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A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO

L A C K L A N D A I R F O R C E B A S E , T E X A S • w w w. l a c k l a n d . a f . m i l • V o l . 6 8 N o . 3 6 • S E P T E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 0

INSIDECommentary 2

Recognition 6

What’s Happening 18

News & Features

Remembering 9/11 12

Quarterly awards 13

Defender Cup 19

Flag football 20

View the Talespinner onlineat www.lackland.af.mil

Photo by Robbin CresswellStudents prepare the final meal served at the Culinary Arts Training Center Sept. 3. The 345th TRS, along with the CATC, is moving to Fort Lee, Va.

By Mike JosephStaff Writer

A tasteful closing concluded an era ofculinary arts at Lackland when technicalschool students prepared the program’s finalmeal on base for 37th Training Wing and37th Training Group leadership Sept. 3.

Jokingly dubbed “The Last Luncheon,”culinary arts center training students badefarewell to the base for the cooking part ofthe program.

Culinary arts center training is relocatingto Fort Lee, Va., as part of 2005 BaseRealignment and Closure law. That courseand others, from both the 344th and 345th

Training Squadrons at Lackland, will form arealigned 345th TRS under the 37th TRG’ssupervision at the Army installation. Coursesthat did not move from those two trainingsquadrons now comprise the 344th TRS atLackland.

“Moving to Fort Lee are AF ServicesAcademy from the 344th TRS, and air trans-portation and transportation managementfrom the 345th TRS,” said Lt. Col. StephenLandry, 37th TRG deputy commander.

The colonel said training programs thatremain from the 345th TRS, including thelogistics readiness officers’ course, AFRecruiting School, contracting and supply,along with what was left from the 344th

TRS, including the AF Safety Academy,Enlisted Air Crew Center for Excellence andsome other courses, are combining into the344th TRS, which remains at Lackland.

Realigning the Air Force culinary artstraining to Fort Lee establishes a joint centerof excellence in culinary arts as mandatedby BRAC. Colonel Landry said in the future,courses may consolidate, but for now eachservice branch is running its own.

He also said the formation of a fullsquadron eliminated two detachments atFort Lee. The 37th TRG currently has eightdetachments and two operating locations

345th TRS moves to Fort Lee

See MOVES P10

TALESPINNERSEPTEMBER 10, 2010TALESPINNERPAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

CFC KICKOFF BREAKFAST

The 2010 Combined Federal Campaignkickoff breakfast is Monday, 8 a.m., at theGateway Club.

For more information, contact 1st Lt.Aaron Blackburn at 977-5718.

RETROACTIVE STOP LOSS CLAIMS

Airmen, veterans and beneficiaries whowere involuntarily extended under Stop Lossbetween Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009are eligible for Retroactive Stop Loss SpecialPay.

The deadline to file RSLSP claims for anenlistment involuntarily extended due toStop Loss is Oct. 21.

Visit www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoplossfor claim forms and filing instructions.

37TH TRW AIR FORCE BIRTHDAY BALL

The 37th Training Wing Air ForceBirthday Ball is Sept. 18 at the GatewayClub with social hour at 6 p.m. and dinnerat 6:50 p.m.

Reservations are due by Sept. 10. Ticketprices are major and above, civilians fromGS-12 or above, $45; master sergeant tocaptain, GS-11 and below, $40; staff ser-geant to technical sergeant, $30; and air-man basic to senior airman, $20.

For more information, contact Staff Sgt.Jared Browning at 834-9932.

RETIREMENT CEREMONY SCHEDULED

A retirement ceremony for DennisFirman, director of the Air Force Center forEngineering and the Environment, is Oct. 1,10 a.m., at the Mabry Conference Center.

A luncheon will follow at the Kelly Club,11:30 a.m., for Mr. Firman, who is retiringafter 36 years of federal service.

For more information, contact DebbieBrackett at 395-8000.

CHILI COOK-OFF

A chili cook-off is Saturday, 9 a.m., inconjunction with the quarterly flea market atthe Warhawk Fitness Center parking lot.

Prizes include $100 for first place, $75for second place and $25 for third place.

For rules and registration, call 671-3191or visit www.lacklandfss.com/skylark.html.Pre-registration is required.

NewsBRIEFS

COMMENTARY

Editorial staffBRIG. GEN. LEONARD PATRICK,502ND AIR BASE WING

COMMANDER

OSCAR BALLADARES,DIRECTOR, 502ND ABW OL-APUBLIC AFFAIRS

JOE BELA,CHIEF OF INTERNAL

COMMUNICATIONS, 671-4111

SHANNON CARABAJAL,MANAGING EDITOR, 671-1786

MIKE JOSEPH,STAFF WRITER, 671-4357

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

PAUL NOVAK,DESIGN/LAYOUT, 671-0478

Office:1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102Lackland AFB, Texas78236-5103(210) 671-1786;(fax) 671-2022E-mail: [email protected]’s Action Line:actionline@lackland. af.mil.Straight Talk: 671-6397 (NEWS)For advertising information:Prime Time Military Newspapers2203 S. HackberrySan Antonio, Texas 78210(210) 534-8848(fax) 534-7134

This newspaper is published byPrime Time Military Newspapers, aprivate firm in no way connected withthe U.S. Air Force, under exclusivewritten contract with Lackland AFB,Texas. This commercial enterprise AirForce newspaper is an authorizedpublication for members of the U.S.military services. Contents of theTalespinner are not necessarily theofficial views of, or endorsed by, theU.S. government, the Department ofDefense, or the Department of the AirForce.

The appearance of advertising inthis publication, including inserts orsupplements, does not constituteendorsement by the Department ofDefense, the Department of the AirForce or Prime Time MilitaryNewspapers, of the products or servicesadvertised.

Everything advertised in thispublication shall be made available forpurchase, use or patronage withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age, marital status,physical handicap, political affiliation,or any other nonmerit factor of thepurchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is edited,prepared and provided by the PublicAffairs Office of the 502nd Air BaseWing. All photos, unless otherwiseindicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

Deadline for submissions isnoon Thursday the week prior topublication.

By Gen. Stephen LorenzCommander, Air Education and Training Command

I have gained a wealthof knowledge during mycareer, but one pointremains at the top of thelist … love your people.Through Lorenz onLeadership articles andpresentations, I haveshared countless personalstories. While they alwayshave different themes, one

constant is the wonderful examples andlessons from people I have met. OurAirmen are priceless. They are what makeour Air Force the most powerful in theworld.

Loving your people is a personal tenet Ifervently believe in and live to uphold eachday. It is core to my passion and drive as amember of the Armed Forces and is anessential trait for leaders. Our militaryforce’s diverse makeup of service membersand their families are themselves powerfulreminders of the special charge we havebeen given as leaders in service to ourcountry.

A humbling example of this is the storyof Bradley and Sara Sullivan. Eighteenmonths ago Brad, an Air Force captain,was preparing for his first deployment asan F-16 pilot. Amidst the flurry of pre-deployment activities, his family receivedtwo life-changing announcements. First,he and his wife were pregnant with theirfirst child. Second, Sara was diagnosedwith an aggressive form of breast cancerat the age of 28.

Following a number of difficult choices,

Brad and Sara moved to San Antonio tobegin her chemotherapy, which wouldallow Sara to stave off cancer and stillallow normal growth of their baby. To theirdelight, treatment went as planned.However, during the third trimester thepregnancy became increasingly complicat-ed due to the effects of the chemo-therapy,and Sara was placed on bed rest. On Sept.8, 2009, Brad and Sara welcomed theirdaughter Chloe Grace into their family.

But their struggles were not over. Lessthan two weeks after Chloe was born, Bradand Sara were back in the hospital. Sarahad suffered a massive stroke, thought tobe a result of the physical ailments herbody received from pregnancy and chemo.Within days of her return to Wilford HallMedical Center, Sara was on life supportand declared brain dead. She passed awayshortly thereafter.

One of the many constants that continueto sustain Capt. Sullivan is the communityand network of unit leadership, friendsand family at Randolph Air Force Base.You see, Brad and Sara were warmly wel-comed into a unit that accepted themunconditionally and lovingly met everychallenge with them as a family.

From the day of Sara’s first hospitaliza-tion, their family was never alone asfriends and family regularly visited. Therewas an even greater outpouring of supportwhen Sara passed away.

Now, as Chloe fast approaches her firstbirthday, Brad and his daughter are gifteddaily with words of support, meals, andanything else required to help them walkin their new life. When difficult decisionshad to be made after Sara’s passing, Bradhad a Family Liaison Officer present or a

member of unit leadership who was fullyprepared to present him with all optionsfor his family. All of this is a result of a cul-ture of community – one that begins withinour Air Force and reaches out to everymember of our families.

Critical to loving your people is knowingthem. Not just what they do or their repu-tation at work, but genuinely knowingthem.

As leaders and peers we must invest thetime to determine what moves and moti-vates those around us. It is essential weknow names of spouses and children. It isalso imperative we understand the per-spectives our people share. We must seethe view an individual maintains of theworld around them. This dictates aninvestment of time spent with them to heartheir stories and life experiences. Thisstands to strengthen the bond you sharewith fellow Airmen and allows you to leadeffectively.

Inevitably the investment we make inour people is returned. Oftentimes thereturn comes at a time of crisis, as in thestory of Brad Sullivan. It is during this timethat we owe it to those around us to focuscentrally on what is in the best interest ofthe member affected.

Loving your Airmen is not a catchphrase, nor does it mean passively askingsomeone how their day is going. Rather, itis an active process, an investment on thepart of leaders and fellow Airmen. Younever know when you are going to make adifference, so never pass up an opportuni-ty to reach out to those around you andinvest in their lives. Trust me, it is aninvestment that will pay dividends for therest of your life.

Lorenz on Leadership

Love your people

Gen. StephenLorenz

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

The Lackland Speakers’ Bureau wants YOU! Call 671-5066 or 671-2908 for more details.

The chaplaincy

A Calling to TruthBy Chaplain (Capt.) Sharior Rahman502nd Air Base Wing

Chaplaincy is acalling like noneother; you are eithermeant for it, or youare not. The passionto serve as a Muslimchaplain came to meearly in my militarycareer.

I joined the Navyin 1997, and was

thrust into the position of a layleader due to my need to makeJummah prayers. I was told to takethe initiative and I absolutely lovedand cherished this great responsibili-ty. I started leading prayers, offeringsermons, leading religious education,

accommodating religious needs, andeven did funeral processions for themilitary since then.

I spent most of my time greenside, being part of various Marineunits, as a “devil doc” until I becamean Aerospace Physiology SurvivalInstructor. I treasured and juggledthe time I spent with the chaplaincyand my professional military career.I became quite acquainted with myecclesiastical endorsing body, theAmerican Muslim Armed Forces andVeterans Affair Council, and startedpursuing what was required tobecome a military chaplain.

Many events triggered the innerfire to help my two loves, my nationas well as my faith. I believe the finalcall came on 9/11. There I was as ahospital corpsmen serving my coun-

try and a bunch of terrorists hijackthe religion I love. I loved beingthere, but for the weeks that fol-lowed, some people treated me dif-ferently. They were either frightenedof me or wanted to harm me.

Out of that, my calling came toteach the truth of what is Islam. Allit takes is getting to know someonewho lives the Muslim life. As humanbeings, we are always apprehensiveof the unknown. But through educa-tion you can break down barriersand build relationships.

I believe the chaplain’s greatestasset is his uplifting demeanor. Thisis but one of the noble characteris-tics of this great calling, but aboveall a chaplain has to remember to be

Chaplain (Capt.)Sharior Rahman

See CALLING P10

By Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick502nd Air Base Wing Commander

Nineyears agotomorrow,at 8:46 a.m.EST, theU.S. cameunder avicioussneakattack whenhijackedAmerican

Airlines Flight 11 was delib-erately crashed into theWorld Trade Center NorthTower in New York City. At9:03 a.m., hijacked UnitedAirlines Flight 175 slammedinto the World TradeCenter’s South Tower.Hijacked America AirlinesFlight 77 struck the

Pentagon at 9:36 a.m. and at10:03 a.m., hijacked UnitedAirlines Flight 93 crashed ina field near Shanksville, Pa.,after captive passengersfought with the hijackers toreclaim the aircraft.

On Sept. 11, 2001, 2,997innocent lives from morethan 70 countries weretaken. More than 6,000 wereinjured.

We all have vivid memo-ries of where we were dur-ing those moments – whatwe were doing, how we felt.Some of you were in thePentagon, or had friends orfamilies there. Some of usknow someone whose lifewas altered because some-one close to them perishedor was injured.

This fight is not about reli-gion, race, politics, or pos-

sessions; it’s about protectingAmerica from being deliber-ately attacked again, and ourway of life.

Many of you havedeployed, over and over, totake the fight to this hatefulenemy, and build strongallies throughout the world.Here in San Antonio, we laywitness to the results of ourfight against terror, welcom-ing home brave warriorswho have fallen, or who arerecovering from injury.

Today, we see thousandsof brand new Airmen whovolunteered to serve theircountry in a time of wargraduate from Air ForceBasic Military Training. Wesee technical training stu-dents from all services learntheir craft at all of our SanAntonio military installa-

tions. And, we see the citi-zens of San Antonio welcomeus with open and lovingarms in support of their mili-tary establishments.

In San Antonio, we willremember those who fellnine years ago, those whohave suffered or have giventheir lives over these pastnine years, and the familiesand loved ones of the sur-vivors. Please don’t let thisday go by without a momentof silence; reflect on yourcommitment to carry on thisfight so we, the Americanpeople, can continue ourendowment of our inalien-able rights of life, liberty, andpursuit of happiness.

Thank you for serving ournation when she needs usthe most. God bless you, andmay God bless America.

A time to reflect, remember

Brig. Gen. LeonardPatrick