RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE 64th Year • No. 11

A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE
64th Year • No. 11 • MARCH 19, 2010
See Page 10
INSIDE ... JBSA PLAYS ROLE IN DISASTER RESPONSE, P3 ... BREACHED GATES ENDANGER AIRCRAFT, P4 ... CSO CLASS GETS DOWN TO NITTY-GRITTY, P11
PAGE 2
WINGSPREAD
MARCH 19, 2010
COMMENTARY
ON THE COVER
Thirty-one years of wonderful experiences
By Maj. Gen. (ret.) Erwin Lessel III
retary, supervisor,
peer and subordinate
had an impact on me
– and we shared a lot
of awesome experiences.
What did I get to
do? It wasn’t science
fiction, but it seemed
like it. I flew airland,
airdrop and air refueling missions to
almost every corner of
the world including
Ascension Island,
Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq,
the snow of
Greenland, the Berlin
Corridor and even the
North Pole! And I did
it as part of a team, a
team of maintainers,
weathermen, flight
engineers, loadmasters, air traffic controllers
and more.
Across more than three
decades of command opportunities and leadership
Wow! It’s hard to believe
that after 31 years of commissioned service I’m finally
retiring from our United
States Air Force. Who would
have thought that when I
entered the Air Force
Academy in 1975, the Air
Force, our country and the
world could have changed so
much. Back then the Apollo
moon landing program had
recently ended, the Vietnam
War was coming to a close,
the Cold War was in full
swing and we were still flying T-33s, F-4s, and F-104s.
Of course we were also flying
T-38s, C-130s, KC-135s and
B-52s! Oh yes, and we didn’t
yet have an official Air Force
song!
Where did the time go?
I’ll tell you, it was full of
wonderful experiences,
incredible challenges and
outstanding people. It was
31 years filled with
15 assignments, 10
years of TDYs, 10
“Thanks to all of you
years of general officer assignments and
with whom I’ve had the
over “5 months”
opportunity to serve.
(4,000 hours) of time
in the air! It was
You are the best and I
filled with incredible
wish you godspeed as
people – officers,
you continue to serve
enlisted, active,
Guard, Reserve, civilin the world’s greatest
ians, joint, internaAir Force.”
tional and industry
partners. People –
that’s what I’ll
remember most –
incredible teammates who
experiences, the highlight
made the impossible look
was my eight-month deployeasy every day. Every comment to Baghdad from 2004
mander, first sergeant,
to 2005. Serving as the
command chief, exec, secdeputy chief of staff for
Bill Farrow (left), and Mike Gilligan,
902nd Civil Engineer Squadron, guide a
giant concrete "O" into place March 9 as
a replacement for the historic letters
spelling out Randolph Field in
Washington Circle. For more photos, see
page 10. Photo by Dave Terry
WINGSPREAD
502nd Air Base Wing
Operating Location Bravo
Editorial Staff
Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick
Commander
1st Lt. Ryan Ernst
OL-B Chief of Public Affairs
Senior Airman Katie Hickerson
Editor
Robert Goetz
Sean Bowlin
Staff Writers
Maggie Armstrong
Graphic Designer
strategic communication at
Multi-National Force – Iraq
Headquarters and helping
build a democracy in the
Middle East was incomparable. Whether conducting
an interview on CNN, flying into Fallujah, driving
Route Irish or flying over
Iraq on their first election day, it was an
incredible experience.
And I will never forget
our wounded warriors
and those who paid the
ultimate sacrifice.
Guess what? If I could,
I’d sign up and do it all
over again. But since I
can’t, I’m encouraged
knowing that I leave the
Air Force in great hands.
A few weeks ago I attended
the Basic Military Training
graduation at Lackland
AFB. I saw the young men
and women who will be
running our Air Force for
the next 30 years. They are
awesome and will be up to
the challenge.
Thanks to all of you with
whom I’ve had the opportunity to serve. You are the
best and I wish you godspeed as you continue to
serve in the world’s greatest
Air Force. And a special
thanks to my family – my
wife Cathy and son Mark.
They have sacrificed much
over the years to enable me
to serve the Air Force and
our country. I’ve also been
blessed to be a part of the
Air Force family, those I’ll
miss most as I transition to
the civilian world and new
adventures.
Although I’m retired from
the Air Force, I will forever
live by the motto “Once an
Airman, always an
Airman.” Godspeed!
We invite all Airmen assigned to Randolph to share your Air Force story through a commentary published here in
the Wingspread. We continuously look for topics relating to life lessons learned, leadership, values, deployment
experiences and more that will resonate through the total force. Submissions must be between 500-700 words
typed, and submitted to [email protected] for consideration. For more information, call 652-5760.
Wingspread Office
1150 5th Street East
Randolph AFB, Texas 78150
Phone: (210) 652-5760
Fax: (210) 652-3142
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2203 S. Hackberry
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This paper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, a
private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under
exclusive written contract with Randolph AFB, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the
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by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the
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Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public
Affairs Division of the 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B in accordance
with local policy and style guidance. All photos, unless otherwise
indicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.
Articles for the newspaper should be submitted by noon
Thursday the week prior to the desired publication date. Items can
be dropped off on a PC- or Macintosh-formatted disk at the
Wingspread office in Hangar 6.
Articles for submission may also be sent by e-mail to
[email protected].
For details about submissions, call 652-5760.
MARCH 19, 2010
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 3
NEWS
JBSA poised for disaster response, relief
By Brent Boller
502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Photo by Brent Boller
Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick (left), 502nd Air
Base Wing commander, addresses military and
city leadership during a Defense Support to
Civil Authorities briefing at the San Antonio
Emergency Operations Center at Brooks CityBase. Seated at right is District Fire Chief Nim
Kidd, emergency management coordinator for
the City of San Antonio.
When disaster strikes in Texas or
neighboring states, San Antonio and its
military resources are frequently called
into action.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 are
stark reminders of the human and material costs inflicted by these ferocious and
capricious forces of nature.
During Katrina and the 2008 hurricane
season, local military bases were called
upon to provide major support in evacuee
and aircraft sheltering, transportation,
medical care and myriad other activities.
Now, Bexar County and city officials will
find leveraging those resources much
easier thanks to the Joint Base San
Antonio structure mandated by the 2005
Base Realignment and Closure legislation.
City, county and area base representatives met last week at the San Antonio
Emergency Operations Center at Brooks
City-Base to receive a briefing on the procedures for requesting local military aid
during natural or man-made disasters.
“Civil authorities now have one point of
contact for requesting help, and that’s the
502nd Air Base Wing,” said Brig. Gen.
Leonard Patrick, 502nd ABW commander. “In the past they had to contact each
base,” he said.
“This is the next logical step in how the
military works with the city – it’s an exciting time.” General Patrick commands the
support assets at Lackland Air Force
Base, Randolph Air Force Base and in
late April, Fort Sam Houston.
“Today’s meeting was historic,” the
general said. “Not only did we have
leaders from the 502nd ABW units on
Lackland and Randolph, we also had
representatives from the 59th Medical
Wing, the garrison at Fort Sam
Houston, Army North and the city. I
can’t remember a pre-hurricane
meeting here in San Antonio that was
so comprehensive. We usually meet
for the first time during the work up
to a hurricane.”
District Fire Chief Nim Kidd, emergency management coordinator for the
Never forgotten
John Goines (left), chief of the Life Sciences Equipment
Laboratory at Brooks City-Base, explains the remnants of a
flight suit to Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick (center), 502nd Air
Base Wing commander, and Robert Graves, 502nd ABW
deputy commander, during a visit to the lab last week. The
lab helps the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, based
in Hawaii, identify servicemembers still missing from past
wars. The lab houses more than 50,000 uniforms and
pieces of equipment, some dating back to World War I. The
lab will soon move to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Photo by Don Sutherland
city of San Antonio, echoed the general’s
enthusiasm for the refined process.
“We now have one button to push
when it comes to military help. I think
we’re finally there,” the chief said.
“Knowing names and faces is a real
plus,” he said. Chief Kidd stated the city’s
emergency operations center activates
five to seven days prior to a hurricane
strike and it’s advantageous for the military to plug in as soon as possible.
Chief Kidd noted that hurricanes
are not the only threat, but they’re the
most frequent. In fact, the Atlantic
hurricane season officially begins
June 1. The 2010 season is more likely to resemble 2008 than the relatively
benign 2009 season along the U.S.
east and gulf coasts, according to
Accuweather.com and chief hurricane
forecaster Joe Bastardi.
General Patrick is pleased that Joint
Base San Antonio and the city are well
out in front of it this year.
“Now we have a formal opportunity
rather than the ‘come as you are’ situation we had in the past,” the general said.
PAGE 4
WINGSPREAD
MARCH 19, 2010
Breaching gates on Perimeter Road endangers aircraft
Cars on closed
road compromise
ILS on flight line
By Sean Bowlin
502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Base drivers opening or driving
around closed Perimeter Road gates in
inclement weather are endangering
aircraft landing on Randolph Air Force
Base’s east runway and that is, in fact,
illegal on Randolph.
“The east runway is in use during
75 percent of the year,” said Gary
Thompson, Randolph Air Force Base
air traffic manager. “T-38s, T-43s, T1s and transport aircraft land on it.
The Instrument Landing System on it
provides fliers with information on
course, elevation and guidance and
allows aircraft to land in poor
weather. It must be protected from
interference.”
As Mr. Thompson explained further,
cars driving on Perimeter Road can
obstruct the signals the ILS sends to
aircraft wanting to land.
Therefore, he said, the fence gate
by the base’s east gate and the swinging barricades near the base horse
stables are closed by security forces
during times of poor visibility so cars
won’t drive close to the ILS and
obstruct ILS-radiated signals.
But, Mr. Thompson said, the problem
is the closed gates aren’t locked.
So, as a result, some drivers are
opening gates after they’re closed and
are driving through them, or driving
around them, as in the case of the
swing barricade blocking off Perimeter
Road near the stables.
This exposes the ILS to obstruction
and possible signal compromise, Mr.
Thompson explained.
He said although air traffic controllers in the east side operations
tower are constantly watching closed
“When they’re closed, they’re closed for a really good
reason – to protect that signal so aircraft can land safely.”
Gary Thompson
Randolph Air Force Base air traffic manager
Perimeter Road during bad flying
weather, six incidents of Perimeter
Road gate penetration happened in the
last two months.
“Those were in bad weather
months,” he said. Fortunately, there
were no aircraft crashes this year.
Mr. Thompson praised security forces
for closing the Perimeter Road gates
during bad weather, however.
“We call them and tell them when
we see somebody out there during
gate closures. They do a fantastic job
of closing the gates,” he said. “When
they’re closed, they’re closed for a
really good reason – to protect that
signal so aircraft can land safely.”
Maj. Frank Hellstern, 902nd Security
Forces Squadron commander, said by
closing the gates on Perimeter Road,
Security Forces just want to ensure that
maximum safety happens in low to no
visibility conditions, to allow pilots to
land their planes with as few distractions as possible.
“When we close the perimeter gates,
we are essentially reducing the amount
of risk associated with that event. It just
makes good sense,” he added.
Major Hellstern added it may be an
inconvenience to drivers to have to go
another route when the Perimeter
Road gates are closed.
“But sometimes going the extra mile
– no pun intended – will prevent an
accident from occurring,” he said.
Base BRIEFS
Retirement
Congratulations to Maj. Ruben
Garza, Air Education and Training
Command, on his retirement.
Award winners
Congratulations to the winners of
the 2009 Logistics Readiness, Air
Education and Training Command
Aviation Resource Management and
Manpower Awards.
For a complete list of award winners, visit www.randolph.af.mil.
Women’s History Month
The Women’s History Month observance continues today with a 5K fun
run, walk and health fair at Eberle
Park from 7:15-9 a.m. Upcoming
events are the book reading and craftmaking events scheduled for
Wednesday and the Women’s History
Month luncheon March 31.
For more information on these
Randolph events, call 652-4848.
Easter Egg Hunt
The 902nd Force Support
Squadron is scheduled to host its
annual Easter Egg Hunt March 27 at
9 a.m. at Airman’s Heritage Park.
The event is open to children aged 212, and those interested should
bring their own basket.
MOAA events
• The Military Officers Association
of America hosts its monthly luncheon
at the Ft. Sam Houston Golf Club
Thursday at 11 a.m. The featured
speaker is Judge Nelson Wolff.
For details, call 228-9955.
Toastmasters
The Randolph Toastmasters Club
meets Wednesdays at noon at the
Kendrick E-Club and Mondays at
7 p.m. at the Longhorn Café. All
Randolph military and civilian employees are welcome to attend. Call Capt.
Jomia Blas for details at 565-1515.
Your Pet, Your Family event
The Defense Commissary Agency
will host a ‘Your Pet, Your Family’ event
March 27 at 10 a.m. at the Randolph
Commissary.
The event features a variety of pet
contests with prizes and offers savings
on all pet needs: treats, food, toys and
health products. Those interested in
participating should register by
Tuesday at the commissary office or
call 652-5102.
Health Care Council
The Health Care Consumer’s
Advisory Council meets April 1 in the
large conference room at the Randolph
Clinic at 9 a.m.
The meeting is intended to foster
collaborative, two-way communication
between the health clinic and the
greater Randolph community, and will
include discussion of clinic programs
and services. Patients of the Randolph
clinic are invited to attend.
EDUCATION CENTER - 652-5964
U.S. Air Force Academy
Air Force Academy cadets will be at
the education center Thursday from
11 a.m. to noon, in Room 27.
The cadets will brief those interested on the Air Force Academy program
and the application process.
OTS
A new basic officer training program guide dated Feb. 4 is on the
AFRS BOT Web site. The changes are
effective July 19.
Individuals currently working on
OTS packages need to check the guide
for changes prior to submitting their
packages, which are due at OTS no
later than June 11.
Visit https://www.my.af.mil/gcssaf
/USAF/ep/browse.do?categoryId=2191
492&parentCategoryId=1611609&cha
nnelPageId=-1537972.
NOW SHOWING
at the
Randolph Theater
“The Wolfman” - (R)
Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins
Today @ 7 p.m.
“The Wolfman” - (R)
Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins
Saturday @ 6 p.m.
“From Paris With Love” - (R)
John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Sunday @ 3 p.m.
$4 for adults
$2 for children 11 and under
Call 652-3278 for details.
For a complete listing of
base briefs, visit
www.randolph.af.mil and
click on ‘Round Randolph
MARCH 19, 2010
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 5
Duty Title:
Personal Motto:
Hometown:
Never let anyone see you sweat…Let it roll off you, like
water off a duck.
Hobbies:
When people can’t admit they are wrong
Career development technician
Senior Airman
Samuel Griffen
902nd FSS/FSM PD
Baton Rouge, La.
Pet Peeve:
Playing video games, reading books, watching movies
Goals:
Make Chief Master Sergeant and be a great father
Commander’s Comments:
Personal Inspiration:
My parents. We never had much but they still sacrificed a lot to ensure I was happy and raised me to
have good morals and manners.
Greatest Accomplishment:
“Senior Airman Griffen is a sharp, motivated Airman
and a huge asset to the FSS team. He steps up to all
tasks with a positive, can-do attitude. Right now
he’s also a shining star on the honor guard where his
leadership potential is obvious every day. Senior
Airman Griffen is full speed ahead toward an awesome Air Force career.”
Joining the Air Force, getting Below the Zone and
marrying my wife, Megan
– Terrye Heagerty
902nd Force Support Squadron
A TIME OF NEED
Lackland family benefits from AF Aid Society assistance
By Mike Joseph
Staff Writer
All they could think about was their daughter’s
health and a bleak financial future.
The leukemia kept her from producing red blood
cells. Barely 2 years old, Hannah Richter’s tiny body
was being bombarded with chemotherapy to battle the
disease.
With her immune system depleted and vulnerable,
Hannah contracted spinal meningitis. It seemed an
endless number of spinal taps and bone marrow biopsies followed.
It’s a nightmare no parents expect to experience. Her
parents’ only thoughts were to be at Hannah’s side, to
take care of her and their other three small children.
But if that weren’t enough, reality threw more cold
water on her mom and dad. What happens when the
car tires wear out from the constant trips to the hospital? Will they make the 40-mile round trip? What about
other unexpected car repairs? After all, it was their
only vehicle, a necessity.
For Staff Sgt. Eric Richter and his wife Alyssa, it was
real life, not a made-for-TV movie. But with a helping
hand from the Air Force Aid Society, the Richter family’s story did have a Hollywood-like happy ending.
The Air Force Aid Society is one of four organizations
supported by current the Air Force Assistance Fund
campaign. AFAS provides loans and grants to Airmen
worldwide with specific emergency needs in addition to
other family support functions.
Courtesy photo
The Richter family: (Top left) Staff Sgt. Eric Richter, Alyssa
Richter (Bottom left) Kelsey, Carter, Hannah and Meranda.
Sergeant Richter is with the 802nd Mission Support Group
Staff Judge Advocate office.
“Air Force Aid helped us get new tires and a tune-up
with an interest-free loan,” said Sergeant Richter
recalling the events in Colorado that began to unfold in
2003. “We were able to get our vehicle 100 percent
dependable and we didn’t have to worry about any
issues with it.”
“Here I was with
four young kids all
under the age of 6
and one of them
being treated for
cancer,” he said.
“Without that vehicle, I would have
been hurting pretty bad. But when it
was all said and
done, the Aid
Society actually
facilitated a grant from the First Sergeants
Association.”
It wasn’t the first time Sergeant Richter, a civil law
paralegal in the 802nd Mission Support Group Judge
Advocate office, had received assistance from the Aid
Society nor would it be the last.
Several months after the Aid Society helped the
Richters with their vehicle, AFAS stepped up again to
provide assistance.
With Hannah still in treatment and trying to make
ends meet on one income, Sergeant Richter needed
help with transportation expenses for the family to
attend his grandfather’s funeral. At the time, he was
stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and the
funeral was in Wisconsin.
“Air Force Aid reworked our interest-free loan and
provided the money to attend the funeral,” he said.
See ASSISTANCE P6
PAGE 6
WINGSPREAD
MARCH 19, 2010
Freedom Flyers returning to Randolph
Heroes reunite for
37th annual
reunion this month
By Robert Goetz
502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
The brutality that American prisoners of war suffered at the hands of their captors during the
Vietnam War is one of the darkest chapters in our
country’s military history.
But these bona fide heroes have remarkable stories of
survival to tell and inspire, and some of them – a special
group of former Air Force pilots – will again share their
experiences in the infamous POW camps of North
Vietnam with the Randolph community.
Known as the Freedom Flyers, these former POWs
will reunite next week for the 37th time at the base
where the “Chargin’ Cheetahs” of the 560th Flying
Training Squadron requalified some of them for flight
following the Vietnam War and have given all of them
a “freedom flight,” the fini flight they never had an
opportunity to take.
“The Freedom Flyer Reunion celebrates the repatriation of the Air Force pilots who were POWs in Southeast
Asia,” said Maj. Jeffrey D’Ambra, reunion director. “The
560th was charged with giving them their fini flights,
the champagne flights they never got in theater, and
requalifying them. It is the longest continuously running
reunion in the Air Force.”
One of the highlights of the reunion is a symposium
set for 8:45 a.m. March 26 in the base theater that fea-
ASSISTANCE from P5
“There was no way to get the gas money
for us to drive without their help; we
never would have been able to go.”
But the best was yet to come for the
Richters before they arrived at Lackland
in 2006.
Hannah, who is now 8, fought off the
leukemia and meningitis that had invaded her 18-pound body after 30 months
of chemotherapy, several extended hospital stays, 74 spinal taps and 34 bone
tures six Freedom Flyers who will tell the stories of their
captivity, including a failed escape attempt, the successful employment of a “tap code” and other ways to communicate with each other.
Major D’Ambra said the symposium is an opportunity for the base community to listen to real
American heroes talk about an experience his generation has not had to endure.
“These men were horribly tortured, but they never
lost faith in each other and their country,” he said.
The reunion also pays homage to “those who didn’t
return,” Major D’Ambra said, the POWs who died in
captivity and the pilots who died in combat, with a
wreath-laying ceremony and a missing man flyby following the symposium. An aerial review with 13 aircraft
from the Vietnam and modern eras at 6 p.m. and a dining-in mess at 6:45 p.m. will wrap up the activities. A
golf tournament and banquet will conclude the reunion
March 27.
Another former Air Force pilot and POW will join the
fraternity of Freedom Flyers at this year’s reunion when
retired Lt. Col. Jay Hess, who was imprisoned more
than five years after his F-105 was shot down in August
1967, takes his freedom flight to become the 195th
Freedom Flyer. His pilot will be Lt. Col. Darryl Parkinson
of the 560th FTS.
Mr. Hess retired from the Air Force in November
1973 and was a longtime Air Force Junior ROTC
instructor in Utah.
Major D’Ambra said the reunion allows the
Freedom Flyers and members of the 560th FTS to
share their common bond as Air Force aviators.
“We get to hear their stories and they want to
know about our careers,” he said. “It’s a great
forum to trade information.”
Major D’Ambra said the Freedom Flyers not only survived the unspeakable horrors of North Vietnamese
POW camps such as the Hanoi Hilton, where they were
considered war criminals, they thrived following the
marrow biopsies. She has been in remission more than four years.
An initial contact made by the Aid
Society on their behalf – and with the
help of the Air Force Academy and
Peterson AFB – led the Richters to be
chosen as the 2005 Academy Family of
the Year. The Academy selects one family annually in the Colorado Springs military area that has undergone some type
of hardship or adversity.
“It’s a neat presentation they do in the
middle of the boxing ring,” Sergeant
FREEDOM FLYERS REUNION
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, March 26
8:45-11:30 a.m - Freedom Flyer
Symposium at base theater
Noon - Wreath-laying ceremony and
flyby at Missing Man Monument
5:30 p.m - Cocktails at the Parr O’Club
6 p.m - Evening aerial review
6:45 p.m - Dining-in mess
Saturday, March 27
9 a.m. to noon - River Rats’ Golf Tournament
12:30 p.m - Shotgun start for golf tournament
5:30 p.m - Golf banquet
war, leading productive lives and rising to great heights
in the Air Force and the civilian world.
“They remembered what happened to them, but
they didn’t let it interfere with the future,” he said.
“We’re in awe of what they’ve done.”
Lt. Col. Mark Doria, 560th FTS commander, said
the squadron takes pride in its kinship with the
Freedom Flyers.
“The 560th FTS is extremely proud of its role in welcoming back these American heroes and continuing the
tradition of honoring our Air Force warriors,” he said.
“This is an outstanding opportunity to show them how
much we respect their sacrifices and for Randolph to
learn from their experiences.”
For more information about the reunion, call
Major D’Ambra at 652-0785 or e-mail him at
[email protected].
Richter said about the award ceremony
held during an annual base boxing tournament. “They pass a hat (in the crowd)
and the money raised goes to the family.”
“We have amazing medical benefits
and I am blessed to have those benefits,”
he said. “But when you’re literally living
in a hospital like we were, it got
extremely expensive. It was an amazing
fundraiser they did for her to help us
pay off all the other bills we had piling
up attached to the medical procedures.”
Humbled by the honor and grateful to
those responsible, the Richters paid off
expenses incurred during Hannah’s illness, a real modern-day story of the
movie classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“They do a lot more than just hand a
check to you,” Sergeant Richter said
about the Aid Society. “It’s pretty impressive.
“It’s nice to know we have that,” he
added. “If there is ever a terrible emergency, there’s always Air Force Aid you
can turn to – you don’t have to worry.”
MARCH 19, 2010
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 7
Seminar today for those transitioning
By Airman 1st Class Precious Yett
502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
The Randolph Transition Assistance Program hosts a
special “Marketing Yourself for a Second Career” seminar today from 9 a.m. to noon at the base theater.
The annual briefing, conducted by retired Col. Dan
Koslov, a Washington lecturer on career transition
from military to civilian employment, is geared toward
NCOs and officers nearing retirement. Everyone is welcome but spouses are highly encouraged to attend.
“He brings his past experiences, but he also talks
about transitioning services like writing resumes, networking, salary negotiation, this is what you have to do
if you want to get that job. He’s straightforward. It’s not
like he’s going to paint it green. He’s going to tell you
exactly what you need to do to be successful, regard-
less of your rank,” said Ray Ramos, Randolph TAP
Manager.
Some subjects covered during the presentation are:
job competition, a plan for the transition, strengthening
a resume, networking, interviewing and rejection.
“This guy has prevalent updated information on
transitioning. He’s from Washington. He finds out
what’s going on with jobs, better ways to market yourself and additional information on resumes,” said Mr.
Ramos. “When you go on an interview this is what
they’re going to look at, how you dress, etc. We teach it
here, but he’s able to go into a more real-world aspect
because he’s retired. He’s been through it and it’s current. He sees everything going on in Washington, D.C.,
and throughout the bases he visits.”
The presentation is given annually at more than 150
military installations of all services worldwide.
“A lot of retirees didn’t even know that the
Airman and Family Readiness Center offered all of
this stuff for people separating. They didn’t know
about the interviewing or the resumes and the VA
benefits. The AFRC really prepares you for getting
out of the military and lets you know what you have
to do in order to complete your retirement or separation,” said Denise Blunt, 902nd Force Support
Squadron transition specialist.
The seminar is free and those who participate
receive a copy of the book “Marketing Yourself for a
Second Career.”
Those interested in finding out more about the transition assistance program should visit Mr. Ramos or Ms.
Blunt at the A&FRC in Bldg. 693.
“You have to take care of yourself, and that’s what
we do here,” said Mr. Ramos.
RPA sensor operators named team of year
By 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
Air Force and Air Force Association officials
recently announced remotely piloted aircraft sensor
operators as the 2010 Team of the Year.
AFA officials named five enlisted Airmen in the
RPA sensor operators’ career field as individual 2010
Team of the Year award winners.
Each year, the AFA recognizes a specific enlisted
career field as well as Airmen from across the Air
Force in that specialty who demonstrate professionalism, technical expertise and leadership.
The following are Airmen representing the RPA
sensor operators team of this year’s award:
• Master Sgt. John Allen, 3rd Special Operations
Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.;
• Master Sgt. Richard Jones, 78th Reconnaissance
Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.;
• Staff Sgt. Ryan Carabajal, 111th RS, Ellington Field
Joint Reserve Base, Houston;
• Senior Airman Jon Turney, 29th Attack Squadron,
Holloman AFB, N.M.; and
• Senior Airman Abby Korovich, 17th RS at Creech
AFB, Nev.
Award winners will be recognized during a presentation ceremony April 19 in Washington, D.C.
For more information on Air Force awards, visit
the AFPC personnel services Web site or call the
Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102.
PAGE 8
WINGSPREAD
Summit Summation
Randolph Chapel
Schedule
REGULAR SERVICES
EASTER SERVICES
• PROTESTANT
Traditional Service
8:15 - Chapel 1
• PROTESTANT
Same time and location
as regular services
Contemporary
Service
11 a.m. - Chapel 2
• CATHOLIC
Stations of the Cross/Lenten Soup
Now through March 26
6 p.m. - Chapel 1/Chapel Center
Lenten Reconciliation Service
Wednesday - 6 p.m. - Chapel 1
Palm Sunday
Regular Mass schedule
Mass of the Last Supper
April 1 - 7 p.m. - Chapel 1
Veneration of the Cross
April 2 - 3 p.m. - Chapel 1
Easter Vigil
April 3 - 8 p.m. - Chapel 1
• CATHOLIC
Monday-Friday
11:30 a.m. - Chapel 1
Saturday
5:30 p.m. - Chapel 1
Sunday
8:30 a.m. - Chapel 2
11:30 a.m. - Chapel 1
Confession
Saturday
4:30 - Chapel 1
MARCH 19, 2010
Photo by Steve Thurow
Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick (left), 502nd Air Base Wing commander, discusses the history and traditions of
San Antonio-area bases with master sergeants selected for promotion to senior master sergeant during a
senior master sergeant summit at the Randolph Air Force Base Parr O’Club March 10. The summit allowed
the selectees to learn from senior leaders and peers and tour the facilities of Joint Base San Antonio,
seeing key aspects of each installation’s missions.
Patriotic Scouts
Photo by Steve Thurow
Members of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, Randolph Service Unit fold the United
States Flag during a retreat ceremony they conducted in front of the Airman Leadership
School March 9. The ceremony teaches the young scouts about their country’s flag and
its customs and courtesies.
MARCH 19, 2010
WINGSPREAD
ADVERTISEMENT
902nd Force Support Squadron Briefs
PAGE 9
PAGE 10
WINGSPREAD
Sprucing up
for Spring
MARCH 19, 2010
Members of the 902nd Civil Engineer
Squadron replaced the letters spelling out
R-A-N-D-O-L-P-H located in front of the Taj Mahal
in Washington Circle, which were originally
placed in the 1930s. The letters were replaced as
part of a beautification initiative taking place on
Harmon Drive and Washington Circle. Randolph is
known as the “The Showplace of the
Air Force and was designated by the
National Park Service in 2001 as a
National Historic Landmark.”
Photos by Steve Thurow
Above: A 902nd CES member adds rocks to a
newly-poured concrete letter.
Bill Farrow positions a bucket filled with cement over a form
while Mike Gilligan smoothes out the newly-poured concrete
during the replacement of the Randolph Field letters facing
Washington Circle March 11. Mr. Farrow and Mr. Gilligan are
cement finishers with the 902nd CES.
Right: Bobby Pogue (left) and Bill Farrow add
finishing details of river rocks and bricks in the
wet cement as a design feature that matches the
existing letters in Washington Circle.
MARCH 19, 2010
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 11
DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY
Last CSO class at Randolph learning about radar
By Robert Goetz
502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
As combat systems officer training prepares to enter
a new era at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., where
the first class will soon begin, the final class to graduate at Randolph is getting down to the nitty-gritty.
Members of Class No. 10-15, who belong to the
562nd Flying Training Squadron’s C Flight, are now
in their 15th week of instruction overall and three
weeks into the systems navigation part of the primary phase, learning about radar and the inertial
navigation system – essential equipment for the
combat systems officer.
“The systems navigation phase, in my opinion, is the
most difficult part of the curriculum,” said Capt. Jay
Gilbert, 562nd FTS C Flight commander. “If you make
it through this part, your chances of making it through
the program are greatly increased.”
Prior to beginning systems navigation, students completed the fundamentals of navigation part of the primary phase, taking their first check ride in a simulator.
Captain Gilbert defined a check ride as “an evaluation
of everything they’ve learned in the phase.”
“It’s just like one of their training missions,” he said.
“However, they are required to show they can meet all
of the requirements without any instructor help.”
Captain Gilbert said all class members successfully
finished their first check ride.
“They seem to be grasping it pretty well, but now
we’re adding extra pieces of equipment,” he said.
Capt. Tim Morris (right), 563rd Flying Training Squadron
instructor, explains the details of the day’s objectives to
2nd Lt. Jestin Boelman before the check ride sortie.
Photos by Steve Thurow
Navigation instructor Maj. Callum McGough prepares a
562nd Flying Training Squadron navigator simulator for a
student systems navigation familiarization flight March 11.
Students are getting used to radar, seeing landmarks on the ground such as cities as marks on a
screen and matching them up on their navigation
charts.
“It usually takes a lot of practice,” Captain
Gilbert said.
The class, now bumped up to 24 members after
starting with 21, took five simulator and four aircraft
flights in fundamentals of navigation and are taking
seven simulator and five aircraft flights in systems navigation. They will have to pass one check ride in a simulator and one in an aircraft to move on to the intermediate navigation phase, which begins next month. Then
they’ll apply skills acquired in this phase to a number
of operations, including air refueling, search-and-rescue missions and in-flight diverts, said Captain Gilbert.
Second Lt. Elizabeth Thigpen, a product of the Air
Force ROTC program at the University of Pittsburgh,
said systems navigation introduces a lot of new information – and equipment – to students.
“Radar is something different than what we’re used
to,” she said. “We’re dealing with more equipment, but
the information is better.”
Captain Gilbert said the intermediate phase will
introduce students to more “real-world” situations, but
all in a simulator environment. When that month-long
phase is over, students will learn about electronic warfare at the 563rd FTS, then have the option of studying
advanced navigation or advanced electronic warfare
before taking part in the integrated operations phase,
Combat Systems Officer students from the 562nd FTS CFlight at Randolph listen as their instructor goes over the navigation chart prior to a simulator flight.
which includes a simulated war.
Students agree the CSO course requires their full
attention.
“Academics occupy most of my time during the
week,” said 2nd Lt. Tim Donlan, an Air Force Academy
graduate. “You have to put in a lot of effort.”
He said the most challenging aspects of the course
are “getting used to all the tasks you have to do and
doing everything the way it’s supposed to be done.”
Second Lt. Conrad Ruiz, a Caracas, Venezuela, native
who grew up in the Detroit area, said time management is essential to succeeding in the course.
“It’s a lot different from the college environment,” he
said. “But it’s interesting to me. It’s not dry or boring.”
Students in Class No. 10-15 also agree they want
each other to succeed, so they are there for each other.
“If there’s something some of us don’t understand,
we really help each other,” Lieutenant Thigpen said.
“We want to make sure we all graduate.”
“We all work together well,” said Lieutenant Donlan.
PAGE 12
WINGSPREAD
MARCH 19, 2010
SPORTS and FITNESS
Rambler, youth programs participate in ‘Fit Family’
Full calendar of events
planned to help families
meet fitness goals
By Sean Bowlin
502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
Because the Air Force wants its “Fit Family” program to be an important component of its overall fitness and health initiative, the Rambler Fitness and
Randolph Youth Programs centers are holding fitness
events augmenting it.
Jeri Peterson, 902nd Force Support Squadron youth
director, said she’s seen 68 family members register at
www.usaffitfamily.com at the Randolph Youth
Programs Center since the new year. She added registering for the program is open to all active duty, Air
Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Department of
Defense and civilian families, retired military members,
honorably discharged veterans with 100 percent service-connected disabilities and former and surviving
military spouses and their family members.
Ms. Peterson said the program defines a “family” as
at least two people being active together and added the
Web site is a good tool for a variety of fitness, health
and nutrition articles, healthy recipes, fitness tips and
quizzes – and opportunities for families to post pictures, recipes and to tell of ways to stay active.
To assist in keeping families active through
November, Ms. Peterson has planned several family-based fitness events to be held at the Youth
Programs Center. Completing them garners points
toward fitness goals families can set on the Web
site’s goal tracker.
The first event, Fit Family Iron Chef Contest, takes
place Saturday at 6 p.m.
“Our staff will run that and the aspect of it is
nutritional,” Ms. Peterson said. “We’ll give family
members some healthy ingredients and they’ll prepare a dish. It’ll then be judged on its taste and its
nutritional value.”
On April 10 at the Youth Programs Center, during
Famaganza, there will be a fitness challenge course
and additionally, family members have the option of
registering for Fit Family.
On May 15, the “America’s Kid Run Family Event” in
honor of National Fitness Month will be held at 10 a.m.;
then June 12, a GPS Amazing Race is scheduled for 1
Photo by Steve Thurow
Donovan Wells (left), a student at the University of Texas, San Antonio, and his brother Dominique, a student at Judson
High School, work out at the Rambler Fitness Center Monday.
p.m. as part of the Great Outdoor Family Fun Event.
She said the Youth Programs Center will hold a Fit
Family Punt, Pass and Kick Challenge Aug. 17, a Sept.
18 Day for Kids, an Oct. 14 Fit Family Basketball
Challenge and a Nov. 13 Fit Family Team-Building
Challenge.
“The team-building challenge involves trust-walks
and problems the family has to solve together,” Ms.
Peterson explained. “The basketball challenge is a
parent-child shootout, making points from different
areas around the basketball court. All of these
events give parents and their kids a chance to get
out and play together.”
The Rambler Fitness Center wants parents and
children to play together and get fit together, too,
said Adriana Ortiz, 902nd FSS fitness and sports
specialist.
“We encourage parents and their young children
who can’t use the weights and treadmills to come into
the basketball court, where they can play basketball,
volleyball and other sports – and run,” she said.
Ms. Ortiz said to encourage family fitness, the
Rambler has scheduled a Randolph Warriors Mini
Biathlon May 22, which consists of a 10-mile bike ride
and a 5K run for adults and a three-mile bike and onemile run for children.
Additionally, at the Rambler on July 1 there is a
“Stars & Stripes” adult 5K run and for children, a 1.5mile run-walk. July 25 is “Military Family Fitness
Night,” where there will be circuit stations, basketball,
volleyball and other various activities.
Finally, Ms. Ortiz said Oct. 2 is the Oktoberfest
Fitness Celebration, featuring a 5K run and a 10K
bike ride for adults and a 1.5-mile run-walk for
children.
For more information on these events, call the
Randolph Youth Programs Center at 652-3298 or the
Rambler Fitness Center at 652-2955.
FREELANCE WRITING POSITION AVAILABLE AT THE WINGSPREAD
The Randolph Air Force Base newspaper, the Wingspread, is seeking a freelance sports writer to cover Randolph
intramural sports and Randolph High School sports. For more information, call the Wingspread office at 652-5760.
MARCH 19, 2010
March
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 13
Rambler Fitness Center group exercise class schedule
MONDAYS
6 a.m. - Cycling
9 a.m. - Step
11 a.m. - Step
11:15 a.m. - Cycling
5 p.m. - Step
5:15 p.m. - Cycling
6 p.m. - Yoga
7:15 p.m. - Kick Boxing
TUESDAYS
9 a.m. - Yoga
10 a.m. - Senior Strength
11 a.m. - Step
5 p.m. - Zumba
6 p.m. - Kick Boxing
WEDNESDAYS
6 a.m. - Cycling
9 a.m. - Step
11 a.m. - Step
11:15 a.m. - Cycling
4 p.m. - Power Yoga
5 p.m. - Step and Kick
5:15 p.m. - Cycling
6 p.m. - Sets & Reps
7:15 p.m. - Kick Boxing
THURSDAYS
9 a.m. - Step/Weights
9 a.m. - Yoga
10 a.m. - Senior Strength
11 a.m. - Step
5 p.m. - Zumba
5:15 p.m. - Cycling
6 p.m. - Kick Boxing
FRIDAYS
6 a.m. - Cycling
9 a.m. - Step
10:15 a.m. - Cardiofusion
11:15 a.m. - Cycling
5:30 p.m. - Yoga
SATURDAYS
9 a.m. - Kick Boxing
9 a.m. - Pilates
10:15 a.m. - Zumba
SUNDAYS
1 p.m. - Yoga
$3 per class. For details on class passes or holiday class schedules, call the Rambler Fitness Center at 652-2955.
Equipment orientation available upon request for all patrons.
Sports
BRIEFS
MOAA hosts golf tournament
The Military Officers Association of America Alamo Chapter hosts the Third Annual Wounded
Warrior Golf Tournament March 26 at 1 p.m at the
Ft. Sam Houston Golf Club.
The cost is $85 and all proceeds benefit the
Fisher House and Wounded Warrior Center.
Opportunities to play with, or sponsor a Wounded
Warrior remain available.
For details, call 228-9955.
Baseball, T-ball and softball registration
Registration for baseball and softball takes
place now through Monday.
All youth must have a current annual physical, up-to-date immunizations, birth certificate,
sports registration form and fees on file. The
cost is $40 per child.
The leagues are as follows:
• T-Ball for 5- to 6-year-old boys and girls
• Coach-pitch coed baseball for 7- to 8-year-olds
• Softball for 9- to 12-year-old girls
• Baseball for 9- to 12-year-old boys
For more information on any of the leagues, call
the youth center at 652-2088.
Coaches needed
Volunteer coaches are needed for all leagues. A
completed application including a background
check must be on file prior to first practice. Call
Jeri Peterson at 652-3298 for more information.