AFWEEKLY
AFWEEKLY
Celebrating the Air Force's 50th Anniversary:
The Golden Legacy, Boundless Future...
Your Nation's Air Force
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Air Force News Service Weekly Summary
Designed to provide a brief look at the past week's Air Force News
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This summary contains 30 stories:
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Celebrating the Air Force's 50th Anniversary:
The Golden Legacy, Boundless Future...
Your Nation's Air Force
&
Air Force News Service Weekly Summary
Designed to provide a brief look at the past week's Air Force News
&
This summary contains 30 stories:
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971581. X-33 space plane to call Edwards home
971582. Negotiators agree on recovery of lost servicemen
971583. Air Force dedicates clinic to first fallen doctor
971584. Portuguese air detachment wraps up Aviano deployment
971585. Now showing: Dec. 15 edition of Air Force Television News
971586. Air Force releases senior, intermediate service school lists
971587. Air Force scientist meets challenge as U.N. weapons inspector
971589. CISM lays memorial wreath at Lackland
971591. CMSAF Benken opens web site
971592. Air Force announces top fuels people
971593. Shaud discusses officer assignment system review -- MUST RUN
971595. Reserve offers JOLDS II in April
971596. F-117 accident investigation report released
971597. Hill F-16 pilot helping train Jordanians
971598. F-117 support team getting the job done
971599. Air Force announces OTS selections
971600. Tyndall F-15 pilot back in the seat again
971602. Civil Air Patrol Hosts National Cadet Competitions
971603. DOD to start immunizations against anthrax
971605. Information technology computer training comes to Air Force
971606. Defense, VA combine retirement-disability physicals
971607. ID cards to go total force green
971608. Paralegal course moves to CD-ROM
971609. Cohen orders review of recommendations to improve training
971610. Overseas Enlisted Tour Extension Incentive increases to $2,000
971611. U.S. Pacific Command closes Indonesian fire-fighting operation
971612. LEAD Program offers airmen commissioning opportunity
971613. NCOs help save Air Force about $1.5 million
971614. Christmas greetings to Air Force men and women
971615. AFRL, Rome program to enhance airport ground safety
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971581. X-33 space plane to call Edwards home
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Imagine a future where there is
a space plane that lifts off from Edwards Air Force Base and flies to
Malmstrom AFB, Mont. -- a trip of 950 miles -- in approximately 20
minutes.
Edwards AFB organizations are teamed up with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
to develop and test the X-33, which is a 53 percent scale model of the
future Reusable Launch Vehicle, called VentureStar.
Construction has already begun on the X-33 and major components are
already taking shape. The large tank that will contain the liquid
oxygen has been completed and will be delivered soon. The final
assembly jigs are already in place at the LMSW facility at Palmdale.
The X-33 is designed to travel at a top speed of Mach 15 (15 times the
speed of sound), which is approximately three miles a second. The
prototype will not achieve orbit, which would require a speed of more
than Mach 25.
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971582. Negotiators agree on recovery of lost servicemen
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- U.S. and North Korean negotiators reached agreement
Dec. 7 in New York to expand joint operations to recover the remains of
American servicemen lost during the Korean War.
The negotiating teams also set a date for another joint archival review,
and will consider expanding this area to a second review with a date to
be determined. The U.S. side continued to press for access to the known
American soldiers who defected to North Korea in the 1960s through
1980s, but no agreement was reached on interviewing them.
The 1998 sites are in Kujang County of North Pyongan Province and near
Kaechon City of the South Pyongan Province. In November and December of
1950, American troops from the 2nd Infantry Division and other units
were withdrawing southward, and approximately 1,700 soldiers were lost.
The U.S. and North Korean sides believe that more remains can be
recovered from this area than from the operations in 1996 and 1997.
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971583. Air Force dedicates clinic to first fallen doctor
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) -- The 15th Medical Group clinic
was dedicated Dec. 7 in honor of 1st Lt. William R. Schick, the first
Army Air Corps doctor killed during the onset of World War II. The
Chicago native was a 1935 graduate of the University of Illinois at
Champaign-Urbana, and 1940 graduate of the University of Illinois
College of Medicine.
The 31-year-old flight surgeon was aboard one of 12 B-17 Flying Fortress
bombers flying from California to Oahu for fuel before heading to Clark
Field in the Philippines to bolster Gen. Douglas MacArthur's defenses.
Guest speaking at the dedication ceremony was the doctor's son and
namesake, William R. Schick, of Chicago, who was born eight months after
the death of his father, Aug. 17, 1942, the same day his father would
have been 32 years old.
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971584. Portuguese air detachment wraps up Aviano deployment
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) -- Portuguese F-16 air force pilots,
maintainers and support personnel trained alongside their U.S. Air Force
counterparts here recently.
The team's goal was to familiarize members with the kinds of
air-to-ground support missions fighter squadrons from Aviano's 31st
Fighter Wing continue to perform for Operation Deliberate Guard,
according to Maj. Mario Barreto, the Portuguese unit's operations
officer.
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971585. Now showing: Dec. 15 edition of Air Force Television News
KELLY AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Fighting the battle on the
computer screen? This innovation is featured in the latest edition of
Air Force Television News. The program profiles the Force Protection
Battlelab at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and how it is helping shape
the Air Force of the 21st century.
The Living Heritage segment of the program spotlights the invaluable
contribution made to the active duty Air Force by the Air Force Reserve
and Air National Guard. Also featured are stories about the largest air
drop in the history of the Reserve; humanitarian aid to a former Soviet
Union country; and the contribution of one Texas woman to the Air
Force's 50th anniversary.
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971586. Air Force releases senior, intermediate service school lists
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force selected 235
lieutenant colonels and lieutenant colonel-selects for senior service
school (SSS) for the 1998-1999 academic school year and added 475 majors
and major-selects to attend intermediate service school (ISS) next year.
The officers were selected by the 97A SSS/ISS board that met at the Air
Force Personnel Center here Nov. 10-24. The complete list of those
selected is available on AFPC's World Wide Web Page at noon Thursday.
The Web address is http://www.afpc.af.mil.
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971587. Air Force scientist meets challenge as U.N. weapons inspector
BROOKS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- When Maj. (Dr.) Eric Holwitt volunteered
to go to Baghdad, Iraq, and serve as a United Nation's Special
Commission weapons inspector, he knew he was in for an unusual
deployment.
Before Holwitt would return to San Antonio from his 89 day deployment he
would find himself repeatedly barred from weapon inspection sites,
called "incompetent" and a "spy" by Iraqi officials, and expelled from
Iraq in the middle of the night.
In 1991, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 687,
which the United States and other members of the international community
signed. The resolution stated Iraq should open to inspection and
destruction, sites where nuclear, chemical and biological weapons or
components could be manufactured or stored.
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971589. Conseil International Du Sport Militaire lays memorial wreath
at Lackland
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Gen. Lloyd "Fig" Newton, Air
Education and Training Command commander, and Col. L.A. Motlhatlhedi
from Botswana laid a memorial wreath at Lackland's Medal of Honor
monument on behalf of the Conseil International Du Sport Militaire
boxing competition's Chiefs of Mission.
The solemn ceremony took place at the Lackland parade grounds Dec. 10.
Since CISM's inception in 1948, the wreath-laying ceremony has been a
tradition at every competition to recognize and honor all the military
who have died while serving in the defense of their respective
countries. The event included comments by Newton and Motlhatlhedi, the
wreath laying, full military honors by Lackland's Honor Guard, and the
playing of "Taps."
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971591. CMSAF Benken opens web site
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The chief master sergeant of the Air Force is now
in cyberspace.
The Air Force has launched on the World Wide Web the Air Force senior
enlisted leader's home page at http://www.af.mil/lib/cmsaf/. The
website is an effort by Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Eric W.
Benken get more information to Air Force enlisted men and women all over
the world.
The site includes information about the chief, the Office of the Chief
Master Sergeant of the Air Force, his current issues, speeches and his
office staff. The site will be updated regularly by Benken with his
thoughts and ideas on issues affecting the enlisted force.
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971592. Air Force announces top fuels people
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force announced its outstanding supply and
fuels people for 1997 at a Dec. 2 awards banquet.
Brig. Gen. Leon A. Wilson Jr., Air Force director of supply, and retired
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Sam E. Parish jointly presented
the awards to the best supply and fuels officers, civilian and enlisted
people.
Recipients were selected based on their duty performance and
contributions to improving supply and fuels processes. They first
competed within their major command before their packages were forwarded
to the Air Staff for review and selection.
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971593. Shaud discusses officer assignment system review
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Stability, predictability and fairness are the key
elements for the officer assignment system to meet the needs of the Air
Force, according to the leader of the OAS review group.
Retired Air Force Gen. John A. Shaud, executive director of the Air
Force Association, was selected by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael
E. Ryan to lead the three-month review that began Dec. 10.
"From the outset I want all officers to know that no decisions will be
made until our deliberations are complete," Shaud said. "The people on
our review live under the system, they experience it every day and can
give us valuable input on what works well and what may need improving."
Shaud also wanted to let the officer corps know some of his philosophy
for conducting the review. "I don't foresee the group recommending a
major overhaul that produces a system officers won't recognize," he
said.
At the same time, he believes if the group can recommend improvements,
it will.
Any recommendations will be forwarded to Ryan for his review and
approval. Results of the review are expected to be announced around
March.
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971595. Reserve offers JOLDS II in April
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Air Force Reserve junior officers
seeking professional development designed to help them reach their
maximum potential have an opportunity to achieve that goal.
Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command's Professional Development Center
is looking for officers desiring to participate in the second Junior
Officer Leadership Development Seminar, known as JOLDS II.
JOLDS II, a structured reserve leadership training program that provides
participants with improved leadership and confidence skills, will be
held April 23-26 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
Quotas are allocated to Reserve units and individual mobilization
augmentees. Wing commanders must nominate their candidates to the PDC.
Second lieutenants through captains are eligible to attend the course.
Enrollment ends March 10. For the PDC's most current up-to-date
information, check out the website at:
http://www.afres.af.mil/~qi/qijolds.htm.
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971596. F-117 accident investigation report released
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) -- Air Combat Command released the
accident investigation report Dec. 12 on the F-117A stealth fighter from
Holloman
Air Force Base, N.M., that crashed Sept. 14 near Baltimore, Md.
The aircraft had just completed its third pass during an air show
flyover at Martin State Airport. The pilot was initiating his climb out
for departure when he felt the aircraft shudder and the left wing broke
off. The aircraft crashed into the residential area of Bowley's
Quarters, Md., and caused extensive fire damage to several homes and
vehicles. There were no fatalities or serious injuries.
The accident investigation report concluded that the cause of the
accident was structural failure of a support assembly, known as the
Brooklyn Bridge, in the left wing due to four missing fasteners of the
39 in the assembly. The Brooklyn Bridge assembly was apparently
improperly reinstalled during a scheduled periodic inspection in Jan.
1996.
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971597. Hill F-16 pilot helping train Jordanians
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) -- A new country, culture, and a
one-of-a-kind job awaited Hill officer halfway around the world.
Maj. James Hedges, 388th Fighter Wing F-16 pilot, departed the United
States recently; his destination, the country of Jordan in the Middle
East.
He is part of the Peace Falcon program teaching Jordanian pilots how to
employ the F-16 Fighting Falcon tactically.
Jordanian F-16 student pilots have already completed initial pilot
training in the United States. Now, the major will help further their
training in basic fighter maneuvers and surface attack techniques. "I'm
going over to Jordan basically as an advisor to their air force and I
will fly with them as an instructor pilot," said Hedges. "My primary
mission then will be to help them set up their F-16 squadron in Mufaq
Salti Air Base."
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971598. F-117 support team getting the job done
KUWAIT (AFNS) -- Their charter is maximum delivery with minimum delay.
They move out when the F-117 stealth fighter does.
Known as the En route Support Team, they are a cadre of technicians,
which travels ahead of the stealth fighter. They are charged with being
the first line of business for deploying F-117s; to arrive ahead of the
Nighthawk, recover the jets and get them on their way.
The core size of the EST is about 15 people ranging from crew chiefs to
"Martians," or material application repair specialists, and the team can
be molded to handle from two to 18 planes. Duty with the EST is
rotational so each team is usually composed of a new set of people, a
way of balancing the deployment workload, said De Chant.
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971599. Air Force announces OTS selections
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force is giving 65
enlisted members the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars
after being chosen to attend Officer Training School.
The Air Force Recruiting Service conducted OTS Selection Board 9803 here
Dec. 3 - 5. The board members considered 180 active-duty applicants,
selecting 65 for a 36.1 percent selection rate. Overall, 699 applied to
attend OTS with 287 getting selected for a 41.1 percent selection rate.
For pilot training, 163 people applied and 79 were selected. For
navigator training, 67 applied and 51 were excepted. For technical
training, 79 applied and 54 were excepted. For non-technical training,
390 applied and 103 were excepted.
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971600. Tyndall F-15 pilot back in the seat again
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Leaping over hurdles in the face
of adversity has paid off for a 95th Fighter Squadron captain.
Capt. Jon Counsell recently graduated from the Air Force F-15
operational training course, three-and-a-half years after ejecting from
an F-15 at Mach 1.14 on his initial solo flight.
After the May 5, 1994, accident, caused by G-induced loss of
consciousness, Counsell's chances of flying again seemed like a dream;
his injuries left him with both his legs and one arm useless.
It took two years just to mend the broken bones -- 11 months to heal the
broken leg while undergoing three surgical procedures, Counsell said.
It took another year to fix the knees. "From the time we got done with
the knees," he said, "it took two and a half years when they said I was
fixed enough to start working on the waivers to return to fly."
In November 1996 Counsell got the waiver and by February he was back
flying. "Through anything that applies to life, there are going to be
some setbacks; you go and talk to friends or chaplains, or whoever you
need for your support group, and realize it's going to be better," he
said.
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971602. Civil Air Patrol Hosts National Cadet Competitions
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) -- Members of the U.S. Air Force
Honor Guard Drill Team will judge their young Civil Air Patrol
counterparts during CAP's 1997 National Cadet Competition.
More than 168 young men and women from across the United States will
come under the scrutiny of the Air Force's elite guard during
competitions here Dec. 28-29.
The winners of the National Cadet Competition will receive the U.S. Air
Force Chief of Staff Sweepstake trophy; National Color Guard Competition
winners will receive the Air Force Association President's trophy.
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971603. DOD to start immunizations against anthrax
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A systematic vaccination of all U.S. military
personnel against the biological warfare agent anthrax will start next
summer.
The Department of Defense announced the program Dec. 15, capping a
three-year study. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen concluded the
vaccination is the safest way to protect highly mobile U.S. military
forces against a potential threat that is 99 percent lethal to
unprotected people.
Anthrax vaccine will initially be administered to about 100,000 military
people assigned or deployed to the high-threat areas of Southwest Asia
and Northeast Asia. Within the next several years it will be given to
all active-duty people and reservists.
Anthrax is a disease that normally afflicts animals, especially cattle
and sheep. Anthrax spores can be produced in a dry form that can be
incorporated into weapons. When inhaled by humans, these particles
cause severe pneumonia and death within a week. At least 10 countries
have or are suspected of developing a biological warfare capability.
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971605. Information technology computer training comes to Air Force
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- More than 500 computer-based training products now
in distribution will boost the proficiency of people using and
supporting Air Force communications and information networks.
The commercially developed information technology computer-based
training products are a key part of the Air Force's strategy to
operationalize and professionalize its networks.
All products are licensed for use by all members of the Air Force,
including Guard, Reserve and civilian employees, regardless of specialty
or assigned unit. The library covers technical areas such as UNIX,
Windows NT and Oracle as well as widely used end-user applications,
including Microsoft Office and Netscape.
Other areas include software programming and World Wide Web
administration training.
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971606. Defense, VA combine retirement-disability physicals
Washington (AFNS) -- Separating or retiring service members expecting to
file a claim for VA disability compensation will undergo a single
physical exam prior to discharge under a new agreement between DOD and
Department of Veterans Affairs.
When fully implemented, the new national policy will meet VA
requirements for claims determinations and DOD needs for a separation
medical examination. The new policy will be phased in as soon as
possible while details are worked out at the local level, according to
DOD health officials.
Previous procedures required two separate examinations several months
apart. Military personnel had to get a DOD physical exam prior to
discharge from active duty. Because of differences between VA and DOD
protocols, they usually had to undergo a second exam by VA after filing
claims for disability compensation. The results of these examinations
are a determining factor in eligibility for VA health care.
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971607. ID cards to go total force green
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Identification cards for all active status service
members will share the common green color of the cards active duty
members carry now.
Defense Secretary William S. Cohen announced the change will be phased
in over two to five years, beginning as early as June 1998.
The modifications include changing the reserve active status forces
identification card [DD Form 2 (Reserve)] from red to green. Reserve
active status forces include members of the Selected Reserve, the
Individual Ready Reserve and the active Standby Reserve. Only the color
will change. Current service benefits, privileges and entitlements
remain the same, unless a change in status occurs.
Red identification cards (DD Form 2 -- reserve retired) will continue to
be issued to "gray-area retirees" -- members of the retired reserve who
have not reached age 60. Family members of reservists will also
continue to receive the red (DD Form 1173-1) ID card.
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971608. Paralegal course moves to CD-ROM
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Blazing a trail for the rest of the force,
paralegal journeymen now have their career development course on CD-ROM.
Since July 28, the Extension Course Institute, Maxwell Air Force Base --
Gunter Annex, Ala., has made available the multimedia version of CDC
5J051M, the Paralegal Journeyman Course. It is the first CDC in Air
Force history to be offered in multimedia CD format.
The CD course uses audio and video clips to help improve comprehension
and make learning more enjoyable. By design, the course is
self-contained when compared to the paper version.
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971609. Cohen orders review of recommendations to improve training
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen has
instructed the military services to assess proposals to strengthen
entry-level and advanced training.
The recommendations, submitted by the Federal Advisory Committee on
Gender-Integrated Training and Related Issues, are designed to improve
the effectiveness of military training. Retired Sen. Nancy Kassebaum
Baker chaired the panel.
The panel's report strongly supports today's gender-integrated force.
In its six-month review, the panel assessed basic and advanced training
programs to ensure they are producing an effective, disciplined and
ready force. The panel emphasized the need to continue
gender-integrated training, but it found several areas in which training
for male and female recruits could be improved.
Cohen asked the military services to "review these recommendations and
report back to me within 90 days with their assessment, to include the
manpower and personnel implications and the costs that might be
associated with their implementation."
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971610. Overseas Enlisted Tour Extension Incentive increases to $2,000
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- A provision in the fiscal 1998
Defense Authorization Act increased the incentive bonus by more than
$1,000 for
certain enlisted members extending their overseas tours by 12 months,
personnel officials here said.
The amount is now a $2,000 lump sum payment received upon entering the
Date Eligible for Return from Overseas extension versus the $80 a month
payment totaling $960 a year.
Enlisted members qualifying for the program include any member stationed
at a short tour location. They can be serving unaccompanied 12- and
15-month tours or split tours of either 24 months accompanied or 12 or
15 months unaccompanied.
Along with them, members at long tour locations serving in critical or
imbalanced Air Force Specialty Codes identified by the Air Force are
also eligible. Some of the specialties currently included are Airborne
Communications Systems (1A331), Combat Control (1C271) and Safety
(1S051).
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971611. U.S. Pacific Command closes Indonesian fire-fighting operation
by Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Haug
Pacific Air Forces News Service
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) -- For the more than 13 million
people of Indonesia, the risk of losing their homes to one of the worst
fires in their history has subsided thanks to efforts of Air Force and
Air National Guard units this fall.
Some of the fires, brought under control by the 153rd Airlift Wing,
Wyoming Air National Guard, were still burning in the outer jungles of
Indonesia when the Guard unit departed. But Mother Nature has taken
over with the onslaught of her rainy season and officials expect the
fires to burn out soon.
"We expect the remaining fires to burn themselves out with in the next
few weeks," said Col. Harold Reed, commander of the operation.
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971612. LEAD Program offers airmen commissioning opportunity
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS (AFNS) -- Phase I of the Leaders
Encouraging Airmen Development program is underway, giving wing
commanders the authority to nominate highly qualified airmen to attend
the Air Force Academy Preparatory School. These nominations are made
with the intention of the member attending the academy and eventually
being commissioned a second lieutenant.
The academy reserves seats at the prep school for deserving airmen who
meet their criteria. In 1997, 258 airmen applied with 50 attending the
prep school. Eight airmen received direct appointments to the academy
class of 2001. The deadline to apply for the LEAD program is Jan. 31.
For more information about the LEAD program or an application, contact
your local education services center.
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971613. NCOs help save Air Force about $1.5 million
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Two noncommissioned officers
assigned to Air Mobility Command headquarters helped save the Air Force
about $1.5 million recently.
Master Sgt. Bill Ogden and Staff Sgt. Robert Tedford, assigned to the
Air Transportation Programs Division equipment management branch
researched and obtained replacement clips for defective MB-2 cargo
tie-down devices, thus avoiding the need to purchase all-new devices
when the clips wore out.
It would cost the Air Force in excess of $1.6 million to replace all of
the defective devices in the command. Ogden and Tedford said that
spending that kind of money when only part of the device was broken "did
not make sense."
"We worked with the tie-down item manager at Kelly AFB, Texas, to find a
company that could manufacture replacement parts in a timely manner to
solve this problem as quickly as possible," Ogden said.
Thanks to the efforts of the two NCOs, the cost of repairing the
defective devices is around $130,000; a savings of nearly $1.5 million
to the Air Force.
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971614. Christmas greetings to Air Force men and women
by F. Whitten Peters
Undersecretary of the Air Force
Christmas is a glorious season -- a time to give thanks for all the
blessings we enjoy. It is a great honor for me to express my thanks to
the men and women of our Air Force as we approach this holiday season.
Like all of you, I look forward to sharing the joy and magic of this
Christmas season with family and friends. No one has done more to make
this Christmas season special than the men and women of our United
States Air Force. Those who are deployed during this holiday season
deserve a special measure of our gratitude and respect for a job well
done.
My wife, Monnie, and I wish all of you the best possible Christmas and
holiday season. As we bring 1997 to a close, we are proud of your
service to our nation and keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Please take time during this holiday season to thank your loved ones who
support you throughout the year. I am as grateful to them as I am proud
of you. Have a happy and safe holiday.
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971615. AFRL, Rome program to enhance airport ground safety
ROME, N.Y (AFNS) -- Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL) Information Directorate here are extending simple traffic-light
sensors to perform advanced ground vehicle safety protection.
The Information Directorate has entered into a $1.3 million contract
with ORINCON Corp. of San Diego, Calif., to demonstrate the use of
inductive loop sensors as an affordable and reliable ground surveillance
and tracking system for airfields. The system extends current sensor
technologies for controlling traffic signals with advanced information
processing techniques.
These augmented sensors can detect, characterize and track aircraft,
fuel trucks, and other ground vehicles on runways and taxiways in all
weather conditions. When the sensor data is fused together, the system
could identify the potential for collisions and alert the control tower
in time to prevent mishaps. The system can also enhance security by
recognizing unauthorized vehicles.