Apr 07.qxp

12 Pages·2007·1.05 MB·English

April 2007
Congratulations Officers and Airman of the Year!
by Maj. Brenda Hendricksen
Wing members gathered Feb. 17 at
the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi
Valley for the Annual Outstanding
Airman of the Year ceremony held in
conjunction with the State Senior
Leadership Conference. Three
Grizzlies walked away with state
titles; Field Grade Officer of the Year
Maj. Dennis Wren, Company Grade
Officer of the Year Capt. Hal Byers
and Noncommissioned Officer of the
Year Staff Sgt. Kathy Tran.
Recognized Officer Maj. Wren
received his award along with Capt.
Byers at the end of the Senior
Leadership Conference Feb. 16. "Maj
Wren is an outstanding example of a
"mission first" aviator who placed
Story Continued on page 3 photo by Master Sgt. Stan Thompson
Above, 196 RS Intelligence Analyst Staff
Sgt. Kathy Tran holds up her State award
for Noncommisioned Officer of the Year
alongside Command Chief Chief Master
Sgt. Deborah Lott and California Air
National Guard Commander Maj. Gen.
Dennis Lucas during the Airman of the
Year Ceremony held Feb. 17 at the
Ronald Regan Library, Simi Valley, CA.
Those selected as State Award
Recipients will go on to compete at
National Guard level. Bottom, far, left,
196 RS Pilot Maj. Dennis Wren who won
the State Field Grade Officer of the Year
Award.
Bottom, right, Communications Flight
Commander Capt. Hal Byers who was
awarded State Company Grade Officer
of the Year.
“Thank you” are the first words to
come to my mind as I see how our Wing
has handled the effects of BRAC,
standing-up the Predator mission at Nellis
(now at March), local construction
projects, numerous personnel retirements
and relocations (to include lengthy TDYs
for training), and much, much more. The
turmoil this Wing has endured since the
May 13, 2005 BRAC announcement has
been "steady" to say the least. You, the unit
members, have definitely stepped-up to the
plate and are now a highly successful part
of a very critical mission. Again, thank
you!
The 24/7 Predator mission, now being
flown from March ARB, is progressing
extremely well. Of course, there have been
a "few" growing pains throughout the photo by Senior Airman Diane Ducat
process of standing-up the mission on this Above, Col. Aimar stands with The Mission Inn Assistant Reservation Manager Kari
Gomez Feb. 13 after presenting her with a picture in recognition of the Inn’s continued
base but we ARE definitely accomplishing
support of the Wing.
the mission and I am certain there will
continue to be growing pains for years to Training Detachment (FTD) at March plan to continue to deploy volunteers to the
come. One of our current tasks is to ARB. We will train active duty, ANG, border in support of Operation JUMP
redesign/remodel the previous OPS and/or AFRES personnel on all STARTand we will maintain our ability to
building to eventually handle the 24/7 maintenance actions required to support respond to a State emergency, be-it man-
mission. We are currently in the design the Predator mission. Much of this training made or a natural disaster. Additionally,
stage and hope to begin the demolition will take place at March ARB but some one of our goals is to improve our
phase within a few months. Construction may be accomplished at SCLA. recruiting and retention statistics. For
should be complete in early 2008. Many unit members have transitioned many years, we reported unit strength
We are also currently working many to new career fields associated with the of 100%. The recent turmoil has
issues to begin a Formal Training Unit Predator mission. There still exists many caused that number to drop but I have
(FTU) where we will train Predator pilots openings for Traditional Sensor Operators, no doubt we are on the "rebuild
and sensor operators (academics) at March GCS/POC Comm Maintenance slope" and will again reach that 100%
ARB and fly them at Southern California personnel, Avionics and Maintenance strength report number. Again, to
Logistics Airport (SCLA), located near Operations Center personnel, and many each of you currently serving as a
Victorville. We will remain in the SCLA new Predator-related career opportunities. member of our Wing, remaining a
pattern for Launch and Recovery (LRE) Please talk with our recruiters if you might member of our Wing, and allowing
training (takeoffs and landings) and will be considering transitioning to one of these the 163rd to accomplish the mission,
depart the SCLAarea for mission training new positions. I say thank you!
(possibly utilizing the Edwards AFB While Predator operations have been
airspace, the National Training Center keeping many people very busy,
ranges near Ft. Irwin, or the 29 Palms deployments continue for MSG, Medical,
ranges East of SCLA). and HQ members. We currently have, and
Concerning our Maintenance Group, will continue to have, personnel deployed ALBERTK. AIMAR, COL, CA, ANG
we are in the process of standing-up a Field OCONUS in support of OIF and OEF. We Commander
News 3
Story Continued from page 1 Communications Flight Comm- Following her training and
ander Capt. Byers was also recogn- qualification, she operated real world
unit needs above his own. He saw the ized for his outstanding efforts with ISR missions as a Predator MC in
importance of this mission and the the Wing's new mission by directing support of OIF and OEF at Nellis
difference it was making in the the standup of the MQ-1 AFB, NV. "SSgt Tran is regularly
Global War on Terror and became a infrastructure buildup. This included described by Nellis AFB Predator
superb UAS expert as well as an pioneering the timely procurement leadership as one of our top Mission
advocate for the Predator UAV," said and installation of over $2.6 million Coordinators. She demonstrates
Operations Group Commander Col. in communications equipment. “The exceptional situational awareness and
Randy Ball. Communication Flight was possesses fine communication skills,
Tanker pilot, now predator pilot, instrumental in the Wing's "historic" key ingredients to successful mission
Maj. Wren was one of the first unit Predator conversion. The award that execution," said Col. Ball
members to attend Predator MQ-1 Capt. Byers received is more than Winners were not the only ones to
pilot training at Creech AFB, NV. well deserved,” said Mission Support enjoy the festivities. "It was a
With training complete Maj. Wren Group Commander Nathaniel "Nate" wonderful evening and the venue was
went on to fly 138 combat support Reddicks. perfect.We had close to 60 Grizzlies
hours and 54 missions in support of Intelligence Analyist Staff Sgt. there to support our Wing nominees
Operations Iraqi Freedom and Tran embraced the new mission, which they did in true Grizzly style,
Enduring Freedom. Wing Plans becoming one of the first in the unit to custom thunder sticks and all. It's
Officer and Command Post OIC Maj. train and qualify as a mission going to be tough to live up to the
Wren has been instrumental to the coordinator in support of the new event Channel Islands put on this
Wing's progress in undertaking the Predator Intelligence, Surveillance, year," said Senior Master Sgt. Tyler
new MQ-1 mission. and Reconnaissance mission. Hessheimer.
Master Sgt. Rusty Cushing
by Senior Airman Diane Ducat classes in Turf Grass Management,
Golf Course Management, and
Master Sergeant Rusty Cushing Integrated Pest Management just to
has led an outstanding career as a 37 name a few.
year veteran of the California Holding a second AFSC as an
National Guard and 19 years as an Entomologist (Disease Prevention),
Agronomist Professor at California Sgt. Cushing takes pride in the fact
Polytechnic University, along with that he was the first member of the
many other hats he has worn in his Wing to deploy to Iraq in April 2003
civilian and military careers. as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom,
A Guardsmen his entire career, and the first USAF Entomologist to
Sergeant Cushing enlisted in the serve in Iraq.
Army National Guard in 1969 then With the Wing Mission change
transferred to the Air side in 1972 and the elimination of the fuels
working with POL ( fuels) on the F- occupation, Sergeant Cushing was
102's at Ontario International recruited by Services Flight to
Airport. When the Wing moved to Sergeant Cushing. establish a new awards and
March ARB in the early 1980's, In 1984, Sgt. Cushing began decorations program. Sergeant
Sergeant Cushing continued along teaching Soil Science in the Cushing is currently serving in this
with fuels and the changing of Agriculture program at Mt. San position until he retires from the
Aircraft. Antonio College. Four years later he Wing at the mandatory age of 60 in
"As times change and began as a part-time Professor at Oct. 2007. He will then continue with
circumstances change, we have to California Polytechnic University, his civilian profession, teaching at the
change along with it." commented and continues to teach different university.
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News
Civil Engineers Train and Build
by Maj. Brenda Hendricksen
What do a tropical island and 38
Wing Civil Engineers have in
common? Both were surrounded by
water during a Deployment For
Training (DFT) exercise at Coast
Guard Air Station Borinquen, Puerto
Rico, Mar. 3 - 17.
The DFT project involved
renovating a barbershop/class six into
a gym annex that included two
bathrooms with showers and two
storage areas. The project had its list
of challenges starting with the
unavailability of blue prints. The base
was constructed in the 1930s as an
All photos on pages 4 and 5 by Senior Airman Diane Ducat
Air Force Base (Ramsey). "When the
Above, Tech. Sgt. Raymond Linares uses state of the art GPS equipment to survey
Air Force left, they took the
the area surrounding the plaza during real world training held March 3 to 17 on Coast
blueprints with them," said Guard Air Station Borinquen, PR. Below, Senior Airman Anthony White blocks in an
Engineering Assistant Master Sgt. entry way.
Vinie Bravo. Manager Lt. Commander Dennis cut out for them as well. "The original
Another challenge was obtaining Evans if the job was contracted out it electrical system had to be gutted and
materials and using outdated would cost the government four times the team started from scratch," said
equipment. "Because of where we as much. one of the site managers Chief Master
are, its not easy to get what we need," During trenching a comm- Sgt. Jeffrey Myers. A 150 amp
said one of the construction site unications cable was accidentally cut. system was changed to a 200 amp
managers Chief Master Sgt. Don For a while the team thought the
Ulstad. "Equipment kept breaking," cable could be used for something
said Utilities teammate Senior important. It was later found out that
Airman Anthony White. the cable was unused. Over the course
The project began with the of the project three lines were hit.
demolition phase. "This is grueling. "Normally you would dig into sand
It's a lot of work," said CES potential then caution tape before hitting the
recruit Tech. Sgt. Greg Jackson line," said Master Sgt. Earl Rankin.
(MXS). The roof was patched, three The color of the tape tells you what
doorways were cut open, windows kind of line it is. "The lines are old.
were taken out, walls were stripped No sand or tape was present," said
and tiles were removed. "Removing Sgt. Rankin. Something that would
the tile was labor intensive. It took a normally help in a situation like this
day and a half, maybe more," said is a dig permit. When a dig permit is
electrical journeyman Tech. Sgt. obtained a map with electrical,
Craig Jones. mechanical or waste lines are usually
The project not only gave the civil depicted. "Without a dig permit we
engineers great training but also were pretty much expecting to hit
helped to save the government something," said Sgt. Bravo.
money. According to Base Facilities The electrical shop had their work
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system. This involved putting in new
boxes and running new lines, conduit,
circuits and pipe. "The job was fast
paced. Because of some challenges
that arose, it involved more than we
expected," said electrical team lead
Master Sgt. Michael Bunting. The
team won't be able to put the finishing
touches on their part of the project
since this normally would happen
after the drywall and roof repair was
complete. When asked if it was sad to
not be around to see the finished
product, Sgt. Bunting replied, "The
pride comes with the accuracy.
Before we leave we can look at the
project and see that we did a good
job."
The Heating and Air Conditioning California Air National Guard members Master Sgt. Moses Alvarado, Tech. Sgt.
Team (HVAC) worked base Greg Jackson, Tech. Sgt. Paul Gomez and Master Sgt. Stacy Burnside mix cement
in the plaza during a building renovation on Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, PR.
maintenance while waiting to do their
shops parts in the construction experience for the team," added Kreil. exist) and the area surrounding to
project. "The air conditioning unit is Since no topographical maps include dimensions of buildings,
usually one of the last things existed for the area surrounding the roads etc. The team also mapped the
installed," said HVAC Team Lead building being constructed, the existing grades to determine what
Master Sgt. Andre Kreil. During the surveyors proved invaluable. "It slopes the pipes should be coming out
second week the team dabbled in would take about a month if we were of the structure. At the end of the DFT
structures projects such as breaking to map out the entire base," said the team had about 20 percent of the
up concrete using a jackhammer and Surveyor Senior Airman Jim Fields. base mapped out. "The information
blocking. “Many times we end up The maps the surveyors leave behind we leave behind will be used for
doing a little bit of everything," said will include the plaza (the center of upcoming construction projects," said
Sgt. Kreil. "It's a great learning the base where the main buildings Sgt. Bravo. Contractors are scheduled
to finish.
Overall the DFT ended with the
project 80 percent complete. The only
items remaining to be accomplished
are the floor, Tbar ceiling, lighting,
dry wall and door installation. "We
ran into some unforeseen
circumstances but we were able to
work around them. Our main goal
taking on this project was training.
This aspect was exceptional. Most of
our civil engineers not only got
training in their craft but most were
able to work in different trades as
well," said Project Manager Capt.
Heidi Gibson.
Above Tech. Sgt. Dennis Reed grinds away existing structure as part of the
demolition phase during the DFT building renovation.
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News
Grizzly Biathletes represent the S t a t e
By Maj. Brenda Hendricksen
Guardsmen from the 163d
Reconnaissance Wing represented the
California National Guard Feb. 17 -
25 competing against teams from 18
states at the 2007 National Guard
Bureau Biathlon Championships held
at Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho
VT.
"If the snow's good, it's always a
good competition," said Team
Captain Maj. Mike Johnson (224
Sustainment Brigade, Long Beach).
Other team members included Lt.
Col. Scott Tilley (196 RS), Maj. Brad
Herrick (196 RS), Maj. Brenda
Hendricksen (HQ), and Coach Senior
Airman Diane Ducat (CF). "The team
performed great considering their
experience level. It was obvious
everyone gave it their all," said Tilley. Photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Elwell
Above, left to right, Lt. Col. Scott Tilley, Maj. Brenda Hendricksen, Senior Airman
The top competitors from the race
Diane Ducat, Maj. Brad Herrick and Maj. Mike Johnson pose after completing one of
series will become part of the All
the biathlon events held Feb. 17-25 at Ethan Allen Firing Range Jericho, Vt.
Guard Team and compete in national
Below, Maj. Brad Herrick checks his .22 caliber rifle for accuracy during zeroing time.
and international competitions. This
can often lead to a guardsman earning 1987," said National Guard Sports a 7.5 and 15 kilometer race. The team
a spot on the Olympic Biathlon team. Coordinator Lt. Col. Thomas Zelko. events were a 15 kilometer patrol race
"The program is the greatest DoD Sixty-one guardsmen competed in where all team mates are required to
(Department of Defense) wide on the seven day event consisting of four finish the race within 30 seconds of
getting guardsmen onto the U.S. races, two individual and two team each other and a 7.5 kilometer relay
Biathlon team. The guard has had races. Men individually raced a 10 race. This sport tests an athlete's
members on the Olympic team since and 20 kilometer race. Females raced endurance and precision with the
combination of Nordic skate skiing
and target shooting with a .22 caliber
rifle. Competitors complete several
loops of the course and shoot at the
range several times, the number of
loops and shooting times vary by
event. At the range, competitors shoot
at five targets from either a standing
position or a prone position.
Performance is measured by time and
accuracy of shooting, and each miss
of a target adds a penalty that varies
by event. States win the competition
with the best combined patrol and
photo by Senior Airman Diane Ducat
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News
relay race time.
"In the past few years the state
team has been small because of
deployments," said 18 year National
Guard Biathlon veteran Johnson. "I'm
extremely excited that California
came to this event with an extremely
competitive team," said Zelko during
an awards ceremony Feb. 24. Amajor
contributor on organizing the team
this season was Tilley, who competed
in the national competition seven
years ago. When he inquired about
the California team for the current
season, he realized he and Johnson
were the only competitors for
California. Four are needed for a
team. "I began recruiting. Two novice
biathletes expressed desire to
compete (Herrick and Hendricksen),
" said Tilley.
Some team members competed in
photo by Senior Airman Diane Ducat
the western regional trials in West
Above, California Guard Biathletes finish a 15 kilometer patrol race. Left to right, back
Yellowstone, MT. The eastern and
to front, Maj. Brenda Hendricksen, Maj. Mike Johnson, Lt. Col. Scott Tilley and Maj.
central trials were cancelled due to Brad Herrick. Below Lt. Col. Scott Tilley races.
lack of snow. "I had just forgotten The national competition was the first Montana cleaning up most of the
how painful the last race (regionals) time I was exposed to the sport of awards. Seven males and two females
was but I got reminded all over biathlon. I was fortunate to get a made the All Guard Team.
again," said Herrick. "Pushing behind the scenes perspective on how
yourself to these types of limits the races are run. As a first time
changes you in a way that makes you coach, the support and help I received
a stronger person." The regional from other state teams was
competitions started in 2003 because awesome," said Ducat.
states were sending people to the On a personal note, the
national competitions who couldn't competition in Vermont was my first
meet the cut off times. "This gave experience with biathlon racing. I was
states a chance to give their novice scheduled to attend one of the
competitors a chance to practice cancelled regional competitions. I
before attending the national had little experience going into the
competition," added Johnson who event but as you finish each race it's a
placed third at West Yellowstone in steep learning curve. I was happy to
the individual 10 kilometer race. complete each race. Transitioning
The race series switches each year from skiing to shooting took some
between Camp Ripley, Minn. and getting used to. As the days went on I
Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, felt more and more confident. Ask me
Vt. Next year will be Camp Ripley. in about six months if I want to do it
Coaching was a new concept for again next year.
Team Coach Diane Ducat. "I'm The race series ended with
thinking about competing next year. Vermont, Utah, Minnesota and
photo by Senior Airman Diane Ducat
8
Briefs
Enlisted Apr. UTA the Rentention Office. Service at extension 3070 (in the MPF)
Meal Schedule or your squadron personnel
If you qualify for billeting on Fingerprinting Hours representative regarding these
Friday night of UTA, you are The Security Forces Squadron will processes.
authorized to eat breakfast at Toms be available Monday through Friday to
Sat. morning. Saturday lunch and do finger printing, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Broken Shaft Golf Tournement
dinner and Sunday breakfast and by appointment only. During UTA The Riverside Military Affairs
lunch will be at the Hap Arnold Club. weekend the same hours apply but no Commitee will compete against March
appointment is necessary. Morning Field at the Jurupa Hill Country Club in
UPT Board appointments available upon request. Riverside Apr. 13. Cost is $75 per
The 196 RS will be convening a Wing Personnel assigned shift work will player. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.
board during June UTA to select be accommodated. Please contact Staff with a shotgun start at 11:30 a.m. Price
candidates for pilot training with Sgt. Alan Barone at extension 2921 or includes green fees, half cart, hotdog
follow-on training for the predator. 2832 to schedule an appointment. and a beverage before golf. To play for
Minimum requirements are a “Team March” contact 452nd AMW
bachelors degree, AFOQT scores of Billeting Hotline public affairs at 951-655-3137. Also,
V>15, Q>10, P>25, N>10 and Billeting no-shows are again RSVPby Apr. 6.
(P+10)>50. Also, individuals must becoming a problem. Once a member
have passing depth perception and requests billeting, it is their VPC-GR Online
vision of 20/70 (corrected 20/20). For responsibility to cancel the lodging Virtual Personnel Center-Guard
more information on package request if they are not going to use it. Reserve (VPC-GR) is available. This
submission requirements contact Lt. There are two very simple methods to secure web site enables members of the
Col. Kiby Colas at 951-655-7747 or cancel their lodging. The first is via Air Reserve Component access to many
[email protected]. telephone at (951) 655-2269. The personnel services from anywhere with
second is via e-mail at Internet access, 24-hours a day, seven
Sensor Operators Needed [email protected]. days a week, 365 days a year. Guard
The Wing is currently hiring When you cancel, make sure you get a members can get copies of their 20 year
traditional guardsmen Sensor confirmation number. Taking a few letter, current points, mortgage letters
Operators (Imagery Analysis AFSC - minutes to do this could save you from and many other items. Simply go to the
1N1X1). To apply you must meet the a larger problem in the future. ARPC website at www.arpc.mil and
following qualifications. You must click on the vPC-GR icon and then click
have a general ASVAB score of 66, AF Form 526 and Record on the Air National Guard shield to get
normal color vision, unrestricted use Review RIPs access.
of fingers, stereoscopic acuity Did you know that ANG members
equivalent to depth perception now have direct access to their points Family Program Coordinator
standards for flying Class I or Class summary and other personal data? In The Wing will have a non-dual
IA with or without correction compliance with the Personnel Service status GS-9 position vacancy
according to AFI 48-123, no record of Delivery Transformation System announcement out in March/April for a
emotional instability, eligible for a (PSDT), effective immediately the MPF Family Program Coordinator. This job
Top Secret clearance and completion will no longer print, file or distribute the announcement will be posted on
of a current single scope background AF Form 526 for members. To request www.usajobs.gov. For more
investigation (SSBI) according to AFI an AF Form 526 or RIP, simply go to the information, please contact 2nd Lt. Rey
31-501, Personnel Security Program Virtual Military Personnel Flight Tanuwidjaja at extension 4793.
Management. The technical school is (vMPF) via the Air Force Portal. Select
24 weeks at Goodfellow AFB, TX. "Self-Service Actions" and then Harvard University
Following is approximately six "Personal Data". A list of items Harvard University has announced
months at Nellis AFB, then seasoning (including AF Form 526 and other rips) that from now on undergraduate
days. If you are interested please are available for review and printing. students from low-income families (a
contact Lt. Col. Michael Lane or the Members may contact Customer household income of $60,000 and
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News
below) will pay no tuition. In addition,
Harvard announced reduced fees for
students from families with incomes
between $60,000 and $80,000. To find
out more about this offer visit Harvard's
financial aid web site at: http://
www.news.harvard.edu or call the
school's financial aid office at (617)
495-1581.
Marriage Seminar
Applications are being accepted
for a marriage enrichment seminar to
be held Apr. 28-29 in Anaheim. The
purpose of the seminar is to coach
couples on how to communicate
effectively, work as a team to solve
problems, manage conflicts without
damaging closeness, and preserve photo by Senior Airman Diane Ducat
For the Second year in a row Wing members participated in Dr. Suess Reading Day
and enhance love, commitment, and
at Thomas Rivera elementary school on March 3. With this program individuals from
friendship. To register contact
the community go into classrooms and read a book to a class. Above Senior Master
Monica Malmberg at [phone]. Sgt. Melanie Zimmers reads during the visit.
Common Myths About Osteoporosis (porous bone)
by 1st Lt. Connery Lee Myth three, only caucasian year after fracture, usually from
women get osteoporosis. Fifty-two complications such as pneumonia or
The following information can percent of Asian women age 50 and blood clots in the lung, which are
help you to clear up common myths older are estimated to have low bone related to the fracture or to the
and can help you to optimize bone mass, which is equal to the risk for surgery to repair the fracture.
health and prevent osteoporosis. Caucasian women. 49 percent of Myth six, if I had osteoporosis, I
Myth one, osteoporosis is an Hispanic women age 50 and older are would know it. Osteoporosis is often
inevitable part of aging. Untrue, it is estimated to have low bone mass. called "the silent disease" because it
preventable. Bone health depends on Myth four, osteoporosis is not progresses slowly over time, without
eating a balanced diet rich in calcium very common. Osteoporosis and low symptoms, until a fracture occurs. As
and vitamin D, performing weight- bone mass affect 44 million women many as 95 percent of adults who
bearing exercises, abstaining from and men aged 50 and older in the break a bone are being treated
smoking and reducing alcohol intake. United States. In the U.S. alone, without being evaluated for
Also, talk to your doctor about bone osteoporosis causes 1.5 million osteoporosis. Bone mineral density
density testing and medication when fractures annually. Myth five, tests can measure the amount of bone
appropriate. osteoporosis isn't a serious or deadly indifferent parts of the skeleton and
Myth two, only older women get condition. The consequences of can predict the risk of future
osteoporosis. Women and men can osteoporosis are devastating and fractures.
develop osteoporosis at any age, painful. Hip fractures, which occur For more information on the
especially those who have asthma or about twice as often in women as in prevention, diagnosis and treatment
arthritis that requires treatment with men, are more serious than people of osteoporosis, please contact the
medications such as glucocorticoids realize: approximately 20 percent of National Osteoporosis Foundation at
that can lead to bone loss. hip fracture patients will die in the 800-223-9994.
10
News
News From the World of Safety
by Senior Master Sgt. the course covers 10 hours of across the board, base to base.
Melanie Zimmers required training in 29 CFR 1910 The instructors slated to teach this
(General Industry Safety) and a course have vast experience in the
Wow, the Wing certainly has gone whole lot more. The course is also field of safety. One comes from the
through tons of changes since the offered at McGhee Tyson, but in the Kansas ANG with KC-135/B-1 and
BRAC notification in May of 2005. interest of saving valuable days and F-4 background and manages the
There continues to be many dollars, there are GSO Road shows, GSO Course administratively,
retirements, job transfers and re- as we call them. coordinating the classes and
training of unit members. With all of There are seven GSO instructors (I instructors. The other is from the
this change, comes responsibility and am one of them) and we travel to Virginia ANG with F-16 background.
perhaps the need for individuals to different bases instructing this course This class is listed in the
undergo some safety training. throughout the Air National Guard. Ancillary Training Database, so if
National Guard Bureau put out a The purpose of the course is to teach you would like to attend, please
notice that they would be willing to safety practices and procedures sign up there. If you want further
fund Ground Safety Orientation specific to what different bases information, drop by the Safety
(GSO) Training in different regions. require. Basically instructors Shop in building 1208, call us at
The Wing applied and was selected as reinforce methods and regulations extension 2381, or drop me an
one of the bases. Now what does this that should be used during the email. The space is limited, so
mean to you? The Wing will be different Wing/Squadron missions. sign up soon. I only ask that you
hosting a four-day GSO Course June Instructors present the material in a coordinate with your chain of
19-22. At the end of the course somewhat different format to make command, as I do not want to
attendees will get credit for guardsmen realize that it is not just save a seat for you and cancel out
Supervisor Safety Training and be their individual safety office that is at the last minute and prevent
issued an OSHA 10-hour card, since "preaching" to them, but it is the same someone else from attending.
A w a r d s a n d D e c o r a t i o n s 1 0 1
by 2nd Lt. Kristy Houska deployment or activation awards, and "Letterheads" link and paste your text
some extremely user-friendly award onto it. Each Squadron and Group
Recently, the LRS Awards and templates. Commander's correct signature block
Decorations Team assembled an If you have no experience is already on the letterhead templates.
incredible arsenal of tools that are whatsoever with the Awards and Now just print the documents! So,
available to every member of the Decorations program, you may view you have no idea how to fill out a
entire Wing at the simple click of a the instructional powerpoint Decor 6? Have no fear - the
mouse. These tools may be accessed presentations under the "Training and "Templates" link also has examples of
by logging onto the Grizzly Tracking" link. After veiwing, every single type of Decor 6 already
Homepage at https://grizzly. simply click on the link "Individual filled out for you.
ang.af.mil/ and clicking on the Award Templates". Inside this link, The goal of this website is to make
"Awards and Decs" link under "Wing you will find template documents that it easier for supervisors and
Programs". are already properly formatted, with commanders to recognize their
Some of the items you will find on the correct verbiage from the outstanding performers, but keep in
this page include the following: the regulation already filled in for you. mind that anyone can initiate a
most frequently used publications, All you need to do is update the nomination for award as long as there
interactive links to all United States information which is highlighted in is adequate justification and the
Armed Forces ribbon charts, the yellow. Once you have made these package has concurrence from the
ribbon charts of the National Guard changes, copy all the text and open individual's squadron commander.
of all 50 states, information on the appropriate letterhead in the