AETC commander immersed in Lackland fundamentals

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009 GATEWAY TO THE AIR FORCE • LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS • www.lackland.af.mil • Vol. 67 No. 12 FOR CURRENT NEWS, VISIT LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE ONLINE: WWW.LACKLAND.AF.MIL Photo by Alan Boedeker Gen. Stephen Lorenz, commander, Air Education and Training Command, talks with students in the Security Forces Apprentice School at Camp Bullis March 20. The students were in their first day of Military Operations in Urban Terrain, or MOUT, training. General Lorenz's visit to Camp Bullis and his two-day trip to Lackland was part of his initial immersion of all Air Education and Training Command bases after taking command in 2008. By Shannon Carabajal 37th Training Wing Public Affairs Gen. Stephen Lorenz, command- er, Air Education and Training Command, visited Lackland Air Force Base March 19 -20, one of several stops during his initial immersion of all AETC bases after taking command in 2008. The general met with wing lead- ership and visited various host and tenant units across the base to get a first-hand look at how the Lackland members train and equip Airmen, and to develop a deeper understanding of the base’s diverse missions. Among his stops was a visit to the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training course at the Lackland Training Annex to observe how trainees are taught basic self-defense, integrated base defense, self aid and buddy care, and improvised explosive device training in a field environment. Master Sgt. Brian Price, 737th Training Support Squadron, said the general’s visit went very well. While at the BEAST site, the general took time to talk to BMT trainees and share how proud he was that the trainees had chosen to serve their country, Sergeant Price said. “I’m impressed with everything I’ve seen at Lackland,” General Lorenz said. “The level of profes- sionalism and enthusiasm that goes into preparing Airmen for their service is unmatched. AETC's vision is to deliver unrivaled air, space and cyberspace education and training; nowhere is that being exemplified better than here as part of the first command.” General Lorenz stressed his pri- orities for the future of the com- mand, saying that changes would be evolutionary rather than revolu- tionary. Lackland, he said, is lead- ing the way in that department. “Expanding Air Force Basic AETC commander immersed in Lackland fundamentals See IMMERSED P16

Transcript of AETC commander immersed in Lackland fundamentals

F R I D AY, M A R C H 2 7 , 2 0 0 9

G AT E W AY T O T H E A I R F O R C E • L A C K L A N D A I R F O R C E B A S E , T E X A S • w w w. l a c k l a n d . a f . m i l • V o l . 6 7 N o . 1 2

FOR CURRENT NEWS, VISIT LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE ONLINE: WWW.LACKLAND.AF.MIL

Photo by Alan BoedekerGen. Stephen Lorenz, commander, Air Education and Training Command, talks with students in the Security Forces Apprentice School at Camp Bullis March 20. The studentswere in their first day of Military Operations in Urban Terrain, or MOUT, training. General Lorenz's visit to Camp Bullis and his two-day trip to Lackland was part of his initialimmersion of all Air Education and Training Command bases after taking command in 2008.

By Shannon Carabajal37th Training Wing Public Affairs

Gen. Stephen Lorenz, command-er, Air Education and TrainingCommand, visited Lackland AirForce Base March 19 -20, one ofseveral stops during his initialimmersion of all AETC bases aftertaking command in 2008.

The general met with wing lead-ership and visited various host andtenant units across the base to geta f irst-hand look at how the

Lackland members train and equipAirmen, and to develop a deeperunderstanding of the base’s diversemissions.

Among his stops was a visit tothe Basic Expeditionary AirmanSkil ls Training course at theLackland Training Annex toobserve how trainees are taughtbasic self-defense, integrated basedefense, self aid and buddy care,and improvised explosive devicetraining in a field environment.

Master Sgt. Brian Price, 737th

Training Support Squadron, saidthe general’s visit went very well.

While at the BEAST site, thegeneral took time to talk to BMTtrainees and share how proud hewas that the trainees had chosento serve their country, SergeantPrice said.

“I’m impressed with everythingI’ve seen at Lackland,” GeneralLorenz said. “The level of profes-sionalism and enthusiasm thatgoes into preparing Airmen fortheir service is unmatched. AETC's

vision is to deliver unrivaled air,space and cyberspace educationand training; nowhere is that beingexemplified better than here aspart of the first command.”

General Lorenz stressed his pri-orities for the future of the com-mand, saying that changes wouldbe evolutionary rather than revolu-tionary. Lackland, he said, is lead-ing the way in that department.

“Expanding Air Force Basic

AETC commander immersed in Lackland fundamentals

See IMMERSED P16

TALESPINNERPAGE 2 MARCH 27, 2009

By Mike JosephStaff Writer

Sign up continues for thePrecious Minds New Connectionsprogram that begins Tuesday, 6-9p.m., at the Gateway ChildDevelopment Center and runs foreight weeks.

“This is a wonderful parentingprogram that teaches techniques toparents who have very young chil-dren,” said Lois VanSlyke, FamilyAdvocacy Outreach manager. “It isabsolutely the place to start goodparenting practices.”

The enrichment program targetsto parents, grandparents, fosterparents and step-parents of chil-dren 0-3 years old, and is spon-sored by the NorthsideIndependent School District ’sNorthside Education Foundation.The Northside Foundation receivesa grant from the KronkoskyFoundation to fund the program.

Precious Minds is promoted bythe Child Development Centers, theWilford Hall Pediatric Department,

Family Advocacy, new parents sup-port program and throughLackland Elementary School.

The program is free and alsoprovides free meals forparents and freechildcare duringthe classes.

It is open toany active-duty mil i-tary mem-bers andtheir rela-tives.

“ L a s tyear wehad a wait-ing l ist atL a c k l a n dbecause theyreally enjoyed ourprogram,” saidMiguel Alvarez, parenteducator and instructor forPrecious Minds.

“We have a lot of moms, coupleshaving their first child, and singlemoms trying to manage active-duty

mil itary responsibil i t ies and achild.”

Mr. Alvarez said there are gen-erally 15 to 30 in the class, though

the ideal size is under 25,which allows him to

give more one-on-one attention.

Though theprogram isalso offeredin othera r e a sa r o u n dSan An-tonio, hesaid the

h i g h e s ta t t endance

comes fromLackland.Precious Minds

centers its teachingson a set curriculum and

its goal is to free children fromabuse and neglect.

Mr. Alvarez says while tradition-al child-rearing ways work, theprogram presents a new approach

that changes with the times.“We try to give parents

researched-based material andgive them new ideas of how to takecare of a child in a changingworld,” he said. “We have peoplewith PhDs come in with their armscrossed, giving off the ‘what areyou going to show me?’ attitude.

“At the end of the class, they arethe ones asking for my e-mailaddress because they learn somany new ideas about parenting.”

Mrs. VanSlyke said PreciousMinds focuses on how to parent formaximum positive brain develop-ment for the children, which differ-entiates it from programs thatfocus on only good parenting tech-niques.

Family Advocacy workers fre-quently recommend the class toclients, while flyers at CDCs andschool, daily announcements atWHMC, and posters also helpspread the word about the benefitsof Precious Minds.

To sign up for the class, contactMr. Alvarez at 678-2989.

Program presents new approach to parenting

Talking on a cell phone while driving on base is prohibited.Reminder!

PAGE 3TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

AFAF CAMPAIGN

Photo by Alan BoedekerBrig. Gen. Len Patrick (right), 37th Training Wing commander, and wing senior leaders complete their donation forms for theAir Force Assistance Fund during the 37th TRW staff meeting Tuesday. The AFAF campaign raises funds for organizationsthat give assistance to Air Force active-duty personnel, retirees, Reservists, Guardsmen and their family members. Thecampaign continues through April 17.

Airman’s Roll Call

Air Force Climate Survey yields insightsMore than 90 percent

of Airmen responding toa recent survey indicatedthat they are happy withtheir Air Force jobs andthe performance of theirorganizations. Thesefindings are according toa study that measuresthe Airmen’s attitudestoward their work envi-ronment and unit.

Nearly a quarter of amil l ion Airmen fromacross the Air Forcecomponents voiced theiropinions in the Air ForceClimate Survey, thelargest online survey ofAir Force personnel,from Oct. 1 to Dec. 14.

The survey analysisshowed:• Eighty-two percent ofall survey respondentsare generally satisfied

with the Air Force, atwo-point increase sincethe 2005 survey. Whiledown slightly from 2005,Airmen indicated theygenerally have trust intheir unit’s senior leader-ship and direct supervi-sor.• The 2008 surveyshowed that the strain onmanpower and time con-tinues to be a concern forthe Total Force. Themajority of homestationAirmen report anincrease in levels ofstress, workload andhours worked due to per-sonnel being deployed.• Despite the perceivedincrease in stress levels,workload and workhours, the overall reten-tion numbers remainedsteady with the 2005 sur-

vey. The Air Force isalready postured toaddress issues identifiedby the survey.

The next Air ForceClimate survey is sched-

uled for 2010. Those withaccess to the Air ForcePortal may view the TotalForce aggregate resultsof the 2008 survey in lateMarch.

U.S. Air Force photo illustrationThis week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the results of lastyear's Air Force Climate Survey.

MTI RECRUITING BRIEFING

Team Lackland career advisors andthe Military Training Instructor recruitingteam will hold an MTI duty briefing April8, 8 a.m., at Arnold Hall.

Senior airmen with at least 36months time in service through technicalsergeants with less than 16 years totalactive military service from all Air Forcespecialty codes are eligible to serve asan MTI. Spouses of potential applicantsare also invited to attend.

Applicants are encouraged to bring acompleted special duty application to thebriefing.

Air Education and Training Commandspecial duty applications are availablefrom wing career advisors Master Sgt.Timothy Godfrey (671-1575) and SeniorMaster Sgt. Dave Harris (925-0424 or554-4308).

NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

March is National Women’s HistoryMonth. This year’s theme is WomenTaking the Lead to Save our Planet. Tohonor the many contributions womenhave made to our society, the FederalWomen’s Week awards breakfast is today,7:30 a.m., at the Gateway Club. Theguest speaker will be retired Brig. Gen.Karen Rankin. Tickets are $12 and can bepurchased from women’s week committeemembers. Call Cory Stimely at 671-6309for more information.

ID OFFICE CLOSURE

The Lackland ID Office in Wilford HallMedical Center will be closed untilMonday for hardware replacement.

Alternate locations during theLackland closure are at Randolph, 652-2276; Brooks City Base, 536-1845; orFort Sam Houston, 221-0415.

MILITARY 2-1-1The Texas Military Family Access

Project, also known as Military 2-1-1, isavailable to military members and fami-lies of Operation Iraqi Freedom andOperation Enduring Freedom.

By dialing 2-1-1, callers can accesshealth and human services that areavailable 24 hours, seven days a weekthrough call specialists. All calls are freeand confidential.

Callers can receive help for a varietyof issues including financial assistance,depression and anxiety, family reintegra-tion, and job training and placement.

NewsBRIEFS

TALESPINNERPAGE 4 MARCH 27, 2009

COMMENTARY

Editorial staffBRIG. GEN. LEN PATRICK,37TH TRAINING WING COMMANDER

KIRK FRADY,DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS

JOE BELA,CHIEF OF INTERNAL

COMMUNICATIONS, 671-4111

SHANNON CARABAJAL,MANAGING EDITOR, 671-1786

MIKE JOSEPH,STAFF WRITER, 671-4357

PATRICK DESMOND,SPORTS EDITOR/STAFF WRITER,671-5049

PAUL NOVAK,DESIGN/LAYOUT, 671-0478

Office:1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102Lackland AFB, Texas 78236-5103(210) 671-1786;(fax) 671-2022E-mail: [email protected]’s AccessChannel: Team Lackland CableTV 21Straight Talk: 671-7469 (NEWS)For advertising information:Prime Time Military Newspapers2203 S. HackberrySan Antonio, Texas 78210(210) 534-8848(fax) 534-7134

This newspaper is publishedby Prime Time MilitaryNewspapers, a private firm in noway connected with the U.S. AirForce, under exclusive writtencontract with Lackland AFB, Texas.This commercial enterprise AirForce newspaper is an authorizedpublication for members of theU.S. military services. Contents ofthe Talespinner are not necessarilythe official views of, or endorsedby, the U.S. government, theDepartment of Defense, or theDepartment of the Air Force.

The appearance of advertisingin this publication, includinginserts or supplements, does notconstitute endorsement by theDepartment of Defense, theDepartment of the Air Force orPrime Time Military Newspapers,of the products or servicesadvertised.

Everything advertised in thispublication shall be made availablefor purchase, use or patronagewithout regard to race, color,religion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap,political affiliation, or any othernonmerit factor of the purchaser,user or patron.

Editorial content is edited,prepared and provided by thePublic Affairs Office of the 37thTraining Wing. All photos, unlessotherwise indicated, are U.S. AirForce photos.

Deadline for submissions isnoon Thursday the week priorto publication.

Stay up-to-date during special events and rough skies.Call 671-NEWS

By Gen. Stephen LorenzCommander, Air Education and TrainingCommand

If you ever have the chance toobserve a flight debrief after atraining sortie, you should jumpat the chance. You will witnesssomething special.

In the debrief, everyone makesconstructive comments – positiveand negative – regardless of theirposition or rank. If the flight lead didsomething that was incorrect or dan-gerous, the wingman is expected to saysomething about it. This is true even ifthe wingman is a lieutenant and theflight lead is a lieutenant colonel (or alieutenant general). In the debrief,learning is more important than savingface.

In the flying business, it’s imperativethat the truth comes out – even if neg-ative – and the best ideas are heard.That is why frankness in the debrief isso important. Perfection is the stan-dard, and although we will never getthere, we must always strive for it.This is why we are tough on eachother. We discuss our shortcomingsand make constructive suggestions onhow to correct them. When the debriefis over and the door opens, however,we move forward as members of thesame team.

Should it be any different for ourother operations? I don’t think so, butit takes a strong leader to create thisatmosphere of candor.

In order to encourage our people tovoice their alternative ideas and criti-cisms, we have to be confident enoughin our people to listen to negative feed-back and dissenting opinions, find thebest way forward, then lead in a posi-tive direction. We all like “warmfuzzies,” when people agree with ourideas and give us positive feedback. Wenaturally dislike “cold pricklies,” whenpeople disagree and point out ourshortcomings. As leaders, we have to

be mature enough to dealwith negative feedbackwithout punishing thesource … the best leadersencourage frank feedback,especially when it is nega-tive.

We all have blind spots –areas where we think thingsare better than they are –and to correct these, weneed to be aware of them.

This means that we need to encouragedissenting opinions and negative feed-back. We should ask open-ended ques-tions. What are we missing? How canwe do this better? What’s the down-side? What will other people say?When our people answer, we shouldwelcome their inputs, even when thoseinputs don’t cast our leadership in thebest light. In the end, our time as lead-ers will be judged by the quality of ourdecisions and the accomplishments ofour people. The personal price we payin the short term for creating candorin our organizations is well worth thelong-term professional and institution-al benefits of hearing the best ideasand eradicating our blind spots.

As followers, we must work at creat-ing candor as well. While the leadermust set the tone for open communica-tion, it is important that those of uswho voice dissenting opinions or givenegative feedback do so in a waywhere it can have the most effect. Wecan’t expect our leaders to be superhu-man – this means we should speak in away that doesn’t turn them off immedi-ately.

Practically speaking, this means thatwe should avoid using superlatives andpersonalizing an idea or position. Forexample, which critique would be easi-er to accept: “Boss, your decision isreally stupid,” or “Boss, this decisioncould have bad consequences for ourfolks.” Remember that your goal is toinfluence your boss to do the rightthing. You don’t want to close the line

of communication before you begin.When giving an alternative view or

dissenting opinion, the more objectiveyou are, the more effective you can be.You should avoid emotional arguments.Instead, use facts and logic to back upyour position. The more homeworkthat you do beforehand, the more like-ly you will win the argument.

In addition, when voicing your dis-agreement, be prepared to propose asolution or alternative path. Thisallows you to stay positive during a cri-tique. If you can’t come up with a solu-tion, at least be honest about that upfront.

If you are pointing out a blind spotfor one of your leaders, strongly con-sider doing it in private. This is espe-cially true if the issue is more personalin nature. It’s much easier for a leaderto listen to a criticism made in private– you want to avoid embarrassing yourleader in public if at all possible.

We should also remember that theleader is ultimately responsible for thedirection of the organization. If he orshe decides to do something that youdisagree with, you should voice youropinion, but be ready to accept theleader’s decision. Remember, mostdecisions are based on personal expe-riences and are not right versuswrong, but right versus right. So longas the boss’s decision isn’t illegal orimmoral, you should carry it out asthough the idea was your own. That’sthe mark of a professional Airman.

Within our organizations, candormakes us stronger, and there arethings we can do to create this open-ness while maintaining a sense ofteamwork. As leaders, we should striveto set an atmosphere where dissentingopinions are welcomed. As followers,we should explain dissenting opinionswith respect and objectivity. For bothleaders and followers, the payoff willcome as your organizations improveand grow. Consider it part of the pricewe pay to be the best.

Lorenz on Leadership

Creating candor

Gen. StephenLorenz

PAGE 5TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

By Brig. Gen. Len Patrick37th Training Wing commander

Spring is here and Team Lackland isshifting into high gear. On base, we havean increased focus on our self inspectionprograms and readiness exercises as weprepare for the June unit complianceinspection. Off base, we’re getting excit-ed because the weather is getting betterand Fiesta is just around the corner.

Be it your unit self inspection check-list or your plans for a safe outing during “ANight in Old San Antonio,” attention to detailmakes a difference. Don’t rush, be meticulousand follow your checklists to ensure nothing isforgotten.

Whether working directly with trainees inAir Force Basic Military Training, on patrol as a

security forces Airman, helping cus-tomers at the military personnel flight,or caring for patients at the clinics,take time to perform your jobs proper-ly. And take your self-inspections seri-ously, thoroughly identifying the criti-cal steps needed to effectively accom-plish the mission.

Loss of attention to detail is oftendetrimental, often impacting the mis-sion and lives. When you lose attentionto detail, you make poor choices both

on and off duty.Poor choices made when drinking and driv-

ing often lead to tragic results, especially dur-ing Fiesta. Three people were killed in drunkdriving accidents over one 25-hour period dur-ing last year’s celebration. More than 100 peo-ple were charged with driving while intoxicated

during the same period.Don’t make the same fatal mistakes. Arrange

for a designated driver or an alternativemethod of transportation if you plan on drink-ing alcohol.

Let’s look out for each other and don’t forgetabout your wingmen. Know them well enoughto recognize when something is wrong. Look forchanges in behavior. If your wingman isexhibiting precarious behavior, take action andoffer help. If you are unable to help, refer themto appropriate base support services.

The next few months hold great promise. Wewill face many challenges, but we also get theopportunity to demonstrate excellence. I needevery member of Team Lackland workingtogether to ace the UCI, so please continue yourattention to detail and focus on ensuring per-sonal safety and mission success.

Remain focused at work, play

Brig. Gen.Len Patrick

See if your business sense could earn you extra money.Learn how to submit your ideas by calling

671-CASH

TALESPINNERPAGE 6 MARCH 27, 2009

Congratulations to the fol-lowing 74 Airmen for beingselected as honor graduatesamong 748 trainees gradu-ating today.

320th Training SquadronFlight 249David AcevedoColby BrookensJoshua HillKyle MaddenCharles NauckNathaniel RobieAndrew SarriaOctavius WilliamsFlight 250Katelyn HartmanLogan Pope

321st Training SquadronFlight 247Richard AllairePeter BarrowsBrenden BiceAaron ColemanPreston GoodwinCole JohnsonJoshua KillianCory Lillberg

William RankinJoseph RichmondCaleb RodriguezIsaac SmithFlight 248Brian VanceCory West

322nd Training SquadronFlight 253David JeongKevin MederosAaron TorresFlight 254Anthony CosgroveRichard HolderRyan ShimatsuPeter SlafkoskyNathan Wilson

323rd Training SquadronFlight 258Kelly AbatiAdriana ArscottAnne Gielyn AsiChelsea CogswellKathleen CurryAshley DayEva DeanJaime Denner

Lauren DimmickMichelle HensleySamantha JanssonHillary KarryZakiya KeittMonica MendenhallAlicia PhelpsLynsey RandolphAmy ShackelfordAshley SibbyJennifer SiroveyJillian Welch

324th Training SquadronFlight 255John BoserDouglas BrandlBarry BrewerJoshua HaydonKyle KirchemSteven NelsonFlight 256Andrea SchamsLaura ShorttAlexandra Woodlee

326th Training SquadronFlight 245Stephen BallDavid Hernandez

Landon IversonWilliam WarrickFlight 246Stephen LieserRobert LynchTravis RoyalEdward VillanuevaTaylor Yockey

331st Training SquadronFlight 251Brandon BachJonathan HoggAlan NovakFlight 252Benjamin Wiseman

Top BMT AirmanRichard Allaire, 321st TRS,Flight 247

Most Physically FitMale AirmenLandon Iverson, 326th TRS,Flight 245Geoffrey Smart, 331st TRS,Flight 251

Female AirmenMegan Meyer, 320th TRS,Flight 250

Melanie Harris, 324th TRS,Flight 256

Top PT FlightsMale Flights322nd TRS, Flight 253321st TRS, Flight 247

Female Flights323rd TRS, Flight 258320th TRS, Flight 250

Top Academic Flights323rd TRS, Flight 258320th TRS, Flight 249

BMT HONORS

By Senior Airman Robert Barnett59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

Col. (Dr.) William Beninati,59th Medical Operations Groupcommander, is the recipient of the2008 American HospitalAssociation Federal Health CareExecutive Award for Excellence.

The award was created by theAmerican Hospital Association’sConstituency Section for FederalHospitals. It recognizes a seniorfederal health care executive whohas distinguished himself throughsignificant leadership or innova-tive achievements that have con-tributed substantially to the mis-sion of the federal health caresystem.

Colonel Beninati runs a 1,850-member organization comprisedof eight squadrons that provideemergency, medical, surgical,orthopedic, rehabilitative, pedi-atric, obstetric, gynecologic, radi-ologic, mental health care and theAir Force’s only Level I traumacenter. Members of the groupdeploy around the world to pro-vide lifesaving critical and surgi-cal care on the battlefield andhumanitarian support to develop-ing allied nations.

His career-long involvement in

the development of ground-break-ing critical care modalities withuniversal application was key tohis receiving this award.

“I am speechless. I am just onemember of a great team extend-ing from our front-line Airmen tothe headquarters,” said ColonelBeninati. “I am deeply apprecia-tive of the support from the wingfor what the 59th MedicalOperations Group has accom-plished and for supporting me forthis award.”

Among his many accomplish-ments, Colonel Beninati was rec-ognized for the development andimprovement of expeditionaryaeromedical capabilities that havereduced the average timebetween battlefield injury anddefinitive care from 38 days toless than four days, a 14 percentreduction in mortality. He isbringing this vision to the devel-opment of the San AntonioMilitary Medical Center as a keymember of its executive steeringcommittee.

Colonel Beninati received theaward Thursday at the joint fed-eral sector breakfast during theAmerican College of HealthcareExecutives annual meeting inChicago.

WHMC commander wins national medical award

Photo by Senior Airman Robert BarnettCol. (Dr.) William Beninati, 59th Medical Operations Group commander (standing), andSenior Airman Sara Furman, cardiopulmonary technician, discuss the results provided bya plethysmograph, which measures patient pulmonary functions, on March 17 at WilfordHall Medical Center. Colonel Beninati is the recipient of the 2008 American HospitalAssociation Federal Health Care Executive Award for Excellence.

PAGE 7TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

Lackland remains in Stage I waterrestrictions due to a sustaineddrought in the San Antonio regionand low levels at the Edward’sAquifer. The base entered Stage Irestrictions on July 3, 2008, part ofongoing efforts to conserve waterand reduce annual water use by 2percent.

Lackland’s normal water conser-vation measures include:• not washing impervious surfacesunless for health or safety reasons;• using indigenous landscaping;• reporting dripping fixtures andwater puddling;• installing water efficient toilets,showerheads, faucets and sprinklersystems;• watering landscapes only between8 p.m. and 10 a.m.;• avoiding driving vehicles overlandscape and grassy areas;• performing car washes at car washfacilities that recycle water; and• using a hose with an automaticshut-off nozzle when washing vehi-cles or other equipment at home.

According to Michael Ferguson,Lackland’s water program manager,Stage I water restrictions strengthenthe normal water conservationmeasures in three ways.

First, base housing residentsand facility managers areallowed to water lawnswith sprinklers onlytwo days a week,between 8 p.m.and 10 a.m.

W a t e r i n gdays are basedon whetherthe last digitof an addressis even or odd.R e s i d e n t i a laddresses end-ing in an evennumber may waterSaturdays and Tues-days, and odd-numberedaddresses may water Sundaysand Thursdays.

Base facilities are allowed towater only Mondays and Fridays

while athletic fields may water onMondays and Fridays.

Second, restaurants and othereating establishments are prohibitedfrom serving water to customers

unless it is requested by the cus-tomer.

Third, swimmingpools must have a

minimum of 25percent of thesurface areacovered withe f f e c t i v eevaporationscreens orshields whennot in use for

maintenanceor swimming.

If the droughtcontinues, Mr.

Ferguson said Lack-land may enter Stage II

water restrictions. Stage II forLackland would begin when theaquifer’s water level averages 647feet or lower for five consecutive

days. As of Wednesday, the aquiferlevel is 665.7 feet.

Stage II continues measuresimplemented in Stage I while furtherrestricting watering, allowing grassand turf watering one day per weekand allowing shrubs, trees, flowers,vegetables and other ornamentalplants to be watered with a gardenhose only.

Water leaks, including drippingfaucets and leaking toilets, as well asbroken water pipe indications suchas water puddling in grassy areas ormoving along street curbs, should bereported during normal duty hoursto the Civil Engineer AreaMaintenance Unit or, after normalduty hours, to EMCS at 671-2288 or671-2289.

For questions about water conser-vation or to report instances ofwater waste, call the water conser-vation hotline at 671-7283, the 37thCivil Engineer Squadron AssetManagement Flight at 671-4844, ore-mail the Water Quality Program [email protected].

Base continues Stage I water restrictions

To report Fraud, Waste & Abuse matters or if you have a concern and are unsure if you should file a complaint, contact the37 TRW/IG Office at 671-3347 or e-mail to [email protected].

TALESPINNERPAGE 8 MARCH 27, 2009

By Mike JosephStaff Writer

Surprise. Shock. Astonishment.Chose one of the aforementionedadjectives and it still would notdescribe the look or the feelings ofBrig. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog at thebeginning of the workday March 19.

Front and center before a stand-ing-room only crowd of nearly 75people in the conference room at theAir Force Security Forces Center,General Hertog was left almostspeechless when it was announcedby Chief Master Sgt. Paul Zidack thatshe had been nominated for theSecurity Forces Order of the Sword.

“If you give us the go, we’re goingto make this thing happen,” SergeantZidack said in making the surpriseannouncement to the current AirForce director of Security Forces.

“Are you serious?” was GeneralHertog’s reply, her voice revealingthe shock of the situation asSergeant Zidack presented her the

certificate.“I’m touched and amazed,” she

told the gathering. “The only reasonI’ve been successful in this careerfield is because of all of you; I meanthat sincerely. God bless you forwhat you’ve done.”

Presenting the honor to GeneralHertog at Lackland was a homecom-ing of sorts. The general began hersecurity forces career almost 31years ago at Lackland, was broughtback as 37th Training Group com-mander from 2000-2002, andserved as 37th Training Wing com-mander from 2004-2006 before tak-ing her current assignment.

Was it special to come back andhave the announcement here? “Oh,my gosh, yes,” she said, still amazedafter the presentation. “It means alot. This is where I started mycareer, and one of the highlights wasbeing 37th TRW commander; thatwas just awesome.

Order of the Sword presented to Brig. Gen. Hertog

Photo by Robbin CresswellBrig. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, Air Force Security Forces director, is surprised with thenews that she will receive the Security Forces Order of the Sword. The Order of theSword, the highest honor Air Force NCOs can bestow upon a leader, will bepresented to the general during a ceremony April 29.See HERTOG P16

PAGE 9TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

SECURITY FORCESON PATROL

The 37th Training WingOffice of the Staff JudgeAdvocate administeredthese judgments fromMarch 12-18:

• A master sergeantfrom the 59th Diagnosticsand Therapeutics Squad-ron violated Article 134(indecent language) andreceived a reduction totechnical sergeant and areprimand.

• A staff sergeant fromthe 343rd Training Squad-ron violated Article 92(failure to obey a lawfulorder) and received a sus-pended reduction, forfei-tures of $500 for twomonths, 14 days extraduty and a reprimand.

• An airman first classfrom the 343rd TRS violat-ed Article 92 (derelictionof duty) and received areduction to airman, for-feiture of $366, 14 daysrestriction, 14 days extraduty and a reprimand.

• A staff sergeant fromthe 341st Training Squad-ron violated Article 123(forgery) and received areduction to senior air-

man, forfeiture of $1,109for two months and a rep-rimand.

• An airman first classfrom the 344th TrainingSquadron violated Article92 (dereliction of duty)and received a suspendedreduction to airman, for-feiture of $784 and a rep-rimand.

• An airman basic fromthe 344th TRS violatedArticle 112a (wrongful useof marijuana) and receivedforfeitures of $699 for twomonths and a reprimand.

• A staff sergeant fromthe 343rd TRS violatedArticle 92 (failure to obeya lawful order) and re-ceived a suspended reduc-tion to senior airman, for-feiture of $500, 14 daysextra duty and a repri-mand.

Mandatory UniformCode of Military Justicebriefings for second-termre-enlistees are conductedon a walk-in basis in the37th TRW headquarterscourtroom.

For more information,call 671-2007.

MILITARY JUSTICESPOTLIGHT

The following incidents,reported by the 37thSecurity Forces Squadron,took place on Lacklandfrom March 12-18:

• Seven minor vehicleaccidents with no injuriesand no major accidentswere reported.

• Six traffic citationswere issued.

• An airman first classfrom the 37th MissionSupport Squadron wasapprehended for theft ofclothing at the permanentparty dormitories, Bldg.1212.

• A civilian was arrestedfor theft of property, $92 inunauthorized discounts, atthe base exchange.

• A Marine sergeantfrom the 341st Training

Squadron reported damageto a vehicle at 341st TRS,Bldg. 9122.

• A civilian reporteddamage to the women’srestroom at Lion’s Park.

• A civilian reporteddamage to a vehicle at thebase pool.

• An Army specialist andspouse were arrested forassault at Gateway Villa.

• An airman from the344th Training Squadronwas arrested for underagedrinking at the 344th TRSdormitories, Bldg. 126.

If you have informationabout criminal activity onLackland, call the SecurityForces Control Center at671-2018. To report emer-gencies, call 911. You mayremain anonymous.

TALESPINNERPAGE 10 MARCH 27, 2009

2009 ChapelSpring Holy Day ScheduleMarch 31 – Catholic LentenPenance Service7 p.m. - Freedom Chapel

April 5 - Palm SundayNormal worship scheduleat all chapels

April 9 – Maundy/HolyThursday5 p.m. – Liturgical Service,Airmen Memorial Chapel7 – 11 p.m. – Mass withAdoration, Freedom Chapel

April 9 – Seder6 – 8 p.m. - AirmenMemorial Chapel

April 10 – Passover Serviceand Meal6 p.m. - Airmen MemorialChapelApril 10 – Good Friday

2 p.m. – Stations of theCross, Freedom Chapel3 p.m. – Catholic Service,Freedom Chapel5 p.m. – Protestant Service,Freedom Chapel7 p.m. – Protestant Service,Medina Chapel

April 11 – Holy Saturday8 p.m. – Catholic EasterVigil, Freedom Chapel

April 12 – Easter Sunday7 a.m. – Base-wide SunriseService, Parade GroundsNormal worship scheduleat all chapels

Orthodox Christian HolyWeek April 12-19

April 12 – OrthodoxChristian Palm Sunday

9:30 a.m. – AirmenMemorial Chapel

April 16 – Holy ThursdayService7:30 – 10:30 p.m. - AirmenMemorial Chapel

April 17 – Holy FridayService7:30 – 10:30 p.m. - AirmenMemorial Chapel

April 18 – Holy SaturdayNight Pascha10:30 p.m. – midnight -Airmen Memorial Chapel

April 19 – OrthodoxChristian Easter Sunday9:30 a.m. - AirmenMemorial Chapel

Lackland Conservation Corner

EVERY DROP COUNTSLackland is inStage I WaterRestrictions.

Report water wasteto the Water

ConservationHotline at671-SAVE.

PAGE 11TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

PROTECT THE NETWORKThe following removable flash media are unautho-

rized on all DoD information systems:

• Memory sticks• Thumb drives

• Camera flash memory cards

1st Lt. DanielleMerritt: 59thMedical InpatientSquadronDuty title:Clinical ObstetricsNurseTime in service:Two yearsHometown:Baxter Springs,Kan.Family: Mother, father,stepmother, brother andsisterPersonal and career goals:My ultimate goal is to findthat utopia where mycareer ambitions and fami-ly life can co-exist. To thispoint, I cannot foresee areason to separate fromthe military and I hope toone day become a lawyerand work on medical mal-practice reform, tortreform legislation and fam-ily law/child advocacy/edu-cational law.How does your job con-tribute to the overall suc-cess of Lackland’s mis-sion? The 59th MedicalWing mission, “ProvidingMission Capability throughHealthcare Delivery,Education and Training,and Readiness,” is a philos-ophy I have taken to heartsince first arriving atLackland. I am veryinvolved on my unit, main-taining each of the nearly40 active-duty members’readiness skills. I am activethroughout the base,becoming a training sitefaculty member for theadvanced cardiac life sup-port office, and I regularlyteach at the hospital orien-

tation each month.Education andtraining is a passionof mine and I amproud and eager tonot only have theopportunity toadvance my ownskills, but those ofmy fellow co-work-ers and Airmen, aswell.

What accomplishmentduring your career areyou most proud of?Honestly, the single mostsignificant accomplishmentI have achieved during mycareer has been the daythat I took the oath ofoffice. Beyond that, eachduty that I fulfill has beento the best of my abilitywith detailed effort,because that is what isexpected of me as a U.S.military officer.Supervisor’s Comments:“Lieutenant Merritt devotesa tireless number of hoursto various hospital educa-tion programs,” said Capt.Angela Lacek, HauthBirthing Center elementleader. “She assisted theLife Support Office at theAssociation of MilitarySurgeons of the UnitedStates and taught fourcourses.She has taught 12 ACLScourses to 360 people andalso taught ACLS atAMSUS. She assisted thelife support office witheight mock codes through-out Wilford Hall MedicalCenter. She continues tovolunteer her time hereand is a true asset to the59th Medical Wing.”

LACKLANDER IN THE LIMELIGHT

1st Lt. DanielleMerritt

TALESPINNERPAGE 12 MARCH 27, 2009

TOILING ON THE TARMAC

Photo by Senior Airman Andrew SatranSenior Airman Drew Harrison (left) and Staff Sgt. Byron Harrison, 379th Expeditionary CivilEngineer Squadron heavy equipment operators, help move asphalt in preparation for apatch repair on the flightline at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. AirmanHarrison is deployed from Lackland in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedomand Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

PAGE 13TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

Airmen may automatical lyreceive full replacement value pro-tection from their moving companyon damage their household goodsmight incur during a move. Inorder to make sure moves gosmoothly and household goods areprotected, several steps must betaken.

The smooth move briefing taskon the virtual outprocessing check-list should be completed as soon asorders are received. The briefingprovides tips to help Airmen pre-pare for their move. Following thetips reduce the risk of damage orloss to belongings and, if damagedoes occur, simplifies the processfor filing a claim.

When household goods aredelivered, damages and missingitems must be documented on DD

Form 1840R and submitted eitherto the Air Force Claims ServiceCenter online or to the local legaloffice within 70 days of the datehousehold goods were delivered.Failure to submit the form on timemay result in loss of reimburse-ment.

After submitting the form, aclaim must be filed with the carrierwithin nine months from the dateof delivery. Those failing to file ontime with the carrier may still filea claim with the Air Force for up totwo years from the date of delivery,but full replacement value will notbe paid. Instead, depreciation willbe applied when the claim is adju-dicated.

Full replacement value is usual-ly the value of a new item; howev-er it could be a used item. Prior to

paying for replacement of a lost ordestroyed item, the carrier willrequire proof of value and quality.They may also require evidence ofreplacement cost. The carrier mayopt to pay for repairs and it is theirresponsibility to obtain estimatesfor repair.

Once the carrier makes an offerto settle a claim, Airmen have theoption of agreeing to the amountoffered and settling the claim, oragreeing to the amount offered forsome items and disagreeing aboutthe amount offered for others. Foragreed upon items, a release issigned and payment is received. Ondisputed items, a claim may befiled with the Air Force. The AirForce will pay the repair cost orthe depreciated replacement cost.The Air Force will try to collect the

full replacement value from thecarrier and, if successful, the addi-tional money will be paid to theclaimant.

Procedures may be different ifthe entire shipment is lost ,destroyed or damaged, such as in aflood or a fire. Airmen sufferingthese types of catastrophic lossshould f irst cal l the Air ForceClaims Center to determinewhether filing a claim against thecarrier and taking a carrier’s offerto settle, or filing with Air Force ismore advantageous.

For questions, call the Air ForceClaims Service Center 24 hours aday, seven days a week 1-877-754-1212 or the 37th Training Winglegal office.

(Courtesy of the 37th TrainingWing legal office)

Full replacement value protection available

Do not provide your CAC card for photocopying. Don’t make yourself a target for surveillance, kidnapping, or worse.

Special purpose IDs such as access badges, etc. should not be used foridentification except for the organization which issued them.

CACs should not be used for identification outside U.S. government compounds.Use identification that any U.S. Citizen would have when checking into hotels.

Protect your personal information and provide only the minimum required.

TALESPINNERPAGE 14 MARCH 27, 2009

First impressions arealways important. In prepara-tion for the upcoming unitcompliance inspection, concen-trate on making the right firstimpression for our visitors bydemonstrating proper customsand courtesies.

Air Force military customsand courtesies are acts ofrespect and courtesy whendealing with other people, andhave evolved as a result of theneed for order, as well as themutual respect and sense ofcamaraderie.

Going beyond basic polite-ness, they are critical to build-ing morale, esprit de corps,discipline, and mission effec-tiveness.

They ensure proper respectfor the chain of command andbuild the foundation for self-discipline.

It can be easy to becomecomplacent, so for those whomay have forgotten some basic

protocol, here are a fewreminders.

Courtesies to Retreat,To the Colors or the

National Anthem

When outdoors and in uni-form, face the flag, if visible, orface the music. Stand at atten-tion and salute on the firstnote of the music (or if nomusic, when you see the flagfirst being raised or lowered).Drop your salute after the lastnote is played, or when theflag has been fully raised orlowered, depending on the cer-emony. When in civilianclothes and outdoors, stand atattention and place your righthand, with a hat if wearingone, over your heart.

Retreat, signifying the endof the duty day, is played at 5p.m. If in a vehicle duringRetreat, pull the car to the side

of the road and stop (alwaysbeing safe). All occupants sit atattention until the last note ofthe music has played.

When to SaluteOfficers

Your guide for salutingshould be recognition. Distanceand uniform should not be cri-teria for saluting. Salute at adistance at which recognitionis easy and audible. Offer yoursalute early enough to allowthe senior time to return it andextend a verbal greetingbefore you pass. The practiceof verbal greeting has becomeuniversal in the Air Force –give a “good morning, ma’am”or “good afternoon, sir.”

When outdoors and in uni-form, salutes should beexchanged. If you are standingin a group with no one in

Photo by Staff Sgt. Bennie Davis IIIFlags on stationary flag staffs are only saluted during Reveille, Retreat or special ceremonies.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda DelisleBasic customs and courtesies, such as the salute, ensureproper respect for the chain of command and build thefoundation for self-discipline.

Customs and Courtesies

See COURTESIES P15

UPHOLDINGTRADITION

DEMONSTRATESPRIDE, SERVICE

PAGE 15TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

charge, the first person to see asenior officer will call the group’sattention to his approach, and allmembers, if junior, will salute. If inmilitary formation, the person incharge salutes for all members ofthe formation, unless the formationis four or less, in which case every-one salutes.

Other saluting guidelinesinclude:• In formation – Members do notsalute or return a salute unlessgiven the command to do so.Normally the person in chargesalutes and acknowledges salutesfor the whole formation.• In public gatherings – Salutesbetween individuals are notrequired in public gatherings, suchas sporting events or meetings, orwhen a salute would be inappro-priate or impractical.• Staff vehicles – All military mem-bers have the responsibility tosalute officers in staff vehicles.Staff vehicles are government vehi-cles used for official business.These vehicles can be a car, van,or bus, but are usually cars. A staffvehicle may have an officer’s rankdisplayed on a bumperplate on the right frontbumper, or on a flaglocated on the rightfront fender.• Civilians –Rendering andreturning salutesis not required ifeither or both arein civilian attire;however, a greetingsuch as “good morningsir” is appropriate.• The President – The Presidentof the United States, asCommander in Chief of the ArmedForces, is always accorded thehonor of a salute.• In a work detail – In a workdetail, individual workers do notsalute. The person in chargesalutes for the entire detail.• Indoors – Except for formalreporting, and some ceremonies,salutes are not rendered.

Saluting theU. S. Flag

When outdoors in uniform andan uncased U. S. flag passes by,stand at attention, salute six pacesbefore the flag is even with youand hold your salute until the flaghas passed six paces. When incivilian clothes, stand at attention

and place your right hand overyour heart. A male wearing a hatwill remove it and hold it in hisright hand over his heart. Femalesare not required to remove theirhats. If the flag is cased (furled andcovered with a canvas case), hon-ors are not required.

Veterans and servicemembersnot in uniform may also render themilitary-style hand salute duringthe playing of the national anthem,thanks to changes in federal law

that took effect in

October 2009.Flags on stationary flag staffs

are only saluted during Reveille,Retreat or special ceremonies. Anexception is when boarding a shipof the U.S. Navy it is customary tofirst salute the “ensign” (U.S. flag)flying aft prior to saluting the offi-cer of the deck and requesting per-mission to board the vessel.

The ceremonial occasionswhen the salute is ren-

dered, outdoors only,include the passing ofthe uncased colors,the playing of“Ruffles andFlourishes,” “Hail tothe Chief,” or thenational anthem of

any nation, and “Tothe Colors.”When indoors and in

uniform or civilian clothes,face the flag, or the music if theflag is not visible, and stand atattention when the nationalanthem or “To the Colors” isplayed, do not place your handover your heart.

There are two exceptions. If youare in uniform, under arms, youshould salute. The other rule iswhen you’re a spectator in uniformat a military ceremony insidewhere outdoor rules apply. A goodexample is when a change of com-mand ceremony planned for out-doors is moved inside a hangardue to inclement weather.

Exceptions to Saluting

If your arms are full, you are notrequired to initiate or return asalute; however, you should alwaysextend or respond to a verbal

greeting. Obviously, you shouldattempt to carry objects in yourleft arm to keep your right unen-cumbered for the salute, if possi-ble. However, you always salute asuperior if he is encumbered andyou are not, even though he can’treturn your salute. In the Air Forcewe do not salute indoors exceptduring a formal report. Here aresome other situations where salut-ing is not appropriate:• At any time the salute is obvious-ly impractical or will seriouslyinterfere with the performance ofofficial duties.• Indoors, when a senior entersyour office. But you should stand.• When you are in the ranks of for-mation; however, if at ease in aformation, come to attention whenyou are addressed by a senior offi-cer.• When working as a member of adetail or engaged in sports orsocial functions.• When you are a spectator at asports event. Come to attention ifspoken to by a senior officer.• When you are the driver of amoving vehicle. However, whenpractical you should return thesalutes of others. This most fre-quently occurs when an officerdriving a vehicle returns the secu-rity policeman’s salute at the entrygate of an Air Force base.

Calling a Room toAttention

The enlisted custom is for thefirst person to see an officer enter-ing the room to call the room toattention.

If an officer of equal orhigher rank is already inthe room, the room isnot called to atten-tion.

When the offi-cer departs,the

roomis called toattention again.

When gathered in a conferenceroom or theater awaiting the

arrival of a senior officer, someoneshould be posted to watch for hisarrival.

When the senior enters theroom, one officer will announce“Ladies and gentlemen, the com-manding officer,” or “Ladies andgentlemen, General Jones.” Allmilitary members stand at atten-tion until told to be seated.

Note that common sense has aplay in deciding when a work cen-ter is called to attention. If bring-ing the room to attention couldcause an adverse safety or missionimpact, it should not be done.

Other Marks of Respect

Traditional marks of respectalso include:• Juniors will stand whenaddressed by an officer senior tothem.• Juniors will walk or ride to theleft of seniors they are accompany-ing.• Officers will enter aircraft andother modes of transportation ininverse order of rank and shalldepart them in order of rank,unless there is special reason tothe contrary. The seniors shall beaccorded the more desirable seats.

(Information compiled from AirForce Instruction 34-1201)

COURTESIES from P14

TALESPINNERPAGE 16 MARCH 27, 2009

Military Training from sixand a-half weeks to eightand a-half weeks last yearwas a big step in the rightdirection,” he added.

The general’s immersionincluded stops at CampBullis, the Inter-AmericanAir Forces Academy and theDefense Language InstituteEnglish Language Center.

“Lackland’s men andwomen are making sureAirmen have the trainingand skills needed to deployand contribute to the jointmission,” he said.

“Many will serve in com-bat in the near future andTeam Lackland is makingsure they will be ready tomeet the deployment chal-lenges.”

IMMERSED from P1

Be Responsible!Seat Belts Save Lives!

Buckle Up And Wear Yours!

“I was speechless almost. Ihad no idea what the chiefswere up to and I’m just so hon-ored. I can’t thank the men andwomen of Security Forcesenough. They don’t complain;whatever we ask them to do,they do it.”

The highly decorated gener-al had been thinking about theaward before the announce-ment.

“The irony of it is, I walkedby the display case yesterday(March 18) and thought, wehaven’t given out one of theseout in a long time. I thought,why don’t we retire this awardif we’re not going to give itout,” she said, totally unknow-ing she would be the nextrecipient and the first in nineyears to receive the honor.

According to an Air Forcefact sheet, the Order of theSword is a ceremony conductedby NCOs to honor leaders whohave made significant contribu-tions to the enlisted corps.Earliest traditions hold thatNCOs in medieval times wouldoccasionally honor a leader andpledge their loyalty by ceremo-niously presenting the leader asword. The sword serves as asymbol of truth, justice andpower rightfully used.

General Hertog is only thefourth person – and firstwoman – to be honored by theSF Order of the Sword. It wasonly fitting the announcementwas made in March with themonth being National Women’sHistory Month.

The official ceremony andpresentation will be held April29 in San Antonio.

HERTOG from P8

Love your job in the Air Force?Want to share your personal experiences in the military with others?

The Lackland Speakers’ Bureau wants YOU! Call 671-5066 or 671-2907 for more details.

PAGE 17TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

By Deb Willey37th Services Division

Lackland will host a monthof the military child “CelebrateKidz Fair,” bringing together alarge number of base agenciesand organizations to celebratechildren, youth and families onApril 4 at the Lackland YouthCenter from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The month of the militarychild is celebrated every Aprilto recognize the important rolemilitary children and familiesplay in the Department ofDefense community. It is also atime to emphasize the impor-tance of providing childrenwith quality services and sup-port to help them adjust andsucceed in the mobile militarylifestyle.

The day will kick off at 9a.m. at the school track next toyouth center with a family one-mile run/walk sponsored by the

Lackland Child DevelopmentCenters and Parent AdvisoryBoard.

After the run, families canjoin the fun at the youth centerwhere there will be a widerange of activities includingarts and crafts, egg hunt, ringtoss, face painting, FitFactorgames, bouncy castles, andmuch more.

Agencies that support thehealth and safety of our chil-dren, youth and families willprovide activities, informationbooths and static displays.Youth will also share their tal-ents through individual andgroup talent performances.

The entire family is invitedto come enjoy the activities,learn more about servicesavailable, and honor our chil-dren and youth. For moreinformation on the “CelebrateKidz Fair,” please contact theyouth center at 671-2510.

Base celebrates children NIGHT VISION

Photo by Senior Airman Jason EpleyTactical air control party students conduct a night raid on a building during their finalfield training exercise on an Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., range. They are with Det. 3,342nd Training Squadron, one of nine geographically separated units belonging toLackland's 37th Training Wing.

TALESPINNERPAGE 18 MARCH 27, 2009

Photo by Staff Sgt. Orly TyrellWearing proper safety equipment is an essential element of reducing risk while riding motorcycles.

By Staff Sgt. Shawn Owens37th Training Wing Safety Office

Motorcycle season is here and the basesafety office is ensuring all motorcyclistsare well prepared and properly geared forsafe riding.

Recent studies at the Air Force SafetyCenter indicate that motorcycle fatalitiesdouble in the spring. This sudden increasein motorcycle fatalities, often called thespring spike, reinforces the need to ridewith a safety mindset.

To ensure the safety of Airmen, the AirForce Traffic Safety Program establishedprocedures for Airmen to follow before theyride on or off base.

All Air Force personnel are required toattend a Motorcycle Safety Foundationapproved course prior to riding and civilianpersonnel require the training prior to rid-ing on base.

Two courses are offered: a beginner’scourse and an experienced rider’s course.

The 37th Training Wing safety office cre-ated a site on Air Force Knowledge Now forcourse registration. The site can be foundby searching for “37 TRW safety” on AFKN.Riders may also call the safety office at 671-5025 for registration assistance.

In addition to training, riders must wearall personal protective equipment outlinedin AFI 91-207, 3.4.2.4, including a brightlycolored outer garment during the day andreflective upper garment during the night.

Riders must also wear a helmet designedto meet or exceed Department of

Transportation standards along with propereye and foot protection.

Commanders and supervisors also haveseveral obligations concerning motorcycleriders assigned to their units. They shouldhelp prepare their riders by talking to themabout the hazards of the road and helpinginexperienced riders prepare for the sea-son.

Discussions should be targeted, based onthe number of mishaps, speeding, and theaverage age of fatal motorcycle riders.Collaboration with other organizations isalso encouraged to share best practices andstrengthen motorcycle safety programs.

Unit commanders are required to main-tain a roster of the motorcycle ridersassigned to their unit, ensuring each rideris briefed on the requirements of AFI 91-207 and other applicable guidance.

This roster should include, at a mini-mum, training completed, motorcycle makeand model, engine size, and operator expe-rience. The roster should be updated regu-larly, as unit quarterly reviews have shownthat avid riders are likely to change bikes astheir riding skills increase.

The motorcycle safety program aims toreduce the number of mishaps through edu-cation, training, commander involvementand personal rider responsibility.Communication throughout the chain ofcommand is critical to reducing the springspike and preparing Airmen to make appro-priate personal risk management decisions.

For more information about motorcyclesafety, contact the safety office at 671-5025.

Training, proper equipmentcritical to motorcycle safety

TALESPINNERPAGE 20 MARCH 27, 2009

CHAPEL SERVICESChristianCatholicMonday-Friday:WHMC ChapelMass, 11 a.m

Wednesday-Friday:Freedom ChapelMass, 11:30 a.m.

Saturday:Freedom ChapelConfessions, 4:45 p.m.Mass, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday:Freedom ChapelReligious Education, 9 a.m.Mass, 11 a.m.

Hope ChapelHispanic Mass, 9:15 a.m.

Wilford Hall Medical Center ChapelMass, 3 p.m.

Orthodox Sunday:Airmen Memorial ChapelDivine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.Religious Education, 10:45 a.m.

ProtestantSunday:Airmen Memorial ChapelLiturgical Service, 8 a.m.

Hope ChapelSpanish Service, 12:45 p.m

Freedom ChapelContemporary Service, 9:30 a.m.Gospel Service, 12:30 p.m.Children’s Church providedReligious Education, 11 a.m.

Wednesday and Thursday:Bible Study, 6 p.m.

Sunday:Medina ChapelContemporary Service, 10:30 a.m.

WHMC ChapelGeneral Service, 1:30 p.m.

IslamicFriday:Defense Language InstituteStudent CenterFaith Study, 1:30 p.m.Jummah Prayer, 2 p.m.

JewishFriday:Airmen Memorial ChapelSabbath Eve Service, 6 p.m.

WiccaWednesday(1st only):Freedom Chapel,Room 8, SanAntonio Military Open Circle, 6:30 p.m.

COMMUNITY

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE

COMMITTEE

The Asian Pacific AmericanHeritage Committee will meet today,1 p.m., in the claims office confer-ence room in 37th Training Wingheadquarters to discuss May eventscelebrating Asian Pacific Americanmonth at Lackland.

Contact Capt. Thomas Smith at671-3365 for more information.

DEPLOYED FAMILY SUPPORT

The Family Service Association issponsoring a deployed family sup-port group at Freedom Chapel begin-ning Monday and running for eightweeks.

The group will provide a place forfamilies to connect, address reinte-gration issues, parenting supportand coping with deployment stress.

For more information or reserva-tions, contact Amber Alexander at381-3933.

PARENTING CLASS SET

The Precious Minds NewConnections program beginsTuesday at the Gateway ChildDevelopment Center.

The course is an enrichment pro-gram for parents, grandparents, fos-ter parents and step-parents of chil-

dren up to 3 years of age.The classes run for eight weeks,

meeting Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m.Childcare and a light meal are pro-vided.

Contact Miguel Alvarez at 678-2989 for reservations.

CANCER RESOURCE CENTER

A cancer resource center dedicat-ed to patient care and education willopen Tuesday in the basement ofWilford Hall Medical Center.

More than 130 pamphlets withinformation of a wide variety of can-cer related topics will be availablealong with a search service on spe-cific topics.

The center is open 1-4:30 p.m.Tuesdays, and 9-11 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. Thursdays.

For more information, call 292-4808.

FOSTER PARENT, ADOPTION

WORKSHOP

The Airmen and FamilyReadiness Flight will join with theChildren’s Shelter to sponsor a work-shop Thursday, 6-8 p.m., in Bldg.1249 to offer information about fos-ter parents and adoption.

Many of the children in the shel-ter have been removed from their

parents because of abuse or neglect.The children also may have been

diagnosed with physical, emotionalor mental limitations; hard to placebecause of age; an ethic minority; orpart of a large sibling group.

For information or reservations,call the AFRF at 671-3722.

DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES

Dog obedience classes will beginApril 6 at Arnold Hall CommunityCenter.

Puppy class will be held from 6-6:55 p.m. and beginner class from7-7:55 p.m.

The first class is for the ownerswithout their dog.

Puppy class participants willneed a leash, collar and a baggie ofCheerios for each class.

For more information, call 671-2619.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY

The American Society of MilitaryComptrollers will sponsor volunteerservice hours at the Sunshine PlazaApartments, 455 E. Sunshine Drive,from 9 a.m. to noon April 18 withlight cleaning for senior residents.

Students can earn a communityservice certificate for up to threehours for participating.

To volunteer, contact AndreaPowers at 221-2752 or Nida Soriano-Rosas at 536-7234.

ZERO OVERPRICING PROGRAM

A successful zero overpricing pro-gram challenge can save the AirForce money and put extra cash intoyour pocket.

For an overpriced item challengein the AF standard base supply sys-tem inventory, items can be submit-ted by using Form 1046, zero over-pricing challenge/referral, to the37th Training Wing LogisticsReadiness Squadron, customer serv-ice section.

A successful challenge will resultin the difference being reimbursed.

For more information, call 671-2575.

WHMC TO CONDUCT STUDY

Wilford Hall Medical Centerinvites all Air Force military members

who have previously deployed to par-ticipate in a study researchingimportant psychological factors pos-sibly related to psychological riskand resilience across the deploymentcycle.

WHMC is seeking health carepersonnel – nurses, technicians,physicians, administrative staff, andancillary services – who havereturned from a deployment to theAir Force Theater Hospital in Iraq toparticipate in 1-hour focus groups.These focus groups will be voluntaryand no personal identifying informa-tion will be obtained from any partic-ipant.

The 60-minute focus groups willbe conducted at various dates, timesand locations within WHMC.

For more information and to signup for a focus group session, call562-5408.

LocalBRIEFS

To see menus forLackland dining

halls, go online towww.lackland.af.mil

and click on the“Services“ link.

See BRIEFS P21

For more information, contact the chapel staff:

Freedom Chapel671-4208

Gateway Chapel671-2911

Hope Chapel671-2941

Wilford Hall MedicalCenter Chapel

292-7373

PAGE 21TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

Assistance for active duty Air Forcemembers to apply for the PalaceChase and Palace Front programs isavailable at Lackland and Randolph.

Master Sgt. Jim Jeter, Air NationalGuard In-Service recruiter atRandolph, can assist with transferringfrom active duty to an ANG unit any-where in the U.S.

For more information, contactSergeant Jeter at 652-5202.

GOVERNMENT VEHICLE LICENSES

New guidance directs anyone whooperates a government vehicle to havea government motor vehicle license,Air Force form 2293, in their posses-sion.

Persons with a government vehiclelicense must update their license sothe expiration date matches theirstate issued driver’s license.

Licenses can be updated at theOperator Records and Licensing

Office, Bldg. 5008.If a state permits expired driver’s

licenses for military, the governmentlicense expiration will be changed tomatch the member’s military identifi-cation card.

For more information, contact yourunit Vehicle Control Officer or call theVehicle Licensing Office at 671-6117.

BUS SERVICE SURVEY

The Vehicle Operations Elementseeks feedback on its shuttle busservice on Lackland.

Customer surveys are available inthe Quality Assurance Evaluatoroffice, Bldg. 5008, and on all shuttlebuses.

Concerns and suggestions aboutthe service can also be directed to theQAE office at 671-0844 or 671-0069.

CDL REQUIREMENTS

Civilian employees required todrive a special purpose vehicle offbase are required to have a commer-cial driver’s license.

There are waivers on this provision

for individuals who drive on base only,but this provision does not cover any-one driving on a public road betweenportions of the base.

For more information, contact yourunit Vehicle Control Officer or call theVehicle Licensing Office at 671-6117.

QUIT SMOKING LINE

The San Antonio Military MedicalCenter smoking quit line is currentlyavailable to active duty and Reservepersonnel.

The line is a telephone counselingservice that is part of a researchinvestigation assessing the effective-ness of a quit line with military per-sonnel.

There is no cost for using the line,which provides telephone counselingand nicotine replacement therapy.

RED CROSS NUMBER CORRECTION

The Lackland American Red Crossoffice has corrected its telephonenumber.

The corrected number is 844-4225.

BRIEFS from P20GATEWAY THEATERHe’s Just Not That Into You

Pink Panther 2

Push

Friday The 13th

Adults – $4. Children – $2.Closed Monday

through Wednesday.

FRIDAYHe’s Just Not That Into You, 6 p.m.(PG-13), starring Drew Barrymoreand Jennifer Aniston.

SATURDAYPink Panther 2, noon (PG), starringSteve Martin and Jean Reno.Push, 3 p.m. (PG-13), starring DakotaFanning and Chris Evans.Friday The 13th, 6 p.m. (R), starringAmanda Righetti and JaredPadalecki.

SUNDAYFriday The 13th, noon (R).Pink Panther 2, 3 p.m. (PG).

THURSDAYPink Panther 2, noon (PG).

For more information and futuremovie listings, go to www.aafes.com/ems/conus/lackland.htm.

Do you have a photographer’s eye? Do you catch those candid moments?Let us see your work and you could be published! E-mail your Lackland-related photos to:

[email protected] Action shots only please.

TALESPINNERPAGE 22 MARCH 27, 2009

By Patrick DesmondSports Editor

Lackland's varsity baseballteam came up short in both oftheir home games March 18and 21 to start the 2009 SanAntonio Men's Senior BaseballLeague season.

The Warhawks (0-2) hadbreakdowns in the secondinning of both games, allowingtheir opponents to score at leasthalf of their run total.

Although a young team with17 new faces this year, theyshowed resiliency, totaling onlytwo errors while climbing backwithin two runs in both games.

“We have a good attitude,”Warhawk coach Davin Dukessaid. “We did not give up evenwhen we were down eight or soruns.”

Dropping the first game 7-5to the Mets, the Warhawks gaveup five runs in the second. Notwithout opportunities, thedefense buckled down, allowingonly two more runs through thelast seven innings; however,runners left in scoring positionsduring the eighth inning sealedthe game.

In their matchup against theBlaze on March 21, theWarhawks again fell behind inthe second, giving up six runsbefore rallying back only to lose12-10.

Dukes expected growingpains in a new dugout, adding“it takes a while to gel as ateam but I think we did reallywell.”

The Warhawks play theCanes Sunday at St. Mary’sUniversity.

SCOREBOARD

Men’s W L

1. CPSG 6 22. Med LRS 6 23. AFISR 5 34. 543rd ISR Gp 2 4

March 18-AFISR 2, 543 ISR 0CPSG 2, Med LRS 0

Women’s W L

1. CPSG 6 0 2. Med Ops Gp 4 23. Med Spt Gp 4 24. AFSFC 2 45. Clinical Spt Gp 2 46. TCC 2 4

March 17-CPSG 2, Clinical Spt Gp 0Med Spt Gp 2, AFSFC 0Med Ops Gp 2, Msn Spt Gp 0

Division I W L

543rd SPTS 146 46Allen Tharpe “Hard Luck” 132 60LRS 129 63453 EWS 124 6837 CES #2 119 73Marines 118 74690 NSG #2 116 76341 TRS Dawg Pound 108 8493 IS #1 107 85C-5 Haulers 106 8659 RSQ 101 91CPSG 101 91345th TRS 100 9233rd IOS 98 94NIOC “Swabs” 97 9537 SVS 96 9637 CS #1 94 98DLIELC 94 9859 MD IS 92 100CES #1 92 10093 IS #2 89 103Allen Tharpe #2 85 107AFNEWS 4 Ever 84 108AFISR Agency 82 11059 PSQ 82 110DLI Mine’s in the Gutter 74 118NASIC 70 12259 MDOG 68 124690 NSG #1 50 14237 CS #2 50 142

5K RUN

The 737th Training Group is sponsoringthe Around the World 5k run on May 9.

The race begins at 8 a.m. behind theBasic Military Reception Center, Bldg. 7246.Registration costs $15.

For more information, call 497-8214.

AIR FORCE CYCLING

The Air Force Cycling Team is looking forLackland cyclists to participate in a recruit-ing tour in Iowa July 19-25.

Applicants must be able to ride about 75miles a day for the seven-day tour.

For more information, call 387-6381 or925-7323.

BOXING

Air Force boxers will compete in the AirForce Box Off tournament April 3 at theBennett Fitness Center.

Winners of the Box Off will represent theAir Force in the Armed Forces BoxingChampionship April 26 at Fort Huachuca,Ariz.

For more information, contact the BennettFitness Center at 925-4848.

YOUTH SOCCER

The youth soccer league is geared toward3- to 5-year-old children and costs $35 perplayer. All players must bring shinguards topractices and games.

For more information, contact the YouthCenter at 671-1245.

SOFTBALL

The men’s softball season begins Monday.People interested in joining can contact theirunit’s sports representative or submit theirname to the player’s pool.

For more information, contact the sportsoffice at 671-2725.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

A free mixed martial arts class led byChris Easter, brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu, isoffered Fridays from 5-7 p.m. at theChaparral Fitness Center.

For more information, call 671-2401.

SCUBA

Scuba lessons are offered at the SkylarkAquatic Center from 7-9 p.m. every Monday inApril. Registration is $225 per person andparticipants must be at least 18 years old.

For more information, contact the SkylarkAquatic Center at 671-3780.

WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

Women’s intramural softball begins mid-April. Anyone that has access to the base andis 18 years old is eligible to register.

For women interested in playing, contactthe sports office at 671-2725.

VOLLEYBALL

BOWLING

SPORTS

BRIEFS

Photo by Alan BoedekerWarhawk Ryan Nichols (right) slides home for a run, beating thethrow to home plate March 21 at the Warhawk Baseball Field. JimmyClark batted in the run on a double.

Varsity basketball sets sights on fourth straight title

Second-inning deficits provetoo much in first games of ’09

Warhawks come up short

By Patrick DesmondSports Editor

The road to the SouthwestMilitary Basketball Leaguechampionship literally goesthrough Lackland's varsity bas-ketball team as they defendtheir title and host this year'spostseason tournament todaythrough Sunday.

Since its inception in 2002,the Warhawks have emerged asa powerhouse in SWMBL com-petition, eclipsing their military

counterparts the past threeyears and are currently seekinga fourth consecutive trophy intheir own backyard.

“Not having to travel meanswe will have all of our players,”Warhawks assistant coachIrving Thomas said. “The teamsthat travel don't always travelwith a full stack. We considerthat to be a serious advantage.”

All-Air Force candidatesRodrick Greene, Carl Little andEzel Trammel make up some ofthe Warhawk veterans return-

ing to the tournament. Winning last year’s event,

Lackland opted to bring thepostseason home in accordancewith SWMBL rules.

The three-day event will fea-ture teams from Fort SamHouston, Fort Sill, Okla., DyessAFB, Brooks AFB, SheppardAFB, Tinker AFB, Okla., AltusAFB, Okla. and Whiteman AFB,Mo. in a double elimination for-mat.

The No. 1 seeded Warhawkshave a first-round bye and play

the winner of Altus and Brooksat noon, Saturday in theChaparral Fitness Center.

Brig. Gen. Len Patrick, 37thTraining Wing commander, willlead the tournament’s openingceremony at 6 p.m., today pre-ceding the first game at 7 p.m.at the Chaparral Fitness Center.

First, second and third placewinners will be awarded tro-phies.

All games will be played atthe Chaparral and Warhawk fit-ness centers.

PAGE 23TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009

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Under the supervision of Air Forceboxing coach Steven Franco, two-time silver medalist at the ArmedForces Championship, fighters in thecamp are “getting back to basics.”

The main focus of the campexpressed by Franco was reiteratingboxing fundamentals to prepare box-ers for the Air Force Box Off tourna-ment and Armed ForcesChampionship.

According to Franco, once theyleave the training camp, boxers areoften influenced by fighting withlocal gyms, and need to brush up onthe “Air Force Style” of amateur box-ing.

Military boxing follows amateurboxing rules. Air Force boxers mustbe accustomed to throwing morepunches in order to score points inquick three-round bouts as opposedto a professional 12-round boutFranco said.

The 12-day camp instills thisstyle by reiterating fundamentals ingroup exercises, paired boxer drillsand sparring.

Each training day begins with acardiovascular workout at 6:30 a.m.

and ends with another evening work-out as late as 7 p.m.

In the group exercise, Francomade an example of himself, jump-ing in the ring to illustrate the basicone-two combination. With the basiccombo in place, Franco said an end-less amount of combos could then beelaborated.

Each boxer was instructed tomimic the act of putting out a ciga-rette with the ball of their right footwhen throwing a straight rightpunch to ensure proper weight distri-bution and delivery of optimal power.

Pairs of boxers go through themotions, moving around the ring,throwing punches, while camp mem-bers standing outside the ropes eval-uate their performance.

In another facet of the camp,sparring puts fundamentals intoaction.

In a round robin sparring exer-cise, one boxer squares off with allmembers of the camp consecutively,facing each partner for one minute.

Franco said this lets his boxersbuild endurance as each faces afresh opponent.

Also an assistant coach at a localboxing gym, Franco uses access tocivilian boxers to give camp mem-bers a chance to knock off some“ring rust.”

“These guys in the camp will getfriendly and won’t want to take it outon each other so I would rather havethem fight the guys from downtown,”he said.

Civilians will also match upagainst Airmen without weight classopponents in the Box Off.

The Box Off tournament will beheld April 3-4 at the Bennett Fitness

Center.Establishing a solid fundamental

foundation for boxers is a primaryconcern leading to the Box Off tour-nament. Ultimately, experience isparamount in the selection of Airmengoing on to the Armed ForcesChampionship April 26 at FortHuachuca, Ariz.

“Really, we are not looking forwho loses or wins,” Franco said. “Weare really looking for experience –who is going to help us go to ArmedForces and win a medal.”

The team will be selected April 5.

Photo by Robbin CresswellAir Force boxing coach Steven Franco demonstrates a proper striking technique infront of 11 Air Force boxing camp members at the Bennett Fitness Center.

By Patrick DesmondSports Editor

AF camp brings boxers back to basics

Eleven Air Force boxers were reacquainted with the“Air Force style” in a 10-day training camp thatstarted Monday at the Bennett Fitness Center.