randolph air force base 65th year • no. 11 •...
TRANSCRIPT
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE 65th Year • No. 11 • MARCH 18, 2011
A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio
INSIDE ... VANPOOL SERVES AREA BASES, P3 ... SMSGT PROMOTIONS, P4 ... AFAF BEGINS, P5 ... BLUE SUITERS HONORED, P7 ... NUTRITION ADVICE, P14
Retired Lt. Col. Donald Wheeler (left), amember of the first class to train in the T-38, greets retired Col. James Gibler, whowas Colonel Wheeler’s T-38 instructor in1962, during a ceremony Thursdaycommemorating the 50th anniversary ofthe T-38. For more on the event, see Page10. Photo by Rich McFadden
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 [email protected]
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 [email protected].
For details about submissions, call 652-5760.
ON THE COVER
PAGE 3WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 2 MARCH 18, 2011
COMMENTARY
By Retired Lt. Gen. John FairfieldIBM Strategic Business Relationships Team
LEESBURG, Va. – Air Force Chief ofStaff Gen. Norton Schwartz declared2009 to 2010 as the Year of the AirForce Family. He knew, as leadersbefore him realized, that without thecare and genuine concern for not onlyAirmen, but for those family memberswho support their Airmen, missioneffectiveness could be compromised.
Tom Watson Jr. learned this lesson wellduring his days as a B-24 Liberator pilotin the Army Air Forces during World WarII. He learned to fly at the age of 10 and,like all Airmen, he embraced this oppor-tunity. He didn’t stand out in college. Hedidn’t really want to follow in his famousfather’s footsteps into IBM. Instead, hejoined the National Guard as a pilot andeventually was promoted to captain.
In 1940, his unit was mobilized andCaptain Watson found himself patrollingthe California coast looking for a possiblesubmarine attack on the days followingPearl Harbor. Wanting more action, hefound himself assigned as a pilot andaide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. Follett Bradley,then the Army’s inspector general.
General Bradley was assigned the taskof establishing an Alaska-Siberia ferryroute to deliver planes and equipment tothe Soviets. This mission required CaptainWatson to fly the general into many air-fields not used to servicing a B-24 and towork out the detailed enroute logisticsand servicing needs of the air armadathat soon would follow to allow theSoviets to hold out against the invadingGermany army.
General Bradley soon was dismayedover the inability of his airplane to beready when he needed it at a moment’snotice. Asking Captain Watson aboutthis, the captain replied that it was thecrew’s fault as they didn’t seem to be as
focused on the mission. General Bradley then ordered
Captain Watson to take several days offwith his aircrew and the ground sup-port crew. He was to spend all this timewith them, to take them to dinner, tolearn their first names, the names oftheir families, what schools they attend-ed and what sports they liked. Onlythen was Captain Watson to tell them oftheir mission and its importance.
When Captain Watson reportedthese details back to General Bradley,he commented on what great peoplethese Airmen were. Captain Watsonreported more than the details. Hehad learned of their passions anddesires and what it took to get themission done right the first time.
That plane never again missed a take-off, and the enroute structure GeneralBradley put in place through remoteSiberia was done in time to help the Sovietsdefeat Hitler’s aggression in Russia andultimately led to the Allied victory.
As Tom Watson, by now a lieutenantcolonel, was leaving the Army, GeneralBradley asked what his post-war inten-tions were. Colonel Watson replied thathe would like to join EddieRickenbacker and support the fledglingidea to form Eastern Airlines into acommercial opportunity. General
Bradley suggested that Colonel Watsonapply what he had learned about takingcare of people and go back to IBM. TomWatson did this and went on to achievetremendous success as the head of IBM.
During this post-war time, TomWatson never lost sight of those whoserved, and along with EddieRickenbacker, he responded to GeneralEisenhower’s request and formed theAir Force Aid Society to support thoseAirman and their families who deservedthe recognition and support that such aorganization would provide.
Tom Watson remained on the AirForce Aid Society’s board of directorsfor more than 24 years. He never lostsight of the clear lesson that hiswartime leadership experience taughthim: If you take care and recognizepeople who are responsible for missionsuccess, the mission will be successful.
Tom Watson applied this thoughouthis life, honoring those who served inthe Air Force and in the leadership hedemonstrated in IBM.
He has been recognized as one ofthe 100 most influential people of the20th century. During this 100th yearof IBM, it is fitting to pause and to cel-ebrate what Tom Watson learned as apilot and how it changed his life andthe lives of many forever.
Lessons learned in air, shared for lifetime
502nd Air Base WingOperating Location Bravo
Editorial StaffBrig. Gen. Leonard Patrick
CommanderMarilyn Holliday
Chief of Public AffairsAirman 1st Class Precious Yett
EditorRobert Goetz, Brian McGloin
Airman Alexis SiekertStaff Writers
Maggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer
WINGSPREADCourtesy photo
Capt. Tom Watson (left) was a B-24 Liberator pilot in the Army Air Forces who went on tobecome the president of IBM.
By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Sitting in traffic isn’t any fun and it canbe an expensive and stressful way tostart and end a work day.
One solution from the city of SanAntonio to make commuting to andfrom work a little better is startingto gain some traction here onRandolph. The VIA MetropolitanTransit vanpool service allows com-muters to get together and share aride to work without the wear ontheir personal cars.
Ray Lott, 902nd Logistics ReadinessSquadron operator records and licens-ing, is one of the drivers and the vanpoolcoordinator for Randolph.
“There is no cost to governmentemployees or Airmen,” he said. “If youwork on base, you qualify.”
The service is open to contractorsalso, but they must pay a small feeequivalent to what they would pay in avanpool off base.
Normally, commuters share a smallfee to use the service in addition to
fuel costs, which is generally muchless than driving alone. There are dif-ferent vans for different groups and afew routes are already established,including two from Randolph.
Vans are available in seven-passen-ger minivans, or larger 12-and 15-passenger models. The leasing andmaintenance of the vans is donethrough a large leasing company whohandles everything, including road-side help and van replacement.
Michael Cox, 902nd LogisticsReadiness Squadron vehicle opera-tions command center supervisor, isthe point of contact for the VIAVanpool service for Randolph.
“We increased from zero to three van-pools,” he said.
The driver parks the van off street in apre-arranged safe place, usually achurch or grocery store parking lot. Inthe morning, the commuters all meetthere, get in the van and head to work.It’s reversed at the end of the day. Thedriver keeps a monthly log of miles driv-en and other information and each ridermust ride at least 80 percent of the week
to stay part of the group.“Everyone is talking about their
weekend or games in the morning,”Mr. Lott said. “But in the afternoon,everyone is winding down; there isno stress of driving.”
Selvin Manboard, 902nd LogisticsReadiness Squadron, said he uses thevanpool because of money. “It’s moreeconomical,” he said.
VIA vanpool service eases commute to bases
Photo by Brian McGloinThe VIA Metropolitan Transit vanpool service allows commuters to get together and share aride to work.
See VAN POOL P9
The 38-year tradition carried on by the 560th Flying Training Squadron, honor-ing repatriated Vietnam War POW pilots, continues at Randolph March 24 and 25.
Every year since 1973, the 560th FTS has held a Freedom Flyer Reunion andPOW/MIA Symposium in honor of these Vietnam veterans, including offering thosewho never got back in an Air Force cockpit the chance to take their final flight.
The POW/MIA Symposium runs March 25 from 8:45-11:30 a.m. at the basetheater, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Missing Man Monument in
honor of America’s military heroes who never made it home from war. For the 13th straight year, the symposium features Freedom Flyers and the
grim, but inspiring stories of their experiences in the POW camps in NorthVietnam. There will be eight speakers for the symposium.
Both the symposium and the wreath-laying event are open to all members atRandolph. The traffic circle around the Taj Mahal will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 25.
Randolph marks 38th anniversary of legendary ‘Freedom Flyers’
Top 3 Awards
Photos by Don LindseySenior Airman Alexis Trevor, a firefighter assigned to the 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron Randolph FireDepartment, also received a Professional Performer Award certificate.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Reese, 902nd Mission Support Group NCO in chargeof knowledge operations, receives a Professional Performer Award from theRandolph Top 3 March 4.
Retired Lt. Col. Donald Wheeler (left), amember of the first class to train in the T-38, greets retired Col. James Gibler, whowas Colonel Wheeler’s T-38 instructor in1962, during a ceremony Thursdaycommemorating the 50th anniversary ofthe T-38. For more on the event, see Page10. Photo by Rich McFadden
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 [email protected]
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 [email protected].
For details about submissions, call 652-5760.
ON THE COVER
PAGE 3WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 2 MARCH 18, 2011
COMMENTARY
By Retired Lt. Gen. John FairfieldIBM Strategic Business Relationships Team
LEESBURG, Va. – Air Force Chief ofStaff Gen. Norton Schwartz declared2009 to 2010 as the Year of the AirForce Family. He knew, as leadersbefore him realized, that without thecare and genuine concern for not onlyAirmen, but for those family memberswho support their Airmen, missioneffectiveness could be compromised.
Tom Watson Jr. learned this lesson wellduring his days as a B-24 Liberator pilotin the Army Air Forces during World WarII. He learned to fly at the age of 10 and,like all Airmen, he embraced this oppor-tunity. He didn’t stand out in college. Hedidn’t really want to follow in his famousfather’s footsteps into IBM. Instead, hejoined the National Guard as a pilot andeventually was promoted to captain.
In 1940, his unit was mobilized andCaptain Watson found himself patrollingthe California coast looking for a possiblesubmarine attack on the days followingPearl Harbor. Wanting more action, hefound himself assigned as a pilot andaide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. Follett Bradley,then the Army’s inspector general.
General Bradley was assigned the taskof establishing an Alaska-Siberia ferryroute to deliver planes and equipment tothe Soviets. This mission required CaptainWatson to fly the general into many air-fields not used to servicing a B-24 and towork out the detailed enroute logisticsand servicing needs of the air armadathat soon would follow to allow theSoviets to hold out against the invadingGermany army.
General Bradley soon was dismayedover the inability of his airplane to beready when he needed it at a moment’snotice. Asking Captain Watson aboutthis, the captain replied that it was thecrew’s fault as they didn’t seem to be as
focused on the mission. General Bradley then ordered
Captain Watson to take several days offwith his aircrew and the ground sup-port crew. He was to spend all this timewith them, to take them to dinner, tolearn their first names, the names oftheir families, what schools they attend-ed and what sports they liked. Onlythen was Captain Watson to tell them oftheir mission and its importance.
When Captain Watson reportedthese details back to General Bradley,he commented on what great peoplethese Airmen were. Captain Watsonreported more than the details. Hehad learned of their passions anddesires and what it took to get themission done right the first time.
That plane never again missed a take-off, and the enroute structure GeneralBradley put in place through remoteSiberia was done in time to help the Sovietsdefeat Hitler’s aggression in Russia andultimately led to the Allied victory.
As Tom Watson, by now a lieutenantcolonel, was leaving the Army, GeneralBradley asked what his post-war inten-tions were. Colonel Watson replied thathe would like to join EddieRickenbacker and support the fledglingidea to form Eastern Airlines into acommercial opportunity. General
Bradley suggested that Colonel Watsonapply what he had learned about takingcare of people and go back to IBM. TomWatson did this and went on to achievetremendous success as the head of IBM.
During this post-war time, TomWatson never lost sight of those whoserved, and along with EddieRickenbacker, he responded to GeneralEisenhower’s request and formed theAir Force Aid Society to support thoseAirman and their families who deservedthe recognition and support that such aorganization would provide.
Tom Watson remained on the AirForce Aid Society’s board of directorsfor more than 24 years. He never lostsight of the clear lesson that hiswartime leadership experience taughthim: If you take care and recognizepeople who are responsible for missionsuccess, the mission will be successful.
Tom Watson applied this thoughouthis life, honoring those who served inthe Air Force and in the leadership hedemonstrated in IBM.
He has been recognized as one ofthe 100 most influential people of the20th century. During this 100th yearof IBM, it is fitting to pause and to cel-ebrate what Tom Watson learned as apilot and how it changed his life andthe lives of many forever.
Lessons learned in air, shared for lifetime
502nd Air Base WingOperating Location Bravo
Editorial StaffBrig. Gen. Leonard Patrick
CommanderMarilyn Holliday
Chief of Public AffairsAirman 1st Class Precious Yett
EditorRobert Goetz, Brian McGloin
Airman Alexis SiekertStaff Writers
Maggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer
WINGSPREADCourtesy photo
Capt. Tom Watson (left) was a B-24 Liberator pilot in the Army Air Forces who went on tobecome the president of IBM.
By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Sitting in traffic isn’t any fun and it canbe an expensive and stressful way tostart and end a work day.
One solution from the city of SanAntonio to make commuting to andfrom work a little better is startingto gain some traction here onRandolph. The VIA MetropolitanTransit vanpool service allows com-muters to get together and share aride to work without the wear ontheir personal cars.
Ray Lott, 902nd Logistics ReadinessSquadron operator records and licens-ing, is one of the drivers and the vanpoolcoordinator for Randolph.
“There is no cost to governmentemployees or Airmen,” he said. “If youwork on base, you qualify.”
The service is open to contractorsalso, but they must pay a small feeequivalent to what they would pay in avanpool off base.
Normally, commuters share a smallfee to use the service in addition to
fuel costs, which is generally muchless than driving alone. There are dif-ferent vans for different groups and afew routes are already established,including two from Randolph.
Vans are available in seven-passen-ger minivans, or larger 12-and 15-passenger models. The leasing andmaintenance of the vans is donethrough a large leasing company whohandles everything, including road-side help and van replacement.
Michael Cox, 902nd LogisticsReadiness Squadron vehicle opera-tions command center supervisor, isthe point of contact for the VIAVanpool service for Randolph.
“We increased from zero to three van-pools,” he said.
The driver parks the van off street in apre-arranged safe place, usually achurch or grocery store parking lot. Inthe morning, the commuters all meetthere, get in the van and head to work.It’s reversed at the end of the day. Thedriver keeps a monthly log of miles driv-en and other information and each ridermust ride at least 80 percent of the week
to stay part of the group.“Everyone is talking about their
weekend or games in the morning,”Mr. Lott said. “But in the afternoon,everyone is winding down; there isno stress of driving.”
Selvin Manboard, 902nd LogisticsReadiness Squadron, said he uses thevanpool because of money. “It’s moreeconomical,” he said.
VIA vanpool service eases commute to bases
Photo by Brian McGloinThe VIA Metropolitan Transit vanpool service allows commuters to get together and share aride to work.
See VAN POOL P9
The 38-year tradition carried on by the 560th Flying Training Squadron, honor-ing repatriated Vietnam War POW pilots, continues at Randolph March 24 and 25.
Every year since 1973, the 560th FTS has held a Freedom Flyer Reunion andPOW/MIA Symposium in honor of these Vietnam veterans, including offering thosewho never got back in an Air Force cockpit the chance to take their final flight.
The POW/MIA Symposium runs March 25 from 8:45-11:30 a.m. at the basetheater, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Missing Man Monument in
honor of America’s military heroes who never made it home from war. For the 13th straight year, the symposium features Freedom Flyers and the
grim, but inspiring stories of their experiences in the POW camps in NorthVietnam. There will be eight speakers for the symposium.
Both the symposium and the wreath-laying event are open to all members atRandolph. The traffic circle around the Taj Mahal will be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 25.
Randolph marks 38th anniversary of legendary ‘Freedom Flyers’
Top 3 Awards
Photos by Don LindseySenior Airman Alexis Trevor, a firefighter assigned to the 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron Randolph FireDepartment, also received a Professional Performer Award certificate.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Reese, 902nd Mission Support Group NCO in chargeof knowledge operations, receives a Professional Performer Award from theRandolph Top 3 March 4.
PAGE 5WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 4 MARCH 18, 2011
NEWS
By Steve ElliottFort Sam Houston News Leader
It’s now a crime for members of the U.S. military touse the synthetic cannabis substance known as “Spice.”As of March 1, the Drug Enforcement Agency placed thefive synthetic cannabinoids used in the manufacture ofthe so-called “fake pot” products into Schedule I of theControlled Substances Act. Schedule I is the most restric-tive and is typically reserved for “unsafe, highly abusedsubstances with no medical usage.”
This action by the DEA makes possessing and sellingthese chemicals or the products that contain them illegalin the United States. The DEA found this action was nec-essary to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety.
As a result, the full weight of the laws governingSchedule I substances will be imposed on the manufac-ture, distribution, possession, importation and exporta-tion of these synthetic cannabinoids.
Schedule I substances are reserved for those sub-stances with a high potential for abuse, no acceptedmedical use for treatment in the United States and alack of accepted safety for use of the drug undermedical supervision.
According to a final order in the Federal Register, theagency exercised its emergency scheduling authority tooutlaw the chemicals (JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200,CP-47, 497, and cannabicyclohexanol) used to make so-called “fake pot” products for one year, with the possibil-ity of a six-month extension.
All five branches of the U.S. military have alreadybanned the substance. The armed services have alsoadded the chemicals to the list of substances they lookfor during random urinalysis tests.
The DEA and the U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services will conduct further studies to whetherthese chemicals should be permanently controlled.
“Young people are being harmed when theysmoke these dangerous ‘fake pot’ products andwrongly equate the products’ ‘legal’ retail availabil-ity with being ‘safe,’” said DEA administratorMichele Leonhart in a news release.
“Parents and community leaders look to us to helpthem protect their kids, and we have not let them
down,” Mr. Leonhart added. “This action, while tem-porary, will reduce the number of young people beingseen in hospital emergency rooms after using thesesynthetic chemicals to get high.”
The herbal blends coated with synthetic chemi-cals are marketed under brands such as Spice, RedX Dawn and K2. They are usually sold as packets ofincense or potpourri at convenience stores, herbaland spiritual shops and online.
Officials at the 502nd Air Base Wing Legal Office warntroops that smoking the chemical-soaked herbal blend ispunishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice asa wrongful use of “any intoxicating substance not intend-ed for human ingestion.”
“All service members are restricted from buying,selling, using or possessing any form of this drug,”said Capt. Will Babor, Chief, Military Justice. “Drugusers, seeking to get high, are always looking forways to get around the law. Now they can’t. ‘Spice’is an illegal substance.”
According to the DEA, some side effects of “Spice” useinclude agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, racingheartbeat, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures,hallucinations, paranoia and non-responsiveness.
Cases of psychotic episodes, withdrawal and depend-ence associated with the drug have also been reported tothe DEA and many public health departments and poi-son control centers.
Spice now illegal, a Schedule I controlled substance
Air Force off icials selected1,274 of 12,378 eligible mastersergeants for promotion to seniormaster sergeant for a selectionrate of 10.29 percent.
The average score for those select-ed was 665.57, with an average timein grade of 4.30 years and an aver-age time in service of 19.76 years.The average score was based on thefollowing point averages: 134.98 forenlisted performance reports, 20.92for decorations, 64.34 for the AirForce supervisory examination and392.25 board score.
Those selected for senior mastersergeant will be promoted accordingto their promotion sequence numberbeginning in April.
Congratulations to the RandolphAirmen selected for promotion tosenior master sergeant:Air Force Personnel CenterJames BarnesJason Beaudoin
Kathi GlascockJeffrey SealeyMendy Singleton Air Education and Training CommandJames BeemanSteven DesnoyerGuy Hamilton Jr.Richard JonesZenaida LongKevin MaynardRonald MeadowsFrank MonsisvaisGregory SmithShawn Sprayberry Air Force Recruiting ServiceWilliam LaneCarmelo VegaMartinezAir Force Security Assistance Training SquadronJohn Castillo902nd Force Support SquadronRegina Darnes902nd Security Forces SquadronAntonio Rodriguez
Randolph SNCOs earn promotion to senior master sergeantSee SPICE P9
Photo by Melissa PetersonRandolph Air Force Base senior master sergeant promotees gather for a photo March 10.
By Erin TindellAir Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO – The roles and responsibilities thatAirman and family readiness professionals performon a daily basis are critical to the Air Force’s ability tohelp defend the country, the Air Force chief of staffsaid March 10 here.
Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife, Suzie,addressed more than 200 Air Force ExceptionalFamily Member Program coordinators and schoolliaison officers gathered for a joint training courseheld March 7-10 to integrate existing services andstandardize programming across the service.
The four-day training exposed attendees to nation-al-level speakers and initiatives within the education-al, legal and medical fields.
EFMP coordinators and SLOs play a vital role inbuilding resilience in families by allowing Airmen tofocus on the mission while their family gets the sup-port they need. According to Mrs. Schwartz, the AirForce has the right family support programs inplace and is committed to making them better.
“We are here to empower Airmen and familiesby giving them the tools they need to navigateavailable resources more eff iciently,” Mrs.Schwartz said.
EFMP coordinators connect more than 17,000 spe-cial-needs families in the Air Force to community sup-
port resources and help them navigate the healthcare system. SLOs educate local school administra-tors, counselors and educators on the military lifestyleand how it can affect children.
General Schwartz noted that of the approximately175,000 school-age Air Force children, many of themwill move an average of six times, bringing aboutunique challenges.
“Installation leadership and SLOs must engagewith local education system to recognize who thechampions are for military child education andwho can influence curriculum,” the general said.
By examining the results of a quality of life surveyand forums conducted two years ago, Air Force offi-cials identified a need to better help families navigateeducational and special-needs resources. Since then,officials have increased the number of EFMP coordi-nators and SLOs at installations worldwide.
Attendees were not only able to learn from thetrainers and speakers, but also had the opportunity tolearn from one other, said Jaime Lopez, a SLO atVandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
“It was great to network with other people and findout how other SLOs handle situations, as well aslearning ways to better publicize my responsibilities,”Mr. Lopez said. “It was also great to hear how the AirForce will provide additional legal support for bothprograms.”
Susan Hunter, the EFMP family support coordinatorat Holloman AFB, N.M., said the training will betterequip her to support the approximately 130 special-needs families at her installation.
“As a prior readiness NCO, I’m a firm believer thatwe play a vital role in taking care of our militarymembers and also in retaining them by taking care oftheir families,” she said. “I look forward to going backand using the tools I obtained this week for the jobI’m empowered to do.”
For more information about the Exceptional FamilyMember Program or school liaison officers, call theAirman and Family Readiness Flight at 652-5321.
General Schwartz: Taking care of families critical to mission“We are here to empowerAirmen and families by
giving them the tools theyneed to navigate availableresources more efficiently.”
Suzie Scwartzwife of Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff
By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Airmen assigned to Randolph,Joint Base San Antonio head-quarters and other detach-ments at Fort Sam Houstonand geographically separatedunits outside San Antoniowill have an opportunity totake care of their own inthe coming weeks.
Their contributions will beaccepted during the upcomingsix-week-long Air ForceAssistance Fund campaignbeginning March 28.
Col. Scott Peel, 902nd MissionSupport Group commander, said“Commitment to Caring,” this year’s theme, “continuesto captures our proud heritage of taking care of our ownthrough our four Air Force charities – the Air Force AidSociety, Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Village andthe Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.”
“Thanks to generous dona-tions, Air Force Assistance Fundcharities have provided ourAirmen – active duty and retired– with a full range of critical serv-ices for decades,” Colonel Peelsaid in a recent memo.
Maj. Gordon Pfeil, RandolphAFAF program manager,
said the base will seek toexceed last year’s contri-bution of $194,172.
“This year’s goalsare 100 percent mean-ingful contact of all mili-tary personnel and a
monetary target of$214,000,” he said.
Randolph Airmen tradition-ally surpass the base’s prescribed goal.
“We have a real strong military community here,”Major Pfeil said. “People want to give back and carefor their own.”
The Air Force charities provide assistance to
active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserveand retired personnel as well as surviving AirForce spouses.
Last year, the Air Force Aid Society provided$24.3 million to more than 45,000 Airmen andtheir families, including $13.7 million in emer-gency assistance. The Air Force Village, Air ForceEnlisted Village and LeMay foundation help meetthe needs of the surviving spouses of all Airmen.
Once the campaign is under way, key workerswill contact military personnel in their units.
“Giving is entirely voluntary, but we encourageeveryone to be as generous as possible to continueRandolph’s legacy of caring for our own,” MajorPfeil said.
Civilian personnel will not be contacted, but theircontributions are also welcome, he said.
“We welcome the support of those who’d like to con-tribute,” Major Pfeil said.
Colonel Peel emphasized the importance of contribu-tions to the AFAF.
“Today the need is greater than ever and I encouragecommanders at all levels to assist in raising awarenessof this worthy cause,” he said.
Randolph announces 2011 AFAF campaign
PAGE 5WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 4 MARCH 18, 2011
NEWS
By Steve ElliottFort Sam Houston News Leader
It’s now a crime for members of the U.S. military touse the synthetic cannabis substance known as “Spice.”As of March 1, the Drug Enforcement Agency placed thefive synthetic cannabinoids used in the manufacture ofthe so-called “fake pot” products into Schedule I of theControlled Substances Act. Schedule I is the most restric-tive and is typically reserved for “unsafe, highly abusedsubstances with no medical usage.”
This action by the DEA makes possessing and sellingthese chemicals or the products that contain them illegalin the United States. The DEA found this action was nec-essary to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety.
As a result, the full weight of the laws governingSchedule I substances will be imposed on the manufac-ture, distribution, possession, importation and exporta-tion of these synthetic cannabinoids.
Schedule I substances are reserved for those sub-stances with a high potential for abuse, no acceptedmedical use for treatment in the United States and alack of accepted safety for use of the drug undermedical supervision.
According to a final order in the Federal Register, theagency exercised its emergency scheduling authority tooutlaw the chemicals (JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200,CP-47, 497, and cannabicyclohexanol) used to make so-called “fake pot” products for one year, with the possibil-ity of a six-month extension.
All five branches of the U.S. military have alreadybanned the substance. The armed services have alsoadded the chemicals to the list of substances they lookfor during random urinalysis tests.
The DEA and the U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services will conduct further studies to whetherthese chemicals should be permanently controlled.
“Young people are being harmed when theysmoke these dangerous ‘fake pot’ products andwrongly equate the products’ ‘legal’ retail availabil-ity with being ‘safe,’” said DEA administratorMichele Leonhart in a news release.
“Parents and community leaders look to us to helpthem protect their kids, and we have not let them
down,” Mr. Leonhart added. “This action, while tem-porary, will reduce the number of young people beingseen in hospital emergency rooms after using thesesynthetic chemicals to get high.”
The herbal blends coated with synthetic chemi-cals are marketed under brands such as Spice, RedX Dawn and K2. They are usually sold as packets ofincense or potpourri at convenience stores, herbaland spiritual shops and online.
Officials at the 502nd Air Base Wing Legal Office warntroops that smoking the chemical-soaked herbal blend ispunishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice asa wrongful use of “any intoxicating substance not intend-ed for human ingestion.”
“All service members are restricted from buying,selling, using or possessing any form of this drug,”said Capt. Will Babor, Chief, Military Justice. “Drugusers, seeking to get high, are always looking forways to get around the law. Now they can’t. ‘Spice’is an illegal substance.”
According to the DEA, some side effects of “Spice” useinclude agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, racingheartbeat, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures,hallucinations, paranoia and non-responsiveness.
Cases of psychotic episodes, withdrawal and depend-ence associated with the drug have also been reported tothe DEA and many public health departments and poi-son control centers.
Spice now illegal, a Schedule I controlled substance
Air Force off icials selected1,274 of 12,378 eligible mastersergeants for promotion to seniormaster sergeant for a selectionrate of 10.29 percent.
The average score for those select-ed was 665.57, with an average timein grade of 4.30 years and an aver-age time in service of 19.76 years.The average score was based on thefollowing point averages: 134.98 forenlisted performance reports, 20.92for decorations, 64.34 for the AirForce supervisory examination and392.25 board score.
Those selected for senior mastersergeant will be promoted accordingto their promotion sequence numberbeginning in April.
Congratulations to the RandolphAirmen selected for promotion tosenior master sergeant:Air Force Personnel CenterJames BarnesJason Beaudoin
Kathi GlascockJeffrey SealeyMendy Singleton Air Education and Training CommandJames BeemanSteven DesnoyerGuy Hamilton Jr.Richard JonesZenaida LongKevin MaynardRonald MeadowsFrank MonsisvaisGregory SmithShawn Sprayberry Air Force Recruiting ServiceWilliam LaneCarmelo VegaMartinezAir Force Security Assistance Training SquadronJohn Castillo902nd Force Support SquadronRegina Darnes902nd Security Forces SquadronAntonio Rodriguez
Randolph SNCOs earn promotion to senior master sergeantSee SPICE P9
Photo by Melissa PetersonRandolph Air Force Base senior master sergeant promotees gather for a photo March 10.
By Erin TindellAir Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO – The roles and responsibilities thatAirman and family readiness professionals performon a daily basis are critical to the Air Force’s ability tohelp defend the country, the Air Force chief of staffsaid March 10 here.
Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife, Suzie,addressed more than 200 Air Force ExceptionalFamily Member Program coordinators and schoolliaison officers gathered for a joint training courseheld March 7-10 to integrate existing services andstandardize programming across the service.
The four-day training exposed attendees to nation-al-level speakers and initiatives within the education-al, legal and medical fields.
EFMP coordinators and SLOs play a vital role inbuilding resilience in families by allowing Airmen tofocus on the mission while their family gets the sup-port they need. According to Mrs. Schwartz, the AirForce has the right family support programs inplace and is committed to making them better.
“We are here to empower Airmen and familiesby giving them the tools they need to navigateavailable resources more eff iciently,” Mrs.Schwartz said.
EFMP coordinators connect more than 17,000 spe-cial-needs families in the Air Force to community sup-
port resources and help them navigate the healthcare system. SLOs educate local school administra-tors, counselors and educators on the military lifestyleand how it can affect children.
General Schwartz noted that of the approximately175,000 school-age Air Force children, many of themwill move an average of six times, bringing aboutunique challenges.
“Installation leadership and SLOs must engagewith local education system to recognize who thechampions are for military child education andwho can influence curriculum,” the general said.
By examining the results of a quality of life surveyand forums conducted two years ago, Air Force offi-cials identified a need to better help families navigateeducational and special-needs resources. Since then,officials have increased the number of EFMP coordi-nators and SLOs at installations worldwide.
Attendees were not only able to learn from thetrainers and speakers, but also had the opportunity tolearn from one other, said Jaime Lopez, a SLO atVandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
“It was great to network with other people and findout how other SLOs handle situations, as well aslearning ways to better publicize my responsibilities,”Mr. Lopez said. “It was also great to hear how the AirForce will provide additional legal support for bothprograms.”
Susan Hunter, the EFMP family support coordinatorat Holloman AFB, N.M., said the training will betterequip her to support the approximately 130 special-needs families at her installation.
“As a prior readiness NCO, I’m a firm believer thatwe play a vital role in taking care of our militarymembers and also in retaining them by taking care oftheir families,” she said. “I look forward to going backand using the tools I obtained this week for the jobI’m empowered to do.”
For more information about the Exceptional FamilyMember Program or school liaison officers, call theAirman and Family Readiness Flight at 652-5321.
General Schwartz: Taking care of families critical to mission“We are here to empowerAirmen and families by
giving them the tools theyneed to navigate availableresources more efficiently.”
Suzie Scwartzwife of Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff
By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Airmen assigned to Randolph,Joint Base San Antonio head-quarters and other detach-ments at Fort Sam Houstonand geographically separatedunits outside San Antoniowill have an opportunity totake care of their own inthe coming weeks.
Their contributions will beaccepted during the upcomingsix-week-long Air ForceAssistance Fund campaignbeginning March 28.
Col. Scott Peel, 902nd MissionSupport Group commander, said“Commitment to Caring,” this year’s theme, “continuesto captures our proud heritage of taking care of our ownthrough our four Air Force charities – the Air Force AidSociety, Air Force Enlisted Village, Air Force Village andthe Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation.”
“Thanks to generous dona-tions, Air Force Assistance Fundcharities have provided ourAirmen – active duty and retired– with a full range of critical serv-ices for decades,” Colonel Peelsaid in a recent memo.
Maj. Gordon Pfeil, RandolphAFAF program manager,
said the base will seek toexceed last year’s contri-bution of $194,172.
“This year’s goalsare 100 percent mean-ingful contact of all mili-tary personnel and a
monetary target of$214,000,” he said.
Randolph Airmen tradition-ally surpass the base’s prescribed goal.
“We have a real strong military community here,”Major Pfeil said. “People want to give back and carefor their own.”
The Air Force charities provide assistance to
active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserveand retired personnel as well as surviving AirForce spouses.
Last year, the Air Force Aid Society provided$24.3 million to more than 45,000 Airmen andtheir families, including $13.7 million in emer-gency assistance. The Air Force Village, Air ForceEnlisted Village and LeMay foundation help meetthe needs of the surviving spouses of all Airmen.
Once the campaign is under way, key workerswill contact military personnel in their units.
“Giving is entirely voluntary, but we encourageeveryone to be as generous as possible to continueRandolph’s legacy of caring for our own,” MajorPfeil said.
Civilian personnel will not be contacted, but theircontributions are also welcome, he said.
“We welcome the support of those who’d like to con-tribute,” Major Pfeil said.
Colonel Peel emphasized the importance of contribu-tions to the AFAF.
“Today the need is greater than ever and I encouragecommanders at all levels to assist in raising awarenessof this worthy cause,” he said.
Randolph announces 2011 AFAF campaign
PAGE 7WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 6 MARCH 18, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Hillary StonemetzAir Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
The Air Force Recruiting family bid farewell to Col.Michael Brice, AFRS vice commander, at a luncheon andceremony at the Randolph Officers Club March 7.
“As I leave AFRS, on behalf of my wife and daughter,I’d like to say thank you to everyone across the com-mand,” Colonel Brice said. “I would like to salute themand tell them good luck. I have to take my badge off butI will forever be a recruiter.”
In an interview before the ceremony, Colonel Bricesaid he believes one of the biggest challenges facing theAir Force is working with reduced resources.
“The Air Force is entering a difficult period,”Colonel Brice said. “Resources such as manpowerand money are under pressure DoD-wide. We’regoing to have to become more efficient. We’re fight-ing a good battle to keep our resources, but we mayhave to give up some of it. It’s going to be importantfor us, going forward, to be more efficient day in,day out. We need to do the same job with lessmoney or less people and using those people in adifferent way.”
He suggested that one AFRS practice that could bedone more efficiently is the transportation of newrecruits to Basic Military Training.
“Why would we have a new recruit to MEPS the
night before they ship?” he asks. “Why can’t we havethem hometown shipped and save money for theirlodging, meal and per diem? When you’re talkingabout 28,000 people who have to go to MEPS the nightbefore they ship, that turns into some real money.Maybe not every one of them can do that. But if youstart the first year at five percent then 10 and 15 per-cent and work your way up, you could free up somemoney to do something else with. You can do the samejob with less money.”
The colonel said that since he joined RecruitingService in 2006, the way people communicate haschanged dramatically.
“Social media has become much more prominent,”Colonel Brice said. “Kids today will text and useFacebook. We’re trying to keep up but we’re always alittle behind. Some of the rules and policies and com-munications systems in the Air Force hold us back insome ways. We have to stay relevant with the marketand communicating with the demographic we wouldlike to get.”
Colonel Brice thanked the members for their hardwork and professionalism. He said that as he moves on,he will miss the people the most and that the peopleworking through the tough times are the part ofrecruiting he will always remember.
Colonel Brice became Air Education and TrainingCommand director of manpower March 14.
AFRS bids farewell to vice commander
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey WolfeBrig. Gen. Balan Ayyar (left), Air Force Recruiting Servicecommander, presents Col. Michael Brice, former AFRS vicecommander, with a gift during a farewell luncheon held inColonel Brice’s honor March 7 at the Randolph Parr Club.
By Kelly ParsonsAir Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
Airforce.com’s Internet advisors, or “chatters,” answer avariety of questions from the online public, but on rare occa-sions they are asked to help save a life.
Brad Shimp, an Air Force Recruiting Service chatter, actedquickly when he received a request this week from someoneconcerned about their friend. The “friend,” an Air Force ser-vicemember, had recently received some bad news fromhome and was threatening to end his life.
Caring for each and every Airman and their family is para-mount in Air Force culture. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.Norton Schwartz issued a memo in 2010 stating, “We mustredouble our efforts to identify those at risk for suicide andget them the support needed to regain hope and balance intheir lives.”
These efforts include regular Wingman Days, a unit-widefunction where leadership discusses items such as stressmanagement, identifying risky behaviors and suicide preven-tion. Ironically, AFRS’s wingman day was held just a fewdays prior to this online event.
Mr. Shimp is no stranger to the wingman culture. A priorservicemember himself, he’s well-versed in looking out forfellow Airmen. Armed with a chat screen, Mr. Shimp servedas wingman as he gathered information from the concernedindividual. He let her know that he was engaging with theright people and that help was on the way for her friend.
Mr. Shimp did the chatting and speaking, while Ray
Korleski and Todd Goins assisted him in contacting appropri-ate base command posts. The three chatters wasted no timeso the distraught Airman could get the immediate help heneeded.
“I feel that the system worked very well. Within one hourof this [concerned friend] contacting me through the livechat, we were speaking with the individual’s first sergeantand the individual was tracked down and is in good hands,”Mr. Shimp said.
Max Sellers, lead interactive adviser for airforce.com, said,“I believe Brad did a commendable job, and went the dis-tance to ensure this individual was safe.”
The chatters engage with an average of 18,000 individualsper month, and sometimes as many as one thousand ormore a day. They also respond to approximately 5,000 e-mails each month, providing individual attention to eachinquiry.
While the chatters’ primary job is to prequalify an individ-ual for entry into the Air Force, provide pre-approach infor-mation to the recruiters in the field and answer questionsabout joining the Air Force, this isn’t the first time they’veintervened to prevent a potential suicide. In 2007, Mr. Sellersand an Air Force chaplain helped keep a distressed Airmancalm until help arrived. The chatters receive suicide aware-ness training as an additional tool because they need to beprepared if the situation arises.
For information about what to do if someone you know isthreatening suicide, call the National Suicide PreventionLifeline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255).
Airforce.com advisor conducts life-saving live chat
Photo by Staff Sgt. Hillary StonemetzBrad Shimp, an Air Force Recruiting Service chatter,acted quickly when he received a request fromsomeone concerned about their friend.
Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
Fourteen Air Force recruiters werenamed tops in their field for fiscal year2011 by Air Force Recruiting Service in aceremony here March 8.
Known as Operation Blue Suit, theAFRS program recognizes the bestrecruiters worldwide for their efforts inrecruiting a diverse, high-quality volun-teer force to fill career fields critical tothe Air Force in accomplishing its mis-sions. The program selects the best fromnearly 1,200 Air Force recruiters world-wide. Winners are nominated by theirrecruiting groups and selected based ontheir performance in meeting assignedrecruiting goals, leadership qualities andother professional traits.
Operation Blue Suit began in 1979 tohelp bolster production in criticalrecruiting programs. The competitionwas originally designed to enhanceenlisted recruiting efforts during the tra-ditionally slow months of Februarythrough May. It proved so successfulthat officials expanded it to include offi-cer accessions recruiting.
Air Force Recruiting Service offi-
cials recognized Blue Suit winnersand their spouses March 8-11 in SanAntonio, Texas.
The Air Force Blue Suit recruiters for2011 are: • Master Sgt. Daniel Cady of the 360th Recruiting Group • Master Sgt. William Eihusen of the 319th Recruiting Squadron • Master Sgt. Wil Knox of the 333rd RCS • Master Sgt. Kristofer Miller of the 372nd RCG • Tech. Sgt. Shawn Branum of the 368th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Hugo Caballero of the 369th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Lacanta Corbin of the 341tst RCS • Tech. Sgt. Richard Crim of the 364th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Felix Cruz III of the 314th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Hersinia Fidalgo of the 360th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Eric Jackson of the 343rd RCS • Staff Sgt. Cindy Hernandez of the 333rd RCS • Staff Sgt. Megan Stanton of the 313rd RCS • Staff Sgt. Bryan Sweetman of the 343rd RCS
Air Force honors top recruiters for 2011
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey WolfeFourteen Air Force recruiters were named tops in their field for fiscal year 2011 by AirForce Recruiting Service.
Duty Title:NCO in charge of knowledge operationsHometown:Houston, TexasHobbies:Home remodeling projects, weight and fitness train-ing, basketball, golfGreatest Accomplishment:My 5-year-old daughterPersonal Inspiration:The retired chiefs in my family (grandparent, aunt,uncle)Personal Motto:There will always be a better day.Pet Peeve:People who don’t wash their hands when leaving arestroom
Goals:Complete dual master’s degrees and, after retire-ment, become a Houston City Council member thenmayor of HoustonCommander’s Comments:“Sergeant Reese is a vital member of the 902 MissionSupport Group leadership team and proves his worthevery single day! From heading group Wingman Dayactivities to handling commander-level time-sensitivesupport needs, he tackles every task with enthusiasmand precision. His duty performance, military image,and firm belief in servant leadership make him agreat candidate to be a future senior enlisted leaderin our Air Force.”
Col. Scott Peel902nd Mission Support Group commander
Staff Sgt. Nick Reese902nd Mission Support Group
Photo by David Terry
PAGE 7WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 6 MARCH 18, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Hillary StonemetzAir Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
The Air Force Recruiting family bid farewell to Col.Michael Brice, AFRS vice commander, at a luncheon andceremony at the Randolph Officers Club March 7.
“As I leave AFRS, on behalf of my wife and daughter,I’d like to say thank you to everyone across the com-mand,” Colonel Brice said. “I would like to salute themand tell them good luck. I have to take my badge off butI will forever be a recruiter.”
In an interview before the ceremony, Colonel Bricesaid he believes one of the biggest challenges facing theAir Force is working with reduced resources.
“The Air Force is entering a difficult period,”Colonel Brice said. “Resources such as manpowerand money are under pressure DoD-wide. We’regoing to have to become more efficient. We’re fight-ing a good battle to keep our resources, but we mayhave to give up some of it. It’s going to be importantfor us, going forward, to be more efficient day in,day out. We need to do the same job with lessmoney or less people and using those people in adifferent way.”
He suggested that one AFRS practice that could bedone more efficiently is the transportation of newrecruits to Basic Military Training.
“Why would we have a new recruit to MEPS the
night before they ship?” he asks. “Why can’t we havethem hometown shipped and save money for theirlodging, meal and per diem? When you’re talkingabout 28,000 people who have to go to MEPS the nightbefore they ship, that turns into some real money.Maybe not every one of them can do that. But if youstart the first year at five percent then 10 and 15 per-cent and work your way up, you could free up somemoney to do something else with. You can do the samejob with less money.”
The colonel said that since he joined RecruitingService in 2006, the way people communicate haschanged dramatically.
“Social media has become much more prominent,”Colonel Brice said. “Kids today will text and useFacebook. We’re trying to keep up but we’re always alittle behind. Some of the rules and policies and com-munications systems in the Air Force hold us back insome ways. We have to stay relevant with the marketand communicating with the demographic we wouldlike to get.”
Colonel Brice thanked the members for their hardwork and professionalism. He said that as he moves on,he will miss the people the most and that the peopleworking through the tough times are the part ofrecruiting he will always remember.
Colonel Brice became Air Education and TrainingCommand director of manpower March 14.
AFRS bids farewell to vice commander
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey WolfeBrig. Gen. Balan Ayyar (left), Air Force Recruiting Servicecommander, presents Col. Michael Brice, former AFRS vicecommander, with a gift during a farewell luncheon held inColonel Brice’s honor March 7 at the Randolph Parr Club.
By Kelly ParsonsAir Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
Airforce.com’s Internet advisors, or “chatters,” answer avariety of questions from the online public, but on rare occa-sions they are asked to help save a life.
Brad Shimp, an Air Force Recruiting Service chatter, actedquickly when he received a request this week from someoneconcerned about their friend. The “friend,” an Air Force ser-vicemember, had recently received some bad news fromhome and was threatening to end his life.
Caring for each and every Airman and their family is para-mount in Air Force culture. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.Norton Schwartz issued a memo in 2010 stating, “We mustredouble our efforts to identify those at risk for suicide andget them the support needed to regain hope and balance intheir lives.”
These efforts include regular Wingman Days, a unit-widefunction where leadership discusses items such as stressmanagement, identifying risky behaviors and suicide preven-tion. Ironically, AFRS’s wingman day was held just a fewdays prior to this online event.
Mr. Shimp is no stranger to the wingman culture. A priorservicemember himself, he’s well-versed in looking out forfellow Airmen. Armed with a chat screen, Mr. Shimp servedas wingman as he gathered information from the concernedindividual. He let her know that he was engaging with theright people and that help was on the way for her friend.
Mr. Shimp did the chatting and speaking, while Ray
Korleski and Todd Goins assisted him in contacting appropri-ate base command posts. The three chatters wasted no timeso the distraught Airman could get the immediate help heneeded.
“I feel that the system worked very well. Within one hourof this [concerned friend] contacting me through the livechat, we were speaking with the individual’s first sergeantand the individual was tracked down and is in good hands,”Mr. Shimp said.
Max Sellers, lead interactive adviser for airforce.com, said,“I believe Brad did a commendable job, and went the dis-tance to ensure this individual was safe.”
The chatters engage with an average of 18,000 individualsper month, and sometimes as many as one thousand ormore a day. They also respond to approximately 5,000 e-mails each month, providing individual attention to eachinquiry.
While the chatters’ primary job is to prequalify an individ-ual for entry into the Air Force, provide pre-approach infor-mation to the recruiters in the field and answer questionsabout joining the Air Force, this isn’t the first time they’veintervened to prevent a potential suicide. In 2007, Mr. Sellersand an Air Force chaplain helped keep a distressed Airmancalm until help arrived. The chatters receive suicide aware-ness training as an additional tool because they need to beprepared if the situation arises.
For information about what to do if someone you know isthreatening suicide, call the National Suicide PreventionLifeline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255).
Airforce.com advisor conducts life-saving live chat
Photo by Staff Sgt. Hillary StonemetzBrad Shimp, an Air Force Recruiting Service chatter,acted quickly when he received a request fromsomeone concerned about their friend.
Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
Fourteen Air Force recruiters werenamed tops in their field for fiscal year2011 by Air Force Recruiting Service in aceremony here March 8.
Known as Operation Blue Suit, theAFRS program recognizes the bestrecruiters worldwide for their efforts inrecruiting a diverse, high-quality volun-teer force to fill career fields critical tothe Air Force in accomplishing its mis-sions. The program selects the best fromnearly 1,200 Air Force recruiters world-wide. Winners are nominated by theirrecruiting groups and selected based ontheir performance in meeting assignedrecruiting goals, leadership qualities andother professional traits.
Operation Blue Suit began in 1979 tohelp bolster production in criticalrecruiting programs. The competitionwas originally designed to enhanceenlisted recruiting efforts during the tra-ditionally slow months of Februarythrough May. It proved so successfulthat officials expanded it to include offi-cer accessions recruiting.
Air Force Recruiting Service offi-
cials recognized Blue Suit winnersand their spouses March 8-11 in SanAntonio, Texas.
The Air Force Blue Suit recruiters for2011 are: • Master Sgt. Daniel Cady of the 360th Recruiting Group • Master Sgt. William Eihusen of the 319th Recruiting Squadron • Master Sgt. Wil Knox of the 333rd RCS • Master Sgt. Kristofer Miller of the 372nd RCG • Tech. Sgt. Shawn Branum of the 368th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Hugo Caballero of the 369th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Lacanta Corbin of the 341tst RCS • Tech. Sgt. Richard Crim of the 364th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Felix Cruz III of the 314th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Hersinia Fidalgo of the 360th RCS • Tech. Sgt. Eric Jackson of the 343rd RCS • Staff Sgt. Cindy Hernandez of the 333rd RCS • Staff Sgt. Megan Stanton of the 313rd RCS • Staff Sgt. Bryan Sweetman of the 343rd RCS
Air Force honors top recruiters for 2011
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey WolfeFourteen Air Force recruiters were named tops in their field for fiscal year 2011 by AirForce Recruiting Service.
Duty Title:NCO in charge of knowledge operationsHometown:Houston, TexasHobbies:Home remodeling projects, weight and fitness train-ing, basketball, golfGreatest Accomplishment:My 5-year-old daughterPersonal Inspiration:The retired chiefs in my family (grandparent, aunt,uncle)Personal Motto:There will always be a better day.Pet Peeve:People who don’t wash their hands when leaving arestroom
Goals:Complete dual master’s degrees and, after retire-ment, become a Houston City Council member thenmayor of HoustonCommander’s Comments:“Sergeant Reese is a vital member of the 902 MissionSupport Group leadership team and proves his worthevery single day! From heading group Wingman Dayactivities to handling commander-level time-sensitivesupport needs, he tackles every task with enthusiasmand precision. His duty performance, military image,and firm belief in servant leadership make him agreat candidate to be a future senior enlisted leaderin our Air Force.”
Col. Scott Peel902nd Mission Support Group commander
Staff Sgt. Nick Reese902nd Mission Support Group
Photo by David Terry
PAGE 9WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 8 MARCH 18, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Precious Yett502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
A public speaking course that originated at LacklandAir Force Base’s Robert D. Gaylor NoncommissionedOfficers Academy is now being offered at Randolph andwill soon begin at Fort Sam Houston.
The course, available at Lackland for about a year,became a Joint Base San Antonio venture in April 2010. Itwas created to provide basic speaking principles toDepartment of Defense staff. The class is usually attendedby NCOs, SNCOs and civilian personnel in managerialpositions, but is available for everyone.
The class includes organization of effective speaking,how to write an outline, the various patterns and strate-gies of speaking and how to mask nervousness.
“Learning to become an effective speaker startsafter the course is taught,” said Master Sgt. RichardRay, Gaylor NCO Academy superintendent. “It isnow time for each member to take those skills andrefine them through practice.”
All of the instructors at the NCO Academy rotate to facil-itate the course.
“Our primary responsibility is educating technical ser-geants; however, our instructors volunteer to provide addi-tional information to JBSA personnel as the courses arescheduled,” Sergeant Ray said.
The structure of the course was developed by MasterSgt. Erica Gage, former superintendent of the Gaylor NCOAcademy.
At Lackland the class is taught once during a six-week period because the classes can accommodatemore students. However, due to limited space atRandolph, the course is currently offered two to threetimes during a six-week period. The course is slatedto begin at Fort Sam Houston within the next severalmonths.
Staff Sgt. Teron Mobley, 902nd Security ForcesSquadron unit training manager, said he was “pretty con-fident about public speaking prior to taking the course, butyou’re never 100 percent.
Course teaches Airmen to speak properly, carry a sharp pencil
Photo by David TerryMaster Sgt. Kyle Hollingsworth gives a presentation March10 during a public speaking class at Randolph.See COURSE P9
By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
As the nation takes time to remember the horrific actsof the Holocaust May 1, Randolph will do its part tohonor those who died and remember those who sur-vived.
To raise money for the remembrance events that takeplace in May, fundraisers are planned during March andApril around Randolph. All proceeds from the fundrais-ers go to fund the events during the remembrance weekof May 1–7.
A Days of Remembrance art contest is planned withthe deadline in March and judging in April. Winning art-work will be displayed during the week in the chapel.
A car wash and golf tournament are scheduled forMarch while an ethnic food cookoff and commissarybagging are planned for April.
An observance ceremony takes place May 5 in Chapel2. A Holocaust survivor from the Jewish CommunityCenter San Antonio Holocaust Museum will share theirstory during the observance as a guest speaker.
Chaplain (Col.) Paul Cannon is giving the benedictionand Rabbi (Capt.) Sarah Schechter will sing psalms inHebrew as Airmen light candles signifying differentaspects of the Holocaust. After the ceremony, there willbe refreshments and a question-and-answer sessionwith the survivor outside Chapel 2.
A 5K run or walk to help support the Holocaust Daysof Remembrance Committee takes place May 6 at EberlePark. The run is free of charge and the first 50 people toenter will receive a free T-shirt.
Randolph to honorsurvivors, victims ofHolocaust By Linda Frost
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
A year of positive transitionis ahead as a new era of mili-tary medical care is estab-lished in the San Antonioarea, as mandated by the2005 Base Closure andRealignment Commission.
Air Force and Army chiefsof staff have signed anagreement that establishesthe San Antonio MilitaryHealth System, or SAMHS,which activates Sept. 15.
SAMHS will serve as theoffice that provides over-sight for clinical, educationaland business operations forall military treatment facilities in the San Antonioregion and will be led by Air Force and Armygeneral officers.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, 59thMedical Wing commander, has been named thefirst director of SAMHS and Army Brig. Gen.Joseph Caravalho, Jr., Brooke Army MedicalCenter commanding general, will serve as deputydirector. The positions will rotate services everytwo years.
“SAMHS will be dedicated to high-quality,
patient-centered care with a clear focus onsafety and customer service, while provid-ing first-rate graduate medical educationand training, state-of-the art research andmaintaining a first-class global readinessmission,” said General Hepburn, who willoversee the health care for 227,000 benefi-ciaries in the San Antonio metropolitanarea.
Within this system, the current facilityknown as BAMC will be renamed the SanAntonio Military Medical Center, or SAMMC,providing inpatient services, while WilfordHall Medical Center will be renamed theWilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, orWHASC, and emerge as one of theDepartment of Defense’s largest ambulatorysurgical centers providing outpatient servic-es.
While both military treatment facilitieswill be staffed with Air Force and Army person-nel, SAMMC and WHASC will continue to be com-manded by an Army and Air Force general offi-cer, respectively.
“Our expectation for SAMHS is a higher level offunctioning. By working collaboratively acrossservice component lines, we can achieve tremen-dous educational, staffing and resourcing efficien-cies. These, in turn, will enhance our alreadyworld class healthcare services both at home andduring deployments,” General Hepburn said.
Leaders sign agreement for futuremilitary structure in San Antonio
Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn
“I was looking forward to learning something I didn’tknow and the course gave me that.”
The most valuable feedback that Sergeant Ray hasreceived from instructing this eight-hour course is that “itis not long enough.”
Sergeant Mobley said he feels the course improved thespeaking skills he already possessed.
“I’m more confident than I was initially,” he said. “Thebest part of the course had to be preparing and presentingyour own briefing. It is one thing to sit down and absorbknowledge. It is another to have to demonstrate whatyou’ve learned and be critiqued. It was rewarding to rec-ognize that the entire class absorbed the additional skillstaught and now have the capacity to use them in thefuture.”
Sergeant Ray said the most rewarding part of teachingpeople to become stronger speakers is “seeing each mem-ber leave the course with additional tools in their toolboxin order to walk through the door when opportunity comesknocking. I challenge those members who may have a fearof speaking in public to sign up.”
To register for the next course, visit the JBSAProfessional Development Community of Practice link:https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=oo-ED-AE-15. Under “register online,”select “Randolph AFB Public Speaking Seminar.”Choose class date and then select “register.”
Those unable to register can contact Master Sgt.Terri Harmon, 902 Force Support Squadron basecareer adviser, for assistance at 652-2525.
COURSE from P8
“I get home earlier,” said Kenneth Hall, 902ndLogistics Readiness Squadron. “It’s more economical.”
The vanpools reach all parts of San Antoniofrom the southwest side near Lackland to thenortheast, Mr. Cox said.
Mr. Lott said there are van routes that go fromAustin to Port San Antonio.
If a vanpool member has an emergency or needs to
stay late, they’re not stuck without a ride home. For a$5 annual fee, the certified auto ride in an emergencyprogram, run by VIA and the Alamo Area Council ofGovernments, can guarantee a free taxi ride homewith some restrictions. The service all applies to citybus and carpool commuters as well.
For more information, contact Mr. Cox at 652-3477or Mr. Lott at 652-4206.
VAN POOL from P3
Under the UCMJ, the maximum punishment for useor possession of Spice is a dishonorable discharge, for-feiture of all pay and allowances, and up to five yearsin military confinement.
“Service members need to know that Spice, just likemarijuana, is incompatible with military service,”Captain Babor added. “Smoking these drugs is leadingto stripes being taken, pay being forfeited, and careersending. Getting high is bad for service- members andworse for the mission.”
Servicemembers who are court-martialed or admin-istratively discharged for Spice are also subject to los-ing most of their veteran’s benefits, such as the Post9/11 G.I. Bill, other educational benefits, VA homeloans and disability benefits.
Captain Babor said reporting drug abuse is the respon-sible thing to do in order to prevent harm to those usingdrugs and everyone around them.
“Reporting something like Spice usage is very impor-tant,” Captain Babor said. “If someone observes suspi-cious activity, they need to report it to the security policeas soon as possible.”
“Being a military member is a 24-hour job, and itis the duty of all members to be not only physically,but mentally fit to do their job at a moment’snotice,” the lawyer said.
To report suspicious behavior or for more details, con-tact the 902nd Security Forces Squadron at 652-5700.
SPICE from P4
In observance of National Women’s History Month, the Randolph community comes together March 31 to honorLucille Bridges, mother of Ruby Bridges, the first African American to integrate a public school in 1960. Theevent begins with a breakfast program at 7:30 a.m. at 555 E Street East, Bldg. 581, in the basement confer-
ence room. Ms. Bridges will be available for a “meet and greet” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the baseexchange. The Ruby Bridges story will be presented from 2-3 p.m. in the Randolph Elementary School gym.
National Women’s History Month observance
Beginning April 4, the Air ForcePersonnel Center will offer satellite
parking and shuttle service from theBXtra parking lot and Hangar 16. AFPCemployess can park their cars at one ofthese two locations and take the shut-tle bus, which will run throughout the
day, to and from work. For more details,call Richard Trevino at 652-2401.
Shuttle service forAFPC employees
PAGE 9WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 8 MARCH 18, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Precious Yett502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
A public speaking course that originated at LacklandAir Force Base’s Robert D. Gaylor NoncommissionedOfficers Academy is now being offered at Randolph andwill soon begin at Fort Sam Houston.
The course, available at Lackland for about a year,became a Joint Base San Antonio venture in April 2010. Itwas created to provide basic speaking principles toDepartment of Defense staff. The class is usually attendedby NCOs, SNCOs and civilian personnel in managerialpositions, but is available for everyone.
The class includes organization of effective speaking,how to write an outline, the various patterns and strate-gies of speaking and how to mask nervousness.
“Learning to become an effective speaker startsafter the course is taught,” said Master Sgt. RichardRay, Gaylor NCO Academy superintendent. “It isnow time for each member to take those skills andrefine them through practice.”
All of the instructors at the NCO Academy rotate to facil-itate the course.
“Our primary responsibility is educating technical ser-geants; however, our instructors volunteer to provide addi-tional information to JBSA personnel as the courses arescheduled,” Sergeant Ray said.
The structure of the course was developed by MasterSgt. Erica Gage, former superintendent of the Gaylor NCOAcademy.
At Lackland the class is taught once during a six-week period because the classes can accommodatemore students. However, due to limited space atRandolph, the course is currently offered two to threetimes during a six-week period. The course is slatedto begin at Fort Sam Houston within the next severalmonths.
Staff Sgt. Teron Mobley, 902nd Security ForcesSquadron unit training manager, said he was “pretty con-fident about public speaking prior to taking the course, butyou’re never 100 percent.
Course teaches Airmen to speak properly, carry a sharp pencil
Photo by David TerryMaster Sgt. Kyle Hollingsworth gives a presentation March10 during a public speaking class at Randolph.See COURSE P9
By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
As the nation takes time to remember the horrific actsof the Holocaust May 1, Randolph will do its part tohonor those who died and remember those who sur-vived.
To raise money for the remembrance events that takeplace in May, fundraisers are planned during March andApril around Randolph. All proceeds from the fundrais-ers go to fund the events during the remembrance weekof May 1–7.
A Days of Remembrance art contest is planned withthe deadline in March and judging in April. Winning art-work will be displayed during the week in the chapel.
A car wash and golf tournament are scheduled forMarch while an ethnic food cookoff and commissarybagging are planned for April.
An observance ceremony takes place May 5 in Chapel2. A Holocaust survivor from the Jewish CommunityCenter San Antonio Holocaust Museum will share theirstory during the observance as a guest speaker.
Chaplain (Col.) Paul Cannon is giving the benedictionand Rabbi (Capt.) Sarah Schechter will sing psalms inHebrew as Airmen light candles signifying differentaspects of the Holocaust. After the ceremony, there willbe refreshments and a question-and-answer sessionwith the survivor outside Chapel 2.
A 5K run or walk to help support the Holocaust Daysof Remembrance Committee takes place May 6 at EberlePark. The run is free of charge and the first 50 people toenter will receive a free T-shirt.
Randolph to honorsurvivors, victims ofHolocaust By Linda Frost
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
A year of positive transitionis ahead as a new era of mili-tary medical care is estab-lished in the San Antonioarea, as mandated by the2005 Base Closure andRealignment Commission.
Air Force and Army chiefsof staff have signed anagreement that establishesthe San Antonio MilitaryHealth System, or SAMHS,which activates Sept. 15.
SAMHS will serve as theoffice that provides over-sight for clinical, educationaland business operations forall military treatment facilities in the San Antonioregion and will be led by Air Force and Armygeneral officers.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn, 59thMedical Wing commander, has been named thefirst director of SAMHS and Army Brig. Gen.Joseph Caravalho, Jr., Brooke Army MedicalCenter commanding general, will serve as deputydirector. The positions will rotate services everytwo years.
“SAMHS will be dedicated to high-quality,
patient-centered care with a clear focus onsafety and customer service, while provid-ing first-rate graduate medical educationand training, state-of-the art research andmaintaining a first-class global readinessmission,” said General Hepburn, who willoversee the health care for 227,000 benefi-ciaries in the San Antonio metropolitanarea.
Within this system, the current facilityknown as BAMC will be renamed the SanAntonio Military Medical Center, or SAMMC,providing inpatient services, while WilfordHall Medical Center will be renamed theWilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, orWHASC, and emerge as one of theDepartment of Defense’s largest ambulatorysurgical centers providing outpatient servic-es.
While both military treatment facilitieswill be staffed with Air Force and Army person-nel, SAMMC and WHASC will continue to be com-manded by an Army and Air Force general offi-cer, respectively.
“Our expectation for SAMHS is a higher level offunctioning. By working collaboratively acrossservice component lines, we can achieve tremen-dous educational, staffing and resourcing efficien-cies. These, in turn, will enhance our alreadyworld class healthcare services both at home andduring deployments,” General Hepburn said.
Leaders sign agreement for futuremilitary structure in San Antonio
Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn
“I was looking forward to learning something I didn’tknow and the course gave me that.”
The most valuable feedback that Sergeant Ray hasreceived from instructing this eight-hour course is that “itis not long enough.”
Sergeant Mobley said he feels the course improved thespeaking skills he already possessed.
“I’m more confident than I was initially,” he said. “Thebest part of the course had to be preparing and presentingyour own briefing. It is one thing to sit down and absorbknowledge. It is another to have to demonstrate whatyou’ve learned and be critiqued. It was rewarding to rec-ognize that the entire class absorbed the additional skillstaught and now have the capacity to use them in thefuture.”
Sergeant Ray said the most rewarding part of teachingpeople to become stronger speakers is “seeing each mem-ber leave the course with additional tools in their toolboxin order to walk through the door when opportunity comesknocking. I challenge those members who may have a fearof speaking in public to sign up.”
To register for the next course, visit the JBSAProfessional Development Community of Practice link:https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=oo-ED-AE-15. Under “register online,”select “Randolph AFB Public Speaking Seminar.”Choose class date and then select “register.”
Those unable to register can contact Master Sgt.Terri Harmon, 902 Force Support Squadron basecareer adviser, for assistance at 652-2525.
COURSE from P8
“I get home earlier,” said Kenneth Hall, 902ndLogistics Readiness Squadron. “It’s more economical.”
The vanpools reach all parts of San Antoniofrom the southwest side near Lackland to thenortheast, Mr. Cox said.
Mr. Lott said there are van routes that go fromAustin to Port San Antonio.
If a vanpool member has an emergency or needs to
stay late, they’re not stuck without a ride home. For a$5 annual fee, the certified auto ride in an emergencyprogram, run by VIA and the Alamo Area Council ofGovernments, can guarantee a free taxi ride homewith some restrictions. The service all applies to citybus and carpool commuters as well.
For more information, contact Mr. Cox at 652-3477or Mr. Lott at 652-4206.
VAN POOL from P3
Under the UCMJ, the maximum punishment for useor possession of Spice is a dishonorable discharge, for-feiture of all pay and allowances, and up to five yearsin military confinement.
“Service members need to know that Spice, just likemarijuana, is incompatible with military service,”Captain Babor added. “Smoking these drugs is leadingto stripes being taken, pay being forfeited, and careersending. Getting high is bad for service- members andworse for the mission.”
Servicemembers who are court-martialed or admin-istratively discharged for Spice are also subject to los-ing most of their veteran’s benefits, such as the Post9/11 G.I. Bill, other educational benefits, VA homeloans and disability benefits.
Captain Babor said reporting drug abuse is the respon-sible thing to do in order to prevent harm to those usingdrugs and everyone around them.
“Reporting something like Spice usage is very impor-tant,” Captain Babor said. “If someone observes suspi-cious activity, they need to report it to the security policeas soon as possible.”
“Being a military member is a 24-hour job, and itis the duty of all members to be not only physically,but mentally fit to do their job at a moment’snotice,” the lawyer said.
To report suspicious behavior or for more details, con-tact the 902nd Security Forces Squadron at 652-5700.
SPICE from P4
In observance of National Women’s History Month, the Randolph community comes together March 31 to honorLucille Bridges, mother of Ruby Bridges, the first African American to integrate a public school in 1960. Theevent begins with a breakfast program at 7:30 a.m. at 555 E Street East, Bldg. 581, in the basement confer-
ence room. Ms. Bridges will be available for a “meet and greet” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the baseexchange. The Ruby Bridges story will be presented from 2-3 p.m. in the Randolph Elementary School gym.
National Women’s History Month observance
Beginning April 4, the Air ForcePersonnel Center will offer satellite
parking and shuttle service from theBXtra parking lot and Hangar 16. AFPCemployess can park their cars at one ofthese two locations and take the shut-tle bus, which will run throughout the
day, to and from work. For more details,call Richard Trevino at 652-2401.
Shuttle service forAFPC employees
PAGE 11WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 10 MARCH 18, 2011
FEATURE
By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
At first glance the large steel box looks like theenlarged and possibly exaggerated part of an actionfigure toy from the 1980s, but a closer look reveals it’smore complicated and much more simple.
The steel box, commonly called a hypobaricchamber, can produce the effects of flight up toabout 25,000 feet without ever leaving the ground.The physics governing how the large machineworks are similar to a common vacuum cleaner –only on a much larger scale.
From both inside and outside the chamber, Airmenfrom the 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron watchover the students in the chamber.
Airman 1st Class Kristen Coffey, 359th AMDS, aero-space operations physiology, said the chamber is fortraining personnel and aircrew for the effects altitudehas on the human body, whether it’s unpressurized air-craft, rapid decompression or other situations withlower than normal air pressure.
In aircraft and in the chamber, the air pilots and air-crew breathe contains none of the nitrogen found in airat lower elevations. Breathing pure oxygen reduces the
risk of decompression sickness.Staff Sgt. Vikas Kumar, 359th AMDS, NCO in charge
of maintenance said “We train them for hypoxia, or thelack of oxygen” in their system.
The symptoms of hypoxia become more acute atabout 10,000 feet and can include mental confusion,nausea, passing out, lack of visual acuity andcyanosis, or the bluing of fingertips and lips. The timeof useful consciousness diminishes with altitude, toabout three to five minutes at 25,000 feet for an aver-age person. He said they have different types of train-ing for different airframes and the training for first-time students is different than the refresher trainingpilots receive every five years.
One end of the chamber has a steel door which leadsto a small air lock compartment, similar to what onemay see in a science-fiction movie. Beyond the air lockis the main part of the chamber. On the opposite end isa reinforced window, through which the controls forthe chamber are visible.
Three Airmen from the 359th AMDS sit outsidethe chamber on elevated chairs keeping watch aswell as controlling the flights. One observer listensand takes notes about what happens in the cham-ber during a flight while another speaks with the
inside observers. All of the observers are in commu-nication with each other, keeping an eye the flightfrom inside and outside the chamber.
The control panel has lights, levers and dials to con-trol and monitor the atmosphere in the chamber.Below the panel between two of the seats is a long,red lever attached to an emergency dump valve,which almost immediately regulates the pressure inthe chamber with the atmosphere outside in case ofan emergency.
During the flights, students sit along the long sides ofthe chamber facing each other. In front of each seat is asmall control panel with three different types of oxygenmask connectors for different aircraft and applications,including the connector for an ejection seat.
“We put them in a working environment like inthe aircraft,” Airman Coffey said. “They’re not justsitting around.”
She said in an actual flight, the aircrew isn’t sittingidle; they’re busy working on the things that keep theaircraft aloft. To keep the students’ minds churningand to test for hypoxia, they do worksheets with basicarithmetic and other exercises. Sergeant Kumarreferred to the worksheets as “brain bubblegum”because of their simplicity.
Take flight in a steel box, no passport required
Acting as an insideobserver, Airman 1stClass Candice Kennedy,359th AerospaceMedicine Squadron,reports to Staff Sgt. VikasKumar, 359th AMDS,during a flight trainingexercise in a hypobaricchamber. The chamber isused to train aircrew torecognize and overcomealtitude sickness.Photo by Brian McGloin
By Maj. Rosaire BusheyAir Education and Training Command Public Affairs
In 1961, the average American earned $5,300 a year,could buy a house for $12,500, a car for less than$3,000 and gas for 27 cents a gallon.
In 1961, the U.S. Air Force bought a plane for$756,000 –a deal that continues to pay dividends 50years later.
March 17 marks the 50th anniversary of the T-38Talon touching down at Randolph AFB, Texas, to begina training mission that continues to this day – one thathas witnessed more than 70,000 Air Force aviators layclaim to the title T-38 pilot.
“Flying the T-38 was akin to owning a new sportscar,” said retired Lt. Col. Donald Wheeler, a member ofclass 62FZ, the first class to train in the Talon. “The air-plane was a joy to fly, easy to handle and easy to land.”
It was easy because it was made to be.Welco Gasich, a Northrop engineer who worked on
the development of the T-38, spoke back at a ceremonyin 1984 of how, from the beginning, the T-38 was madeto be safe, reliable and affordable.
“The T-38, I think, is a very good example of the con-vergence of technology and the military requirementscoming together at a propitious time,” Mr. Gasich said.
The technology started with a General Electric engineused for drones and Mr. Gasich explained that, after GEmodified the engine and Northrop “wrapped a planearound it,” they had a small plane with an engine thatproduced a 7:1 thrust-to-weight ratio – far higher thanthe 4:1 or 5:1 used by frontline fighters of the time.
“We briefed some people in the Air Force and theysaid, ‘this is ridiculous. You can’t have an airplane thatsmall that has the performance that you have’,” he said.
But it did. The T-38 was built not only for perform-ance but safety as well, Mr. Gasich explained. Owing tolighter materials, a lower aircraft weight and designmodifications that enhanced stability, the designers ofthe T-38 sought to lower the accident rate from 20 to 25per 100,000 flying hours, as was the norm for Century-Series aircraft, to seven to 10 accidents per 100,000hours.
“It didn’t happen by happenstance,” Mr. Gasich said in1984 of the safety rate, then still about two per 100,000hours. “It happened because we tried to design an air-plane that was safe to fly.”
Today, the lifetime Class A mishap rate through 2009stands at less than 1.5 per 100,000 flying hours.
“Class 62FZ had a great safety record and I can’trecall any near misses,” Mr. Wheeler said. “Like mostaircraft, it presented no problems if you flew it withinthe envelope.”
From most viewpoints – safety, cost and performance– the pilots who have flown it are still singing odes to theT-38, which began making Air Force history a full yearbefore four little known Englishmen hit the pop chartsunder the name The Beatles.
T-38 celebrates 50 years of Air Force flying
Danny Rodriguez (left to right), Mario Tarinand Frank Garcia, 12th Flying Training Wingcorrosion control, apply decals to the wingsof a T-38 Talon March 10 to commemorateits 50th anniversary. The T-38 is painted thesame paint scheme used on the aircraftduring the 1960s.
Neil Orlowski, 12th Flying Training Wingcorrosion control, puts the final touches on a1960s-style decal on a T-38 Talon in prepa-ration for a commemorative ceremonymarking the 50th anniversary of the aircraft.The decals were fabricated by the 12th FTWcorrosion control unit.Photos by David Terry
PAGE 11WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 10 MARCH 18, 2011
FEATURE
By Brian McGloin502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
At first glance the large steel box looks like theenlarged and possibly exaggerated part of an actionfigure toy from the 1980s, but a closer look reveals it’smore complicated and much more simple.
The steel box, commonly called a hypobaricchamber, can produce the effects of flight up toabout 25,000 feet without ever leaving the ground.The physics governing how the large machineworks are similar to a common vacuum cleaner –only on a much larger scale.
From both inside and outside the chamber, Airmenfrom the 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron watchover the students in the chamber.
Airman 1st Class Kristen Coffey, 359th AMDS, aero-space operations physiology, said the chamber is fortraining personnel and aircrew for the effects altitudehas on the human body, whether it’s unpressurized air-craft, rapid decompression or other situations withlower than normal air pressure.
In aircraft and in the chamber, the air pilots and air-crew breathe contains none of the nitrogen found in airat lower elevations. Breathing pure oxygen reduces the
risk of decompression sickness.Staff Sgt. Vikas Kumar, 359th AMDS, NCO in charge
of maintenance said “We train them for hypoxia, or thelack of oxygen” in their system.
The symptoms of hypoxia become more acute atabout 10,000 feet and can include mental confusion,nausea, passing out, lack of visual acuity andcyanosis, or the bluing of fingertips and lips. The timeof useful consciousness diminishes with altitude, toabout three to five minutes at 25,000 feet for an aver-age person. He said they have different types of train-ing for different airframes and the training for first-time students is different than the refresher trainingpilots receive every five years.
One end of the chamber has a steel door which leadsto a small air lock compartment, similar to what onemay see in a science-fiction movie. Beyond the air lockis the main part of the chamber. On the opposite end isa reinforced window, through which the controls forthe chamber are visible.
Three Airmen from the 359th AMDS sit outsidethe chamber on elevated chairs keeping watch aswell as controlling the flights. One observer listensand takes notes about what happens in the cham-ber during a flight while another speaks with the
inside observers. All of the observers are in commu-nication with each other, keeping an eye the flightfrom inside and outside the chamber.
The control panel has lights, levers and dials to con-trol and monitor the atmosphere in the chamber.Below the panel between two of the seats is a long,red lever attached to an emergency dump valve,which almost immediately regulates the pressure inthe chamber with the atmosphere outside in case ofan emergency.
During the flights, students sit along the long sides ofthe chamber facing each other. In front of each seat is asmall control panel with three different types of oxygenmask connectors for different aircraft and applications,including the connector for an ejection seat.
“We put them in a working environment like inthe aircraft,” Airman Coffey said. “They’re not justsitting around.”
She said in an actual flight, the aircrew isn’t sittingidle; they’re busy working on the things that keep theaircraft aloft. To keep the students’ minds churningand to test for hypoxia, they do worksheets with basicarithmetic and other exercises. Sergeant Kumarreferred to the worksheets as “brain bubblegum”because of their simplicity.
Take flight in a steel box, no passport required
Acting as an insideobserver, Airman 1stClass Candice Kennedy,359th AerospaceMedicine Squadron,reports to Staff Sgt. VikasKumar, 359th AMDS,during a flight trainingexercise in a hypobaricchamber. The chamber isused to train aircrew torecognize and overcomealtitude sickness.Photo by Brian McGloin
By Maj. Rosaire BusheyAir Education and Training Command Public Affairs
In 1961, the average American earned $5,300 a year,could buy a house for $12,500, a car for less than$3,000 and gas for 27 cents a gallon.
In 1961, the U.S. Air Force bought a plane for$756,000 –a deal that continues to pay dividends 50years later.
March 17 marks the 50th anniversary of the T-38Talon touching down at Randolph AFB, Texas, to begina training mission that continues to this day – one thathas witnessed more than 70,000 Air Force aviators layclaim to the title T-38 pilot.
“Flying the T-38 was akin to owning a new sportscar,” said retired Lt. Col. Donald Wheeler, a member ofclass 62FZ, the first class to train in the Talon. “The air-plane was a joy to fly, easy to handle and easy to land.”
It was easy because it was made to be.Welco Gasich, a Northrop engineer who worked on
the development of the T-38, spoke back at a ceremonyin 1984 of how, from the beginning, the T-38 was madeto be safe, reliable and affordable.
“The T-38, I think, is a very good example of the con-vergence of technology and the military requirementscoming together at a propitious time,” Mr. Gasich said.
The technology started with a General Electric engineused for drones and Mr. Gasich explained that, after GEmodified the engine and Northrop “wrapped a planearound it,” they had a small plane with an engine thatproduced a 7:1 thrust-to-weight ratio – far higher thanthe 4:1 or 5:1 used by frontline fighters of the time.
“We briefed some people in the Air Force and theysaid, ‘this is ridiculous. You can’t have an airplane thatsmall that has the performance that you have’,” he said.
But it did. The T-38 was built not only for perform-ance but safety as well, Mr. Gasich explained. Owing tolighter materials, a lower aircraft weight and designmodifications that enhanced stability, the designers ofthe T-38 sought to lower the accident rate from 20 to 25per 100,000 flying hours, as was the norm for Century-Series aircraft, to seven to 10 accidents per 100,000hours.
“It didn’t happen by happenstance,” Mr. Gasich said in1984 of the safety rate, then still about two per 100,000hours. “It happened because we tried to design an air-plane that was safe to fly.”
Today, the lifetime Class A mishap rate through 2009stands at less than 1.5 per 100,000 flying hours.
“Class 62FZ had a great safety record and I can’trecall any near misses,” Mr. Wheeler said. “Like mostaircraft, it presented no problems if you flew it withinthe envelope.”
From most viewpoints – safety, cost and performance– the pilots who have flown it are still singing odes to theT-38, which began making Air Force history a full yearbefore four little known Englishmen hit the pop chartsunder the name The Beatles.
T-38 celebrates 50 years of Air Force flying
Danny Rodriguez (left to right), Mario Tarinand Frank Garcia, 12th Flying Training Wingcorrosion control, apply decals to the wingsof a T-38 Talon March 10 to commemorateits 50th anniversary. The T-38 is painted thesame paint scheme used on the aircraftduring the 1960s.
Neil Orlowski, 12th Flying Training Wingcorrosion control, puts the final touches on a1960s-style decal on a T-38 Talon in prepa-ration for a commemorative ceremonymarking the 50th anniversary of the aircraft.The decals were fabricated by the 12th FTWcorrosion control unit.Photos by David Terry
PAGE 13WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 12 MARCH 18, 2011
“The Eagle” (PG-13)Channing Tatum, Denis O’Hare
Today @ 7 p.m.
“The Roommate” (PG-13)Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly
Saturday @ 6 p.m. and Sunday @ 3 p.m.
NOW SHOWINGat the
Randolph Theater
$4.50 for adults$2.25 for children 0-11
RetirementsCongratulations to Col. Rob Kyrouac, Lt. Col. Vonda Cross and
Senior Master Sgt. James Ellis, Air Education Training Command,and Master Sgt. Jeffery Buss, Air Force Personnel Center, on theirretirements.
Tricare information seminarA Tricare information seminar takes place Tuesday from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center Ballroom. Formore information call 652-5321.
Street closureFifth Street East from the north end of Bldg. 598, the base
library, to F Street East will be closed for three days startingWednesday due to the installation of a chilled water line. Trafficwill be detoured through E Street East and G Street East and pos-sibly through the Hangar 16 parking lot. For details, call BenjaminMartinez, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron, at 652-2392.
Red Cross Japanese reliefOfficials from the Japanese Red Cross have indicated they
would be grateful for donations from the American Red Cross tosupport their earthquake and tsunami response. Those who wantto help can go to www.redcross.org and donate to JapanEarthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also donate $10 bytexting REDCROSS to 90999 to support disaster relief efforts inJapan and throughout the Pacific.
Alamo Travel, PPO hours changeBeginning Monday, Alamo Travel’s hours of operation will be 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. and the personal property office hours will be 8 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 652-1154.
Fiesta ticketsFiesta parade tickets are on sale now at the information, tickets
and tours office. Chair and blanket ticket prices are $11 with alimit of 10 tickets. For details, call the ITT office at 652-2301.
Monte Carlo NightThe Parr Club will hold its first-ever Monte Carlo Night April
1 from 6-11 p.m. The night will feature blackjack, craps,roulette and poker. The cost for this event is $17.50, whichincludes a pasta buffet and glass of house wine or a domesticbeer. Prizes, such as an iPad, 32-inch flat screen TV, XBox 360with Kinect, iPod, six Sunday brunches, two nights in a cabinat Canyon Lake with a ski boat and a prime rib dinner for two,will be available for bidding following the games.
Spartan RaceVolunteers and participants are needed for this year’s Spartan
Race March 26 at the Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, Texas.The Spartan Race raises money for “Homes for our Troops”
and the “Max Cure Foundation.” More than 100 volunteers areneeded to make this event a success. The entry fee for militaryis $45. To register as a participant, log onto www.spartanrace.com. To volunteer, contact Master Sgt. Smith at 808-5174.
Base BRIEFS
Sweet generosity
Photo by Rich McFaddenMadison Albrect (left), a Girl Scout from Randolph’s Troop 9027, unloads cookies withStaff Sgt. Shanique Jones, Air Force Personnel Center. The troop donated 1,000 boxesof Girl Scout cookies to be sent to deployed troops.
ADVERTISEMENT
902nd Force Support Squadron Briefs
PAGE 13WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 12 MARCH 18, 2011
“The Eagle” (PG-13)Channing Tatum, Denis O’Hare
Today @ 7 p.m.
“The Roommate” (PG-13)Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly
Saturday @ 6 p.m. and Sunday @ 3 p.m.
NOW SHOWINGat the
Randolph Theater
$4.50 for adults$2.25 for children 0-11
RetirementsCongratulations to Col. Rob Kyrouac, Lt. Col. Vonda Cross and
Senior Master Sgt. James Ellis, Air Education Training Command,and Master Sgt. Jeffery Buss, Air Force Personnel Center, on theirretirements.
Tricare information seminarA Tricare information seminar takes place Tuesday from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center Ballroom. Formore information call 652-5321.
Street closureFifth Street East from the north end of Bldg. 598, the base
library, to F Street East will be closed for three days startingWednesday due to the installation of a chilled water line. Trafficwill be detoured through E Street East and G Street East and pos-sibly through the Hangar 16 parking lot. For details, call BenjaminMartinez, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron, at 652-2392.
Red Cross Japanese reliefOfficials from the Japanese Red Cross have indicated they
would be grateful for donations from the American Red Cross tosupport their earthquake and tsunami response. Those who wantto help can go to www.redcross.org and donate to JapanEarthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also donate $10 bytexting REDCROSS to 90999 to support disaster relief efforts inJapan and throughout the Pacific.
Alamo Travel, PPO hours changeBeginning Monday, Alamo Travel’s hours of operation will be 7
a.m. to 4 p.m. and the personal property office hours will be 8 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 652-1154.
Fiesta ticketsFiesta parade tickets are on sale now at the information, tickets
and tours office. Chair and blanket ticket prices are $11 with alimit of 10 tickets. For details, call the ITT office at 652-2301.
Monte Carlo NightThe Parr Club will hold its first-ever Monte Carlo Night April
1 from 6-11 p.m. The night will feature blackjack, craps,roulette and poker. The cost for this event is $17.50, whichincludes a pasta buffet and glass of house wine or a domesticbeer. Prizes, such as an iPad, 32-inch flat screen TV, XBox 360with Kinect, iPod, six Sunday brunches, two nights in a cabinat Canyon Lake with a ski boat and a prime rib dinner for two,will be available for bidding following the games.
Spartan RaceVolunteers and participants are needed for this year’s Spartan
Race March 26 at the Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, Texas.The Spartan Race raises money for “Homes for our Troops”
and the “Max Cure Foundation.” More than 100 volunteers areneeded to make this event a success. The entry fee for militaryis $45. To register as a participant, log onto www.spartanrace.com. To volunteer, contact Master Sgt. Smith at 808-5174.
Base BRIEFS
Sweet generosity
Photo by Rich McFaddenMadison Albrect (left), a Girl Scout from Randolph’s Troop 9027, unloads cookies withStaff Sgt. Shanique Jones, Air Force Personnel Center. The troop donated 1,000 boxesof Girl Scout cookies to be sent to deployed troops.
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902nd Force Support Squadron Briefs
PAGE 15WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 14 MARCH 18, 2011
By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Each year in March the American DieteticAssociation sponsors National NutritionMonth, which focuses “attention on theimportance of making informed food choicesand developing sound eating and physicalactivity habits.”
This year the ADA has adopted “EatRight with Color” as the NationalNutrition Month theme, stressing theimportance of eating fruits and vegeta-bles in a variety of colors.
Randolph’s Health and Wellness Centertakes that theme one step further.
“You should focus on getting a variety ofcolors and eating from all the food groups,too,” said Jennifer Sides, HAWC registereddietitian. “That ensures you are getting avariety of nutrients.”
In the class Nutrition/Fitness 101, whichshe co-teaches with Kim Houk, HAWCexercise physiologist, Ms. Sides said shetalks about healthy eating as well as eating“right with color.”
An ADA color guide divides fruits and veg-etables into the color categories green,orange/deep yellow, purple/blue, red andwhite/ tan/brown and lists the nutrients andbenefits assigned to those colors.
For example, green fruits such as avoca-dos, grapes and kiwis and green vegeta-bles such as asparagus, broccoli and leafygreens are touted for antioxidant potentialand possible promotion of healthy visionand cancer risk reduction; purple or bluefruits – blackberries, blueberries andplums – and purple or blue vegetables –eggplant, purple cabbage and purple-fleshed potatoes – may have antioxidantand anti-aging benefits and may reducecancer risks and have a positive effect onmemory and urinary tract health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’sfood pyramid, which can be found atwww.mypyramid.gov, features splashes ofcolors, but its emphasis is the six foodgroups – grains, vegetables, fruits, oils,milk products and proteins, which includemeat, fish, beans and nuts.
“The best recommendation is to get in asmany food groups as you can,” Ms. Sidessaid. “For each meal you should try for atleast three food groups.”
Foods rich in fiber – a type of carbohy-drate that aids the digestive process andlowers the risk of heart disease and sometypes of cancer – can be found in four of
the food groups, but especially in grains,fruits and vegetables, and are filling,which may discourage overeating.
Ms. Sides recommends the USDA’swww.mypyramid.gov site for its nutritioninformation and interactive features.
“It’s a great resource for people to get basicnutrition information and personalizedplans,” she said.
Ms. Sides said she discusses the pyramid inNutrition/Fitness 101 and addresses othertopics, such as eating healthy on the go andreading food labels.
She said she also recommends that classparticipants keep a food diary, which willhelp them “get where they want to be.”
For more information on National NutritionMonth, visit http://www.eatright.org/nnm/.
SPORTS – HEALTH – FITNESS
Spring tournamentGolfers can sign up for
the Spring Two-Person BestBall Tournament Saturday.Tee times are 7-9 a.m. andthere is a $10 entry fee.
Golf tournamentThe Randolph Oaks Golf
Course hosts a HolocaustDays of Remembrance golftournament March 25.For details, see Page 2.
Golf tournamentMembers of the 470th
Military IntelligenceBrigade will host a golftournament at the PalmerCourse at La Cantera May 6starting at 11 a.m. Thetournament will benefit theArmy Emergency ReliefFund. The $75 cash regis-tration covers green fees,fully stocked golf courseand AER donation. Thedeadline for registration isApril 1. For more informa-tion, call Ron Johnson at246-3010 or 221-7581.
Get ready to golfThe cost for five days of
golf lessons plus time onthe course is $99 (clubsfurnished). All partici-pants will also get apunch card for 10 nine-hole rounds of golf.
Call PGA golf profession-al Charles Bishop at 244-3415 for more information.
Driving RangeThe Randolph Oaks Golf
Course driving rangeaccessible at any timeexcept Monday morningsfrom daylight until noon.
A full basket of ballscosts only $6 or buy a halfbasket for $3.
SportsBRIEFSTo ‘eat right,’ go with color, all food groups
For the love of the game
Taft High Schoolgraduate Julian Boyd
dunks the ball during agame earlier this season
against Texas State inSan Marcos. Boyd, a
starting forward with theLong Island University
Blackbirds, is the son ofMelodi Thames, execu-
tive assistant to the502nd Air Base Wingcommander. Selected
first-team all conference,he averages 12.9 pointsand 8.8 rebounds. LIU
won the Northeastconference tournamentand an automatic bid to
the 2011 NCAA DivisionI Men’s Basketball
ChampionshipTournament. The
Blackbirds play theNorth Carolina Tar Heels
today at 7:15 p.m.Photo by Kin Man Hui, San
Antonio Express-News
PAGE 15WINGSPREADMARCH 18, 2011WINGSPREADPAGE 14 MARCH 18, 2011
By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Each year in March the American DieteticAssociation sponsors National NutritionMonth, which focuses “attention on theimportance of making informed food choicesand developing sound eating and physicalactivity habits.”
This year the ADA has adopted “EatRight with Color” as the NationalNutrition Month theme, stressing theimportance of eating fruits and vegeta-bles in a variety of colors.
Randolph’s Health and Wellness Centertakes that theme one step further.
“You should focus on getting a variety ofcolors and eating from all the food groups,too,” said Jennifer Sides, HAWC registereddietitian. “That ensures you are getting avariety of nutrients.”
In the class Nutrition/Fitness 101, whichshe co-teaches with Kim Houk, HAWCexercise physiologist, Ms. Sides said shetalks about healthy eating as well as eating“right with color.”
An ADA color guide divides fruits and veg-etables into the color categories green,orange/deep yellow, purple/blue, red andwhite/ tan/brown and lists the nutrients andbenefits assigned to those colors.
For example, green fruits such as avoca-dos, grapes and kiwis and green vegeta-bles such as asparagus, broccoli and leafygreens are touted for antioxidant potentialand possible promotion of healthy visionand cancer risk reduction; purple or bluefruits – blackberries, blueberries andplums – and purple or blue vegetables –eggplant, purple cabbage and purple-fleshed potatoes – may have antioxidantand anti-aging benefits and may reducecancer risks and have a positive effect onmemory and urinary tract health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’sfood pyramid, which can be found atwww.mypyramid.gov, features splashes ofcolors, but its emphasis is the six foodgroups – grains, vegetables, fruits, oils,milk products and proteins, which includemeat, fish, beans and nuts.
“The best recommendation is to get in asmany food groups as you can,” Ms. Sidessaid. “For each meal you should try for atleast three food groups.”
Foods rich in fiber – a type of carbohy-drate that aids the digestive process andlowers the risk of heart disease and sometypes of cancer – can be found in four of
the food groups, but especially in grains,fruits and vegetables, and are filling,which may discourage overeating.
Ms. Sides recommends the USDA’swww.mypyramid.gov site for its nutritioninformation and interactive features.
“It’s a great resource for people to get basicnutrition information and personalizedplans,” she said.
Ms. Sides said she discusses the pyramid inNutrition/Fitness 101 and addresses othertopics, such as eating healthy on the go andreading food labels.
She said she also recommends that classparticipants keep a food diary, which willhelp them “get where they want to be.”
For more information on National NutritionMonth, visit http://www.eatright.org/nnm/.
SPORTS – HEALTH – FITNESS
Spring tournamentGolfers can sign up for
the Spring Two-Person BestBall Tournament Saturday.Tee times are 7-9 a.m. andthere is a $10 entry fee.
Golf tournamentThe Randolph Oaks Golf
Course hosts a HolocaustDays of Remembrance golftournament March 25.For details, see Page 2.
Golf tournamentMembers of the 470th
Military IntelligenceBrigade will host a golftournament at the PalmerCourse at La Cantera May 6starting at 11 a.m. Thetournament will benefit theArmy Emergency ReliefFund. The $75 cash regis-tration covers green fees,fully stocked golf courseand AER donation. Thedeadline for registration isApril 1. For more informa-tion, call Ron Johnson at246-3010 or 221-7581.
Get ready to golfThe cost for five days of
golf lessons plus time onthe course is $99 (clubsfurnished). All partici-pants will also get apunch card for 10 nine-hole rounds of golf.
Call PGA golf profession-al Charles Bishop at 244-3415 for more information.
Driving RangeThe Randolph Oaks Golf
Course driving rangeaccessible at any timeexcept Monday morningsfrom daylight until noon.
A full basket of ballscosts only $6 or buy a halfbasket for $3.
SportsBRIEFSTo ‘eat right,’ go with color, all food groups
For the love of the game
Taft High Schoolgraduate Julian Boyd
dunks the ball during agame earlier this season
against Texas State inSan Marcos. Boyd, a
starting forward with theLong Island University
Blackbirds, is the son ofMelodi Thames, execu-
tive assistant to the502nd Air Base Wingcommander. Selected
first-team all conference,he averages 12.9 pointsand 8.8 rebounds. LIU
won the Northeastconference tournamentand an automatic bid to
the 2011 NCAA DivisionI Men’s Basketball
ChampionshipTournament. The
Blackbirds play theNorth Carolina Tar Heels
today at 7:15 p.m.Photo by Kin Man Hui, San
Antonio Express-News