VIKING FLYERVIKING FLYERVIKING FLYERVIKING FLYERVIKING FLYER934th Airlift Wing (AFRC) Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Air Reserve Station, Minn. November 2005 Vol. 27, No.11

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Inside:Inside:Inside:Inside:Inside: Why AF Climate Survey is important - page 4 Changes to education benefits - page 5 Local civic leaders tour Scott AFB - page 6-7 Reservists run Marine Corps Marathon - page 10

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams

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Around the Wing

This funded Air Force newspa-per is an authorized publication formembers of the U.S. military ser-vices. The content of the Viking Flyeris not necessarily the views of or en-dorsed by the U.S. government, theDepartment of Defense or the De-partment of the Air Force.

The editorial content is edited,prepared and provided by the 934thAirlift Wing Public Affairs Office(U.S. Air Force Reserve Command),Minneapolis-St. Paul InternationalAirport Joint Air Reserve Station,760 Military Highway, Minneapolis,MN 55450-2100. For more infor-mation, call (612) 713-1217.

The Viking Flyer is mailed toreservists’ homes. Copies of theViking Flyer are also available atvarious locations on base.

All photos are Air Force photo-graphs unless otherwise indicated.

The deadline for all submissionsis the Sunday of the UTA onemonth prior to publication.

EDITORIAL STAFF934th Airlift Wing commanderCol. James J. Muscatell Jr.

Chief of Public AffairsLt. Col. Margaret McGlinn

NCOICTech. Sgt. Jeffrey S. Williams

EditorStaff Sgt. Nicholas Olson

Staff writersStaff Sgt. Jennifer A. JohnsonSenior Airman Curtis Holden

PhotographersStaff Sgt. John HerrickStaff Sgt. Josh Nason

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Aerial PortThe 27th APS personnel bid Col.

Teresa Hams a farewell at the units com-manders call Sunday morning Oct. 2.

The wing commander presented theDefense Meritorious Service Medal to Se-nior Master Sgt. Gregg Nordwall.

Sergeant Nordwall had just returnedfrom serving at Camp Butmir, Sarajevo,Bosnia where worked in the U.S. NationalSupport Element as part of the NATOand EUFOR post located in that country.

Master Sgt. Dean Plank was pre-sented the Meritorious Service Medal forhis exceptional service while assigned to the934th Maintenance Group.

Sergeant Plank started as the newlyhired administrative ART for 27th APS.

Tech. Sgt. David LeBeause returnedfrom Dobbins ARB, Ga. as “Top 60KTunner Driver” for his two week class whichgraduated Sep. 29.

Aeromedical StagingThe 934th ASTS says farewell to four

members, Lt. Col. Gary Peitzmeier whotransferred to active duty, Lt. Col. DennisSmith, retired , Capt. Robert Jackson whotransferred to Colorado Springs to joinSpace Command, and Master Sgt. SheriCash who retired.

Col. Jorge Llambes, Commander934th ASTS, returned Oct. 3 from an AEFrotation overseas.

Senior Airman Nat Johnson re-turned to the 934th after his phase II wascut short due to Hurricane Katrina. Air-man Johnson was stationed at KeeslerAFB, Miss.

The October UTA was divided in two,the physical exam section trained on thenormal UTA, the Contingency Aeromedi-cal Staging Facility attended a four day biv-ouac at Camp Ripley Oct. 6-9.

Civil EngineerThe CE squadron rescheduled the

October UTA to Oct. 7-9 to accommodatethe annual bivouac at Camp Ripley. Twomini exercises were done to test commandand control and special teams within thesquadron. Various shops within CE com-pleted other training requirements. ASTSand Services accompanied CE to CampRipley. A good time was had by all.

We welcome home Tech. Sgts. An-

On the CoverMaster Sgt. Mark Stodola,

934th Security ForcesSquadron resource advisor,shows Bloomington mayorGene Winstead how to use theM-9 pistol simulator Oct. 6.

Mayor Winstead, alongwith other members of theBloomington chamber ofcommerce had a chance tomeet with the commander andtour the 934th Airlift Wing.

thony Osborne and William Justin; bothwere deployed for six months as SecurityForces augmenters to Vandenberg AFB,Calif. and McDill AFB, Fla. respectively.

Roads and grounds replaced jointsealer throughout the base and constructedconcrete piers at Bldg. 822.

Congratulations to Scott LeClair forbeing promoted to Senior Master Sergeantthrough the PEP program.

CommunicationsMaster Sgt. Richard Loesch received

the Meritorious Service Medal. Staff Sgt.John Herrick graduated “DistinguishedHonor Grad” for the Basic Still Photogra-phy Course at The Defense InformationSchool, Fort Meade, Md. Both Staff Sgts.Curt Richter and Herrick received the Com-munity College of the Air Force associatesdegree in Information Systems Technology.

Logistics ReadinessMaster Sgt. Charles Colstrom,

Tech. Sgts. Lara Gallegos and ScottSippel have recently returned from JointForge in Germany. Staff Sgt. MarcusErickson, Staff Sgt. Dustin Hunstigerand Senior Airman Kelly Jabas have re-cently deployed to the operation.

Tech. Sgt. Roxanne Daggins, SeniorAirman Dyan Daniels and Breon Gibsonhave recently returned from MountainHome AFB, Idaho.

Congratulations to Brian Haugen onbeing promoted to major.

Congratulations also to Tech. Sgt.John Taylor who passed his 5-level CDCtest and Staff Sgt. John Czech who re-ceived his 5-level.

Commentary

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By Colonel Stephen J. DeWerffVice Wing Commander

The end of the year is rapidlyapproaching and like the weather, changeis in the air. As the year 2005 comes to aclose, we will see a number of changesoccurring at the Minneapolis-St Paul AirReserve Station. Our new 934th Aero-medical Evacuation Squadron building isready to open, allowing our aeromedicalfolks a place to grow and expand. Theunit has continued to provide relief andcomfort not only to our troops in theIraqi and Afghanistan but to those folksdown south who were displaced andtheir homes destroyed by hurricanesKatrina and Rita.

With the 934th AES moving out ofBuilding 840, our 934th AeromedicalStaging Squadron will finally get toexpand into all of the once shared facility.Both of these squadrons have beenworking in facilities that were too smallfor either of them and they have done asuperior job despite those conditions.The ASTS building will undergo aremodeling project in the future whichwill make it the state of the art medicalfacility that our people deserve. Once theremodeling project is complete, the ASTSwill be able to reduce the long delayswhich are common for physicals,immunizations, urinalysis and otherprocedures, making life better foreveryone on base.

Our new entry gate at the top of thehill will be completed in the spring. Thenew gate will allow access to the basefrom directly off 34th Street and High-

way 62. It will provide two lanes ofinbound traffic and should expeditepersonnel entry onto the base on UTAweekends. It will allow us to close thecurrent main gate and truck delivery gate,reducing the number of Security Forcespersonnel manning entry gates. Withstate of the art heating and cooling, ourgate guards shouldn’t have to swelterfrom the heat of summer nor freezeduring the bone chilling winter.

Our 934th Communications Flightpersonnel will be moving down the hillinto the expanded Communicationsbuilding that will be completed in thecoming months. This will help consoli-date all our Communications personneland Rothe Development contractors intoa centrally-located facility here on base.This new structure will also provide us amore modern and efficient work area. Wewill then be able to use Building 729 onthe hill for other planned personnelmovement.

Soon we will also break ground onour new Security Forces building. Thanksto the support from our state’s Con-gressmen, this new $4.9 million dollarfacility was added to the military budgetahead of schedule. This new centrallylocated building will not only provideour 934th SFS personnel a wonderfulnew work environment but it will alsohave state of the art communications andsurveillance equipment as well. Oncecompleted, Security Forces can saygoodbye to the World War II-era facilityin the southwest corner of the base.

Our new Fitness Center has beendelayed for a few months due to a

contracting issue but that issue has beenresolved and we should break ground inthe spring. The facility will have a new fullcourt gym with a large, modern work outfacility and a larger and more spaciousshower and locker rooms for both menand women. Upon completion of theexpansion, all of the services provided byour 934th Services Squadron will be thetalk of Air Force Reserve Command.With an award-winning lodging facility, abrand new fitness center and twospacious all ranks clubs and moderndining facility, Minneapolis-St. Paul ARSwill continue to be the showcase base inAFRC for conferences and conventions.

As you can see, change is in the air.Colonel Muscatell has worked diligentlywith Congress, the Air Force, Air ForceReserve Command and state and localcommunity leaders to provide the 934thAirlift Wing with the best facilities in theAir Force. The reason for this outpouringof support from all of the abovementioned agencies is because of you. Itis the men and women of the 934th thatmake this wing so outstanding. Yourhard work, dedication to duty, and abilityto get the job done is what separates ourwing from others. You are the best! Aswe give thanks each year on ThanksgivingDay, I want to recognize each andeveryone of you and say thanks for all thelove, help and support you have pro-vided not only to the Air Force, but allmembers of the 934th Airlift Wing thispast year. May we continue to grow,prosper and succeed regardless of whatchallenges we face. God bless each andeveryone of you. Happy Thanksgiving!

The ever-changing 934th Airlift Wing

The hotline provides wing members with a direct link to the wing com-mander to relay kudos, concerns or suggestions on wing matters.

To reach the hotline, call (612) 713-4685. Remember to leave your nameand telephone number.

Before relaying problems, be sure to always use your chain of commandor call the responsible agency first so it can have the chance to help you.

Wing Commander’s Hotline

Myers retires; Pace takes JCS helmWASHINGTON

(AFPN) — Secretary ofDefense Donald H. Rumsfeldhosted an armed forcesfarewell tribute and hailceremony in honor of Gen.Richard B. Myers, the 15thchairman of the Joint Chiefsof Staff, and Marine CorpsGen. Peter Pace, 16th chair-man of the Joint Chiefs ofStaff Sept. 30 at Fort Myer,Va. The ceremony concludedwith a joint service pass inreview and flyover.

General Myers completedmore than 40 years inuniform. He was appointedChairman of the Joint Chiefsof Staff on Oct. 1, 2001, andreappointed to a second two-year term in 2003.

General Pace is the firstMarine to hold the nation’shighest military position. Hehas served as vice chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs of Staff sinceOct. 1, 2001.

FORT MYER, Va. — Gen. Richard B. Myers, 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs ofStaff, congratulates Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace on becoming the 16thchairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff here Sept. 30. General Myers retired after 40years of service, as General Pace became the 16th Chairman and first Marine tohold the nation’s highest military position. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt.Kevin Gruenwald)

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News

Climate Survey helps shape future Air Force

RANDOLPH AIRFORCE BASE, Texas(AFPN) — Airmen will havethe power to shape the AirForce of the future throughthe 2005 Air Force ClimateSurvey that began Oct. 1.

“This survey will help usensure we are taking care ofour most important asset —our people,” said Chief ofStaff of the Air Force, Gen. T.Michael Moseley. “We haveused the most advancedinformation-masking

reporting software available toensure your identity will beprotected. The questions inthe survey itself are intention-ally hard-hitting, andI fullyexpect yourdirect,honest andcandidfeedback.”

Thesurvey, themed “Speak Today,Shape Tomorrow,” provides aunique total force perspectiveand includes active-duty,Reserve, Air National Guardand both appropriated andnonappropriated fundedcivilians. The identities of eachparticipant are protected and

every response is reviewed forconsideration.

In past surveys, respon-dents have provided feedback

on issuesthat affecttheirorganiza-tions’ abilityto performthemission,such as

resources, training anddevelopment and unitflexibility. This year, respon-dents are being asked toprovide feedback on theirimmediate supervisor’s“enduring competencies.”The Air Force’s enduringcompetencies are the personal,

All Airmanencouraged toparticipate, givehonest feedback

managerial and leadershipqualities that should becommon to all Air Forcemembers. These results willprovide senior leaders with avaluable baseline of thecompetencies used for forcedevelopment.

“It’s your chance toprovide honest and straight-forward answers to issues thatdirectly affect you and yourfellow Airmen,” said ChiefMaster Sgt. of the Air ForceGerald R. Murray.

The survey is availableand can be accessed, fromwork or at home, throughNov. 23 online at https://afclimatesurvey.af.mil.(Courtesy of the Air ForceManpower Agency)

News

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If a quality education canenhance a reservist’s career,then 934th Airlift Wingmembers should be interestedto know about some changesto their education benefits thattook effect Oct. 1.

Through the Air ForcePortal, unit members are nowable to check on their educationbenefits.

“This means reservists cannow apply for tuitionassistance, check educationalrecords and get their questionsabout professional militaryeducation, Community Collegeof the Air Force and G.I. Billbenefits answered,” saidMaster Sgt. Bernardette Lunde,934th AW chief of educationand training.

Under the Air ForceVirtual Education Center,Airmen can request tuitionassistance or check on theirbenefits by way of the AirForce Automated EducationalManagement System.

The steps to attainingbenefits begin by registering atthe Air Force Portal at https://www.my.af.mil. Once there, thereservist can look under thecategory of “Career” and pullup the information aboutAFVEC. The link will allowthe reservist to access theircurrent information in theCommunity College of the AirForce progress or apply fortuition assistance for accreditedinstitutions such as technicalcolleges and universities.

“The service is very user-friendly,” said Sergeant Lunde.“It gives reservists flexibility

Understanding your education benefits

Increases in worldwide deploymentsduring the past few years have createdmanning shortages for some Air ForceReserve career fields and home units.

In anticipation of potential retire-ments, manning losses and additional jobslots, 934th Airlift Wing recruiters arecurrently seeking qualified people to filleight supply management overage slots atthe 934th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

“’We rock, so others roll’ is the mottoof the LRS,” said Master Sgt. ClarenceSummers, 934th LRS non-commissionedofficer in charge. “Basically, the mission ofLRS is moving equipment and personnel.Without our support, the mission of the934th Airlift Wing and the Air Force couldnot happen.”

Working as a supply managementNCOIC is anything but routine, saidSergeant Summers. “Nowadays, noSaturday is typical with worldwide mobility

and deployments. But that’s what makes itchallenging and interesting.”

“It’s pretty routine,” said SeniorAirman Antwain Strickland, 934th LRStraffic management office. “In shipping andreceiving, packages come in, we in-processand in-check them and then route them toother departments and where they need togo,” Airman Strickland added.

“I wanted a more hands-on job,” saidSergeant Summers. “I wanted to be morewhere the action is.”

Although he enjoys his regular dutiesas the wing’s Supply NCOIC, SergeantSummers said he most enjoys the CombatReadiness Flight or “Eagle’s Nest,” which isa new position initiated at the unit by 934thLRS Commander Maj. Brian Petersen.

He also receives satisfaction from“sending people off and bringing themback” and then helping them through theircareer progression.

“I’m proud to have LRS personnelreturn safely from deployments and thenmentor them from a 3-Level to a 5-Level

and to 7-Level to get them fully qualified,”said Sergeant Summers. “If they get fullyqualified in their jobs, that means I havedone my job.”

He also said that at the same time he isconcerned about having enough personnelto perform the mission to the point wherehe walked over to the recruiters to ask themif they have people.

To be eligible for a supply manage-ment position, a recruit must attain anAdministrative score of 41 or a Generalscore of 44 on the Armed ServicesVocational Aptitude Battery examination,said Senior Master Sgt. Brendt Traicoff,934th Airlift Wing senior recruiter.

He added that supply managementpositions require attending a 6-weektechnical school at Shepherd Air Force Base,Texas.

If you would like to apply or referother people to apply for any of the eightsupply management overage slots availableat the 934th LRS, contact Sergeant Traicoffat the base recruiting office at 612-713-1454.

By Senior AirmanCurtis HoldenStaff Writer

By Senior AirmanCurtis HoldenStaff Writer

with our busy lives betweenmilitary, family and otherobligations. AFAEMS makesreservists more self-sufficientand provides easy access formembers to view and updatetheir educational records.”

The G.I. Bill educationbenefits can range in valuefrom $74.25 per month forless than half-time students to$297 per month for full-timestudents.

For those that receiveeducation kickers, there is animportant policy change thatthey need to be aware of.

“For kicker benefits, ifyou leave your kicker AFSCbefore your first six-yearenlistment with a Reserve orGuard unit is over, you losethe kicker benefit and you can’tget it back in another compo-nent,” said Ms. Gerri Theisen.

“But kickers will transfer withservicemembers to other unitsafter their first enlistment.”

Ms. Theisen alsoexplained that AFSC’s withkickers have not changed butthat reservists should checkwith the base education andtraining staff for updates.

Reservists who have beendeployed for over 90 days afterSept. 11, 2001 can also qualifyfor the Chapter 1607 G.I. Billestablished by the Veteran’sAdministration in the last fiscalyear. The program allowsactivated reservists and guardmembers to receive up to 80percent of the amountauthorized for active dutymembers, depending on theirlength of their tour of duty.

For more information onthe G.I. Bill, visit the V.A. Website at www.gibill.va.gov.

Supply offers opportunities to make a difference

Fea

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Civic Leader Tour considered

Ms. Joan Thompson listen to Senior Master Sgt. Bradley Binionflight to Scott AFB, Ill. Ms. Thompson was one of 19 business an

Nineteen business and community leaders were the guestsof the 934th Airlift Wing during the 2005 Civic Leader Tour thatwas held Sept. 27-28, 2005.

After a morning breakfast at the base Services Club, the CivicLeaders and their four military escorts boarded a C-130 for aflight to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., for more briefings and tours.

While at Scott AFB, the civic leaders toured a C-9 aircraft ofthe 932th Airlift Wing configured to the wing’s new mission ofdistinguished visitor transportation, had lunch and dinner withactive duty and reserve leaders, breakfast with Chief MasterSergeants and junior enlisted airmen, received a mission briefingfrom the 375th Airlift Wing vice commander and toured U.S.Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command’s tankeroperations control center, before returning home.

“It began with a glimpse of the executive and administrativeside, built up and gave us a phenomenal picture of what we aredoing worldwide,” said Minnesota State Representative Mark

Olson, who attended the tour. “It’s the comprehensive pictureI saw that was phenomenal. I walked out with a lot ofadmiration for a lot of people. It tempts you to look at whatyou’ve done in your own life.”

Rep. Olson was also surprised to see some differencesfrom his perception when he was a youth.

“I grew up seeing the military rivalries,” he said. “I wasvery impressed to see how well the services integrated in thejoint mission.”

Suzanne Boston, a sales director for a medical company,who heads the wing’s Military Affairs Council, had a similaroutlook.

“We are really a strong nation and people need to

underealiz(miliamaz16 ye

for aaspe

RudeTankTherabouMs. Suzanne Boston models a parachute during the

C-130 flight to Scott AFB, Ill., Sep. 27.

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Maj. Paul Brown explains the 932nd Airlift Wing’sdistinguished visitor transportation mission to the leaders.

ature

d ‘phenomenal’ by attendees

n, 96th Airlift Squadron flight engineer during the C-130nd community leaders on the 2005 Civic Leader Tour.

Col. Stephen DeWerff, 934th Airlift Wing vice commander,assists John Miller with the proper wear of a parachute.

erstand that. The Civic Leader Tour helped meze just how strong we are. What we do with theseitary) people and what we can accomplish is justzing,” said Ms. Boston, who is encouraging herear-old daughter to join the Air Force.Meanwhile, Janet Von Ruden, a sales manager

a hotel chain, was impressed with the operationalct of the Air Force.“The C-9 tour was just phenomenal,” Ms. Vonen said. “Hearing everything that went on at theker Operations Control Center was interesting.re is more that goes on down there than we hearut in everyday life.”

Ms. Suzanne Bostonand Ms. JoanThompson examinethe model od thehistoric part of ScottAFB, Ill.

Meritorious Service MedalLt. Col Michael Bladel 96th ASMaster Sgt. Kenneth Boelter 934th AWMaster Sgt. Russell Carnes 934th CESMaster Sgt. Sherri Cash 934th ASTSCol. Teresa Hams 934th MSGMaj. Todd Kay 934th OGMaj. Richard Larson 96th ASMaster Sgt. Richard Loesch 27th APSLt. Col. Carolyn Lohman 934th MSFMaster Sgt. Michael McGuire 934th MSGSenior Master Sgt. Charles Nelson 27th APSLt. Col. Gary Peitzmeier 934th ASTSMaster Sgt. Dean Plank 27th APSMaj. Patricia Rautiola 934th AESSenior Master Sgt. Patricia Sahr 934th CFSenior Master Sgt. Roy Shives 934th MXSMaster Sgt. Michael Starr 934th AMXSMaj. James Swartz 96th AS

Air Force Commendation MedalTech. Sgt. Rodney Beck 934th MXSTech. Sgt. Jeremy Bethke 934th AWMaster Sgt. Kelly Engeldinger 934th MXGMaster Sgt. Robert Walz 934th CES

Promotions and DecorationsMeritorious Unit Award

In March 2004, SECAF approvedthe Meritorious Unit Award (MUA) torecognize organizations for out-standing achievement or service indirect support of combat operations.

Awarded to Air Force active duty,Reserve, and Guard units for excep-tionally meritorious conduct in theperformance of outstandingachievement or service in directsupport of combat operations for atleast 90 continuous days during theperiod of military operationsagainst an armed enemy of theUnited States on or after Sept. 11,2001. The unit must display suchoutstanding devotion and superiorperformance of exceptionally diffi-cult tasks as to set it apart andabove other units with similar mis-sions.

Superior performance of normalmission will not alone justify awardof the MUA. Service in a combatzone is not required, but servicemust be directly related to the com-bat effort. Squadrons, groups andwings may be recommended forthis award.

Feature

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SergeantS Upp & adamSergeantS Upp & adamSergeantS Upp & adamSergeantS Upp & adamSergeantS Upp & adam

By Senior Master Sgt. Doug Johnson

UTA ScheduleNov. 5-6Dec. 3-4Jan. 7-8Feb. 4-5

July 15-16Aug. 5-6Sep. 9-10

Mar. 4-5Apr. 1-2May 6-7June 3-4

Feature

9OCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBER 20052005200520052005

Viking VibesViking VibesViking VibesViking VibesViking VibesServices clubThe club will be hosting a

Country Western Night Nov. 5starting at 6 p.m.

There will be a chicken andribs barbecue buffet from 7 to9 p.m.

A D.J. will also be on handfrom 8 p.m. to midnight

Club members eat free.Guests and non-members payonly $10.

Any club member whobrings a person who signs upto join the club gets a couponfor a free medium pizza at thepizzeria. The person joining theclub also gets gifts.

Attention: All club mem-bers are being sent new clubcards, even if they have not ex-pired. Club card holders areasked not to throw away clubmembership mail, thinking itis junk mail. Their new cardsmay be in that mail.

The Club MembershipDrive is now through Decem-ber. It pays to be a club mem-ber. Check out these MilitaryFree Cash Rewards:

-Earn one point for everydollar in purchases off base.

-Get two points for everydollar in purchases at Servicesactivities and the base exchange.Get one point for gas purchases.

-Travel Plus program.Choice of airline and no black-out dates.

-Redeem points for every2,500 earned. Choose from ei-ther a $25 check or $25 gift cer-tificate from a wide variety ofmerchants.

-Points accumulate auto-matically and are tallied onmember’s monthly billing state-ment.

-No yearly program fee.-To redeem points, call

(800) 759-0294. For more clubmembership information, callthe 934th Services Squadron at(61) 713-1662

Officers clubCome to prime rib night.

Saturdays you can dine on primerib dinner for $18.95.

Mug Night starts at 4 p.m.Tuesdays at the Officers’ Club

Order a custom-mademug from the bartender. Untilit arrives, bring in a mug of yourchoice. Tap beer up to 20 oz.for $1.75, and brat, sauerkrautand potato salad for $3.50.

Two-for-one pork dinneron Oct. 25.

Pork dinner for two for theprice of one.

For more information, call(612) 713-3670 or 3678.

Celebrate the holidays,your birthday, promotion, re-tirement, bridal shower, wed-ding, baby shower, or any otherspecial occasion at the Officers’Club. Call the catering managerat (612) 713-1674.

Spouses’ clubTo join the Officers’

Spouses’ Club, call Lee Claar at(952) 831-5252.

LodgingLodging will be open on

Thanksgiving from 7 a.m. to3:30 p.m. and plans to be openfor Christmas and New Year’sDay. However, if reservationsare slow, the facility may closeearly. For more details, call (612)713-1984.

Get your holiday shop-ping done early. Check out the

great deals on polo shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats andother gift items at the lodginggift shop.

Space-A reservations madeup to 30 days in advance for athree-day stay can be extendedif space is available. For moredetails, call (612) 713-1984.

RecreationHaving a party, moving,

going camping or need topower wash a deck?

Call Outdoor Recreation at(612) 713-1496 to rent theequipment you need. Clubmembers get a 10 percent dis-count for rentals.

BirthdayAll club members receive a

$15 certificate to celebrate theirbirthday at the base clubs.

The offer is valid only onthe month of the member’sbirthday.

Call the Services Club at(612) 713-1655 or the Officers’Club at (612) 713-3678 for moreinformation.

Recreational SportsCommander’s Fit to Fight

Competition now throughDecember.

Squadrons get points forparticipating in numerousevents and a percentage of ex-cellent scores on the fitness test.

The Fitness AdvantageClub runs now through April.

The Pig Out Fitness Chal-lenge runs now through Janu-ary.

Achieve your health andfitness goals and get great prizes.

For more informationabout these health and fitnessactivities, call the fitness centerat (612) 713-1496.

The Top Dog RacquetballTournament runs from Octo-ber to December.

Call the fitness center at(612) 713-1496 for more infor-mation.

Pig Out Fitness Challengereturns in November. Accom-plish health and fitness activi-ties and goals and get greatprizes! For additional details,call (612) 713-1496.

Courtesy of Master Sgt. Russ Funaro934th Airlift Wing historian

This month in Flying Viking history

1974New pay raises took

affect guaranteeing a staffsergeant with four yearsservice would make $68.40for a drill weekend and acaptain with eight yearsservice $160.40.

FlyingFlyingFlyingFlyingFlyingVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingsVikingshistoryhistoryhistoryhistoryhistory

By Staff Sgt. Patrick Brown45th Space Wing Public Affairs

Mental health counseling not career ending

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.(AFPN) — Retired Senior Master Sgt.Patrick McCathern was literally secondsaway from death. He hung by a noosetied to his bathroom door, ready to die.

As he felt his last few gaspingbreaths fill his lungs, he noticed thewagging tail and puppy-dog eyes of hispet, Dunkin, looking up at him. Thatwas enough to make him untie the ropefrom around his neck.

The incident led Mr. McCathern toseek help, which allowed him to dighimself out of a nearly yearlong depres-sion. He credits the professional help hereceived at Wilford Hall Medical Center atLackland Air Force Base, Texas, forhelping him pull himself out of what hecalls an “unimaginable hell.”

“I would have rather been shot andendure that pain than endure the mentalpain,” he said. “But after that stay at thehospital, I did nothing but get stronger.”

Since September 2001, Mr.McCathern has been a spokesperson for

the National Institute of Mental Health’s“Real Men. Real Depression.” campaign.He has also spoken at Department ofDefense-level conferences, and his publicservice announcements have been ontelevision and radio.

Today Mr. McCathern works for theArmy as a new equipment traininginstructor at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Heshared his insights and experiences withtwo full houses at the base theater hereSept. 23.

He discussed depression and suicide— two topics in which he is a subject-matter expert. His aim was to encouragethose who have feelings of depression orthoughts of suicide to seek help.

Mr. McCathern said people mustrealize the long-standing stigma thatmental health counseling is detrimentalto military advancement is not true. Hesaid seeking counseling doesn’t mean theend of a career.

“One of the big myths is, as soon asyou seek any kind of counseling, yourcareer starts going downhill. Your(security) clearance is taken away and younever get it back. That’s wrong,” he said.

After seeking counseling, the AirForce did suspend his security clearance,but only for two weeks. He said it didn’ttake him long to get back his top secretclearance.

Maj. (Dr.) Kimberly Finney,commander of the Life Skills SupportCenter here, says she has never seen a casewhere a clearance has been denied becauseof mental counseling.

“In terms of a security clearance,good judgment and reliability are theunderlying tenets of the DOD securityguidelines,” she said. “So anytime youhave a problem and you’re doingsomething to prevent further problems,it shows good judgment.”

Unless there is a credible threat tosecurity or people, any counseling held at,or through the Life Skills Support Center,remains confidential, Dr. Finney said.

“Our mission is rehabilitation andreturn to duty,” she said. “If the AirForce didn’t allow people the opportu-nity to get better, then we’d be unem-ployed. If we can’t be helpful, then wecan’t be useful.”

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Health and Fitness

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Wing members run 30thMarine Corps Marathon

The importance of physical fitness is not lost on today’s Air ForceReservists.

Two members from the 934th Airlift Wing Communications Flightwill be competing in the 30th Annual Marine Corps Marathon to be heldOct. 30 in Washington, D.C.

Staff Sgt. John Herrick, photographer and Tech. Sgt. Chris Krug,computer operator, will be running along with 30,000 other participants tocommemorate the anniversary.

The run consists of a course that begins at the Marine Corps WarMemorial and circles around the nation’s capital, ending at ArlingtonNational Cemetery.

“I feel extremely excited,” said Sergeant Herrick. “It’s my first runningof it and my second marathon ever.” Sergeant Herrick had previousparticipated in the 2004 Twin Cities Marathon and ran the half marathon inPhiladelphia, Pa. while at his military technical school.

Sergeants Herrick and Krug also participated in the Air Force Marathonrelay in 2003 and 2004.

By Staff Sgt. Nicholas OlsonStaff Writer

Staff Sgt. John Herrick runs the perimeter ofthe Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station.

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Did you know?Not only does the C-

130 carry cargo but it canbe used to put out forestfires, perform weatherreconnaissance, airdropequipment and supportaerial spray missions. Itcan also be used as agunship to assist groundtroops in combat.

Courtesy Photo

934th Airlift WingPublic Affairs Office760 Military HighwayMinneapolis, MN 55450-2100

PRST STANDARDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHelmer Printing

To the family of:

Discount tickets/couponsTo purchase tickets for Camp Snoopy, Underwater Adventures, Minnesota Zoo,Minnesota Children’s Museum and Chanhassen Dinner Theater, call the fitnesscenter at (612) 713-1496. Discount cards for the zoo and IMAX theater are alsoavailable.

Fit to Fight - Ready to Win fitness programParticipate in UTA fitness activities for incentive awards.For more information, call the fitness center at (612) 713-1496.

Fitness center hours5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays8 a.m. to 4 p.m. SundaysClosed on federal holidays

TravelArmed Forces Vacation Club offers time share units. Cost is $264 per week.Go to www.afvclub.com.Use AFVC MLPS-ST. P AFRB Installation #333. Base Morale, Welfare andRecreation program receives cash when installation number is used.

Air Force Travel - www.aftravelonline.comShades of Green Resort, Disney World - www.armymwr.com

Thanksgiving Buffet Join with family and friends at theOfficers Club Nov. 24th for a festiveholiday buffet with all the trimmings. The buffet is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Tables will be held for 15 minutes aftertimes reserved. Prices are $18.95 for adults and$8.95 for children. Children under theage of three eat for free. Club membersreceive a $2 discount for adults and $1off for children.

For reservations, call (612) 713-3678.