RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE 65th Year • No. 16 • APRIL 22, 2011

A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio

INSIDE ... SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION, P2 ... WWII HEROES VISIT BASE, P4 ... T-38 MAINTENANCE CREWS, P11 ... BATTLEFIELD INJURIES, P15

PAGE 12

Jason Hazel, 11, experiences the effectsof disorientation after a spin on the BaranyChair with the help of Staff Sgt. JasonBoyd, 359th Aero Medical Squadron,during Famaganza April 16. For morecoverage of the event, see Page 12.Photo by Airman David Terry

Wingspread Office1150 5th Street East

Randolph AFB, Texas 78150Phone: (210) 652-5760

Fax: (210) 652-3142Wingspread Advertisements

Prime Time Military Newspapers2203 S. Hackberry

San Antonio, Texas 78210Phone: (210) 534-8848

Wingspread e-mail502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil

This paper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, aprivate firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, underexclusive written contract with Randolph AFB, Texas. This com-mercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publica-tion for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of theWingspread are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsedby, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or theDepartment of the Air Force.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, includinginserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by theDepartment of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, or PrimeTime Military Newspapers of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made avail-able for purchase, use or patronage without regard to the race,color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical ormental handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user, or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the PublicAffairs Division of the 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B in accordancewith local policy and style guidance. All photos, unless otherwiseindicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

Articles for the newspaper should be submitted by noonThursday the week prior to the desired publication date. Items canbe dropped off on a PC- or Macintosh-formatted disk at theWingspread office in Hangar 6.

Articles for submission may also be sent by e-mail tonews@randolph.af.mil.

For details about submissions, call 652-5760.

ON THE COVER

PAGE 3WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 2 APRIL 22, 2011

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

By Allen BlairSAPO Training Specialist

It happened almost 20 years ago. Iwas only 15 years old. Still seems likeyesterday, probably because I still carrymany feelings about that day.

The “it” was a crime. The crimewas a rape. No, I wasn’t the victim. Iwasn’t the perpetrator, either.However, I was involved.Unfortunately, I didn’t involve myselfenough. I knew in my gut somethingwasn’t right, but I didn’t act.Because I didn’t act, many people,including me, have not been the same since.

I was a freshman in high school, hanging out with my friendsand starting to date girls. I lived in a small town, so findingthings to do could be challenging. I remember how excited wewere when we found out about a new teenage dance club inthe adjacent town. We started making the drive there almostevery weekend. It would usually be a group of us, both boysand girls. We couldn’t wait to get there and “get our grooveon” by dancing the night away. We always had a blast – atleast until that one night in February 1991.

That night my friends and I followed another car driven by agroup of girls who also wanted to hang out at the club. Theminute we got to the club, we were out on the dance floor.

At one point during the night, while I was dancing with ayoung lady, I got a tap on my shoulder. It was Kenny, one of my“boys” whom I traveled with to the club.

Kenny said that he and some of the other guys were goingoutside with Sarah, one of the girls who were in the other car.He wanted to know if I wanted to go with them.

I looked at Sarah. She looked drunk. I was pretty sure she

had been drinking before we even arrived to the club thatnight. I didn’t know why they were going outside, but I knewthat I didn’t want to leave the dance floor or the young lady Iwas dancing with. I told them to go without me, so they left.

Before I knew it, the night was coming to an end. I wan-dered back out in the parking lot, looking for my friends. Thatis when I saw Sarah.

She was crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she said,“They hurt me.” She wouldn’t tell me who hurt her, what hap-pened, or anything else. Just that “they hurt me.” She walkedaway toward where her friends had parked. I was confusedand concerned.

I caught up with my friends and asked them if they knewwhat happened. They said they took Sarah outside and just“kicked it,” or hung out.

I felt something was strange, so I asked them again. Theysaid nothing happened – they just hung out.

My friends and I made the trip back home. Found out thenext morning that Sarah went to the police station instead.

I discovered my friends were capable of doing the unimagin-able. What they called “hanging out” actually involved each ofthem taking turns, viciously raping Sarah. She was their friend.I was her friend. I could have stopped it.

Looking back, I should have asked more questions abouttheir intentions, gone with them to protect Sarah or stoppedSarah from going. But instead of thinking about Sarah, Ithought only of myself. I rationalized away the “red flags” Inoticed, including seeing Sarah vulnerable and intoxicated, allbecause I didn’t want to be bothered. But being inconve-nienced to help a friend could have saved another person alifetime of pain. Why didn’t I do something?

I think about that quite a lot. Some people use my age at thetime as a defense. Teenagers can act stupid, self- centered.Could I have ever imagined this would happen? No, but that’snot an excuse to not help someone who appeared vulnerable.For me, the bottom line is, no matter what the situation, thereis NEVER an excuse for not being a good Wingman. EVER.

I learned a lot about my friends and about myself that night.This event happened almost 20 years ago, and it was a life-altering experience for me. I share this story with the youngAirmen I train today. I want to do my best to help them outbefore they find themselves in the same situation that I andSarah were in back in 1991. I wonder how Sarah is doingtoday. I wonder if she thinks about me too.

Never the same again: A bystander’s true story

502nd Air Base WingOperating Location Bravo

Editorial StaffBrig. Gen. Leonard Patrick

CommanderMarilyn Holliday

Chief of Public AffairsAirman Alexis Siekert

EditorAirman 1st Class Precious YettRobert Goetz, Brian McGloin

Staff WritersMaggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer

WINGSPREAD

“Looking back, I should have asked more questions about theirintentions, gone with them to protect Sarah or stopped Sarah

from going. But instead of thinking about Sarah, I thought onlyof myself. I rationalized away the “red flags” I noticed,

including seeing Sarah vulnerable and intoxicated, all becauseI didn’t want to be bothered. But being inconvenienced to help a

friend could have saved another person a lifetime of pain. Why didn’t I do something?”

END SEXUAL ASSAULT

REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY

Call the Randolphsexual assault hotline

at 652-8787

EdwardsAquiferLevel

in feet above sea level

Normal - above 660’Stage I - 660’Stage II - 650’Stage III - 642’Stage IV - 640.5’Stage V - 637’

CURRENT LEVEL*as of Thursday – 657.3’

*determines Joint Base San Antonio water conservation stage

*Stage I restrictions apply

By Tech. Sgt. Steve GreverAir Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

Air Force Personnel Center officials here aredeploying a team to Southwest Asia at the end of Aprilto examine personnel services and support fordeployed Air Force members.

The six-person Total Force Service Center-Forwardteam will continue to conduct customer need assess-ments and provide direct personnel support to activeduty, Guard and Reserve Airmen at its deployed loca-tion, said Capt. Paul Sortor, AFPC’s program manag-er for this initiative.

“The (U.S. Air Forces Central) commander encour-aged us to ‘live the problem,’” Captain Sortor said.“Although we provide personnel services to cus-tomers from the Total Force Service Center, we arenot always able to determine if personnel servicesand programs meet their intended objectives until wesee firsthand how Airmen use them.

“We also need to understand our Airmen’s comfortlevel with using online personnel services and self-guided applications to determine if those products arealso effective,” he added.

The research and continuous recommendations

identified during the six-month deployment will pro-vide AFCENT and the Air Force a comprehensiveview of how deployed Airmen receive personnel serv-ices in the area of responsibility, said Col. JamesDavis, AFPC’s TFSC director. Additionally, this initia-tive will provide a catalyst to revise programs andpolicies based on deployed mission requirements andfeedback from Airmen.

“Once we’ve collected the information and data, wewill be able to provide recommendations on the finalsolutions for providing enduring personnel supportfor the warfighter,” Colonel Davis said. “We believe alarge portion of personnel support can be achievedthrough reachback similar to unmanned aircraft

launched and flown in the AOR, but operated remote-ly from thousands of miles away.”

Colonel Davis said the deployed team will also helpraise awareness for both the San Antonio and DenverTFSC locations and the Air Force Personnel Serviceswebsite, as well as showcase how these capabilitiesare beneficial to deployed commanders and Airmen.

“The TFSC and (Air Force Personnel Services) areone entity that seamlessly ties together our telephoneand online capabilities to provide first-class personnelsupport to total force Airmen,” Colonel Davis said.

For more information on personnel services, visitthe Air Force Personnel Services restricted websiteat https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.

AFPC deploys team to improve deployed personnel support“Although we provide personnel services to customers from the Total Force Service

Center, we are not always able to determine if personnel services and programsmeet their intended objectives until we see firsthand how Airmen use them.”

Capt. Paul SortorAir Force Personnel Center program manager

A strategic planning workshop for JointBase San Antonio takes place April 25-27 at alocal venue. The workshop is being conductedas part of the ongoing process for the JBSAIntegrated Master Plan.

The workshop will help establish the frame-work for decision-making with regard to thefuture development of JBSA. It incorporates ele-ments such as operational, environmental,urban planning and quality of life.

This project develops a web-based plan toaddress the relationships between theinstallations and functional areas within tointegrate them into a comprehensive long-term regional plan.

Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston,Lackland Air Force Base, Canyon LakeRecreation Area, Seguin Auxiliary Airfield andCamp Bullis will be included in the workshop.

JBSA Workshop Support Susan G Komen“Race for the Cure” and

Team SaraSTRONG“Inspired to Fight”

The Randolph Air Force Base community is invit-ed to join and support Capt. Brad “Vapor”Sullivan, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, and hisdaughter, Chloe, who lost their wife and mother,Sara, last September to breast cancer, by partici-pating in Support Team SaraSTRONG “Inspired toFight” and the Susan G. Komen “Race for theCure” April 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.Opening ceremony and survivor recognition startsat 7:30 a.m. A 5-kilometer timed competitive runstarts at 8:10 a.m., A 5-kilometer noncompetitiverun starts at 8:20 a.m. and the family walk starts at 8:45 a.m.

A $30 registration fee can be paid that day.For more information, call Renee Karacsony at565-7101.

Jason Hazel, 11, experiences the effectsof disorientation after a spin on the BaranyChair with the help of Staff Sgt. JasonBoyd, 359th Aero Medical Squadron,during Famaganza April 16. For morecoverage of the event, see Page 12.Photo by Airman David Terry

Wingspread Office1150 5th Street East

Randolph AFB, Texas 78150Phone: (210) 652-5760

Fax: (210) 652-3142Wingspread Advertisements

Prime Time Military Newspapers2203 S. Hackberry

San Antonio, Texas 78210Phone: (210) 534-8848

Wingspread e-mail502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil

This paper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, aprivate firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, underexclusive written contract with Randolph AFB, Texas. This com-mercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publica-tion for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of theWingspread are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsedby, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or theDepartment of the Air Force.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, includinginserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by theDepartment of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, or PrimeTime Military Newspapers of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made avail-able for purchase, use or patronage without regard to the race,color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical ormental handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user, or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the PublicAffairs Division of the 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B in accordancewith local policy and style guidance. All photos, unless otherwiseindicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

Articles for the newspaper should be submitted by noonThursday the week prior to the desired publication date. Items canbe dropped off on a PC- or Macintosh-formatted disk at theWingspread office in Hangar 6.

Articles for submission may also be sent by e-mail tonews@randolph.af.mil.

For details about submissions, call 652-5760.

ON THE COVER

PAGE 3WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 2 APRIL 22, 2011

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

By Allen BlairSAPO Training Specialist

It happened almost 20 years ago. Iwas only 15 years old. Still seems likeyesterday, probably because I still carrymany feelings about that day.

The “it” was a crime. The crimewas a rape. No, I wasn’t the victim. Iwasn’t the perpetrator, either.However, I was involved.Unfortunately, I didn’t involve myselfenough. I knew in my gut somethingwasn’t right, but I didn’t act.Because I didn’t act, many people,including me, have not been the same since.

I was a freshman in high school, hanging out with my friendsand starting to date girls. I lived in a small town, so findingthings to do could be challenging. I remember how excited wewere when we found out about a new teenage dance club inthe adjacent town. We started making the drive there almostevery weekend. It would usually be a group of us, both boysand girls. We couldn’t wait to get there and “get our grooveon” by dancing the night away. We always had a blast – atleast until that one night in February 1991.

That night my friends and I followed another car driven by agroup of girls who also wanted to hang out at the club. Theminute we got to the club, we were out on the dance floor.

At one point during the night, while I was dancing with ayoung lady, I got a tap on my shoulder. It was Kenny, one of my“boys” whom I traveled with to the club.

Kenny said that he and some of the other guys were goingoutside with Sarah, one of the girls who were in the other car.He wanted to know if I wanted to go with them.

I looked at Sarah. She looked drunk. I was pretty sure she

had been drinking before we even arrived to the club thatnight. I didn’t know why they were going outside, but I knewthat I didn’t want to leave the dance floor or the young lady Iwas dancing with. I told them to go without me, so they left.

Before I knew it, the night was coming to an end. I wan-dered back out in the parking lot, looking for my friends. Thatis when I saw Sarah.

She was crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she said,“They hurt me.” She wouldn’t tell me who hurt her, what hap-pened, or anything else. Just that “they hurt me.” She walkedaway toward where her friends had parked. I was confusedand concerned.

I caught up with my friends and asked them if they knewwhat happened. They said they took Sarah outside and just“kicked it,” or hung out.

I felt something was strange, so I asked them again. Theysaid nothing happened – they just hung out.

My friends and I made the trip back home. Found out thenext morning that Sarah went to the police station instead.

I discovered my friends were capable of doing the unimagin-able. What they called “hanging out” actually involved each ofthem taking turns, viciously raping Sarah. She was their friend.I was her friend. I could have stopped it.

Looking back, I should have asked more questions abouttheir intentions, gone with them to protect Sarah or stoppedSarah from going. But instead of thinking about Sarah, Ithought only of myself. I rationalized away the “red flags” Inoticed, including seeing Sarah vulnerable and intoxicated, allbecause I didn’t want to be bothered. But being inconve-nienced to help a friend could have saved another person alifetime of pain. Why didn’t I do something?

I think about that quite a lot. Some people use my age at thetime as a defense. Teenagers can act stupid, self- centered.Could I have ever imagined this would happen? No, but that’snot an excuse to not help someone who appeared vulnerable.For me, the bottom line is, no matter what the situation, thereis NEVER an excuse for not being a good Wingman. EVER.

I learned a lot about my friends and about myself that night.This event happened almost 20 years ago, and it was a life-altering experience for me. I share this story with the youngAirmen I train today. I want to do my best to help them outbefore they find themselves in the same situation that I andSarah were in back in 1991. I wonder how Sarah is doingtoday. I wonder if she thinks about me too.

Never the same again: A bystander’s true story

502nd Air Base WingOperating Location Bravo

Editorial StaffBrig. Gen. Leonard Patrick

CommanderMarilyn Holliday

Chief of Public AffairsAirman Alexis Siekert

EditorAirman 1st Class Precious YettRobert Goetz, Brian McGloin

Staff WritersMaggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer

WINGSPREAD

“Looking back, I should have asked more questions about theirintentions, gone with them to protect Sarah or stopped Sarah

from going. But instead of thinking about Sarah, I thought onlyof myself. I rationalized away the “red flags” I noticed,

including seeing Sarah vulnerable and intoxicated, all becauseI didn’t want to be bothered. But being inconvenienced to help a

friend could have saved another person a lifetime of pain. Why didn’t I do something?”

END SEXUAL ASSAULT

REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY

Call the Randolphsexual assault hotline

at 652-8787

EdwardsAquiferLevel

in feet above sea level

Normal - above 660’Stage I - 660’Stage II - 650’Stage III - 642’Stage IV - 640.5’Stage V - 637’

CURRENT LEVEL*as of Thursday – 657.3’

*determines Joint Base San Antonio water conservation stage

*Stage I restrictions apply

By Tech. Sgt. Steve GreverAir Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

Air Force Personnel Center officials here aredeploying a team to Southwest Asia at the end of Aprilto examine personnel services and support fordeployed Air Force members.

The six-person Total Force Service Center-Forwardteam will continue to conduct customer need assess-ments and provide direct personnel support to activeduty, Guard and Reserve Airmen at its deployed loca-tion, said Capt. Paul Sortor, AFPC’s program manag-er for this initiative.

“The (U.S. Air Forces Central) commander encour-aged us to ‘live the problem,’” Captain Sortor said.“Although we provide personnel services to cus-tomers from the Total Force Service Center, we arenot always able to determine if personnel servicesand programs meet their intended objectives until wesee firsthand how Airmen use them.

“We also need to understand our Airmen’s comfortlevel with using online personnel services and self-guided applications to determine if those products arealso effective,” he added.

The research and continuous recommendations

identified during the six-month deployment will pro-vide AFCENT and the Air Force a comprehensiveview of how deployed Airmen receive personnel serv-ices in the area of responsibility, said Col. JamesDavis, AFPC’s TFSC director. Additionally, this initia-tive will provide a catalyst to revise programs andpolicies based on deployed mission requirements andfeedback from Airmen.

“Once we’ve collected the information and data, wewill be able to provide recommendations on the finalsolutions for providing enduring personnel supportfor the warfighter,” Colonel Davis said. “We believe alarge portion of personnel support can be achievedthrough reachback similar to unmanned aircraft

launched and flown in the AOR, but operated remote-ly from thousands of miles away.”

Colonel Davis said the deployed team will also helpraise awareness for both the San Antonio and DenverTFSC locations and the Air Force Personnel Serviceswebsite, as well as showcase how these capabilitiesare beneficial to deployed commanders and Airmen.

“The TFSC and (Air Force Personnel Services) areone entity that seamlessly ties together our telephoneand online capabilities to provide first-class personnelsupport to total force Airmen,” Colonel Davis said.

For more information on personnel services, visitthe Air Force Personnel Services restricted websiteat https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.

AFPC deploys team to improve deployed personnel support“Although we provide personnel services to customers from the Total Force Service

Center, we are not always able to determine if personnel services and programsmeet their intended objectives until we see firsthand how Airmen use them.”

Capt. Paul SortorAir Force Personnel Center program manager

A strategic planning workshop for JointBase San Antonio takes place April 25-27 at alocal venue. The workshop is being conductedas part of the ongoing process for the JBSAIntegrated Master Plan.

The workshop will help establish the frame-work for decision-making with regard to thefuture development of JBSA. It incorporates ele-ments such as operational, environmental,urban planning and quality of life.

This project develops a web-based plan toaddress the relationships between theinstallations and functional areas within tointegrate them into a comprehensive long-term regional plan.

Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston,Lackland Air Force Base, Canyon LakeRecreation Area, Seguin Auxiliary Airfield andCamp Bullis will be included in the workshop.

JBSA Workshop Support Susan G Komen“Race for the Cure” and

Team SaraSTRONG“Inspired to Fight”

The Randolph Air Force Base community is invit-ed to join and support Capt. Brad “Vapor”Sullivan, 435th Fighter Training Squadron, and hisdaughter, Chloe, who lost their wife and mother,Sara, last September to breast cancer, by partici-pating in Support Team SaraSTRONG “Inspired toFight” and the Susan G. Komen “Race for theCure” April 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.Opening ceremony and survivor recognition startsat 7:30 a.m. A 5-kilometer timed competitive runstarts at 8:10 a.m., A 5-kilometer noncompetitiverun starts at 8:20 a.m. and the family walk starts at 8:45 a.m.

A $30 registration fee can be paid that day.For more information, call Renee Karacsony at565-7101.

PAGE 5WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 4 APRIL 22, 2011

NEWS

By Maj. Rosaire BusheyAir Education and Training Command Public Affairs

This week, bases across the Air Force are receivingsomething new courtesy of the 479th Flying TrainingGroup at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. – the veryfirst Combat Systems Officers.

Ten lieutenants, nine active duty and one memberof the Wyoming Air National Guard, stepped intothe history books April 15 as the first-ever class ofCSOs graduated from the 479 FTG at NASPensacola– paving the way for a slipstream of CSOsto graduate in groups of about two dozen roughlyevery three weeks starting this summer.

“Today is a great day for our school, the CSO pro-gram, and the Air Force,” said Col. Travis Willis, 479thFTG commander. “Hundreds of people worked veryhard for a number of years to get the program to thispoint, and it’s going to make a huge difference through-out the service.”

Previously the Air Force had separate training tracksfor navigators, weapons systems officers, and electron-ic warfare officers. The CSO school brought those threepipelines together to produce aviators with a commoncore of systems and employment knowledge.

“Over the course of their 11 months here, our stu-dents train in weapon system employment and defen-sive threat reactions with integrated electronic warfaretraining and expertise,” explained Colonel Willis.“What that means is that a CSO is a universally-assign-able operator who has undergone some extraordinarytraining from flying to leadership to decision making –they’ve done it all.”

To make it happen for a full contingent of students –the 479th expects to be running a full complement of15 classes of 27 students each by summer – the grouphas more than 300 members to include 40 instructorpilots and 136 CSO instructors, as well as more thantwo dozen each of simulator instructors and civil serv-ice instructor pilots topped by over 125 civil service air-craft maintainers keeping the unit’s 43 aircraft flying.

Students are trained at the group’s new $37 mil-

lion, 58,000 square foot academic building, whichhouses 18 T-25 desktop simulators as well as T-6and T-1 simulators. It also features a new 100,000square foot hangar complex. Flying training is donein the group’s 21 T-1s and 22 T-6s.

“The training is incredibly intense,” said 2nd Lt.Patrick O’Sullivan, a student in the program’s secondclass that will graduate in June. “The syllabus is rigor-ous and there’s not really time to look around andenjoy the view, as it were.”

CSO training starts in Pueblo, Colo., with initialflight screening before students even arrive inFlorida. Once at NAS Pensacola, students are putthrough their paces for 210 training days, whichinclude 55 simulator missions, 18 T-6 missions, 13T-1 missions and three days of water survival train-ing in the Gulf of Mexico.

And it doesn’t stop there. After graduation, it’s off toFairchild AFB, Wash., for Survival, Evasion, Resistanceand Escape training and then to their next base andmore training on their specific weapons system.

“The CSO course isn’t short and it’s not easy,” saidColonel Willis. “The men and women who make itthrough this course will have earned the right to weartheir wings. There are now 10 commanders who aregetting their first glimpse of the Air Force’s newestwarriors. I’m sure they’ll be as pleased with their abili-ties as we have been.”

The following are the members of Class 11-01, theAir Force’s first class of Combat Systems Officers whograduated April 15 from the 479th Flying TrainingGroup, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Each gradu-ate’s name is followed by hometown, weapons systemassignment and duty assignment.• First Lt. Laura Jeffrey, Cheyenne, Wyo., C-130H,Cheyenne, Wyo.• Second Lt. Alexander Blue, Amarillo, Texas, B-1B,Dyess AFB, Texas.• Second Lt. Anthony Bunker, Thompson’s Station,Tenn., B-1B, Dyess AFB, Texas.• Second Lt. Timothy Daves, Windsor, Conn., B-1B,Dyess AFB, Texas.

• Second Lt. Henry Fortinberry, Boerne, Texas, F-15E, Seymour Johnson AFB, S.C.• Second Lt. David Galluzzo, North Attleboro, Mass.,B-1B, Dyess AFB, Texas.• Second Lt. Aaron Patterson, Kalaheo, Hawaii, KC-135, McConnell AFB, Kan.• Second Lt. Maria Quatse, Mount Joy, Pa., EC-130,Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.• Second Lt. Patrick Sheehan, Tampa, Fla., AC-130,Cannon AFB, N.M.• Second Lt. Gene Strickland, Tampa, Fla., AC-130,Hurlburt Field, Fla.

479th FTG graduates first CSO class from NAS Pensacola

Courtesy photoSecond Lt. Patrick Sheehan, a graduating Combat SystemsOfficer from the 479th Flying Training Group at NASPensacola, Fla., receives his wings from his father, JamesSheehan, April 15.

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

More than a dozen former airmen whoexemplified the fighting spirit of theGreatest Generation saw the Air Force’slatest generation up close last week.

Members of the U.S. Air Forces Escapeand Evasion Society, allied airmen whowere forced behind enemy lines only toavoid captivity or escape from captivity,visited Lackland and Randolph Air ForceBases April 15, a highlight of their four-day reunion in San Antonio.

“I absolutely understand that we standon your shoulders,” said Lt. Gen. DouglasOwens, Air Education and TrainingCommand vice commander, as he wel-comed the World War II aviators to anAETC brief, the first stop on their trip toRandolph, and credited them for theirpart in preserving the freedomsAmericans enjoy. “I cannot tell you howprivileged and honored I am to be withyou today.”

AFEES members started the day ashonored guests at Lackland’s basic mili-tary training graduation, then crossedtown for the AETC brief and tours of theTaj Mahal and the 12th Flying TrainingWing’s 99th and 560th Flying TrainingSquadrons.

John Katsaros, AFEES’ current presi-dent and a member since 1986, said hewas impressed by what he saw atLackland and Randolph.

“It’s amazing what they can do withthese kids in just eight weeks,” he said,talking about the basic military traininggraduates. “At Randolph, I was soimpressed by the officers there. The waythey handled the reunion was unbeliev-able.”

AAFES, which now has more than 600members, most of them from World WarII, dates back to 1964, when a reunion inBuffalo, N.Y., brought together Americanaviators who had escaped from enemy-occupied territory during World War IIand their European “helpers.” LeslieAtkinson, a reserve captain in the FrenchAir Force, and Ralph Patton, an AFEESfounder, had separately envisioned suchan organization before they began tocommunicate and lay the foundation forthe society.

In addition to airmen, the organiza-tion includes helpers, their family

members and friends.Mr. Katsaros, who survived a B-17

bailout over France in 1944 despitebeing badly injured, said he owes hislife to his helpers.

“Without the French Resistance andthe many people who treated me liketheir son, brother or uncle, I would not bealive today,” he said. “I have so muchregard for the French Resistance and theFrench people. I go and visit them often.”

Mr. Katsaros, who now has homes inFlorida and Massachusetts, chronicled hisexperiences in the book “Code Burgundy– The Long Escape.”

He was a 20-year-old waist gunner ona B-17 that was en route to bomb a facto-ry in Frankfurt, Germany, when their air-craft was riddled with anti-aircraft fireand he was injured by shrapnel. Heassisted some of his crew mates, but wasforced to bail out and, after a 25,000-footfree fall, broke six ribs, fractured bothankles and broke his right arm, beginninga three-month-long ordeal to escape tofreedom. Twice he was captured by theGestapo and twice he escaped with theassistance of the French Resistancebefore struggling over the PyreneesMountains into Spain.

Retired Air Force Col. Steve Mac Isaac,an AFEES director who was lead plannerfor the reunion, said he was introduced tothe organization when he was serving asthe 6th Air Refueling Wing chief of staff atMacDill AFB, Fla. He said his commanderasked him to assist AFEES members dur-ing one of their reunions.

“Once you’re around one, you cannever say no,” he said. “My father was aWorld War II pilot and I lost him. It waslike hanging out with his brothers.”

Mr. Mac Isaac, who now lives in NewMexico, said the San Antonio reunion wasthe organization’s fourth “final” reunion,coming on the heels of reunions inSavannah, Ga., site of Hunter ArmyAirfield; Dayton, Ohio, home of the AirForce Museum; and the Air ForceAcademy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Every year we take them to a placethat is significant in their history,” he said.“Randolph is one of those places whereaviation was most prominent. There’s somuch history there.”

Mr. Katsaros said he is looking forwardto a reunion in Albuquerque, N.M., nextyear, but in the meantime there is plenty

of unfinished business.“There are a lot of fellows we have to

get in so the organization won’t die,” hesaid. “We want all the airmen from

Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan andother wars who evaded the enemy. I amabout the youngest one from World WarII who is still living and I am 87.”

World War II heroes visit Randolph during reunion

Photo by Steve ThurowArt Mattson, a B-24 gunner assigned to the 455th Bombardment Group during World WarII, tours the 99th Flying Training Squadron April 15 here as part of the Air Forces Escapeand Evasion Society 2011 San Antonio Reunion. Mr. Matson, who evaded the Nazis formore than four months with the help of the Italian Underground, fondly remembers beingescorted by the Tuskegee Airmen during missions over Italy.

RAFB Easter Egg Hunt Event: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the base exchange food court ... activities ... cookie decorating, music, coloring, games and prizes ... 99 cent kid’s meals ... family fun

“Without the French Resistance and the manypeople who treated me like their son, brother or

uncle, I would not be alive today. I have somuch regard for the French Resistance and the

French people. I go and visit them often.”John Katsaros

WWII veteran and AFEES’ current president

PAGE 5WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 4 APRIL 22, 2011

NEWS

By Maj. Rosaire BusheyAir Education and Training Command Public Affairs

This week, bases across the Air Force are receivingsomething new courtesy of the 479th Flying TrainingGroup at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. – the veryfirst Combat Systems Officers.

Ten lieutenants, nine active duty and one memberof the Wyoming Air National Guard, stepped intothe history books April 15 as the first-ever class ofCSOs graduated from the 479 FTG at NASPensacola– paving the way for a slipstream of CSOsto graduate in groups of about two dozen roughlyevery three weeks starting this summer.

“Today is a great day for our school, the CSO pro-gram, and the Air Force,” said Col. Travis Willis, 479thFTG commander. “Hundreds of people worked veryhard for a number of years to get the program to thispoint, and it’s going to make a huge difference through-out the service.”

Previously the Air Force had separate training tracksfor navigators, weapons systems officers, and electron-ic warfare officers. The CSO school brought those threepipelines together to produce aviators with a commoncore of systems and employment knowledge.

“Over the course of their 11 months here, our stu-dents train in weapon system employment and defen-sive threat reactions with integrated electronic warfaretraining and expertise,” explained Colonel Willis.“What that means is that a CSO is a universally-assign-able operator who has undergone some extraordinarytraining from flying to leadership to decision making –they’ve done it all.”

To make it happen for a full contingent of students –the 479th expects to be running a full complement of15 classes of 27 students each by summer – the grouphas more than 300 members to include 40 instructorpilots and 136 CSO instructors, as well as more thantwo dozen each of simulator instructors and civil serv-ice instructor pilots topped by over 125 civil service air-craft maintainers keeping the unit’s 43 aircraft flying.

Students are trained at the group’s new $37 mil-

lion, 58,000 square foot academic building, whichhouses 18 T-25 desktop simulators as well as T-6and T-1 simulators. It also features a new 100,000square foot hangar complex. Flying training is donein the group’s 21 T-1s and 22 T-6s.

“The training is incredibly intense,” said 2nd Lt.Patrick O’Sullivan, a student in the program’s secondclass that will graduate in June. “The syllabus is rigor-ous and there’s not really time to look around andenjoy the view, as it were.”

CSO training starts in Pueblo, Colo., with initialflight screening before students even arrive inFlorida. Once at NAS Pensacola, students are putthrough their paces for 210 training days, whichinclude 55 simulator missions, 18 T-6 missions, 13T-1 missions and three days of water survival train-ing in the Gulf of Mexico.

And it doesn’t stop there. After graduation, it’s off toFairchild AFB, Wash., for Survival, Evasion, Resistanceand Escape training and then to their next base andmore training on their specific weapons system.

“The CSO course isn’t short and it’s not easy,” saidColonel Willis. “The men and women who make itthrough this course will have earned the right to weartheir wings. There are now 10 commanders who aregetting their first glimpse of the Air Force’s newestwarriors. I’m sure they’ll be as pleased with their abili-ties as we have been.”

The following are the members of Class 11-01, theAir Force’s first class of Combat Systems Officers whograduated April 15 from the 479th Flying TrainingGroup, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Each gradu-ate’s name is followed by hometown, weapons systemassignment and duty assignment.• First Lt. Laura Jeffrey, Cheyenne, Wyo., C-130H,Cheyenne, Wyo.• Second Lt. Alexander Blue, Amarillo, Texas, B-1B,Dyess AFB, Texas.• Second Lt. Anthony Bunker, Thompson’s Station,Tenn., B-1B, Dyess AFB, Texas.• Second Lt. Timothy Daves, Windsor, Conn., B-1B,Dyess AFB, Texas.

• Second Lt. Henry Fortinberry, Boerne, Texas, F-15E, Seymour Johnson AFB, S.C.• Second Lt. David Galluzzo, North Attleboro, Mass.,B-1B, Dyess AFB, Texas.• Second Lt. Aaron Patterson, Kalaheo, Hawaii, KC-135, McConnell AFB, Kan.• Second Lt. Maria Quatse, Mount Joy, Pa., EC-130,Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.• Second Lt. Patrick Sheehan, Tampa, Fla., AC-130,Cannon AFB, N.M.• Second Lt. Gene Strickland, Tampa, Fla., AC-130,Hurlburt Field, Fla.

479th FTG graduates first CSO class from NAS Pensacola

Courtesy photoSecond Lt. Patrick Sheehan, a graduating Combat SystemsOfficer from the 479th Flying Training Group at NASPensacola, Fla., receives his wings from his father, JamesSheehan, April 15.

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

More than a dozen former airmen whoexemplified the fighting spirit of theGreatest Generation saw the Air Force’slatest generation up close last week.

Members of the U.S. Air Forces Escapeand Evasion Society, allied airmen whowere forced behind enemy lines only toavoid captivity or escape from captivity,visited Lackland and Randolph Air ForceBases April 15, a highlight of their four-day reunion in San Antonio.

“I absolutely understand that we standon your shoulders,” said Lt. Gen. DouglasOwens, Air Education and TrainingCommand vice commander, as he wel-comed the World War II aviators to anAETC brief, the first stop on their trip toRandolph, and credited them for theirpart in preserving the freedomsAmericans enjoy. “I cannot tell you howprivileged and honored I am to be withyou today.”

AFEES members started the day ashonored guests at Lackland’s basic mili-tary training graduation, then crossedtown for the AETC brief and tours of theTaj Mahal and the 12th Flying TrainingWing’s 99th and 560th Flying TrainingSquadrons.

John Katsaros, AFEES’ current presi-dent and a member since 1986, said hewas impressed by what he saw atLackland and Randolph.

“It’s amazing what they can do withthese kids in just eight weeks,” he said,talking about the basic military traininggraduates. “At Randolph, I was soimpressed by the officers there. The waythey handled the reunion was unbeliev-able.”

AAFES, which now has more than 600members, most of them from World WarII, dates back to 1964, when a reunion inBuffalo, N.Y., brought together Americanaviators who had escaped from enemy-occupied territory during World War IIand their European “helpers.” LeslieAtkinson, a reserve captain in the FrenchAir Force, and Ralph Patton, an AFEESfounder, had separately envisioned suchan organization before they began tocommunicate and lay the foundation forthe society.

In addition to airmen, the organiza-tion includes helpers, their family

members and friends.Mr. Katsaros, who survived a B-17

bailout over France in 1944 despitebeing badly injured, said he owes hislife to his helpers.

“Without the French Resistance andthe many people who treated me liketheir son, brother or uncle, I would not bealive today,” he said. “I have so muchregard for the French Resistance and theFrench people. I go and visit them often.”

Mr. Katsaros, who now has homes inFlorida and Massachusetts, chronicled hisexperiences in the book “Code Burgundy– The Long Escape.”

He was a 20-year-old waist gunner ona B-17 that was en route to bomb a facto-ry in Frankfurt, Germany, when their air-craft was riddled with anti-aircraft fireand he was injured by shrapnel. Heassisted some of his crew mates, but wasforced to bail out and, after a 25,000-footfree fall, broke six ribs, fractured bothankles and broke his right arm, beginninga three-month-long ordeal to escape tofreedom. Twice he was captured by theGestapo and twice he escaped with theassistance of the French Resistancebefore struggling over the PyreneesMountains into Spain.

Retired Air Force Col. Steve Mac Isaac,an AFEES director who was lead plannerfor the reunion, said he was introduced tothe organization when he was serving asthe 6th Air Refueling Wing chief of staff atMacDill AFB, Fla. He said his commanderasked him to assist AFEES members dur-ing one of their reunions.

“Once you’re around one, you cannever say no,” he said. “My father was aWorld War II pilot and I lost him. It waslike hanging out with his brothers.”

Mr. Mac Isaac, who now lives in NewMexico, said the San Antonio reunion wasthe organization’s fourth “final” reunion,coming on the heels of reunions inSavannah, Ga., site of Hunter ArmyAirfield; Dayton, Ohio, home of the AirForce Museum; and the Air ForceAcademy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Every year we take them to a placethat is significant in their history,” he said.“Randolph is one of those places whereaviation was most prominent. There’s somuch history there.”

Mr. Katsaros said he is looking forwardto a reunion in Albuquerque, N.M., nextyear, but in the meantime there is plenty

of unfinished business.“There are a lot of fellows we have to

get in so the organization won’t die,” hesaid. “We want all the airmen from

Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan andother wars who evaded the enemy. I amabout the youngest one from World WarII who is still living and I am 87.”

World War II heroes visit Randolph during reunion

Photo by Steve ThurowArt Mattson, a B-24 gunner assigned to the 455th Bombardment Group during World WarII, tours the 99th Flying Training Squadron April 15 here as part of the Air Forces Escapeand Evasion Society 2011 San Antonio Reunion. Mr. Matson, who evaded the Nazis formore than four months with the help of the Italian Underground, fondly remembers beingescorted by the Tuskegee Airmen during missions over Italy.

RAFB Easter Egg Hunt Event: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the base exchange food court ... activities ... cookie decorating, music, coloring, games and prizes ... 99 cent kid’s meals ... family fun

“Without the French Resistance and the manypeople who treated me like their son, brother or

uncle, I would not be alive today. I have somuch regard for the French Resistance and the

French people. I go and visit them often.”John Katsaros

WWII veteran and AFEES’ current president

PAGE 7WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 6 APRIL 22, 2011

ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The sobering consequences of driving under the influ-ence will be demonstrated today at the Randolph BaseExchange – without a drop of alcohol.

Members of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron willadminister field sobriety exercises to willing participantswhile they’re “under the influence.” They’ll be wearingimpairment goggles, a tool used to show the powerfuleffects of alcohol and why drinking and driving don’t mix.

The “drunk” goggles demonstration, an AlcoholAwareness Month activity of Randolph’s Alcohol andDrug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program,will be presented at the ADAPT booth from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. at the BX.

“People don’t realize how alcohol affects them until it’stoo late,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Hornberger, 359thMedical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight chief.“This demonstration will make people aware of theeffect alcohol has on the body and on coordination. It willbe similar to a real field sobriety test.”

Staff Sgt. Marcus Bernard, 902nd SFS NCO in chargeof police services, said the demonstration will reflect theexercises used when a driver is suspected of DUI.

“As security forces members, we are trained to identi-fy signs of a possible DWI/DUI, and part of the detectionprocess is conducting pre-exit, exit and field sobrietytests to measure a subject’s ability to handle both physi-cal and mental tasks simultaneously,” he said. “If thedecision to instruct the driver to exit is made – the sub-ject is usually not yet under arrest and the officer is stillnot committed to an arrest – we administer FSTs.”

Sergeant Bernard said the exercises consist ofthe one-leg stand, walk and turn, and horizontalgaze nystagmus FST.

“Nystagmus means the involuntary jerking of theeyes,” he said. “In addition to being involuntary, the jerk-ing is also unconscious. The person experiencing the

nystagmus is ordinarily unaware that the jerking is hap-pening and is powerless to stop or control it. Alcoholdoesn’t cause nystagmus; it merely exaggerates or mag-nifies it.”

Sergeant Bernard said FSTs “are often administeredoutside the vehicle in the form of the more structuredformal field sobriety tests. However, they can also begiven while the driver is still inside the vehicle.”

ADAPT personnel will also be on hand at the booth todistribute educational materials and talk to people aboutalcoholism and alcohol abuse, including binge drinking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, binge drinking is defined as “consuming fouror more drinks per occasion for women and five or moredrinks per occasion for men.”

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse andAlcoholism considers up to two drinks per day for menand one drink per day for women and older people amoderate, or safe, level of drinking. One drink equals a12-ounce bottle of beer, one five-ounce glass of wine or1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

Sergeant Hornberger said binge drinking is dangerousbecause it can result in impaired judgment/decisionmaking and coordination. Additionally, binge drinkingmay lead to liver damage, alcohol poisoning, increasedrisk taking and even death.

“There are also variables that affect people whenthey’re drinking – lack of sleep, stress, drinking on an

empty stomach, dehydration and taking medication,”Sergeant Hornberger said.

He said drinking may decrease the effectiveness ofsome medicine including some antibiotics. Additionally,some medications can make people drowsy; consumingalcohol with these types of medicine may dangerouslyintensify the effects, leading to increased risks of injuryor possibly death.

Mixing alcohol with caffeine products such as energydrinks is a new craze that is also dangerous.

“When you mix caffeine with alcohol, you don’t noticethe effects as much,” Sergeant Hornberger said. “Butyou will still have impaired judgment.”

The sedation effect of alcohol serves as a cue to stopdrinking, but the caffeine negates that effect, making aperson feel more alert and more inclined to continuedrinking.

Sergeant Hornberger said there are a variety of servic-es available for Airmen to tackle alcohol problems and toeducate them about the perils of alcohol use. The ser-vice’s Culture of Responsible Choices emphasizes respon-sible behaviors.

“It’s important to know how alcohol affects you beforeyou put yourself in a dangerous situation,” he said.“Take responsible measures if you’re going out to drink,such as having a designated driver. If you host a party,assure that people have a designated driver and that youwill supply food and non-alcoholic beverages.”

‘Drunk’ goggles demonstration planned at base exchange“People don’t realize how alcohol affects them until it’s too late. This

demonstration will make people aware of the effect alcohol has on the bodyand on coordination. It will be similar to a real field sobriety test.”

Tech. Sgt. Brian Hornberger359th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight chief

By Mike Joseph502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs

A pararescueman was awarded the DistinguishedFlying Cross with valor during a ceremony at LacklandAir Force Base Monday. The Distinguished Flying Crossis awarded to officers or enlisted members who distin-guish themselves in combat by performing acts of hero-ism or extraordinary achievement while participating inan aerial flight.

Staff Sgt. John Hatzidakis, a pararescue instructorwith the 342nd Training Squadron, received the medalfrom Lt. Gen. Douglas Owens, Air Education andTraining Command vice commander, for his heroicactions during the evacuation of a critically woundedBritish soldier near Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, March19, 2009.

While en route to Camp Bastion, the HH-60G PaveHawk carrying Sergeant Hatzidakis, five other crewmembers and a wounded British soldier was struck inthe tail by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Blown back by the explosion while attending to thesoldier’s wounds, Sergeant Hatzidakis immediately used

his body to shield the patient from flying debris in thecabin. He checked to see if others needed medical atten-tion before assisting with damage assessment in the rearof the helicopter.

The attack came on a second trip out of Lashkar Gahthat day. Sergeant Hatzidakis was rewrapping a band-age on the wounded soldier’s arm when the RPG struckthe aircraft about a quarter mile away from LashkarGah, leaving the tail section barely hanging on.

“I was just doing my job and what I thought wasright,” Sergeant Hatzidakis said. “(When we werehit) a lot of things went through my mind. My firstthoughts were to check my patient and team mem-ber, talk to the pilot and then see if anyone elsewas shooting at us.”

Staff Sgt. Christopher Nilson, the pararescue teamleader onboard an accompanying Pave Hawk, said thetwo aircraft had just switched sides.

“We didn’t see them (the attackers) from the aircraft.It must have been like we flew over the bad guys andthen Sergeant Hatzidakis’ aircraft came across,” saidSergeant Nilson. “I guess it was lucky for the bad guys.”

Luck is also how Sergeant Hatzidakis described it.

“For some reason, they had a lucky shot,” he said.“But we had a lucky day and we’re all alive. An inch ortwo further toward the cabin where I was located andone of us would have been hurt.”

The lead Pave Hawk circled back after theattack for an in-air assessment. As the pilots dis-cussed maneuverability of the damaged helicop-ter, a response of, “It’s actually flying better,” washeard over the radio. The pilot’s comment inadver-tently helped relieve the tension.

“The time between when Sergeant Hatzidakis’aircraft was hit and the pilot’s comment was very,very tense,” Sergeant Nilson said. “His pilot is amatter-of-fact kind of guy who we knew fromhome base. I think he literally meant it, that itwas actually flying a little bit better.”

After the damaged helicopter landed safely atCamp Bastion, Sergeant Hatzidakis said the wound-ed British soldier kept asking him, “What hap-pened; what happened?”

“You had a real bad day,” he told his patient,who’d been shot earlier that morning. “But,you’re all right now.”

Lt. Gen. Douglas Owens(left), Air Education andTraining Command vicecommander, presentsStaff Sgt. John Hatzidakiswith the DistinguishedFlying Cross with valorduring an awards presen-tation April 18 atLackland Air Force Base.Photo by Alan Boedeker

PJ instructor awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

The 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championship, presented by ThePentagon Channel Sports, takes place at Lackland Air Force Base and willbe available to view April 30 on The Pentagon Channel.

Boxers from each of the four services will compete in eight weight-

classes for an opportunity to compete at the Olympic trials for the 2012Olympic Games in London.

For more information, call David Silverstein at (703) 428-0200 oremail dsilverstein@pentagonchannel.mil.

2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championship

PAGE 7WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 6 APRIL 22, 2011

ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The sobering consequences of driving under the influ-ence will be demonstrated today at the Randolph BaseExchange – without a drop of alcohol.

Members of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron willadminister field sobriety exercises to willing participantswhile they’re “under the influence.” They’ll be wearingimpairment goggles, a tool used to show the powerfuleffects of alcohol and why drinking and driving don’t mix.

The “drunk” goggles demonstration, an AlcoholAwareness Month activity of Randolph’s Alcohol andDrug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program,will be presented at the ADAPT booth from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. at the BX.

“People don’t realize how alcohol affects them until it’stoo late,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Hornberger, 359thMedical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight chief.“This demonstration will make people aware of theeffect alcohol has on the body and on coordination. It willbe similar to a real field sobriety test.”

Staff Sgt. Marcus Bernard, 902nd SFS NCO in chargeof police services, said the demonstration will reflect theexercises used when a driver is suspected of DUI.

“As security forces members, we are trained to identi-fy signs of a possible DWI/DUI, and part of the detectionprocess is conducting pre-exit, exit and field sobrietytests to measure a subject’s ability to handle both physi-cal and mental tasks simultaneously,” he said. “If thedecision to instruct the driver to exit is made – the sub-ject is usually not yet under arrest and the officer is stillnot committed to an arrest – we administer FSTs.”

Sergeant Bernard said the exercises consist ofthe one-leg stand, walk and turn, and horizontalgaze nystagmus FST.

“Nystagmus means the involuntary jerking of theeyes,” he said. “In addition to being involuntary, the jerk-ing is also unconscious. The person experiencing the

nystagmus is ordinarily unaware that the jerking is hap-pening and is powerless to stop or control it. Alcoholdoesn’t cause nystagmus; it merely exaggerates or mag-nifies it.”

Sergeant Bernard said FSTs “are often administeredoutside the vehicle in the form of the more structuredformal field sobriety tests. However, they can also begiven while the driver is still inside the vehicle.”

ADAPT personnel will also be on hand at the booth todistribute educational materials and talk to people aboutalcoholism and alcohol abuse, including binge drinking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, binge drinking is defined as “consuming fouror more drinks per occasion for women and five or moredrinks per occasion for men.”

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse andAlcoholism considers up to two drinks per day for menand one drink per day for women and older people amoderate, or safe, level of drinking. One drink equals a12-ounce bottle of beer, one five-ounce glass of wine or1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

Sergeant Hornberger said binge drinking is dangerousbecause it can result in impaired judgment/decisionmaking and coordination. Additionally, binge drinkingmay lead to liver damage, alcohol poisoning, increasedrisk taking and even death.

“There are also variables that affect people whenthey’re drinking – lack of sleep, stress, drinking on an

empty stomach, dehydration and taking medication,”Sergeant Hornberger said.

He said drinking may decrease the effectiveness ofsome medicine including some antibiotics. Additionally,some medications can make people drowsy; consumingalcohol with these types of medicine may dangerouslyintensify the effects, leading to increased risks of injuryor possibly death.

Mixing alcohol with caffeine products such as energydrinks is a new craze that is also dangerous.

“When you mix caffeine with alcohol, you don’t noticethe effects as much,” Sergeant Hornberger said. “Butyou will still have impaired judgment.”

The sedation effect of alcohol serves as a cue to stopdrinking, but the caffeine negates that effect, making aperson feel more alert and more inclined to continuedrinking.

Sergeant Hornberger said there are a variety of servic-es available for Airmen to tackle alcohol problems and toeducate them about the perils of alcohol use. The ser-vice’s Culture of Responsible Choices emphasizes respon-sible behaviors.

“It’s important to know how alcohol affects you beforeyou put yourself in a dangerous situation,” he said.“Take responsible measures if you’re going out to drink,such as having a designated driver. If you host a party,assure that people have a designated driver and that youwill supply food and non-alcoholic beverages.”

‘Drunk’ goggles demonstration planned at base exchange“People don’t realize how alcohol affects them until it’s too late. This

demonstration will make people aware of the effect alcohol has on the bodyand on coordination. It will be similar to a real field sobriety test.”

Tech. Sgt. Brian Hornberger359th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Flight chief

By Mike Joseph502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs

A pararescueman was awarded the DistinguishedFlying Cross with valor during a ceremony at LacklandAir Force Base Monday. The Distinguished Flying Crossis awarded to officers or enlisted members who distin-guish themselves in combat by performing acts of hero-ism or extraordinary achievement while participating inan aerial flight.

Staff Sgt. John Hatzidakis, a pararescue instructorwith the 342nd Training Squadron, received the medalfrom Lt. Gen. Douglas Owens, Air Education andTraining Command vice commander, for his heroicactions during the evacuation of a critically woundedBritish soldier near Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, March19, 2009.

While en route to Camp Bastion, the HH-60G PaveHawk carrying Sergeant Hatzidakis, five other crewmembers and a wounded British soldier was struck inthe tail by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Blown back by the explosion while attending to thesoldier’s wounds, Sergeant Hatzidakis immediately used

his body to shield the patient from flying debris in thecabin. He checked to see if others needed medical atten-tion before assisting with damage assessment in the rearof the helicopter.

The attack came on a second trip out of Lashkar Gahthat day. Sergeant Hatzidakis was rewrapping a band-age on the wounded soldier’s arm when the RPG struckthe aircraft about a quarter mile away from LashkarGah, leaving the tail section barely hanging on.

“I was just doing my job and what I thought wasright,” Sergeant Hatzidakis said. “(When we werehit) a lot of things went through my mind. My firstthoughts were to check my patient and team mem-ber, talk to the pilot and then see if anyone elsewas shooting at us.”

Staff Sgt. Christopher Nilson, the pararescue teamleader onboard an accompanying Pave Hawk, said thetwo aircraft had just switched sides.

“We didn’t see them (the attackers) from the aircraft.It must have been like we flew over the bad guys andthen Sergeant Hatzidakis’ aircraft came across,” saidSergeant Nilson. “I guess it was lucky for the bad guys.”

Luck is also how Sergeant Hatzidakis described it.

“For some reason, they had a lucky shot,” he said.“But we had a lucky day and we’re all alive. An inch ortwo further toward the cabin where I was located andone of us would have been hurt.”

The lead Pave Hawk circled back after theattack for an in-air assessment. As the pilots dis-cussed maneuverability of the damaged helicop-ter, a response of, “It’s actually flying better,” washeard over the radio. The pilot’s comment inadver-tently helped relieve the tension.

“The time between when Sergeant Hatzidakis’aircraft was hit and the pilot’s comment was very,very tense,” Sergeant Nilson said. “His pilot is amatter-of-fact kind of guy who we knew fromhome base. I think he literally meant it, that itwas actually flying a little bit better.”

After the damaged helicopter landed safely atCamp Bastion, Sergeant Hatzidakis said the wound-ed British soldier kept asking him, “What hap-pened; what happened?”

“You had a real bad day,” he told his patient,who’d been shot earlier that morning. “But,you’re all right now.”

Lt. Gen. Douglas Owens(left), Air Education andTraining Command vicecommander, presentsStaff Sgt. John Hatzidakiswith the DistinguishedFlying Cross with valorduring an awards presen-tation April 18 atLackland Air Force Base.Photo by Alan Boedeker

PJ instructor awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

The 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championship, presented by ThePentagon Channel Sports, takes place at Lackland Air Force Base and willbe available to view April 30 on The Pentagon Channel.

Boxers from each of the four services will compete in eight weight-

classes for an opportunity to compete at the Olympic trials for the 2012Olympic Games in London.

For more information, call David Silverstein at (703) 428-0200 oremail dsilverstein@pentagonchannel.mil.

2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championship

PAGE 9WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 8 APRIL 22, 2011

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Teams from Air Force Personnel Center and AirEducation and Training Command, a civilian fromAETC and an NCO from the 359th Aerospace-Medicine Squadron emerged as winners in theHealth and Wellness Center and Rambler FitnessCenter’s first Wellness Wars.

The 12-week challenge that began Jan. 17 andended this month encourages healthy lifestylechanges such as physical activity and fruit and veg-etable consumption to help participants lose weightor maintain a healthy weight.

“It went very well,” said Jennifer Sides, HAWCregistered dietitian. “We got a lot of positive feed-back. People said it impacted their health in goodways. For some, it lowered their blood pressure andenabled them to lose weight.”

She said the more than 100 participants who finishedthe challenge lost a combined 975 pounds. Participants,who signed up as teams of four or as individuals, accu-mulated points based on daily fitness activities, fruit andvegetable intake and special at-home activities andattended periodic weigh-ins at the HAWC.

Participants also earned points by attending classes atthe HAWC and the fitness center.

“We had several lunch-and-learn classes, such as eat-ing healthy on the go,” Ms. Sides said.

The team with the most points came from AFPC.Members were Cols. Deborah Aspling, Leslie Formoloand Lori LaVezzi and Senior Master Sgt. KimberlyMeyers. The individual with the most points was AETCA7’s Roderick Oxford.

The team with the highest percentage of body weightloss, also from AETC A7, consisted of Lt. Col. StephenBlake and civilians Steve Smith, Cindy Hood and SusanBushman. The individual with the highest percentage ofbody weight loss was Staff Sgt. Anthony Cosentino of the359th AMDS.

AETC A7 also had the most participants who complet-ed the Wellness Wars.

Ms. Sides said participants remarked that the account-ability required during the 12 weeks of the challenge –logging their own activities and their fruit and vegetableintake – and the support provided by the HAWC staffhelped them succeed.

She said participants also enjoyed the competitivenature of the challenge.

Ms. Sides said the fitness center provided T-shirts foreveryone who completed the Wellness Wars.

AFPC, AETC teams victorious in ‘Wellness Wars’

Photo by David TerryWinners of the Health and Wellness Center’s “Wellness Wars” competition receive T-shirts at the HAWC Monday. Picturedare (from left) Susan Bushman, Steve Smith, Cindy Hood, Jennifer Sides, HAWC dietition, Roderick Oxford, Col. DebAspling and Col. Leslie Formolo.

By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The newly renovated conference room of Bldg. 854was dedicated to a former member of Air Education andTraining Command in a ceremony April 14.

Approximately 150 family, friends and coworkers gath-ered outside for a ceremony dedicating the conferenceroom to Kurt Stillman, the former AETC chief of acquisi-tion and data management who died recently after sever-al decades of service to the Air Force.

Col. Thomas Robinson, AETC Contracting Divisioncommander and the presiding official for the event, wasjoined by Mr. Stillman’s family, Phyllis Stillman, his wife,and Karen Teale, his twin sister.

The various guest speakers – former coworkers, super-visors and friends – illustrated Mr. Stillman’s long careerin the Air Force, where he started as a crew chief forheavy cargo aircraft serving in Air Force bases all overAsia and the United States. He retired as a master ser-geant after serving 20 years.

“We’re here today to celebrate Kurt Stillman,” ColonelRobinson said. “Kurt was an icon. I knew him for 20years but I only met him once.”

Colonel Robinson read quotes of Mr. Stillman’s friendsand former coworkers who couldn’t make it to the cere-mony. The messages told of a career of service and task-focused methodology which had a positive impact on peo-

ple whose paths Mr. Stillman crossed.In a statement read by Juan Lopez, Will Bishop said “I

believe he made me a better person.” Mr. Lopez and Mr. Bishop both worked in Air Force

Contracting with Mr. Stillman. “He learned as much as he could about each organiza-

tion, vastly improving the methods of invoicing andbilling,” John Conroy read in a statement about Mr.Stillman from Col. Chip Fulghum, AETC FinancialManagement and Comptroller director. “He could seeoutside the stovepipe.”

After the guests spoke, Colonel Robinson directedeveryone’s attention to a table to his left, covered in bluefabric. The fabric was removed to reveal a large plaque,a small bust and a scrapbook.

“This plaque commemorating Kurt’s contribution tothe command will be placed outside the conference roomafter the dedication,” the colonel said. “In addition, wewould like to present a plaque to Mrs. Stillman, symboliz-ing her unending devotion to Kurt and her continueddedication to the United States Air Force.

“The scrapbook was empty during the ceremony, butwill be filled with pictures of the ceremony afterwards.”

At the end of the ceremony, Colonel Robinson ledMrs. Stillman, followed by everyone else, to theentrance of the conference room on the building’sstreet-facing eastern side where they ceremoni-ously cut the large red ribbon attached to the rail-

ings just outside the door. After pausing for photographers, they cut the ribbon

and entered the conference room where the receptionguests continued the celebration of Mr. Stillman’s life.

AETC names conference room after former chief

Photo by David TerryCol. Thomas Robinson, Air Education and TrainingCommand A7K Contracting commander, presents abronze plaque in memory of Kurt Stillman April 14 to hiswidow, Phyllis.

River Rescue

Chadwick Avery, Air Force Centerfor Engineering and the

Environment Technical Division,rakes up algae and garbage from

the Eagleland Segment of the SanAntonio River Tuesday.

Approximately 120 people fromJoint Base San Antonio partici-

pated in the cleanup project,which included picking up trash,

pulling large weeds and pullingalgae from the river. The cleanup

was part of San Antonio ArmedForces Earth Day celebration

activities held around JBSA andSan Antonio this month.

Photo by Mark Kinkage

RetirementCongratulations to Tech. Sgt. Gary Garibaldi , Air Force

Recruiting Service, on his retirement.

West Gate operating hours reductionThe Randolph Air Force Base West Gate (3rd Street West near the

clinic) will implement new hours of operation starting May 2. Newhours will be Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. andSaturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more informa-tion, contact Staff Sgt. Marcus Bernard at 381-6958.

2011 Excellence in Competition Pistol MatchLackland Air Force Base hosts an Excellence in Competition

Pistol Match May 21 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Medina FiringRange. All acitive-duty U.S. military members are eligible to com-pete. Competitors must be in uniform and present a military ID.

To registration by May 7, email michael.love.5@us.af.mil andcc matthew.viggato.1@us.af.mil with the following information:name, rank, government email, base and unit.

Couples retreatThe Randolph Chaplain Service and the Airman and Family

Readiness Center sponsors their quarterly couples retreat May13-15 at the T Bar M Resort and Conference Center in NewBraunfels, Texas. The retreat is free to families of servicememberswho have returned from deployment. Call 652-5321 to sign up.

Moving household goods procedureTo ensure quality customer service during the upcoming sum-

mer season, the 902nd Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic man-agement office requests a three-week notice on the packing andshipping of all personal property.

For more information on preparing for a move or to schedulepacking and shipping, call the 902nd LRS TMO at 652-1848 or652-1849.

Health and wellness extravaganzaRandolph Field Independent School District hosts a Health and

Wellness Extravaganza April 30.The event begins with a Family Fun Walk at 8:30 a.m. at

Heritage Park, followed by the Health and Wellness Fair atRandolph Elementary School.

For more information, or to register an exhibit, call KatieHodgkins at 357-2477.

Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, in partnership

with Disabled Sports USA, hosts multiple events for wounded serv-ice members and their families.

Upcoming events include the Warrior Wromp Adventure RaceMay 14-15 in New Braunfels, the Doggie Duathlon May 29 in Austinand the Capitol of Texas Triathlon May 30 in Austin.

Participants can register for the Warrior Wromp at

www.WarriorWromp.com and register for the Doggie Duathlon andCapitol of Texas Triathlon at www.CapTexTri.com. To volunteer, con-tact rick@rbsportsllc.com. For sponsor information, email csum-mers@wwdb.org.

Base BRIEFS

“Red Riding Hood” (PG-13)Amanda Seyfried, Billy Burke

Today @ 7 p.m.

“Rango” (PG)Voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher

Saturday @ 6 p.m. and Sunday @ 3 p.m.

NOW SHOWING atthe Randolph Theater

$4.50 for adults - $2.25 for children 0-11

For a complete listing of base briefs,visit www.randolph.af.mil

PAGE 9WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 8 APRIL 22, 2011

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Teams from Air Force Personnel Center and AirEducation and Training Command, a civilian fromAETC and an NCO from the 359th Aerospace-Medicine Squadron emerged as winners in theHealth and Wellness Center and Rambler FitnessCenter’s first Wellness Wars.

The 12-week challenge that began Jan. 17 andended this month encourages healthy lifestylechanges such as physical activity and fruit and veg-etable consumption to help participants lose weightor maintain a healthy weight.

“It went very well,” said Jennifer Sides, HAWCregistered dietitian. “We got a lot of positive feed-back. People said it impacted their health in goodways. For some, it lowered their blood pressure andenabled them to lose weight.”

She said the more than 100 participants who finishedthe challenge lost a combined 975 pounds. Participants,who signed up as teams of four or as individuals, accu-mulated points based on daily fitness activities, fruit andvegetable intake and special at-home activities andattended periodic weigh-ins at the HAWC.

Participants also earned points by attending classes atthe HAWC and the fitness center.

“We had several lunch-and-learn classes, such as eat-ing healthy on the go,” Ms. Sides said.

The team with the most points came from AFPC.Members were Cols. Deborah Aspling, Leslie Formoloand Lori LaVezzi and Senior Master Sgt. KimberlyMeyers. The individual with the most points was AETCA7’s Roderick Oxford.

The team with the highest percentage of body weightloss, also from AETC A7, consisted of Lt. Col. StephenBlake and civilians Steve Smith, Cindy Hood and SusanBushman. The individual with the highest percentage ofbody weight loss was Staff Sgt. Anthony Cosentino of the359th AMDS.

AETC A7 also had the most participants who complet-ed the Wellness Wars.

Ms. Sides said participants remarked that the account-ability required during the 12 weeks of the challenge –logging their own activities and their fruit and vegetableintake – and the support provided by the HAWC staffhelped them succeed.

She said participants also enjoyed the competitivenature of the challenge.

Ms. Sides said the fitness center provided T-shirts foreveryone who completed the Wellness Wars.

AFPC, AETC teams victorious in ‘Wellness Wars’

Photo by David TerryWinners of the Health and Wellness Center’s “Wellness Wars” competition receive T-shirts at the HAWC Monday. Picturedare (from left) Susan Bushman, Steve Smith, Cindy Hood, Jennifer Sides, HAWC dietition, Roderick Oxford, Col. DebAspling and Col. Leslie Formolo.

By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The newly renovated conference room of Bldg. 854was dedicated to a former member of Air Education andTraining Command in a ceremony April 14.

Approximately 150 family, friends and coworkers gath-ered outside for a ceremony dedicating the conferenceroom to Kurt Stillman, the former AETC chief of acquisi-tion and data management who died recently after sever-al decades of service to the Air Force.

Col. Thomas Robinson, AETC Contracting Divisioncommander and the presiding official for the event, wasjoined by Mr. Stillman’s family, Phyllis Stillman, his wife,and Karen Teale, his twin sister.

The various guest speakers – former coworkers, super-visors and friends – illustrated Mr. Stillman’s long careerin the Air Force, where he started as a crew chief forheavy cargo aircraft serving in Air Force bases all overAsia and the United States. He retired as a master ser-geant after serving 20 years.

“We’re here today to celebrate Kurt Stillman,” ColonelRobinson said. “Kurt was an icon. I knew him for 20years but I only met him once.”

Colonel Robinson read quotes of Mr. Stillman’s friendsand former coworkers who couldn’t make it to the cere-mony. The messages told of a career of service and task-focused methodology which had a positive impact on peo-

ple whose paths Mr. Stillman crossed.In a statement read by Juan Lopez, Will Bishop said “I

believe he made me a better person.” Mr. Lopez and Mr. Bishop both worked in Air Force

Contracting with Mr. Stillman. “He learned as much as he could about each organiza-

tion, vastly improving the methods of invoicing andbilling,” John Conroy read in a statement about Mr.Stillman from Col. Chip Fulghum, AETC FinancialManagement and Comptroller director. “He could seeoutside the stovepipe.”

After the guests spoke, Colonel Robinson directedeveryone’s attention to a table to his left, covered in bluefabric. The fabric was removed to reveal a large plaque,a small bust and a scrapbook.

“This plaque commemorating Kurt’s contribution tothe command will be placed outside the conference roomafter the dedication,” the colonel said. “In addition, wewould like to present a plaque to Mrs. Stillman, symboliz-ing her unending devotion to Kurt and her continueddedication to the United States Air Force.

“The scrapbook was empty during the ceremony, butwill be filled with pictures of the ceremony afterwards.”

At the end of the ceremony, Colonel Robinson ledMrs. Stillman, followed by everyone else, to theentrance of the conference room on the building’sstreet-facing eastern side where they ceremoni-ously cut the large red ribbon attached to the rail-

ings just outside the door. After pausing for photographers, they cut the ribbon

and entered the conference room where the receptionguests continued the celebration of Mr. Stillman’s life.

AETC names conference room after former chief

Photo by David TerryCol. Thomas Robinson, Air Education and TrainingCommand A7K Contracting commander, presents abronze plaque in memory of Kurt Stillman April 14 to hiswidow, Phyllis.

River Rescue

Chadwick Avery, Air Force Centerfor Engineering and the

Environment Technical Division,rakes up algae and garbage from

the Eagleland Segment of the SanAntonio River Tuesday.

Approximately 120 people fromJoint Base San Antonio partici-

pated in the cleanup project,which included picking up trash,

pulling large weeds and pullingalgae from the river. The cleanup

was part of San Antonio ArmedForces Earth Day celebration

activities held around JBSA andSan Antonio this month.

Photo by Mark Kinkage

RetirementCongratulations to Tech. Sgt. Gary Garibaldi , Air Force

Recruiting Service, on his retirement.

West Gate operating hours reductionThe Randolph Air Force Base West Gate (3rd Street West near the

clinic) will implement new hours of operation starting May 2. Newhours will be Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. andSaturday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more informa-tion, contact Staff Sgt. Marcus Bernard at 381-6958.

2011 Excellence in Competition Pistol MatchLackland Air Force Base hosts an Excellence in Competition

Pistol Match May 21 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Medina FiringRange. All acitive-duty U.S. military members are eligible to com-pete. Competitors must be in uniform and present a military ID.

To registration by May 7, email michael.love.5@us.af.mil andcc matthew.viggato.1@us.af.mil with the following information:name, rank, government email, base and unit.

Couples retreatThe Randolph Chaplain Service and the Airman and Family

Readiness Center sponsors their quarterly couples retreat May13-15 at the T Bar M Resort and Conference Center in NewBraunfels, Texas. The retreat is free to families of servicememberswho have returned from deployment. Call 652-5321 to sign up.

Moving household goods procedureTo ensure quality customer service during the upcoming sum-

mer season, the 902nd Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic man-agement office requests a three-week notice on the packing andshipping of all personal property.

For more information on preparing for a move or to schedulepacking and shipping, call the 902nd LRS TMO at 652-1848 or652-1849.

Health and wellness extravaganzaRandolph Field Independent School District hosts a Health and

Wellness Extravaganza April 30.The event begins with a Family Fun Walk at 8:30 a.m. at

Heritage Park, followed by the Health and Wellness Fair atRandolph Elementary School.

For more information, or to register an exhibit, call KatieHodgkins at 357-2477.

Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, in partnership

with Disabled Sports USA, hosts multiple events for wounded serv-ice members and their families.

Upcoming events include the Warrior Wromp Adventure RaceMay 14-15 in New Braunfels, the Doggie Duathlon May 29 in Austinand the Capitol of Texas Triathlon May 30 in Austin.

Participants can register for the Warrior Wromp at

www.WarriorWromp.com and register for the Doggie Duathlon andCapitol of Texas Triathlon at www.CapTexTri.com. To volunteer, con-tact rick@rbsportsllc.com. For sponsor information, email csum-mers@wwdb.org.

Base BRIEFS

“Red Riding Hood” (PG-13)Amanda Seyfried, Billy Burke

Today @ 7 p.m.

“Rango” (PG)Voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher

Saturday @ 6 p.m. and Sunday @ 3 p.m.

NOW SHOWING atthe Randolph Theater

$4.50 for adults - $2.25 for children 0-11

For a complete listing of base briefs,visit www.randolph.af.mil

PAGE 11WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 10 APRIL 22, 2011

By Airman 1st Class Precious Yett502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The Randolph Airmen’s Council isthe voice of junior enlisted membersto impart their needs and ideas tosenior leaders.

The current members of the councilare Airman 1st Class Steven Lewis, 359thDental Squadron dental technician, presi-dent; Airman 1st Class Alissa Corallo, AirForce Personnel Center, vice president;Airman 1st Class Liana Tenorio, AirEducation and Training Command, secre-tary; and Airman 1st Class SkylarArmstrong, 359th Dental Squadron den-tal technician, treasurer.

Together they face the enormous chal-lenge of engaging their peers.

The Airmen’s Council is not just forpeople who live on base, Airman Lewissaid. Members are here to help Airmenwho live off base as well, with or withoutdependents. They assist every Airman inthe junior enlisted tier.

“We serve as a voice for the base popu-lation to leadership. We make sure all ofthe needs of the Airman as well as freshideas are heard and to help them under-stand that things will be taken intoaction,” Airman Lewis said. “The maingoal right now is to promote unity,enhance professionalism, provide supportand feedback for the quality-of-life inter-ests and contribute to morale and welfareof all persons assigned to Randolph.”

The Airmen’s Council is currently anunofficial organization. It doesn’t meet AirForce Instruction criteria to be an officialprivate organization. However, that doesnot stop the council from assisting theother organizations on base.

“We try to help out on every level, ben-efiting the community on base and assist-ing other organizations with theirevents,” Airman Lewis said.

The Airmen’s Council is looking fornew members and fresh ideas to helpbetter their council and base.

“Currently we’re struggling withsupport from the junior enlisted,”Airman Lewis said.

Every junior enlisted Airman isalready an automatic member of theAirmen’s Council. It’s up to themwhether or not they choose to be anactive member, he said.

This year the council selected theirofficers via an election of their peers,but in the future the council is lookingto move to board interviews and let-ters of recommendation.

Airmen’s Council members havevolunteered at the San Antonio FoodBank and the reading program atSchertz Elementary Schools. Theyalso worked with the Rising 5/6th,were a part of the Air ForceRecruiting Service DistinguishedEducator Tour discussion panel andhelped coach a youth soccer team.

“I want to do more for other peopleinstead of just myself. Being a part of thisorganization has made me a less selfishAirman,” Airman Armstrong said.

The council has tried to reach out totheir collective community in severalways, including door-to-door invitations,

dissemination through first sergeants andalso fliers left in the dorm office.

“Right now the most effective way isemail because of mass distribution,”Airman Lewis said.

“Imagine if we had more motivatedpeople,” Airman Armstrong said. “We’dhave a much larger impact.”

Despite the difficulties they have facedsince taking executive positions inJanuary, the officers take heart.

“It’s a challenge, but it’s something Iwas willing to accept,” Airman Lewissaid. “A lot of people are afraid to speakup, but they’re always complaining. I’dlike to alleviate that. This has been a goodway for me to grow and to be able towork with my peers. We’re here to helpeveryone else. We just need other peopleto speak up.”

Meetings are every third Friday at3 p.m. in the Airman and FamilyReadiness Center.

“I take pride in trying to make a dif-ference. Right now we’re starting offwith nothing, but if I can, along withmy executive council, at least create astructure and try things, even if wefail, at least I know I gave my honesteffort to see improvement. I want tocreate a challenge for the nextAirman who steps up and takes onthis role because running theAirmen’s Council is more than just anEnlisted Performance Report bullet,”Airman Lewis said.

Airmen’s Council seeks new voices at Randolph“We serve as a voice for the base population toleadership. We make sure that all of the needsof the Airman as well as fresh ideas are heardand to help them understand that things will be

taken into action.”Airman 1st Class Steven Lewis

359th Dental Squadron dental technician and Airmen’s Council president

Duty Title:Special Events NCOHometown:Concord, Calif.Hobbies:Playing with my kids, going to the beach, campingGreatest Accomplishment:My familyPersonal Inspiration:My dad – he has worked to provide for his family allhis lifePersonal Motto:If you’re going to do something worth doing, do itright.

Goals:Get my degree in kinesiologyPet Peeve:People who give their opinion without any knowledge of a situationCommander’s Comments:“As a new member to our section, Staff Sgt. MichaelBunt provides outstanding support to our recruitersand community leaders across the nation. Bottomline, his leadership and customer service has had amajor impact on us reaching the brightest, most com-petitive men and women for service in America’s AirForce. RSM Rocks!”

Col. Michael TillemaAir Force Recruiting Service RSM Division chief

Staff Sgt. Michael BuntHQ Air Force Recruiting Service

Photo by Airman Alexis Siekert

By Airman Alexis Siekert502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Every day, rain or shine, smolderinglyhot or freezing cold, more than 50 air-craft are launched from Randolph’s eastflightline and, behind every one, mainte-nance directorates from the 12th FlyingTraining Wing are making that possible.

“It takes a very unique person to wantto work out here and come to workhappy every day,” said Roland Garcia,12th Flying Training Wing expediter.“With the environment we work in, youwould never expect it.”

Maintenance workers meet everymorning for the flying schedule to coordi-nate the launches and prepare for the air-crew. The scheduled flights are alwayspredetermined the Thursday prior.

Before the aircraft can be marshaledout of the hangover, it must be thoroughlyinspected by both the pilots and the main-tenance workers. Then, pilots arestrapped in and tested one more time.

Once the aircraft is ready, it taxis tothe runway. If they go out, they’ve got tocome back in,” Mr. Garcia said.

Upon return, the pilot directly commu-nicates with maintenance and reportsany squawks. The aircraft is then refu-eled and inspected by several sets of eyesto be ready for the next day.

“Anyone who works out here deserveskudos on a daily basis,” Mr. Garcia said.“Everyone does an excellent job.”

Maintenance crews: Keeping Randolph airborne

Photo by Airman Alexis SiekertMac Capistran, 12th Flying Training Wing maintenance directorate, marshals a T-38 Talon for take-off April 8.

Photo by Airman Alexis SiekertTodd Aguinaga, 12th Flying Training Wing maintenance directorate, connects a compressedair hose for T-38 Talon engine air start.

Photo by Rich McFaddenPrince Valair, 12th Flying Training Wing maintenance directorate, straps in Lt. Col. RichFlake, 560th Flying Training Squadron, prior to T-38 Talon launch April 8.

PAGE 11WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 10 APRIL 22, 2011

By Airman 1st Class Precious Yett502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The Randolph Airmen’s Council isthe voice of junior enlisted membersto impart their needs and ideas tosenior leaders.

The current members of the councilare Airman 1st Class Steven Lewis, 359thDental Squadron dental technician, presi-dent; Airman 1st Class Alissa Corallo, AirForce Personnel Center, vice president;Airman 1st Class Liana Tenorio, AirEducation and Training Command, secre-tary; and Airman 1st Class SkylarArmstrong, 359th Dental Squadron den-tal technician, treasurer.

Together they face the enormous chal-lenge of engaging their peers.

The Airmen’s Council is not just forpeople who live on base, Airman Lewissaid. Members are here to help Airmenwho live off base as well, with or withoutdependents. They assist every Airman inthe junior enlisted tier.

“We serve as a voice for the base popu-lation to leadership. We make sure all ofthe needs of the Airman as well as freshideas are heard and to help them under-stand that things will be taken intoaction,” Airman Lewis said. “The maingoal right now is to promote unity,enhance professionalism, provide supportand feedback for the quality-of-life inter-ests and contribute to morale and welfareof all persons assigned to Randolph.”

The Airmen’s Council is currently anunofficial organization. It doesn’t meet AirForce Instruction criteria to be an officialprivate organization. However, that doesnot stop the council from assisting theother organizations on base.

“We try to help out on every level, ben-efiting the community on base and assist-ing other organizations with theirevents,” Airman Lewis said.

The Airmen’s Council is looking fornew members and fresh ideas to helpbetter their council and base.

“Currently we’re struggling withsupport from the junior enlisted,”Airman Lewis said.

Every junior enlisted Airman isalready an automatic member of theAirmen’s Council. It’s up to themwhether or not they choose to be anactive member, he said.

This year the council selected theirofficers via an election of their peers,but in the future the council is lookingto move to board interviews and let-ters of recommendation.

Airmen’s Council members havevolunteered at the San Antonio FoodBank and the reading program atSchertz Elementary Schools. Theyalso worked with the Rising 5/6th,were a part of the Air ForceRecruiting Service DistinguishedEducator Tour discussion panel andhelped coach a youth soccer team.

“I want to do more for other peopleinstead of just myself. Being a part of thisorganization has made me a less selfishAirman,” Airman Armstrong said.

The council has tried to reach out totheir collective community in severalways, including door-to-door invitations,

dissemination through first sergeants andalso fliers left in the dorm office.

“Right now the most effective way isemail because of mass distribution,”Airman Lewis said.

“Imagine if we had more motivatedpeople,” Airman Armstrong said. “We’dhave a much larger impact.”

Despite the difficulties they have facedsince taking executive positions inJanuary, the officers take heart.

“It’s a challenge, but it’s something Iwas willing to accept,” Airman Lewissaid. “A lot of people are afraid to speakup, but they’re always complaining. I’dlike to alleviate that. This has been a goodway for me to grow and to be able towork with my peers. We’re here to helpeveryone else. We just need other peopleto speak up.”

Meetings are every third Friday at3 p.m. in the Airman and FamilyReadiness Center.

“I take pride in trying to make a dif-ference. Right now we’re starting offwith nothing, but if I can, along withmy executive council, at least create astructure and try things, even if wefail, at least I know I gave my honesteffort to see improvement. I want tocreate a challenge for the nextAirman who steps up and takes onthis role because running theAirmen’s Council is more than just anEnlisted Performance Report bullet,”Airman Lewis said.

Airmen’s Council seeks new voices at Randolph“We serve as a voice for the base population toleadership. We make sure that all of the needsof the Airman as well as fresh ideas are heardand to help them understand that things will be

taken into action.”Airman 1st Class Steven Lewis

359th Dental Squadron dental technician and Airmen’s Council president

Duty Title:Special Events NCOHometown:Concord, Calif.Hobbies:Playing with my kids, going to the beach, campingGreatest Accomplishment:My familyPersonal Inspiration:My dad – he has worked to provide for his family allhis lifePersonal Motto:If you’re going to do something worth doing, do itright.

Goals:Get my degree in kinesiologyPet Peeve:People who give their opinion without any knowledge of a situationCommander’s Comments:“As a new member to our section, Staff Sgt. MichaelBunt provides outstanding support to our recruitersand community leaders across the nation. Bottomline, his leadership and customer service has had amajor impact on us reaching the brightest, most com-petitive men and women for service in America’s AirForce. RSM Rocks!”

Col. Michael TillemaAir Force Recruiting Service RSM Division chief

Staff Sgt. Michael BuntHQ Air Force Recruiting Service

Photo by Airman Alexis Siekert

By Airman Alexis Siekert502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Every day, rain or shine, smolderinglyhot or freezing cold, more than 50 air-craft are launched from Randolph’s eastflightline and, behind every one, mainte-nance directorates from the 12th FlyingTraining Wing are making that possible.

“It takes a very unique person to wantto work out here and come to workhappy every day,” said Roland Garcia,12th Flying Training Wing expediter.“With the environment we work in, youwould never expect it.”

Maintenance workers meet everymorning for the flying schedule to coordi-nate the launches and prepare for the air-crew. The scheduled flights are alwayspredetermined the Thursday prior.

Before the aircraft can be marshaledout of the hangover, it must be thoroughlyinspected by both the pilots and the main-tenance workers. Then, pilots arestrapped in and tested one more time.

Once the aircraft is ready, it taxis tothe runway. If they go out, they’ve got tocome back in,” Mr. Garcia said.

Upon return, the pilot directly commu-nicates with maintenance and reportsany squawks. The aircraft is then refu-eled and inspected by several sets of eyesto be ready for the next day.

“Anyone who works out here deserveskudos on a daily basis,” Mr. Garcia said.“Everyone does an excellent job.”

Maintenance crews: Keeping Randolph airborne

Photo by Airman Alexis SiekertMac Capistran, 12th Flying Training Wing maintenance directorate, marshals a T-38 Talon for take-off April 8.

Photo by Airman Alexis SiekertTodd Aguinaga, 12th Flying Training Wing maintenance directorate, connects a compressedair hose for T-38 Talon engine air start.

Photo by Rich McFaddenPrince Valair, 12th Flying Training Wing maintenance directorate, straps in Lt. Col. RichFlake, 560th Flying Training Squadron, prior to T-38 Talon launch April 8.

PAGE 13WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 12 APRIL 22, 2011

FEATURE

Photos by David TerryChildren from the base community gather eggs at the Easter egg hunt Saturday during Famaganza. Theannual event hosted by the Randolph Youth Center featured games, prizes, performances by dancers, abook fair and free refreshments.

The local militarycommunity enjoyed an

afternoon of family fun atFamaganza, hosted by

the Randolph YouthCenter Saturday.

Elvin Cintron, 6, wears big boots to wade through a mud pit on theobstacle course at Famaganza Saturday. Elvin is the son of Lilliaand Capt. Elvin Cintron, assigned to U.S. Army South at Fort SamHouston, Texas.

“One More Time” dancersperform their danceroutine duringFamaganza, whichfeatured various presen-tations by severaldifferent dance groups.

Cody Holte, 8, blows on a sailboat towin the race during Famaganza. Thesailboat race was one of many eventsorganized for children during theannual event. Cody is the son ofDavid Holte and Katrina Reid.

Ro-Hawks rock Fiesta

Photo by Rich McFaddenThe Randolph High School Ro-Hawks Marching Band performs April 15 at the Battle of the Flowers Parade in San Antonio as part of Fiesta. The band has an impressive record,including a Sweepstakes (No. 1 rating) for University Interscholastic League concert, sight reading and marching commpetitions. They also earned South Texas area championships forthe last four years. Normally marching 110 band members, for this year’s parade, the band included seventh-graders, taking the total to 150 members.

Randolph community connects with base Public AffairsWant to get in touch with the Randolph AirForce Base Public Affairs office? Here’show!

Public Affairs inboxpublic.affairs@us.af.mil

Wingspread502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil

Main Gate Marqueerandolph.marquee@us.af.mil

Straight Talk line652-SHOW (7469)

Multimedia Customer Service652-4226

Call the RAFB Public Affairs office directly at 652-4410.

PAGE 13WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 12 APRIL 22, 2011

FEATURE

Photos by David TerryChildren from the base community gather eggs at the Easter egg hunt Saturday during Famaganza. Theannual event hosted by the Randolph Youth Center featured games, prizes, performances by dancers, abook fair and free refreshments.

The local militarycommunity enjoyed an

afternoon of family fun atFamaganza, hosted by

the Randolph YouthCenter Saturday.

Elvin Cintron, 6, wears big boots to wade through a mud pit on theobstacle course at Famaganza Saturday. Elvin is the son of Lilliaand Capt. Elvin Cintron, assigned to U.S. Army South at Fort SamHouston, Texas.

“One More Time” dancersperform their danceroutine duringFamaganza, whichfeatured various presen-tations by severaldifferent dance groups.

Cody Holte, 8, blows on a sailboat towin the race during Famaganza. Thesailboat race was one of many eventsorganized for children during theannual event. Cody is the son ofDavid Holte and Katrina Reid.

Ro-Hawks rock Fiesta

Photo by Rich McFaddenThe Randolph High School Ro-Hawks Marching Band performs April 15 at the Battle of the Flowers Parade in San Antonio as part of Fiesta. The band has an impressive record,including a Sweepstakes (No. 1 rating) for University Interscholastic League concert, sight reading and marching commpetitions. They also earned South Texas area championships forthe last four years. Normally marching 110 band members, for this year’s parade, the band included seventh-graders, taking the total to 150 members.

Randolph community connects with base Public AffairsWant to get in touch with the Randolph AirForce Base Public Affairs office? Here’show!

Public Affairs inboxpublic.affairs@us.af.mil

Wingspread502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil

Main Gate Marqueerandolph.marquee@us.af.mil

Straight Talk line652-SHOW (7469)

Multimedia Customer Service652-4226

Call the RAFB Public Affairs office directly at 652-4410.

Free junior golf clinic The Randolph Oaks Golf

Course hosts a junior golfclinic on putting and chip-ping Saturday from 9-11 a.m.

Little Renegades registration

Little Renegades is a par-ent/child program thathelps build confidence inchildren 3-5 years old whilethey learn basic baseballskills. Registration takesplace through April 30 atyouth programs, Bldg. 585.Children must be 3 years oldby April 1. The cost is $30per child and the programruns for six weeks beginningin May.

Bike fitnessThe Rambler Fitness

Center hosts bike rides everyThursday from 11:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. These ridesfocus on improving fitness,bike-handling skills, ridinga pace line, drafting andbike etiquette. Participantswill need a road bike orcyclo-cross bike – no moun-tain bikes please.Appropriate cycling attireand gear are required.

Swing for HungerThe Air Force Recruiting

Service Booster Club hosts a“Swing for Hunger” golftournament to benefit theSan Antonio Food Bank May13 at 8 a.m. at theRandolph Oaks Golf Course.The cost is $45 per personand participants areencouraged to bring acanned food item. To regis-ter, email Master Sgt. ChrisTomberlin at christopher.tomberlin@us.af.mil.

SportsBRIEFS

PAGE 15WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 14 APRIL 22, 2011

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902nd Force Support Squadron Briefs

SPORTS – HEALTH – FITNESS

By Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –When the troops deploy, they are issuedweapons and armor.

Knowing the improvised explosivedevices and enemies they may encounter,their armor consists of vests that containbullet-proof plates. Many wear knee andelbow pads. Their helmets are Kevlar andthey are issued hearing protection todefend their hearing against the loud,often very close, explosions. They carryall of this despite intense desert heat andsun. But among the most important totheir mission is their M-16 rifle. EvenAirmen today are usually trained to knowtheir way around the M-16.

Unfortunately, the troops encounter aproblem. There is a conflict between theirhearing protection and proper use of theirrifle. In the heat of battle, when lives are atstake and the heavy weight of gear and thestress of heat is ignored, the rifle is chosenas the first priority and the hearing protec-tion is ultimately left behind.

The troops do what they have to do in

order to accomplish the mission andreturn home. In the process, their earstake the brunt of extremely loud explo-sions and shocks.

“I was the first otolaryngology memberdeployed as part of the head and neck sur-gical team. I was deployed to Afghanistanin 2004,” said Col. (Dr.) Joseph Brennan,59th Medical Wing OtolaryngologyProgram director. “I saw 600 to 700patients, and the number of hearing lossinjuries was the most by far.”

In response, the National DefenseAuthorization act was established in2009, pushed forward by a CaliforniaCongressman, Duncan Hunter, the firstMarine combat veteran of the wars in Iraqand Afghanistan elected to Congress,according to his website. It states that theSecretary of Defense shall establish, withinthe Department of Defense, a Center ofExcellence in the prevention, diagnosis,mitigation, treatment and rehabilitation ofhearing loss and auditory system injuries.For this, it authorized the development ofCenters for Excellence.

“The first to begin operation was theDisability Center of Excellence,” said Lt.

Col. (Dr.) Mark Packer, 59th MedicalWing Hearing Center of Excellence direc-tor, “The next was the Vision Center ofExcellence which looked at ocularinjuries. The Hearing/Vision andExtremity and Amputation Center ofExcellence followed. The surgeon generalreally looked at military health servicesand designated the AF as the lead todevelop these Centers of Excellence.”

While Dr. Packer’s specialty is otolaryn-gology, and his hospital contains theHearing Center of Excellence, he has amuch larger role than that.

The coordination for these Centers ofExcellence is centered at Wilford HallMedical Center, Dr. Packer said, “I wasdesignated as the director. This is one offive congressionally mandated Centers ofExcellence.”

As patients are seen and information iscollected, it is added to a national auditoryregistry, coordinated at Wilford Hall. Thisenables the information to be shared tocontinuously improve practices and theknowledge database.

WHMC treats most common battlefield injuries

Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert BarnettLt. Col. (Dr.) Mark Packer (right) performs operative care and inspection on U.S. Army Spc. James Tillery’s ears at Wilford Hall Medical Center’s HearingCenter of Excellence at Lackland Air Force Base March 2.

See WHMC P16

Free junior golf clinic The Randolph Oaks Golf

Course hosts a junior golfclinic on putting and chip-ping Saturday from 9-11 a.m.

Little Renegades registration

Little Renegades is a par-ent/child program thathelps build confidence inchildren 3-5 years old whilethey learn basic baseballskills. Registration takesplace through April 30 atyouth programs, Bldg. 585.Children must be 3 years oldby April 1. The cost is $30per child and the programruns for six weeks beginningin May.

Bike fitnessThe Rambler Fitness

Center hosts bike rides everyThursday from 11:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. These ridesfocus on improving fitness,bike-handling skills, ridinga pace line, drafting andbike etiquette. Participantswill need a road bike orcyclo-cross bike – no moun-tain bikes please.Appropriate cycling attireand gear are required.

Swing for HungerThe Air Force Recruiting

Service Booster Club hosts a“Swing for Hunger” golftournament to benefit theSan Antonio Food Bank May13 at 8 a.m. at theRandolph Oaks Golf Course.The cost is $45 per personand participants areencouraged to bring acanned food item. To regis-ter, email Master Sgt. ChrisTomberlin at christopher.tomberlin@us.af.mil.

SportsBRIEFS

PAGE 15WINGSPREADAPRIL 22, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 14 APRIL 22, 2011

ADVERTISEMENT

902nd Force Support Squadron Briefs

SPORTS – HEALTH – FITNESS

By Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –When the troops deploy, they are issuedweapons and armor.

Knowing the improvised explosivedevices and enemies they may encounter,their armor consists of vests that containbullet-proof plates. Many wear knee andelbow pads. Their helmets are Kevlar andthey are issued hearing protection todefend their hearing against the loud,often very close, explosions. They carryall of this despite intense desert heat andsun. But among the most important totheir mission is their M-16 rifle. EvenAirmen today are usually trained to knowtheir way around the M-16.

Unfortunately, the troops encounter aproblem. There is a conflict between theirhearing protection and proper use of theirrifle. In the heat of battle, when lives are atstake and the heavy weight of gear and thestress of heat is ignored, the rifle is chosenas the first priority and the hearing protec-tion is ultimately left behind.

The troops do what they have to do in

order to accomplish the mission andreturn home. In the process, their earstake the brunt of extremely loud explo-sions and shocks.

“I was the first otolaryngology memberdeployed as part of the head and neck sur-gical team. I was deployed to Afghanistanin 2004,” said Col. (Dr.) Joseph Brennan,59th Medical Wing OtolaryngologyProgram director. “I saw 600 to 700patients, and the number of hearing lossinjuries was the most by far.”

In response, the National DefenseAuthorization act was established in2009, pushed forward by a CaliforniaCongressman, Duncan Hunter, the firstMarine combat veteran of the wars in Iraqand Afghanistan elected to Congress,according to his website. It states that theSecretary of Defense shall establish, withinthe Department of Defense, a Center ofExcellence in the prevention, diagnosis,mitigation, treatment and rehabilitation ofhearing loss and auditory system injuries.For this, it authorized the development ofCenters for Excellence.

“The first to begin operation was theDisability Center of Excellence,” said Lt.

Col. (Dr.) Mark Packer, 59th MedicalWing Hearing Center of Excellence direc-tor, “The next was the Vision Center ofExcellence which looked at ocularinjuries. The Hearing/Vision andExtremity and Amputation Center ofExcellence followed. The surgeon generalreally looked at military health servicesand designated the AF as the lead todevelop these Centers of Excellence.”

While Dr. Packer’s specialty is otolaryn-gology, and his hospital contains theHearing Center of Excellence, he has amuch larger role than that.

The coordination for these Centers ofExcellence is centered at Wilford HallMedical Center, Dr. Packer said, “I wasdesignated as the director. This is one offive congressionally mandated Centers ofExcellence.”

As patients are seen and information iscollected, it is added to a national auditoryregistry, coordinated at Wilford Hall. Thisenables the information to be shared tocontinuously improve practices and theknowledge database.

WHMC treats most common battlefield injuries

Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert BarnettLt. Col. (Dr.) Mark Packer (right) performs operative care and inspection on U.S. Army Spc. James Tillery’s ears at Wilford Hall Medical Center’s HearingCenter of Excellence at Lackland Air Force Base March 2.

See WHMC P16

WINGSPREADPAGE 16 APRIL 22, 2011

The Hearing Center of Excellence is a collaborative,integrated effort from the Department of Defense andVeterans Affairs to focus on auditory system injury pre-vention and care for the benefit of the service member,Dr. Packer explained.

Its mission is to heighten readiness and to continu-ously improve the health and quality of life for mem-bers of the armed forces and veterans through advoca-cy and leadership in the development of initiativesfocused on the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treat-ment, rehabilitation and research of hearing loss andaudio-vestibular system injuries.

“The most common diagnosis of today’s casual-ties is tinnitus, the perception of sound within thehuman ear in the absence of corresponding exter-nal sound, and the second is hearing loss,” said Dr.Packer. “So the casualties who come back largelycome here for treatment.”

Within the era of the Gulf War conflict there

have been nearly 750,000 cases of tinnitus and700,000 cases of hearing loss that were service-related, he said. These became claims to the veter-an’s benefits association. The incidents of tinnitusand hearing loss rose throughout the war from2001 and are rising; there has been a 12-18 per-cent increase in the rate of injuries.

So the scope or magnitude of the problem is thatit is a highly prevalent injury in relation to all otherinjuries, Dr. Packer explained.

“We’re looking at all aspects of care for ourtroops to counter such injuries,” he said. “Theorganization is set up to be the virtual hub for thissystem where the executive offices will be here atLackland and we’ll have a small staff that coordi-nates, integrates and facilitates the care andresearch that happens at other medical centers.”

The spoke sites are the six medical centers: WilfordHall, Brooke Army Medical Center, the National Naval

Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Walter ReedArmy Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the NationalCapillary, and Madigan Army Medical Center. Thistotals six research labs and six centers.

“Our goal is to interconnect those principal investiga-tors and doctors so they can have a platform to talk toeach other and to develop the best practices which willthen translate into the medical centers and care for ourpatients,” Dr. Brennan said.

The research has led to various advancements intechnology that help servicemembers, depending ontheir specific mission, protect their ears without hin-dering their weapons.

“We’re looking for better ways to treat pre-andpost-deployment-related tinnitus injuries. Thosesorts of things are already happening and help usto better understand the problem,” said Dr.Brennan. “The more we understand the problem,the better we can treat it.”

WHMC from P15