Boo om Op The perato e BOO 2 rs Ma OM SI 2012 aking C IGNA Contac L ct Worldwide

224 Pages·2012·4.72 MB·English

Thee BOOOM SIIGNAL
22012
“Booom Opperators Maaking CContacct Worrldwidde”

33rd EDITIOON
THE 2012 BOOM SIGNAL IS DEDICATED TO:

all the Booms who have retired or will retire this year. Your
service to this country and dedication to our career field is greatly
appreciated, you will be sorely missed!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(**Denotes no unit submission)
Base Organization Affiliation Page
Dedication 1
Table of Contents 2
Prep for contact 6
Reader Disclaimer 7
Altus AFB 97 OG AD 8
54 ARS AD
97 TRS AD
730 AMTS AFR
AMCAOS Det 2 AD
DRG Civ
Northrup Grumman Civ
Andrews AFB National Guard Bureau** AFR 23
756 ARS ANG
Bangor ANGB 132 ARS ANG 27
Battle Creek ANGB 217 AMS ANG 31
Birmingham IAP 106 ARS ANG 32
99 ARS AD
Boeing Seattle Civ 35
Wichita Civ
Buckley AFB HQ ARPC AD 37
Creech 18 RS AD 38
Edwards FLT TEST CENTER AD 39
Eielson AFB 168 ARS ANG 41
Fairchild AFB 92 ARW/OG** AD 44
92 ARS AD
2
93 ARS AD
509 WPS ANG
116 ARS AD
DRG Civ
Forbes ANGB 117 ARS** ANG 56
Gen Mitchell IAP, WS 126 ARS ANG 57
Grissom ARB 72 ARS AFR 59
74 ARS AFR
Guam 36 MRS AD 65
Hickam AFB 203 ARS ANG 66
96 ARS AD
Hurlburt Field MOB OPS SCHOOL DET 1 AD/Civ 69
Kadena AB 909 ARS AD 70
Kelly Field 313 FLTF AFR 73
Lackland AFB 344 TRS AD 74
Lincoln ANGB 173 ARS ANG 76
MacDill AFB 91 ARS AD 81
63 ARS AFR
Madrid CASS/ADSI Civ 88
March ARB 336 ARS AFR 90
912 ARS AD
McConnell AFB 22 ARW AD 96
344 ARS AD
349 ARS AD
350 ARS AD
384 ARS AD
18 ARS AFR
CAE Civ
McGhee-Tyson ANGB 151 ARS ANG 117
McGuire AFB 2 ARS AD 120
32 ARS AD
3
76 ARS** AFR
78 ARS** AFR
141 ARS ANG
305 OSS/FTU AD
621 CRW AD
Flight Safety Civ
Osan AB 607 AOC** AD 138
Pease ANGB 133 ARS ANG 139
64 ARS AD
Phoenix ANGB 197 ARS** ANG 143
Pittsburgh ANGB 171 ARW ANG 144
RAAF Amberley 33 SQN AD 147
RAF Mildenhall 351 ARS AD 148
Ramstein AB HQ USAFE/A3TV AD 152
Randolph AFB HQ AETC/A3VM AD 153
HQ AETC/A3ZM AD
Rickenbacker ANGB 145 ARS ANG 155
166 ARS ANG
Salt Lake ANGB 191 ARS ANG 160
Scott AFB HQ AMC Boom Operator CFM AD 162
HQ AMC/IG AD
HQ AMC/A3TK AD
HQ AMC/A3NR AD
HQ AMC/A3VK AD
HQ AMC/A5QX AD
HQ AMC/A6IM Civ
USTRANSCOM** AD
18 AF AD
618 AOC (TACC) AD
108 ARS ANG
906 ARS AD
Selfridge ANGB 171 ARS** ANG 179
Seymour-Johnson AFB 77 ARS AFR 180
911 ARS AD
4
Sioux-City ANGB 174 ARS ANG 188
Tinker AFB 10 FLT TEST OC/ALC AD 191
185 ARS** AFR
465 ARS ANG
Travis AFB 6 ARS AD 197
9 ARS AD
70 ARS AFR
79 ARS AFR
621 CRW AD
Flight Safety Civ
Tyndall AFB 601 AOC ANG 214
Wright-Patterson AFB AMC Test & Eval SQ AD 215
KC-46 Directorate AD/Civ
Appendix 1 Boom Operator Memorial 217
Names
Appendix 2 Boom Operators Prayer 220
Appendix 3 Boom Operator Coin/Card 221
Rules
Appendix 4 Tanker Units 222
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2012 Prep for Contact

Welcome to the 33rd Annual 2012 Boom Signal. This is my second edition as editor and as expected I made a few
rookie mistakes, like listing the 63rd ARS at MacDill as a Guard unit when they are in fact a Reserve unit, my
apologies.
I would like to welcome several new units who have submitted to the Boom Signal this year. We have a few units
making their first submission, some units from other tanker programs, and a few we haven’t heard from in a while.
Some of the new units include 33 SQN at RAAF Amberley Australia, CAASS/ADSI in Madrid, 730th AMTS at
Altus, DRG at McConnell and Fairchild, and HQ ARPC at Buckley AFB, CO. I haven’t made any drastic changes
from last year’s signal, however you may notice the class roster is no longer part of the boom signal, access to the
roster has been restricted.
In case you haven’t heard, we finally have a KC-135 Boom simulator! The first Boom Operator Weapons System
Trainer (BOWST) became operational in Jan of this year at McConnell. The device is the first boom simulator of its
kind able to log flying events. With flying hours soon drying up, this will be a major player for currencies. BOWST
is not just for practicing EP’s, it will dramatically speed up MCT by preparing new Booms for fighter cert quicker,
completely certify Booms in MPRS, and give better training for IB upgrade. A1C Josh Garrett at McConnell AFB
was the first Boom Operator to log a contact while in his MCT training. Immediately following, all Boom Operators
at McConnell were able to update their MPRS currency among other things in BOWST. BOWST #2 was completed
at Fairchild in Apr and is now ready for training as well. Take a look at the McConnell BOWST on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWeuNU4AjFQ

AMC will install BOWST #3 and #4 at Altus and they will be ready for training by the end of this year. Baby booms
in training at Altus will be able to refuel all receiver types, accurately accomplish BDA and MPRS, and experience
emergency procedures well before they actually fly in the aircraft.

I would like to thank all the participating units for their 2012 Boom Signal inputs. We continue to be under manned
and over tasked, yet you still managed to take time and contribute to 2012 Boom Signal- THANK YOU!

Burnsie
MSgt Ernest Burns
Boom Signal Editor
HQ AMC, Scott AFB, IL
[email protected]

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READER DISCLAIMER:

Be advised the individual compiling the BOOM SIGNAL is not responsible for the content of any entry
submitted for publication. The Unit’s submissions were edited for format, spelling, and compiled in logical
order. However the original content was left wholly intact.
The spirit of the BOOM SIGNAL is for the Units to express themselves in a manner befitting the family of
Boom Operators (aka, anyway we see fit). To that end, please remember; “nothing is too cruel if it’s funny
enough”.

The Boom Signal Editor
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ALTUUS AFB, OOK
97 Operrations Grroup

CMSgt Brruce Zahn: Chhief Zahn is thhe one man thatt is literally dieeing to get out of Altus. He sseems to be over his
minor hearrt “issue” now. Anyone that doesn’t believee it can come oover to the gymm and watch hiim pound out thhe
miles on thhe treadmill. CChief has finallyy been offically pardoned froom pergatory (uupstairs OG offfice) and will jjoin
Capt Zahn and the girls thhis fall in Germmany as he assumes OG Supeerintendent dutty at Spandalemm.
CMSgt Brrian Buss AFRRC Liason: Chhief Buss has bbeen in the seaat for around six months but hhas already set the
rcord for mmost parts lost ffrom a KC-1355R bfore beingg fully spun up as an FTU insstructor. Brian’s job mainly
focuses onn the important duties of consoling students (wipping theirr eyes with sofftt tissue) after thhey taco their ccheck
rides. The FTU is glad too have Chief BBuss in the seatt. He’s been innvaluable in “hhelping” the acttive duty instruuctors
embrace TFI.
MSgt J.D.. Harston (OGGV) aka Santaa Clause: Not ssure what this gguy does (otheer than drink alllot of coffee annd try
to out handd guesture the CChief) as he is always seen occuping “His” seat in Rueckeert’s office. If someone is sittting in
it, nothing is said but the seat is soon vaacant so he cann assume his poosition. He willl be retiring inn July and will bbe
headed to NNebraska. We will miss you and good luck..

8
ALTUUS AFB, OOK
554 ARS
“JJesters”

2011 AMC RRODEO’ss “Best KCC-135 Winng” and “BBest Tanker Wing”
TTrophies WWinners……Again!

54th ARS BBoom Leadersship:
CMSgt Mike Morris: CChief loves Alttus so much he refuses to leavve. He volunteered for a remoote to Korea annd
even that ggot denied. Mayybe he will picck up an assignnment this nextt go round…yeep, good news. He will be mooving
to a higherr elevation, unffortunately for him it is only 220 feet higher as he will be taaking over for Chief Zahn uppstairs
as the OG Superintendennt this summer. He is soooo eexcited…..
(S)MSgt CChris Rueckerrt: On pace to bbecome CMSAAF someday...mmaybe as soon as tomorrow. For now, he wwill
settle with running the Sqquadron when Chief Morris mmoves to the GGroup. Hasn’t eeven pinned onn Senior yet, buut is
already stuudying to makee Chief and outtrank Docken. He will be PCCSing to Fairchhild and alreadyy has created aan
Excel floww chart for all thhe booms theree. The rest of uus here feel so sorry for themm.
MSgt Fredd Ramey aka Loc Ness Monnster: When hhe’s not seen fflying he’s…noot seen at all. SSometimes we have
to send a ruunner to his “trrailer by the reservoir” to enssure he’s still aalive. Fred is sttill the 1st Sgt aand manages too keep
the buffoonnery somewhat under controll. It seems the bbooms in the ssquadron givenn him such a woorkout that he will
be taking aan early leave oof absence by rretiring this falll. Good luck aannd we’ll see yoou down the rooad.
STM Flighht: Probably thhe busiest flighht as it conducts most of the trraining and ovversight for studdent pilot and bboom
qualificatioon and requaliffication courses. STM also is the largest fligght with approxximately 25 innstructor pilots and
booms assiigned.
MSgt Anddrea Inmon (FFlight Chief): Andrea is 5 feet 2 inches of ssolid determinaation. She has the largest fligght in
the squadroon and they’re all too scared to walk down the wrong sidee of the hall. AAt first glance……well you mighht not
see her (unnless you are loooking down), but if do, or yoou run into herr you will quickkly realize thatt she’s no bull.She
will be steppping up (literaal term as we rrequire her to ccarry a stool evverywhere she ggoes) into the OOperations
Superintenndent position tthis summer.
TSgt Barttek “Bach” Baachleda (Assisttant Flt Chieff): Doing great things, howevver can’t seem tto complete a ffull
sortie withhout a maintenaance problem. MMaybe it’s beccause of the maagnetic pull hiss head creates bbecause of its
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