Hill AFB's restoration program can be directly attributed to innovative program management, an extremely high level of technical expertise, regulatory partnerships and stakeholder involvement. "Hill has some tough cleanup challenges," said Bob Elliott, the 75th CEG Environmental Management Division chief. "That said, our restoration branch has a unique group of extraordinarily capable engineers who not only address technical issues very well, but they recognize the value of input and involvement from our stakeholder community and regulatory agencies. It's truly a team effort for them." The program is focused on fixing past mistakes, Elliott added. "I am hopeful receiving this recognition helps all those involved with or affected by our cleanup program to recognize we are working hard to address the problems of the past and that they truly have an `A' team working to this end," he said. "It's a huge accomplishment for our staff and it validates what I've known for a long time — our restoration branch staff is some of the finest professionals in this business," said the 75th CEG Restoration Branch Chief Mark Loucks. "This award recognizes their hard work at doing the right things to protect See ENVIRONMENT I page 11 VIPS TOUR Hill AFB Vosler NCA Academy graduates T he most recent class of the Vosler NCA Academy featured some distinguished graduates from Hill AFB as well as the commandant. They include the following graduates, their units and any extra honors or distinctions they earned including: 2nd Combat Camera Tech. Sgt. Anika Jones 368th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Squadron Tech. Sgt. Jacob Reyes 372nd U.S. Air Force Recruiting Group Tech. Sgt. Aaron Akridge, Tech. Sgt. James Guyett Tech. Sgt. Chance Rupp, 775th CES (lefit),conducts a tour in the Hill AFB EOD area. (From left) LOGSTARS are: Doug DeFries, president, Bank of Utah; Chad Bangerter, Sunset mayor; Bob Daniels CEO Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation Center, and Paul Welsh, Director, Human Resources Utah Jazz. Distinguished Graduate 388th Maintenance Group Tech. Sgt. Lorenzo Guzman 729th Air Control Squadron Tech. Sgt. James Frison, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Grimsrud, Commandant 75th Air Base Wing Tech. Sgt. Orlando Garza KIM COOK U.S. Air Force 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron Tech. Sgt. Jason Peters, Tech. Sgt. Kevin Tippetts Sounds of Freedom Military Appreciation Day at Layton Commons Park June 2 75th Medical Group Tech. Sgt. Amy Watkins 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Tech. Sgt. Jeramy Boileau, Tech. Sgt. Justin Smith, Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Tellason 75th Medical Operations Squadron Tech. Sgt. Amy Hartman, Distinguished Graduate; Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Montenegro 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Tech. Sgt. Chad Joice, 775th Civil Engineer Squadron Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Eaton BY MARY Lou GORNY Hilltop Times editor The Northern Wasatch Association of Realtors (NWAOR) and Layton City are sponsoring the "Sounds of Freedom" Appreciation Day for the public to honor and support the military and their families of Hill Air Force Base. The event June 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. will begin with a flag ceremony and F-16 flyover. Q&A: 419th OG/CC talks Total Force Enterprise BY SENIOR AIRMAN CRYSTAL CHARRIERE 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs p ublic Affairs recent- ly sat down with Col. Bryan Cook, 419th Operations Group commander, to discuss Total Force Enterprise and its impact on mission readiness. What is Total Force Enterprise? TFE is the combination of Air Force Reserve and active duty assets and manpower combined functionally for a common goal: combat airpower for the nation. When we met with Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donnelly during his visit here recently, one of his concerns is rightsizing the force: regular Air Force, Guard and Reserve. How do we balance all these organizations and wings around the world so we realize cost savings for the taxpayer and DoD, while maintaining a fighting force that meets combatant commanders' requirements? TFE is one step in that direction. I believe TFE will find its way into every active duty, Guard and Reserve unit in some form or another. There will be classic associate, active associate and other forms of associates in units across the United States. Retaining highly skilled/trained Airman in the Reserve and Guard provide a cost Military members and their families' daily sacrifices ensure the nation's well-being and freedom. It is common to see them in our communities. The "sounds of freedom" can be heard as they fly over the community every day. All military, their families and area residents are invited to participate in this event as the community expresses its gratitude. See PICNIC I page 8 Skills, training and attitude help keep motorcycling safe BY STEVEN W. DURANCEAU Air Force Safety Center Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. H Col. Cook savings for the Air Force, DoD and the nation. TFE is not going away anytime soon; if anything, it's going to get bigger. How is TFE working in the 388th and 419th Operations Groups? We've functionally integrated at all levels in the operations group. See Q&A I page 9 ave you ever wondered why a terrible event, such as a motorcycle mishap, could end well in one situation, but in tragedy in another? Sometimes it's just sheer luck. Most often, what influences the outcome is whether or not the motorcycle rider had the right skills, training and attitude. Personally, I try not to leave things up to luck. If your retirement plan includes winning the lottery, you're in trouble! Air Force Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, Air Force Chief of Safety, recently issued this reminder: "Operating a motorcycle is a high risk activity and takes different skills than driving a four-wheeled vehicle. Airmen all over the world take the necessary safety precautions and enjoy riding their motorcycles. "Unfortunately, every year we lose Airmen to motorcycle accidents. Each motorcycle fatality impacts our units, communities and the Air Force family. "Most of our accidents are due to a lack of training, poor riding skills and a risky attitude, most notably driving too fast for conditions. Here is what I need from our riders. As our greatest asset, we believe you will develop, the right skills, the right training and the right attitude. As your chief of safety, I believe Airmen at all levels will adopt and practice the concept of being a professional military rider. Remember, See SAFETY I page 9 |