Air Force mandates virtual outprocessing - Laughlin Air Force Base

Laughlin Air Force Base ♦ Texas 54th Year ♦ No.17 ♦ May 5, 2006
Inside this issue
5
Brackettville High
School students tour
Laughlin
14
Youth Center offers
KajukenBo lessons
Mission
Capable
Rates
T-1
88.6%
T-6
89.4%
T-38
75.7%
AEF Stats
26
5
42
Deployed
Back in
30 days
Leaving in
30 days
Team XL’s
last
DUI
April 8, 2006
It’s a
crime!
Teamwork
Staff Sgt. Spencer Duclos, 47th Security Forces
Squadron K-9 unit, and Dasty, his military working
dog, search a truck at one of the dormitories on
Air Force mandates virtual outprocessing
All Airmen undergoing
permanent change-of-station
moves, retirements or separations
are now required to
use the Virtual Outprocessing
application available through
the Virtual Military Personnel
Flight.
Airmen can enter the
vMPF by logging onto the Air
Force Personnel Center’s
secure Web site where they
can view their vOP checklist
from the individual actions
menu.
The vOP checklist will
include requirements based
on the Airman’s unit and
other associated base agencies,
such as the transportation
management office, finance,
medical clinic and Tricare.
The checklist also will include
the timeframe required for
clearing actions at each location.
Bases currently not using
the vOP system will be
required to transition to it no
later than May 30.
Photo by Senior Airman Austin M. May
base for illegal drugs April 28. Sergeant Duclos
and Dasty were part of a team of various local lawenforcement
agencies that teamed up to search
for drugs on Laughlin. See how Laughlin works
with local agencies to help stop crime on page 4.
The online process also
will eliminate paper checklists
and most in-person
outprocessing requirements.
For more information,
Airmen should contact their
base military personnel flight.
(Courtesy Air Force
Personnel Center)

2
Border
Eagle
May 5, 2006
Viewpoints
Conservation: required today, tomorrow
Commander’s
Corner
By Robert E. Wood
47th Flying Training Wing
Maintenance Directorate
director
This year’s increase in gas
prices strikes me as a sign of
things to come for the cost of living
in general.
Everyone can expect the price
hike at gas pumps to increase
transportation fees, which will be
passed along to us, the consumers,
in costlier retail goods and
services. When it comes to
thinking about ways to cope, we
will need to reassess our
lifestyles.
One thing we can do is use
lessons learned during similar
periods of sudden economic
shifts, such as when gas prices
quickly rose and inflated our cost
of living during the early 1970s.
When the domestic economic
situation changed, I recall how it
affected my family and me. Every
aspect of our personal condition
changed—travel, entertainment,
medical, sports, attitude and
expectations.
At that time, I couldn’t fully
appreciate or comprehend the
range and scope of how increases
in fuel dramatically affected our
standard of living and influenced
the collective concern and anxiety
of friends, family and co-workers.
This timeframe also galvanized
people from all walks of life
to pull together and conserve
resources. More fuel efficient cars
were hot commodities, and we
were encouraged to car pool, turn
off lights, lower thermostats, drive
slower, xeriscape and recycle
everything.
I think this recent cycle of
rising costs in every sector of the
economy is our cue to again apply
past lessons.
Today is not too soon to start
planning so we can continue
holding down expenses and
supporting the wing mission.
Concepts we use, like just-intime
or two-tier maintenance
management, emerged when it
was cheaper to transport goods
from the manufacturer to the user
than locally repair/overhaul, store
and inventory them.
Since transportation is no
longer inexpensive, we may need
to re-compare two-tier costs with
three-tier concepts (organizational,
intermediate and depot) that went
away during the mid-1990s.
We may need to more fully
use streamlining practices like
Lean and productivity incentives to
continue trimming waste.
As individual players in Team
XL, we can all do our part to be
penny-wise consumers. The rules
of engagement are already on the
books; we just need to use them.
Air Force works to protect natural resources
By Maj. Gen. L. Dean Fox
Air Force Civil Engineer
The U.S. Air Force is a leader
and devoted guardian of the
environment. As trustee to more
than 8 million acres of natural
habitat, the Air Force takes considerable
measures to defend and
enhance America’s rich landscape
and cultural heritage.
The natural resources we
protect — air, land and water —
are a great source of strength,
providing capability to build, equip,
train and deploy the world’s most
powerful and agile air force.
Today, the Air Force environmental
program works to ensure
valuable natural resources are
available to meet flying, training and
other operational needs. To meet
current needs in fighting the war on
terrorism and future mission
requirements, we must harmonize
environmental management goals
with military operations.
This new management
philosophy called Natural Infrastructure
Management, or NIM,
allows the Air Force to sustain,
restore and modernize its environmental
resources, or “natural
infrastructure,” in full compliance
and support of air readiness
challenges. Our new mantra is
“compliance and beyond” as we
transform to a more proactive,
performance-based approach to
“operation-alizing” the environment.
Our recently published 2006
Environmental Strategic Plan
introduces this new concept of
applying asset management to
environmental stewardship. Sustaining
the Air Force mission
through effective NIM is the overall
goal of this plan.
Additionally, the plan seeks to
prevent encroachment, boost
compliance, restore contaminated
property and improve land use
compatibility, all while increasing
efficiencies and reducing costs. To
achieve these objectives, the
environmental program will expand
its stakeholder partnerships,
employ new innovative technologies,
implement performance and
risk-based approaches to decision-making,
streamline our
activities in sync with Air Force
Smart Operations 21 to be “lean
and green,” and train our Airmen to
be even more environmentally
conscious and responsible.
Our environmental troops are
making great strides toward these
goals. To date, the Air Force
Restoration Program has cleaned
up more than 4,500 contaminated
sites, completing two-thirds of its
restoration obligations. Through
innovative methods, such as
EPA’s systematic investigation tool
and process optimization techniques,
the Air Force saved more
than $100 million in life-cycle
cleanup expenses. For example,
at King Salmon Air Force Base,
Alaska, six soil vapor extraction
systems and one “pump and treat”
See “Resources” page 3
Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
Col. Tod Wolters
Col. Commander Mike Minahan
Capt. Commander Ken Hall
Public Capt. affairs Ken Hall chief
Master Public Sgt. Affairs Anthony chief Hill
Senior PA Airman NCO in Austin chargeMay
Senior Staff writer/photographer
Airman Austin May
Senior Staff Airman Writer/Photographer
Olufemi Owolabi
Airman 1st Class Editor Olufemi
Owolabi
The Border Eagle is published
Editor
every Friday, except the first week in
January The Border and Eagle the is published last week every in
Friday, December, except by the the first week Del Rio in January Newsand
Herald, the last a week private in December, firm in no by way the
Del connected Rio News- with Herald, the U. a private S. Air Force, firm in
no under way exclusive connected written with the contract U. S. with Air
Force, the 47th under Flying exclusive Training written Wing, contract Laughlin
with Air Force the 47th Base, Flying Texas. Training Wing,
Laughlin This Air civilian Force enterprise Base, Texas. Air Force
newspaper This civilian is enterprise an authorized Air Force
newspaper publication is for an authorized members of publication the U.S.
for military members services. of the U.S. military
services. Contents of the Border Eagle are
not Contents necessarily of the the Border official Eagle views are not of,
necessarily or endorsed the by, the official U.S. views Government, of, or
endorsed the Department by, the U.S. of Government, Defense or the
Department of Defense of the or Air the Force. Department The
of appearance the Air Force. of advertising The appearance in this of
advertising publication, in this including publication, inserts including or
inserts supplements, or supplements, does not constitute does not
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prepared Editorial and content provided is edited, by the prepared Public
and Affairs provided Office by the of Public the 47th Affairs Flying Office
of Training the 47th Wing. Flying All Training photographs Wing. are All
photographs Air Force are photographs Air Force photographs unless
unless otherwise otherwise indicated. indicated.
Deadlines
News for the Border Eagle should
be submitted to to the 47th Flying Training
Wing Public Affairs Office, Bldg. 338,
Laughlin AFB, TX, 298-5262.
Copy deadline is close of business
each Thursday the week prior to
publication.
Submissions can be e-mailed to:
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bordereagle@laughlin.af.mil.
Advertising
Advertising should be submitted to to
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Viewpoints
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
3
Actionline
Col. Mike Minahan
47th Flying Training
Wing commander
Call 298-5351 or email
actionline@laughlin.af.mil
One way to work through problems
that haven’t been solved through
normal channels is the Commander’s
Actionline.
Before you call in or e-mail an
Actionline, please try to work out the problem
through the normal chain of command
or directly with the base agency involved.
When calling or e-mailing the
Actionline, please keep messages brief
and remember to include your name and
phone number so you are assured of a
timely personal reply. Contact information
is also useful when additional information
is needed to pursue your inquiry.
We will make every attempt to ensure
confidentiality when appropriate.
If your question relates to the general
interest of the people of Laughlin, the
question and answer may also be printed
in the Border Eagle.
Thanks for your cooperation, and I
look forward to reading some quality ideas
and suggestions.
Below are some useful telephone
numbers that may be helpful when working
your issue with a base agency.
AAFES 298-3176
Finance 298-5204
Civil Engineer 298-5252
Civilian Personnel 298-5299
Clinic 298-6311
Commissary 298-5815
Dormitory manager 298-5213
EEO 298-5879
FWA hotline 298-4170
Housing 298-5904
Information line 298-5201
Legal 298-5172
MEO 298-5400
Military Personnel 298-5073
Public Affairs 298-5988
Security Forces 298-5900
Services 298-5810
Teen activities
Question: I am concerned with
the apparent lack of activities
and facilities for older children, 8 to
16 years old, on Laughlin Air Force
Base. While there are several playgrounds
for younger children, activity
areas for the older kids seem quite limited.
For instance, could Laughlin consider
providing these youth a place to
“hang out,” perhaps convert an old tennis
court to a skateboard park, or maybe
build a couple of basketball courts An
old, unused building could be converted
to a teen center with pool tables and computer
games—snacks could even be sold
there. Finally, the outdoor pool’s dates
and hours of operation are not particularly
well suited to these youth’s desires.
While not yet serious, this many youth,
with little to do, presents some very real
concerns with safety, vandalism and littering.
Please help in providing our kids
with a safe, inviting, entertaining place to
congregate, play and relax.
Response: Thank you for your
question. Team XL is dedicated to
providing the best opportunities we can
for Laughlin families. We’re highlighting
this week many activities offered on
base by the youth center, the fitness center
and the Fiesta Community Center.
See page 11 in this week’s Border
Eagle for the full article. And,
while we have looked into installing a
skate park using the tennis courts next
to Club XL, funding is not yet available
to make this a reality. Rest assured
though, we will continue to provide
a variety of appropriate outlets
in a variety of subject areas to
Laughlin family members.
Resources, from page 2
system were shut down, saving
$25 million in projected life-cycle
operating costs.
The Air Force also has had
phenomenal success with performance-based
contracting, avoiding
more than $100 million of
additional outlay. Air Combat
Command provides the best
example of applying private-sector
expertise and experience to a
multi-base contract, saving
$36.7 million, and reducing
cleanup time by nine years,
closing 44 of 46 environmental
sites within the performance
period.
Additionally, Air Force conservation
has had an impressive
year managing training and
installation lands that provide
habitat to more than 70 threatened
and endangered species.
One of this year’s highlights was
at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn.,
where the enforcement strength
of the Integrated Natural Resource
Management Plan actually
resulted in the removal of the
Eggert’s sunflower from the
Federal list of threatened species.
The delisting was a first for the
Department of Defense, demonstrating
our flexibility in land-use
management and speaking
volumes on our good relations
with the regulators and conservation
community.
Lastly, pollution prevention
continues to be a priority. The Air
Force diverts large amounts of
non-hazardous waste from
landfills and has broad acquisition
and supply programs to procure
more environmentally preferable
products.
In 2005, we avoided more
than $60 million in solid waste
disposal costs by effectively
diverting 87 percent of the construction
and demolition debris
and 46 percent of non-hazardous
solid waste from landfills and
incinerators. We have reduced
hazardous waste disposal by
more than 57 percent.
The Air Force is also expanding
usage of alternative fuels like
ethanol in its military and government
fleet vehicles, and continues
to seek new opportunities to buy
green power and apply ecofriendly
products and services to
our day-to-day operations.
The Air Force will continue to
lead by accomplishing mission
objectives through prudent environmental
management. Our
commitment to restoration,
conservation and pollution prevention
will continue to show
results, ensure military readiness
and protect our natural world for
generations to come.
Master sergeant learns to make tomorrow even better than today
By Master Sgt.
Yancey Mailes
366th Fighter Wing
historian
Bam! The shots
startled me, and I jumped. I
heard the firing party leader
call for the next volley, but
the explosion still came as
a surprise. I told myself I
wouldn’t cry. I didn’t even
know Tech. Sgt. Walter
Moss.
The final volley
sounded. I had prepared
myself. At that instance, a
lone bugler sounded Taps,
and I began to weep. I
could not control the tears.
I looked around as others
in the crowd bowed their
heads and sobbed. It was
unspoken; it was okay.
We had lost a fellow
Airman.
I am not really sure
why I immediately came
back to the office and
penned this. Was it my
sadness, or was it the fact
the war had finally come
home to my base
I was assigned to the
33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin
Air Force Base, Fla., when
we lost 12 Airmen to the
Khobar Towers bombing,
but I did not cry. Those
days were terrible, but this
one was worse.
I felt ashamed I had
never known Walter. I felt
terrible for his wife and his
children, who would now
grow up without their
daddy.
As his fellow NCOs
told us, Walter was an
outstanding example of an
Airman’s Airman. He was a
man I would have liked to
have known and maybe
even emulate. But, that
would not be possible now.
So as I look over this, I
realize there is no message
to this piece of
writing, just thoughts –
thoughts that maybe today
is okay, but tomorrow will
be even better. Maybe I
should get to know my
neighbor and spend just a
bit more time getting to
know the people I work
with. Today I learned a
lesson… there may not be
a tomorrow, so I better
make good on today.

4
Border
Eagle
May 5, 2006
Law enforcement agencies from
the local community joined forces April
28 with the Air Force Office of Special
Investigations and the 47th Security
Forces Squadron in an attempt to
locate illegal drugs on Laughlin. The
search yielded no drugs, but was considered
by the agencies involved to be
a successful deterrent to anyone who
may consider breaking the law on
base.
“Some criminals may think that
while on Laughlin they are protected
from civilian law enforcement agencies,”
said Special Agent Jessie
Garcia, AFOSI. “It’s not so. Those
agencies serve as a force multiplier,
allowing us to use methods we don’t
normally use. It creates a synergistic
effect.”
It is no secret that Laughlin is
home to an expansive civilian
workforce. More than 1,000 civilian
employees work hard alongside the
men and women in uniform here to
make the wing’s day-to-day mission
a reality.
When an infraction of the law occurs
on base involving or potentially
involving a non-military member, civilian
authorities may be called in to
help.
These agencies may include the
local sheriff’s office, U.S. Border Patrol,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
and the Department of Public
Safety in addition to security forces
and OSI.
“We have had a tremendous
working relationship with the local law
enforcement agencies,” said Maj.
Aeneas Gooding, 47th Security Forces
Squadron commander. “We work the
most with the Val Verde County
Sheriff’s Office, but we also depend
on the support of Border Patrol personnel,
and we enjoy a close relationship
with the Del Rio Police Department.”
Maj. Gooding said while each
agency might have slightly different
operating procedures, it doesn’t hinder
their working relationship, because
they all base their operations on the
same basic tenets of law enforcement.
Agent Garcia said OSI agents
must all attend the Federal Law
Enforcement training center in
Glynco, Ga. Excluding the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, this is the
same training facility all federal law
enforcement agents must attend,
which facilitates OSI working with
other law enforcement agencies as a
result of their similar background training.
Occasionally, local law enforcement
agencies will train with military
units.
“Any training we can conduct with
civilian agencies helps our ability to
work with them during crises,” Major
Gooding said. “In the past, we’ve conducted
everything from tactical training
(ground fighting and restraint techniques)
to incident-response training
and emergency operations management.”
Agent Garcia said Border Patrol
agents have requested crime-sceneinvestigation
training in the past as
well.
Who responds to an incident on
base depends on what type of crime
has been committed and by whom.
“We have had numerous incidents
where we relied heavily on the support
of our civilian counterparts.
We’ve had driving while intoxicated
arrests, domestic assaults, etc.,” Major
Gooding said. “The most noteworthy
response was the gate-running incident
last month where Val Verde
County Sheriff’s deputies responded
and arrested the two suspects who ran
the gate.
“Additionally, several months ago,
we conducted an operation with the
Department of Homeland Security’s
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Division to screen contractor employees
who might be present or
working in the United States illegally.”
Lt. Larry Pope, a criminal investigator
with the Val Verde County
Sheriff’s Office, said the department
that responds to a situation is handled
completely on a case-by-case basis.
For example, the sheriff’s office has
the only breathalyzer in the county, so
DUI cases are typically referred to
them. If there is an incident on base,
usually the sheriff’s office will respond
to the call, and security forces officers
will serve as witnessing officials,
he said.
Val Verde County Sheriff
News
Base, local law enforcement agencies team up to fight crime
Story and photo by
Senior Airman Austin M. May
Staff writer
Law enforcement officials from the Air Force Office of Special
Inestigations, 47th Security Forces Squadron, Val Verde County
Sheriff’s Office, Department of Public Safety, U.S. Border Patrol
and Immigration and Customs Enforcement gather on Laughlin to
search various locations for illegal drugs April 28.
D’Wayne Jernigan said one of the reasons
his office might be asked to help
is because military security forces personnel
are law enforcement authorities,
but they are more specially trained
in base and personnel security matters,
such as finding and removing
threats to the mission, and do not have
as much experience in criminal-investigation
matters.
“The base typically has very low
crime rates,” Sheriff Jernigan said.
“And when there is a crime committed,
it’s typically a white-collar, nonviolent
crime.”
“In the military, there is a screening
process. (The military) can choose
who they want on their installations
at any time, and they tend to have
guidelines that weed out individuals
who might cause trouble,” he said.
The same cannot be said for Del
Rio, or any town for that matter, Sheriff
Jernigan said.
Agent Garcia said one of OSI’s
main goals is to stop illegal drugs from
coming through Laughlin’s gates.
“Our intelligence indicates that
there is some illegal drug use on
Laughlin, and we are doing everything
possible to detect and deter its use,”
he said.
Major Gooding said security of
Laughlin is the 47th SFS’s top
priority, but threats to the base could
come from a number of different
areas.
“Drug use and distribution threatens
our community and the Laughlin
mission and will remain a target of enforcement.
Additionally, people who
illegally enter the installation pose an
unknown risk to our resources and
personnel, so they too will remain part
of our focus,” he said.
Sheriff Jernigan said he has had
very positive experiences when working
with the 47th SFS and OSI agents
at Laughlin.
“I have enjoyed a great professional
relationship working as a team
with security forces and OSI,” he said.
“As a team, we work as well with
them as we do any other law enforcement
agency, and better in some
cases.”
Sheriff Jernigan said when a military
member is involved in a case, the
military law enforcement agencies will
get involved, but sometimes security
forces will help out even without that
tie.
“If they can help, they will,” he
said. “In fact, they’re usually pretty
anxious to come out and assist us.
And it’s not just for the training they
receive. They have a true desire to
help.”

News
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
5
Sending
in the dog...
Photos by Senior Airman Olufemi Owolabi
Brackettville High
School students
toured Laughlin April
28 and observed as
a 47th Security
Forces Squadron
military working dog
went through a variety
of obstacle
courses and apprehended
a “suspect”
here (performed by
Staff Sgt. Eric Morales,
47th SFS).
(Right) Staff Sgt.
Ronnie Garcia, 47th
SFS, readies his
military working dog
to demonstrate a
protective maneuver.
During the tour,
the students visited
the Losano Fitness
Center, dining facility
and the 47th Operations
Support
Squadron among
others.
3X5.25
2X2

6
Border
Eagle
May 5, 2006
News
3X10.5
(Far left) Capt. Scott Bocher and (Far right) 1st Lt. Terri
Anderson, of the 47th Medical Operations Squadron,
examine Airman 1st Class Yvette Fowlkes, 47th Aeromedical-Dental
Squadron, during a medical examination training
here Monday. The base nursing team will celebrate
the National Nurse Week from Saturday to Friday.
Laughlin nurses celebrate
national awareness week
National Nurse’s Week is
from Saturday to Friday. This
celebration is dedicated to raising
awareness of the role nurses
play and their impact across the
spectrum of health care. Within
the Air Force community we
celebrate the contributions of
our nurses and the back bone
of the Air Force Nurse Corps,
our enlisted medical technicians.
Nurses play a large part in
helping the 47th Medical Group
support Team XL’s mission. In
2005, the Laughlin clinic managed
over 19,000 acute and
wellness appointments, returning
1,431 pilots to flying status,
performing over 950 flight
physicals and occupational exams,
and maintaining the health
and wellness of our active-duty
personnel, family members and
retired beneficiaries. All this
while increasing beneficiary access
to care despite daily construction,
multiple relocation
moves, upgrade of computerized
systems, and personnel
changes.
Nurses Week is a
Photo by Senior Airman Olufemi Owolabi
wonderful opportunity to show
our appreciation for the outstanding
service of our everyday
heroes who continue to
demonstrate integrity, service
before self, and excellence in
all they do. The nurses and
medical technicians of the 47th
MDG are dedicated to uphold
this year’s theme of strength,
commitment and compassion.
(Courtesy 47th
Medical Group staff)
1X3

8
Border
Eagle
May 5, 2006
News
New civilian personnel system kicks off
WASHINGTON — The first
phase of the new National Security
Personnel System was launched Sunday.
Spiral 1.1 includes 11,000 Defense
Department civilian employees throughout
the United States.
“The most important message is
that we are ready,” said Mary Lacey,
NSPS program executive officer. “Employees
are trained, supervisors are
trained, leaders are leaning forward and
we’re ready to go.”
Ms. Lacey said that employees in
the first group to enter the program
“have been working on performance
standards that are outcome-based and
measurable, so that as they go into
NSPS they will know what performance
is expected of them right from
the beginning.”
Most preparation for the program’s
implementation has dealt with training
employees and supervisors. Both groups
have had extensive Web-based and
classroom instruction on the ins and outs
of the new program, Ms. Lacey said.
Ms. Lacey has been meeting with
employees in the first spiral at Tinker
Air Force Base, Okla., Wright-Patterson
AFB, Ohio, Fort Riley, Kan., and several
agencies in the Washington, D.C., area.
Another senior official in
Ms. Lacey’s agency traveled to Hawaii
to meet with Army and Navy employees
in the first spiral.
“I am trying to get out to see as
many of the 1.1 organizations as I possibly
can,” Ms. Lacey said. “It’s part of
the communications initiative to give
them an opportunity to speak to the senior
leadership of the department, answer
any questions they may have, explain
to them some of the philosophy
behind the changes and to thank them
for all their efforts to get ready for NSPS.
“I think it’s important for folks to be
able to ask, one on one, why we’re doing
things and for me to answer any
questions,” she added.
Ms. Lacey said that “enthusiasm
and excitement of the workforce is very
high” in places she’s visited, but added
that many employees are concerned
about their supervisors’ ability to fairly
evaluate performance.
“This is not unexpected. Most of
the department has been effectively on
a pass-fail system for quite a while, so
this is new,” she said. “And that’s one
of the reasons we’ve spent so much
time training employees and supervisors
on performance management.”
She said she reassures employees
that supervisors have received extensive
training in performance
management and that multiple leaders
will be involved in the performanceevaluation
process.
Program officials originally planned
to include about 60,000 employees in
Spiral 1.1, but several factors, including
ongoing litigation over collective-bargaining
rules, contributed to the need to
curtail that number.
Ms. Lacey said that officials reconstituted
the group so it included only
nonbargaining-unit employees. The number
also had to be cut because of delays
in implementation brought about by
the legal issues.
“Once we got the judge’s decision,
we only had a limited amount of time
See ‘System’ page 9
5X7

News
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
9
System, from page 8
and it was a throughput issue
on the training,” Ms. Lacey
said. “We didn’t want to shortchange
any of the training.”
A few pay-related aspects
of the program employees may
not be aware of are the initial
within-grade buy-in and the local
market supplement.
Employees being
transitioned into NSPS will receive
the next step increase due
to them in the old GS system
prorated for the amount of time
that is left until they would be
due the pay increase.
What is called locality pay
in the existing personnel pay
system will now be called “local
market supplement” under
NSPS. This is a percentage
over base pay based on geography,
Ms. Lacey said. She said
the system will use the same
scales the rest of government
uses for now, but this may
change to a system based on
specific jobs if officials feel they
need help with recruiting and
retaining hard-to-fill specialties.
NSPS officials want employees
to know that they will
be closely monitoring the
program’s implementation to
immediately deal with any problems
that may arise during the
transition.
“We will be monitoring how
these 1.1 activities do and continue
to keep the lines of communication
open with the senior
leadership and employees so
that we get early indicators if
there’s any difficulties, so we
can look at it and determine if
it’s a training need or of it is a
systemic thing that needs to be
tweaked,” Ms. Lacey said.
She also noted that the
evaluation results will be made
available to employees.
“That openness has been
our philosophy with NSPS right
from the beginning,” she said.
“They deserve to see how it’s
going.”
(Courtesy Air Force
Print News)

10
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
When the commanders,
shirts and agency chiefs entered
the Medical Group classroom
for mandatory training
April 21, they expected a slide
presentation to greet them, a
stack of training rosters to sign
and the dull-but-deafening hum
of the overhead lights--sure
signs of an early nap.
Instead, they saw the vibrant
tribal colors of six teams,
corresponding multi-colored
“kuffs,” and tiki torches
planted alongside what looked
like an “immunity idol” from
the reality show “Survivor.”
As many years as most of
them have spent in uniform, it’s
likely they winced when they
saw “mandatory training” on
their Friday calendar because
instinctively they knew they’d
need to
down all the
coffee in
sight and
hope the
trainers
provided
enough
sweets to induce the sugarhigh
they’d need to stay awake
all morning.
What they didn’t know was
the Family Advocacy Office
had taken “regular ole” mandatory
training and stood it on
its head in creating “FAP Survivor
Laughlin.”
Teams were identified using
Spanish animal names.
The Buitre tribe, the only
tribe with a flying mascot, was
crowned sole survivor. Despite
the random drawing for
teams, ironically its members
were all flying squadron commanders.
“The team with the least
points goes to tribal council
where one of their members
will be voted off by the other
tribes,” explained Maj.
Michelle Loper, Laughlin Family
Advocacy Officer. “Survivors
ready”
A chorus of “ready” echoed
round.
Major Loper continued,
“First question. Signs of spousal
abuse include A, vague or
inconsistent explanation of injuries...”
Air Force Instruction
40-301, Family Advocacy, directs
family advocacy staff to
provide annual training to leaders
and supervisors to prevent,
intervene in and treat child and
spouse maltreatment.
To fulfill their mission,
Laughlin’s FAP team utilized
the unorthodox training method
so their lessons would resonate
and stick.
“I’ve got a wonderful, creative
staff who came up with
the idea…of course, they’re
faithful Survivor fans,” said
Major Loper. “On a serious
note, all Air Force personnel
need to be familiar with FAP
because
they are
mandated
to report
suspicion
of child or
spousal
abuse or
neglect.”
The students certainly
seemed to appreciate the extra
effort, too.
“This is probably the best
Family Advocacy Program in
the Air Force today,” said
Lt. Col. Martin Gearhart, commander
of the 47th Operations
Support Squadron.
“Commanders and shirts
have one asset -people- and
this training has taken difficult
but critical subject matter and
instilled sound decision-making
guidance into Laughlin’s commanders
and shirts,” said
Colonel Gearhart.
“The FAP Survivor
Laughlin theme was an excellent
way to enhance learning
the FAP program,” said Master
Sgt. George Koffler, 47th
Operations Support Squadron
first sergeant.
“They created a helpful
Features
Annual training adapts to primetime TV appeal
By Capt. Ken Hall
Public Affairs
“This is probably the best
Family Advocacy
Program in the AirForce...”
-- Lt. Col. Martin Gearhart
Teams were identified using Spanish names such as “Mofeta” or skunk, “Buitre”
or vulture, “Culebra” or snake and “Sapo” or toad.
environment for us to increase
and retain our knowledge of
Family Advocacy Program information,”
said Sergeant
Koffler.
“This training not only keeps
us up to date on the issues, policies
and procedures, but enforces
how the Air Force is
truly concerned for members
and their families’ well-being,”
said Master Sgt. Joe Morse,
47th Civil Engineer Squadron
first sergeant.
“FAP helps Airmen balance
work and home.”
During the finale, “jurors”
questioned the final two contestants,
Colonels Gearhart
and Ewing. Sergeant Morse
asked, “With all the budget
and personnel cutbacks in the
Air Force today, why is it so
important to fund FAP”
Operations Support Squadron
commander Colonel
Gearhart responded, “We
don’t win wars with machines
alone…it takes people, and we
have to take care of them first
if we want them to take care
of the business of war.”
As the training room emptied,
a palpable air of relief
calmed the students.
“This was so much better
than death by Power Point,”
said Medical Operations
Squadron Commander Lt. Col.
John Ewing. “And we all
have to know this information
to take care of our people.”
After the training, all
participants feasted with the
local inhabitants on tribal cuisine
made by Ms. Judy
Rhinesmith, Family Advocacy
Nurse.
Photos by Kellen Hendricks
The Family Advocacy program
has many preventive programs
that can help improve
the quality of life for families
even before they need them.
(Top) Master Sgt. Stephen Kazmirski, 47th Mission Support
Squadron first sergeant, and Lt. Col. Kevin Pilloud,
47th Medical Support Squadron Commander, hoist their
newly won immunity idol.
(Bottom, from left) Master Sgt. Dora Caniglia, 47th Medical
Group acting first sergeant, Maj. Andrew Foltz, 47th Staff
Judge Advocate, and Lt. Col. John Ewing, Medical Operations
Squadron Commander, face becoming cast-offs.

Features
“Miss Brittany” Atkinson and other staff members help students with their homework
and projects during “Power Hour” 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on school days.
What’s Going On
Among many daily and weekly events,
the Youth and Community Centers offer
several major seasonal activities and
events, especially during the summer
season.
The Youth Center organizes trips to all
16 area amusement parks during the
summer months.
For a full listing of events hosted by
the Youth Center, call April Shope
or Rocky Garcia at 298-5343.
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006 11
Base youth activities
keep kids busy, staff
busier year-round
Story and Photos by
Tech. Sgt. Shawn David McCowan
Public Affairs
Children of base pesonnel have both their work
and play cut out for them.
“Miss April,” April Shope, Youth Center director,
says that dozens of activities available each year give
base kids of nearly all ages more than enough to do
after school and all summer long.
“We have everything from soccer to study
groups... even field trips to all the amusement parks,”
said Shope.
“Miss Brittany,” Brittany Atkinson, who manages
membership, says more than 60 kids are enrolled during
the school year and twice that many during the summer
season.
“The kids love the many field trips offered during
the summer. There are activities going on here seven
days a week,” said Atkinson.
Laughlin Youth Center
School-year hours:
Mondays - Fridays; 3:30 to 7 p.m.
(6 - 7 p.m. teen hour)
Saturdays; 12 to 8 p.m.
( 7 to 8 p.m. teen hour)
Summer hours:
Mondays - Fridays; 1 to 8 p.m.
( 7 - 8 p.m. teen hour)
Saturdays; 12 to 8 p.m.
( 7 to 8 p.m. teen hour)
“Miss Pearlene” Livingston guides the
younger children through cooking projects like
baking cakes and cookies.
Fiesta Community Center
Mondays - Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesdays - Fridays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturdays - Sundays; 12:30 to 8 p.m.

12
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
Features
Air Force flight bring smiles to Iraqi children
By Maj. Robert Palmer
U.S. Central Command
Air Forces
Forward public affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq — As
they stepped into the large,
gray military cargo plane, their
eyes widened and their expressions
were equal parts
wonder and bewilderment.
This was the first time many
of the Iraqi children and their
parents had ever flown in an
airplane, and none had ever
been in an aircraft as large as
the Air Force’s C-17
Globemaster III.
On April 29, the aircraft,
based in Southwest Asia,
flew 110 Iraqi children and 97
of their parents, guardians
and escorts from Amman to
Baghdad in support of “Operation
Smile.”
Operation Smile, an international
non-governmental
organization, provides
2X2.5
2X3
corrective surgery for cleft
palates and cleft lips, congenital
birth defects that affect
approximately one out of
every 600 children, according
to the Cleft Palate Foundation.
Operation Smile had
evaluated the Iraqi children
and transported them to
Amman for corrective surgery.
According to Chris
Anderson, an Operation
Smile staff member based in
the Middle East, Operation
Smile leaders had a concern
for the safety and security of
the children on the 22-hour
return bus trip from Amman
to Baghdad through Iraq’s
western provinces.
“We basically determined
that (returning by bus)
at this time wasn’t the safest
option for the kids,” said Mr.
Anderson. “For us, safety of
the patients has always been
the number one priority.”
An Iraqi girl plays aboard an Air Force C-17
Globemaster III at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq,
April 29. She was one of more than 100 Iraqi children
who received surgery in Amman, Jordan, thanks to
Operation Smile, an organization that provides corrective
surgery for cleft palates and cleft lips. The
children were flown back to Iraq on the C-17.
Dr. William P. Magee Jr.,
Operation Smile co-founder
and chief executive officer,
and chief medical officer Dr.
Robert Rubin wrote to Secretary
of Defense Donald H.
Rumsfeld and requested assistance
from the Air Force to
provide safe airlift for the Iraqi
children and their parents.
Photos by Master Sgt. Will Ackerman
The Air Force received
approval for the mission late
Friday evening and by early
Saturday morning, the C-17
was airborne and enroute to
Amman.
After the young patients
and their parents had settled
into their seats, they listened
intently as Dr. Talib, a plastic
2X2.5
surgery resident traveling
with the group, read the preflight
safety briefing in Arabic.
Members of the crew reassured
nervous passengers
that the oxygen masks were
only necessary in case of
emergency.
The passengers recited
a brief prayer as the plane
began to taxi.
“We’re asking God for
safe passage to Iraq,” said
one of the parents.
The prayer was repeated
several times with increasing
urgency and volume as the
plane accelerated down the
runway and lifted off. One
Iraqi woman quietly fingered
her prayer beads and hugged
her daughter tightly as the
plane began its rapid ascent.
“This is turning out to be
a rewarding mission,” said Lt.
Col. Chris Carlsen, the aircraft
commander. “You see
all the children with the
smiles on their faces. I’m
glad to be a part of this. It’s a
historic and beneficial event
for the Iraqi people.”
Airman 1st Class Alexis
Elliott, a loadmaster for the
C-17, agreed.
“It makes me feel like I’m
really helping to do something
important,” said Airman
Elliott, who is on her first deployment
with the Air Force.
As the plane landed, taxied
and came to a halt at
Baghdad International
Airport’s passenger terminal,
the faces of the Iraqi children
and their parents explained
very clearly what Operation
Smile is all about. One jubilant
father exited the plane,
dropped to his knees and
kissed the ground, although
it was not clear whether he
was celebrating his return to
Iraq or just happy to be back
on solid ground.
“The bottom line is that
the military is really trying to
do what it can to help,” Mr.
Anderson said. “The support
was a great match for us.”

Features
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
13
GOT
NEWS
Call Public Affairs
at 298-5988
to share.
1X2
Bao Moua
Family Child Care provider
47th Mission Support Squadron
2X2
2X2
XLer
2X5
Photo by Senior Airman Olufemi Owolabi
Hometown:
Santa Ana, Calif.
Family: Husband, Tou,
and daughters, Isabel,
Katherina, Juliann and
one more on the way
Time at Laughlin:
Two years and 3 months
Bad habit: Waiting till
the last minute to do everything
Greatest accomplishment:
Having my three
wonderful daughters and
receive the ‘Provider of
the Year 2005 Award’
Hobbies: Playing volleyball,
golf and shopping
Favorite movies:
“Top Gun” and girly movies
If you could spend one
hour with any person, who
would it be and why: My
father, because he passed
away when I was small.
I have been told all these
great things about him, and I
just want to know how he really
was and what he would
tell all of his kids now.
“Mrs. Bao devoted
her time and talents to
the children of
Laughlin Air Force
Base. Parents were
able to continue with
the mission--day or
night--knowing that
their children were
safe and happy in
Bao’s home.”
--Barbara
Bukowski, Family
child-care coordinator

14
Border Eagle
May 5, 2006
Sports&Health
Photos by Senior Airman Olufemi Owolabi
Show of skills...
(Left) Kelsey Frank, a student of the “KajukenBo” class here instructed by
Cedric Pickett, 47th Comptroller Squadron, practices her skills with Senior
Airman Ryan Faircloth, 47th Communications Squadron, at the old gym April
29. Airman Faircloth received his Second Degree Brown Belt, and Kelsey
received a junior black belt April 29. For information on KajukenBo classes
at Laughlin, call the Youth Center at 298-5343.
84th/85th FTS squeaks past
CE to v-ball championship
By Senior Airman
Austin M. May
Staff writer
The combined volleyball
team of the 84th and 85th Flying
Training Squadrons edged
out CE1 Tuesday in two hard
rounds, earning their shot at
the intramural championship.
The 84th/85th FTS scored
the first three points of the
first round, but let their guard
down enough to allow CE1 to
score a few points.
The 84th/85th team
kicked in the afterburners,
however, taking the lead by
double CE1’s score, 14-7.
CE1 fought hard and came
back quick, tying the round at
19-19, and keeping it tied until
both teams had 23 points.
The 84th/85th had to
reach 25 points and be leading
by two to win the round,
and that’s just what they did.
The next two points came
quickly, and they stole the
round 25-23.
The second round was
nearly de ja vu. Again, the
84th/85th team scored the
first point, but CE1 stayed in
the game by scoring a few of
their own.
Near the end, the score for
the second round was tied at
22-22, but once the 84th/85th
had the end in sight, they once
again throttled up, scored the
last few points, and won the
match 25-23, 25-22.
Scott “Boom” Frazier,
84th/85th FTS, said that while
his team could have performed
better, he thought they
played well together.
“There are a few things
we need to work on before
the championship; but once
we do, we should win,” he
said.
(Left) Scott “Boom”
Frazier, 84th/85th Flying
Training Squadron volleyball
team, prepares to
spike the ball while teammate
Robert Seifert gets
out of the way. The 84th/
85th beat CE1 25-23, 25-
22 Tuesday earning their
shot at the championship.
Photo by Senior Airman Austin M. May