May 2012 - 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard

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MAY 2012AIRSCOOPTime to goBy Technical Sgt. Melanie Casineau, 104FW Public Affairs photographerPAGE 6(Photograph by Technical Sgt. Melanie Casineau)―Come on Kids, it‘s time to go!‖ I repeatedthis several times, however, mykids were way too involved in their activitiesand new found ―buddies‖ to hearme. After arriving at the Boys and GirlsClub in Westfield, Mass., at 6pm on Fridaynight, April 13th, I assumed wewould be in-and-out in about an hour. Iwas wrong. After the first hour went by Irealized I lost track of the time myselffrom all the socializing with other parentsand staff. Expecting to be home by alittle after 7, that at 8pm I had to decidewe needed to go home. This wonderfulevent, hosted by the Westfield Boys andGirls Club was organized to introducemilitary families to the number of programsthey had to offer, programs specificallygeared to children with militaryparents.My experience with the Boys andGirls Club has always been impressive.The ―Military Night‖ event was a first forthem, and as usual, very impressive.They catered the event with hot and coldfood from Bella Roma of Westfield as wellas desert and drinks. The food was greatand plenty of it as well. Seconds weredefinitely an option when you finishedyour first plate. Outside of the informationpresented, this was my favorite partof the event. Drill was the following dayand instead of having to cook-up dinner, Iwas able to relax with the family.There were activities set up from atable full of different crafts to a piano inthe room with many different people entertainingus with their musical skills.My son was glued to the piano for almostan hour, drawn by all the different excitementthat revolved around it. Verytalented piano players were trying to―teach‖ my son different songs or justallowing him to make up his own. Mydaughter must have created 3 differentcrafts at the craft table while my youngest1 year old was entertained by severalyoung members of the ―Key Club‖ theChaplains CornerBy Chap. (Lt. Col.) Steve Misarski, 104th FW Chaplainentire time.When it was time to leave, we did notleave empty handed. The kids were givengoody bags full of cool stuff and we allwent home with t-shirts to remember theevent. I enjoyed meeting the other militarymembers and their spouses. My kidsmet some new friends as well as had funwith children they had a lot in commonwith, most of which they plan on seeingagain at the free child-care program offeredat the Boys and Girls club everydrill weekend. I look forward to theirnext military event they host, I am suremy children will be excited when I say,―Come on, it‘s time to go… to the Boysand Girls Club!‖(Photograph by Technical Sgt. Melanie Casineau)The Chaplain Corpswas proud that for thefirst time ever, a chaplainaddressed the audienceof 1,200 AirGuard leaders at thisyear‘s Air National Executive SafetySummit. Unfortunately, one of the factorsthat prompted it was that there havealready been 10 Air Guard suicides for2012. Chaplain, Brigadier GeneralAlphonse J. Stephenson, the Director ofthe National Guard Bureau Office of theChaplain, stated that there is no onecause and no one solution.He announced some of the new initiativesthat the Chaplain Corps are producingincluding a new Spiritual ResiliencyCurriculum (more to follow). Onetake away was that leaders should walkaround and talk to their people. Hesuggested that as they engage in conversation,that they say the person‘s nametwice. He concluded by stating thatHOPE is the Air National Guard‘s mostimportant product.Another interesting motivationalspeaker at the Summit was RichardHawk. He addressed the topic of how tohandle stress in the workplace and ineveryday life. He presented six simplehabits that anyone can practice to alleviatestress.1. Hydrate. Your body is made up of60% water. Most people function dehydrated.2. Eat colorful food. The colors indicatedifferent vitamins that your bodyneeds.3. Sleep. Only 20% of your sleep is usedto rebuild your body while 80% is usedfor your busy brain to sort, categorizeand download. Your brain is like an―Etch-a-Sketch‖ that needs to beshaken and the old lines erased.4. Exercise. Exercise not only has benefitsfor your body but also helps yourbrain get rid of waste products.5. Mindfulness. Take 5 minutes a dayto stop and notice things around you. Itis called the practice of awareness.6. Watcher/Observer. When you findyourself becoming upset, stop andstate, from an objective observation, ―Iam upset.‖ This gives the thinking partof your brain an opportunity to takecontrol where the emotional part ofyour brain once ruled supreme.Hope some of this helps. We are, asalways, available to talk. You can find uswalking around or contact us at the BaseChapel (Building #12) or call 698-1057.
MAY 2012AIRSCOOPTIME to ReBlue!By Master Sgt. Douglas Daponde, 104FW Human Resource AdvisorPAGE 7I was extremely excited toget back to my roots as I was headingtowards Lackland AFB, Texas. Yes, mostof us have been introduced to this place atone point in our careers. I was lookingforward to seeing the old stompinggrounds and changes, if any, that havecome about. Most importantly I wasabout to witness my own daughter, SeniorAirman Shauna Daponde, graduate fromBMT. What I was not prepared for wasthe overwhelming sense of pride andpatriotism that came over me during theobservation of events that led to thegraduation. These events included theAirman‘s Run and Coining ceremony,which takes place before graduation day.Family and friends line the streets hopingto get their first glimpse of their new―Airmen‖ as they run by in formationsinging Jodie‘s. Soon after the run theAirmen go back and change into uniform,align themselves in formation in front oftheir family and friends and are awardedthe Airmen‘s coin by their TrainingInstructor.It was during the Airman‘s Run andupon seeing my daughter that I felt asense of pride and patriotism that I neverfelt before. I did not know the immediatereason I felt that way. I was happy to seemy daughter but it was deeper than that.I did not completely know what it wasuntil I had the opportunity to witnessthese events again while at LacklandAFB for HRA training. Again, I wasoverwhelmed with emotion. I was RE-BLUED! I would have run through abrick wall if someone asked me to at thetime. I was so motivated and ready totake on any task after seeing such adisplay of airmen!After that experience I thought of howcould I bring this back to the base and Ihave the answer. In July with ChiefMaster Sgt. Rick MacDonald‘s and ChiefMaster Sgt. Shayne Newton‘s leadershipalong with the help of Senior Master Sgt.Tim Domer from the 102 nd IS, myself andothers we are sponsoring the TIMEconference in Southbridge, MA from10-12 July 2012. TIME stands forTechnical Sergeants Involved inMentoring Enlisted airmen. This is atremendous opportunity, not just for the104 th , but for the state of Massachusettsto RE-BLUE invaluable middle managersand influencers of younger airmen.This is a great opportunity for theseTechnical Sergeants as they are going tobe exposed to some highly sought aftermotivational speakers such as ANGSpecial Assistant for Diversity ColonelOndra Berry, ANG Command ChiefMaster Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy andmotivational speaker Staff Sgt Ken toname a few. Topics of the conference aregoing to include mentoring, diversity,force development and management,leadership, discipline and resiliency.This is a privilege to attend and theultimate goal is to get these TechnicalSergeants back to their units REBLUEDand ready to motivate those that theycome in contact with. In the end, theTechnical Sergeant, their mentees, theirunits, their wing, and the Air NationalGuard will benefit from their TIME spentwisely.Technical Sergeants Involvement in Mentoring Enlisted airmenChief Master Sgt. Richard MacDonald, MA JFHQMy name is Richard MacDonald, Chief Master Sergeant and State Human Resource Advisor Joint ForceHeadquarters, Massachusetts Air National Guard. The State Command Chief Master Sergeant, Shayne Newton,and I are hosting a three day workshop targeting Technical Sergeants of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.The workshop TIME, Technical Sergeants Involved in Mentoring Enlisted Airmen, involves deliberately mentoringinitiatives on Force Development, AF Core Values, Leadership, Resiliency, Mentorship and Diversity. We areinviting 160 Technical Sergeants from across the Massachusetts Air National Guard. There will be guest speakersand facilitators from various backgrounds that have expertise in these disciplines.Our purpose for choosing this rank is simple, these Airmen are at a crossroads in their military career andhave a high potential to separate from the Air National Guard. The Technical Sergeants‘ skill sets are invaluable;working as mentors for the Airman they oversee and acting as foot soldiers for their senior leadership. We envisionthis work shop to be a force multiplier to motivate, educate and give them the tools to be successful leaders in theAir Guard.There are limited seats and if you are selected by your Chief, you will be sitting alongside other selectTechnical Sergeants that the Massachusetts Air National Guard envisions to be future difference makers.Hopefully you will share your knowledge and experience return back to your units with a better perspective onyour responsibilities and vision, and mentor Airmen at all levels.WHAT – TIME (Technical Sergeants Involved in Mentoring Enlisted Airmen)WHERE - Southbridge Convention Center Southbridge MA.WHEN - Travel days will be July 9 and 12.WHO – Questions contact Chief Master Sgt. Richard MacDonald, State Human Resource Advisor atrichard.maconald@comcast.net or by Cell# (781)864-1489.
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May 2012 - 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard

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