New wing commander comes on board - 514th Air Mobility Wing

Vol. 14, No. 1, July-August 2006<strong>New</strong> <strong>wing</strong> <strong>commander</strong> <strong>comes</strong> on boardSee Page 2Town Hall meeting setGuam deployers supportB-2 training missionReserve retirementapplication proceduresSee Page 3 See Page 7See Page 9

FROM THE TOP<strong>New</strong> <strong>commander</strong> greets all2BEACONJuly-August 2006EDITORIAL STAFFCol. James L. KerrWing CommanderLt. Col. Jamie GoodpasterChief, Public AffairsMSgt. Donna T. JeffriesEditorSSgt. Monica DalbergStaff WriterSrA Rachel L. BernardesStaff WriterPhoto Processing305th Communications SquadronVisual Information ServicesThis funded Air Force Reserve newspaperis an authorized publication formembers of the U.S. military services.Contents of the Beacon are not necessarilythe official views of, or endorsedby, the U.S. Government, theDepartment of Defense or Departmentof the Air Force. Editorial contentis edited, prepared, and providedby the public affairs office of the 514thAir Mobility Wing, McGuire Air ForceBase, N.J. All photos are courtesy ofthe U.S. Air Force unless otherwisenoted.The deadline for submittingBEACON articles is the firstday of the month for publicationin next month’s issue.Submit the article on disk inMicrosoft Word, and includeyour name and phone number.Articles can also besubmitted via e-mail to:514amw.pa@mcguire.af.mil.Call (609) 754-3487 formore information.I personally believe in“Servant Leadership.” No,it is not what you can dofor me; rather – how can Ibest serve both you andour mission as your <strong>wing</strong><strong>commander</strong>?— Col. James L. KerrCommander, 514th Air Mobility WingOn June 18 I had the pleasure of addressingmany of you during the official514th Air Mobility Wing Change of CommandCeremony, but for those of you whowere not able to attend the ceremony, I extendmy sincere greetings. I am both honoredand humbled to have been affordedthis tremendous opportunity to serve asyour new <strong>wing</strong> <strong>commander</strong>!As in my previous assignment, <strong>commander</strong>of the 940th Air Refueling Wing,Beale Air Force Base, Calif., I want to sharewith you my philosophy of leadership andmy expectations of you while serving in theworld’s greatest Air Force.I lead by example! In doing so, the AirForce core values of “Integrity First, ServiceBefore Self, and Excellence in All WeDo” hold a place near and dear to my heartand I live by these values daily, both on andoff the job. I believe each of us must upholdthese values because there is nogreater time in our recent history where ourdedication and service to this nation isneeded in to preserve our democracy.America’s ability to secure our way of lifeand set the standard for the rest of theworld in defending their citizen’s right tofreedom is dependent on your participationin our mission. To this end, it is our AirForce core values that represent the startingpoint for meeting these challenges!We are an all volunteer Air Force whosecontinued success depends on committedleadership at all unit levels, particularly duringturbulent times. I personally believe in“Servant Leadership.” No, it is not what youcan do for me; rather – how I can best serveboth you and our mission as your <strong>wing</strong><strong>commander</strong>! Philosopher, physician, humanitarianand 1952 Nobel Peace Prize recipientAlbert Schweitzer once said “Exampleisn’t the main thing in influencingBEACON July-August 2006Photo by Kenn MannCol. James L. KerrCommander, 514th Air Mobility Wingothers, it is the only thing”. This means thatall of us must set the highest standard for individualservice to this nation while holdingleadership accountable in your service tothis <strong>wing</strong> and our Air Force Reserve program.As stated earlier, I intend to lead as a servantto the war fighter, his/her family, and ourmission. In doing so, my job is to ensure this<strong>wing</strong>’s war fighters are well equipped to protectthose who cannot protect themselves sothat we may continue to maintain our cherishedfreedoms. To this end, serving thosewho put our aircraft in the air as well as thosewho provide support is my number one priority.This means that the families of our memberscan count on this <strong>wing</strong> to help them atall times; particularly during periods whenour members are deployed.I consider this to be an importantfactor to ensure thatour deployed membershave the ability to concentrateon their duty performancewithout the burdenof concerns at home. In orderto achieve this level ofsupport for our members, Iam taking steps to makeour family support programone of the best in the AirForce Reserve Command.Again, I am honoredto serve you as your new<strong>wing</strong> <strong>commander</strong> and it isimportant that both youand I incorporate the AirForce core values into allaspects of our daily life. By doing so, we establishthe foundation for how serve our AirForce and this nation’s citizens.

PROMOTIONSAirmanJohn P. Matt, 514th CESAshley M. Woodall, 76th ARSAirman First ClassMario J. Aochoa, 514th CSAdrian J. Haynes, 514th AESSenior AirmanPedro J. Aleman, 514th CESStephen C. Bowen, 714th AMXSNancy Cardenales, 514th AMWMartin F. Delaney, 35th APSAndrew Dieter, 714th AMXSCharlene I. Dieter, 514th MOFJoseph Domicolo, 35th APSJennifer J. Harnett, 514th ASTSDevon J.V. Jarvis, 35th APSJoseph R. Kervin, 88th APSDamian H. McCarthy, 88th APSTimothy L. Redepenning, 514th AMWAdam W. Robbins, 514th CESWilliam H. Walker, 732nd ASStaff SergeantCharles D. Chenet, 514th AMXSJustin T. Dibello, 514th CESMatthew L. Lucas, 714th AMXSHansel W. McLeary, 514th AESErnest K. Nikolaus, 714th AMXSAna P. R. Pereira, 514th AMDSSteven M. Robles, 88th APSJames E. Sidoli, 76th ARSKerry A. Smith, 514th AESGeorge L. Teamoh IV, 514th SFSJorge A. Viera, 514th AMDSJames F. Wehrman, 514th MXSTechnical SergeantGillian H. Bracy, 514th ASTSJon A. Davis, 514th LRFGloria D. Delgardo, 514th AESJavier A. Diaz, 514th CESSamuel Dindayal, 514th AMDSDennis L. Lowther, 514th AESDaniel D. Monteiro, 514th MXSGoeffrey L. Morales, 714th AMXSYahyra Roylance, 514th LRFAllan B. Taeza, 514th LRFCorinne E. Aimable, 514th OSSSalvatore Valeo III, 514th MSSMickey C. Wilgus, 714th AMXSCrispus D. L. Wyllie, 514th AMXSMaster SergeantJackie L. Bishop, 514th AMXSCathy Cortijo, 514th AESKeith E. Hall, 76th ARSDonald A. Heminghaus, 514th AESSavin Marshall Williams, 722th ASTSKaren A. Morgan, 514th AMDSSeth L. Pasternak, 514th AESTanya M. Whitehurst, 514th CSDaniel L. Young, 76th ARSSenior Master SergeantMartin L. Vinson, 514th OSSTeam McGuireAF birthdaycelebration setReserve members, spouses andcivilians are invited to attend theTeam McGuire Air Force BirthdayCelebration, “Salute to Warriors,” at6 p.m. Sept. 23 in Hangar 2201.Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, <strong>commander</strong>,Air Mobility Command is theguest speaker.Cost is $15 for E-1 thru E-6 and$25 for E-7 thru O-5 per person.Dress is the battle dress uniform orflightsuit or smart causal attire.Those interested can contact theunit first sergeant or senior Air ReserveTechnician for more informationto purchase tickets.VIBES:What is your favorite summer memory?Airman 1st Class AdamRobbins, 514th CES1st. Lt. Scott Julian514th MSGStaff Sgt. Jennifer Lane514th CSMaster Sgt. Derek Williams514 AMWMaster Sgt. Leon Britton35th APSSpending time in theCaribbean withfamily catching upon lost time andenjoying the scenery.My favorite summermemory is the weeksleading up to when Ileft for boot camp. Iknew that it would bethe last time I had funfor a while, so I triedto do everything.Back packing throughEurope with friends,staying at hostels andmeeting new people.Moving into my newhouse with my fianceand bonding togetherthrough hard workand lots of eating!That tops everythingthus far.When my father tookme to see my firstJames Bond movie.My mother madesandwiches andpopcorn for us. I wasso fascinated to see abig screen movie inpanavisiontechnicolor.4BEACON July-August 2006

LOCAL NEWSTwenty-one Airman finishNCO development courseThe follo<strong>wing</strong> 514th Air Mobility Wing membersgraduated from the Noncommissioned Officer LeadershipDevelopment Course June 4. Graduation ceremonieswere held in the auditorium of Building2216.Tech. Sgt. William Almestica, 514th AMXSSenior Airman George Amoah, 514th ASTSTech. Sgt. Patricia Bartlett, 514th AMDSTech. Sgt. Nicolas Calle, 514th ASTSTech. Sgt. Gerard Cannata, 732nd ASTech. Sgt. David Cleveland, 514th ASTSSenior Airman David Delitta, 714th AMXSStaff Sgt. Marsha Elliott, 514th ASTSStaff Sgt. Seth King, 514th AMXSStaff Sgt. Chad Laurion, 514th CSTech. Sgt. Calvin Littlejohn, 514th ASTSStaff Sgt. Melanie McCarthy, 514 MSSStaff Sgt. Lionel Nariaidu, 78th ARSTech. Sgt. Stephanie Peterson, 514th ASTSStaff Sgt. William Saltzman, 78th ARSTech. Sgt. Spencer Stewart, 514th MXSStaff Sgt. Michael Thalman, 514th AMXSSenior Airman Robert Trombley , 514th MXSStaff Sgt. Mickey Wilgus, 714th AMXSTech. Sgt. Shane Vasquez, 714th AMXSPhoto by Master Sgt. Donna T. JeffriesREENLISTMENT – (From left) Chief Master Sgt. LaneBader, Master Sgt. Leonard Werner and Staff Sgt.Josecarlo Francisco, all 514th Air Mobility Wing members,say the reenlistment oath July 8 in front of morethan 1,000 spectators at the Waterfront Park. Col. EdwardCallaghan, (far right) vice <strong>commander</strong>, 514thAMW, presided over the military reenlistment ceremonyprior to the start of the Trenton Thunder vs BinghamtonMets game. Four <strong>wing</strong> honor members presented thecolors and MSgt. Eugene Brown sang the “God BlessAmerica” during the 7th inning stretch as part of theThunder’s Air Force Reserve Appreciation Night.BRIEFSShuttle service drivers neededMandays are available for anyone interestedin becoming a driver for the TrentonShuttle Service. The service is offered totransport <strong>wing</strong> members to and from theTrenton Train Station on the Friday priorto the A and B unit training assembliesand Sunday after sign-out. Those interestedcan contact Senior Master Sgt.Lytel Johnson at (609) 754-6472 or on hispager at 1-800-317-6857.Photo by Senior Airman Rachel BernardesFORWARD MARCH – TSgt. Scotton leads his flight of eager Airman-fora-dayas they practice marching for their graduation ceremony at the5th annual “Children’s Mini Boot Camp” held July 8 in conjunctionwith the 514th Maintenance Group annual picnic. Over 40 children visitedstatic aircraft displays, flightline falcons, and received instructionon basic military customs and courtesies, marching, saluting andcalling jodies. At the graduation ceremony each child received agoody bag and certificate presented by the Lt. Col. Anthony Baity, <strong>commander</strong>,514th MG, as family and friends cheered the youngsters’ accomplishments.Home buyer seminar offeredA Home Buyers Seminar sponsored bythe McGuire Family Support Center is setfor Aug. 14 at Building 3011. Two separatesessions are scheduled. The first beginsat 3 p.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Thesecond starts at 5:30 p.m. and runs to 7p.m. To register for a session call (609)754-3154 or e-mail fsc@mcguire.af.mil.Sandy Cove reconnects familiesSandy Cove Ministries offers eligiblemilitary veterans of Operations IraqiFreedom and Enduring Freedom recentlyreturned from deployment a free 3-day, 2-night stay. Operation Oasis is designedto help military members andtheir spouse and children time to reconnectafter their time of separation. Tolearn more visit www.sandycove.org.BEACON July-August 2006 5

FEATUREPhotos by Denise GouldSSgt. Julio Lugo of the 514th Security Force Squadron demonstrates how the M4 weapon operates during the 514thAir Mobility Wing 2006 Employer Appreciation Day squadron display held in the KC-10 Three-Bay Hangar.Wing hosts civilianemployers for dayBy Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries514 AMW Public AffairsMorning smiles, shuttle buses and hot coffee awaited morethan 90 employers who spent June 17 learning about the AirForce and the 514th Air Mobility Wing mission during the <strong>wing</strong>’sannual Employer Appreciation Day.Employers came from as far as Ireland, but, mainly from the tristatearea to expand their knowledge of the Air Force Reserve. Tostart the day’s activities, attendees were offered a continentalbreakfast, led through a mock mobility processing line and givena “deployment briefing.”The briefings mirrored those given to deploying military members.Master Sgt. Lusita Vega of the 514th Aerospace MedicalSquadron reviewed health issues and instructions for maintaininggood hygiene in austere conditions. Maj. Kyle Cioffero,514th Operation Support Squadron, gave an unclassified intelligencebriefing highlighting threat levels and the living environmentin an imaginary region where the employers were headed.Family Support representative, Tech. Sgt. George Williams advisedthem of the resources available to them to help their familiesduring their time of separation.Promptly follo<strong>wing</strong> the deployment briefs the employersEmployers check out one of the vehicles on display atthe KC-10 Three Bay Hangar as part of the June 17 EmployerAppreciation Day activities. More than 90 employersvisited the <strong>wing</strong> for this annual event.boarded a KC-10 Extender or C-17 Globemaster III to experiencethe flight portion of deploying.“The flight was eye-opening and interesting,” said SueKoeppen, assistant charge nurse with Hackettstown RegionalMedical Center about the C-17 mission. Passengers on thecargo aircraft witnessed an aeromedical evacuation training missionas well as a refueling mission.Many of the employers indicated on a survey taken at theend of the day that the event was a success and their knowledgeof the Air Force and Reserve had increased twicefold.6BEACON July-August 2006

Senior Airman Dan Dubois is seenat the controls of a KC-10 Extenderrefuelling probe in the Air RefuellingOperator Station on the aircraft.Airman Dubois is refuelling a USAFB-2 Bomber as part of the UnitedStates Strategic Bomber TrainingProgram conducted in Australia’sNorthern Territory. More than 150Reserve members with the 514th AirMobility Wing, deployed to Guamduring July, in support of the ongoingGlobal War on Terrorism.Photo by Petty Officer Damian PawlenkoTeam McGuire helps in first B-2 deployment to AustraliaBy Tech. Sgt. Mikal CanfieldKenney Headquarters Public AffairsROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCEBASE DARWIN, Northern Territory Australia– Airmen from the 514th Air MobilityWing and the 305th AMW, deployed tothe 506th Expeditionary Air RefuelingSquadron, Andersen AFB, Guam duringJuly, participated in the U.S. Air Force’sfirst-ever B-2 deployment on the continentof Austria July 25-27The deployment featured training sortieson Australia’s Delamere Air WeaponsRange and a B-2 engine running crewchange at RAAF Darwin – the first timethe B-2 has landed on Australian soil.Called “Green Lightning,” the TotalForce mission featured B-2 Spirit Bombersfrom the 13 th Expeditionary Bomb Squadronand was supported by KC-10 tankersfrom the U.S. Air Force ReserveCommand’s 506th Expeditionary Air RefuelingSquadron. Both units are deployedto Andersen AFB.“Exercises like this underline the continuingimportance of the Australia-U.S. allianceas an anchor of regional security in theAsia-Pacific region,” said Col. RobertWheeler, 36th Expeditionary OperationsGroup <strong>commander</strong> at Anderson AFB. “Thisbenefits both nations and will greatly improveour strategic interoperability.”Australian defense officials agree,stressing the benefits Australia can gainfrom these training exercises.“Australia’s alliance wit the U.S. isbased on shared values and a range ofmutual strategic interests,” said DiarmidBartlett, of the Australian DefenseDepartment’s International Policy Division.“Training and exercising with theworld’s most technologically advancedarmed forces provide many benefits tothe Australian Defense Force which cannotbe obtained through other means.”During Green Lightning, two B-2smade a visit to the Delamere TrainingRange. According to Colonel Wheeler,the Delamere Range is a world-class site,allo<strong>wing</strong> for instantaneous feedback onthe tactics and procedures in conductingoperations over the range.“The range facility in Australia’s NorthernTerritory allows many skills to behones and tested – no other range in thePacific provides such facilities,” he added.“Bombers deployed to the Pacific will nowbe able to get training they would not havebeen able to get before now.”The 506th EARS Airmen from McGuireare excited about the pivotal role theyplayed in Green Lightning.“This operation is a perfect example ofthe Air Force’s ‘total force’ in action,” saidLt. Col. Jon Spare, 506th EARS <strong>commander</strong>.“Both Air Force reserve and active-dutyAirmen cooperatively worked togetherto ensure the success of these missions.“We provided more than half a millionpounds of fuel to the B-2s during GreenLightning, and it’s a credit to all of the Airmeninvolved that these missions were achievedwith such seamless precision,” he added.The result of a November 2005 jointagreement between Australia and theU.S., this exercise paves the way for periodicstrategic bomber aircraft training inthe Northern Territory.The B-2 aircraft, pilots and support personnel– deployed from the 509th BombWing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. – are atAndersen providing the U.S. Pacific Command<strong>commander</strong> a continuous bomberpresence in the Asia-Pacific region.“The rotational bomber presence isaimed at enhancing regional security, demonstratingU.S. commitment to the WesternPacific, and providing integrated trainingopportunities,” said Colonel Wheeler.“Working with our Australian allieshelps us achieve all of these objectives,while continuing to build on our relationshipwith a great ally.”The 13th EBS is scheduled to remainat Andersen AFB through September. The506th EARS Airmen are scheduled to returnin August.BEACON July-August 2006 7

U.S. flag is returned fiveyears post Sept. 11Senior Airman Rachel L. Bernardes514th Air Mobility Wing Public AffairsLOCAL NEWSIn 2003, Maj. Eric Szillus, then captain, hung an Americanflag flown at Ground Zero in a fitness center turned medicalstaging area at the 86th Airlift Wing in Ramstein Air Base,Germany. Major Szillus, a clinical nurse with the 514th AeromedicalStaging Squadron here, is a <strong>New</strong> York firefighter whowas at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The flagwas given to Major Szillus by <strong>New</strong> York City firefighters formotivation during Operation Iraqi Freedom.Three years later, the flag formally returned home. On June22, Brig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel, former <strong>commander</strong> of the 86thAW, now Air Force Director of Communications, paid a visit toNYC Engine No. 227 in Brooklyn, <strong>New</strong> York to retire the flag.General Lessel spoke of how important such gestures betweenmilitary and civilian civil servants are.“It’s important to establish relationships and get the AirForce story out to the public,” said the <strong>commander</strong>.He also believes both groups share a special bond.“[We] have a lot in common. We both put service beforeself. Some really special ones serve in both,” he said referringto the fireman who are also reservists.Fireman Mike Stone, who has been with Engine 227 for fouryears, agreed. “There is camaraderie present between the ArmedForces and the firefighters. We both put our lives on the line.”Fireman Walter Kowalski was also pleased with the opportunityfor contact between Airmen and firefighters.“I was proud that I was part of a company that was part ofthe interaction between the city and the larger picture, thePhoto by Senior Airman Rachel BernardesFireman Billy Martin recieves retired US flag fromBrig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel, Air Force Director of Communications,June 22 at the <strong>New</strong> York City Engine227 in Brooklyn, NY.war on terror,” he said.Kowalski, along with members of the 227th, is proud of theservice of such fireman/reservists as Major Szillus, and proudsuch a token as the flag contributed to the mission. “It madeus feel good about what they were doing overseas, whichmade us feel good about what we were doing over here.”“The flag was always a symbol of the company,” said Lt.Mike Dorkings as he spoke of how long they have flown the flagon their engine. “It meant a lot then— means more after 9/11.”And now, nearly five years after 9/11, and three years afterits morale boosting trip to Ramstein, the American flag onceflown on engine 227 at ground zero made its final stop.Fireman Billy Martin, who received the flag from the general,explained the significance of the event. There are manyflags, but this one is, “more personalized. It means more toour company.”Security forces get life-saving training in AfghanistanBy Maj. David Kurle455th Air Expeditionary WingBAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan –Security forces Airmen here train constantlyfor missions beyond the scope oftheir traditional air-base-ground-defenserole and, thanks to the U.S. Army, theynow have training that may savesomeone’s life.Members of the 455th ExpeditionarySecurity Forces Squadron completed a40-hour combat life-saving course June12-15 that increases the chances someoneinjured in the line of duty will livelong enough to get aid from a medicalprofessional.“I’ve had first aid and CPR training,but never anything as detailed as this,”said Tech. Sgt. Robert Taverna, an AirForce reservist deployed here fromMcGuire Air Force Base, N.J. “A lot oftimes you don’t know how much you’veactually retained or how much you’velearned until you’re put in that situation.”Sergeant Taverna and his fellow Airmenlearned basic skills needed to stabi-lize patients, including intravenous infusions,chest decompressions using aneedle, relaying instructions for a medicalevacuation, establishing and maintainingan airway, and stopping bleeding.“It’s a three-day course, then on thefourth day we have combat training sothese guys can put together everythingwe’ve taught them,” said Staff Sgt. EdresRhone, an Army combat medic from the14th Combat Support Hospital here.The combat training consisted of securityforces Airmen and fellow-studentsfrom the U.S. Navy clearing buildings in amock Afghan village here, fighting enemyforces then treating one of their own forsimulated combat injuries.Sergeant Taverna is used to being thefirst person at the scene of an injury. Inhis civilian job he’s a <strong>New</strong> York City policeofficer.“Here, it’s kind of like the same thing,”he said. “We have to be the ones to getsomeone to a medic or a hospital.”In Operation Enduring Freedom, Airmenoften find themselves working along sideSoldiers and Sailors, so conducting a jointcourse in combat life saver training justmade sense, according to Tech. Sgt. EdwardNin, NCO in charge of training forthe 455th ESFS, deployed from BealeAFB, Calif.“We’re actually fighting together, sowhy not train together,” he said. “Rightnow, we’re looking for synergy betweenthe different branches of the services.”“I think it was better getting this trainingfrom the Army because they’re theones that go out and do this for real,” saidSergeant Taverna, who’s from Air ForceReserve Command’s 514th SFS atMcGuire AFB.For Sergeant Rhone, training Airmenand Sailors how to save lives in combatmakes it easier for him and his fellowcombat medics to save the life of someonewounded in combat.“With more combat life savers out there,we’re actually increasing the chances forthe war fighters,” he said. “This trainingraises a patient’s chances of actually survivingbeing wounded in combat.”AFRC <strong>New</strong>s Service8BEACON July-August 2006

Circled insignia, shoulder board changeimplementation dates announcedBy Master Sgt. Mitch GettleAir Force Print <strong>New</strong>sWASHINGTON — Follo<strong>wing</strong> the Air Force chief of staff’svision of “lasting heritage - limitless horizons,” the Air Force uniformboard made minor changes to the enlisted uniform. Thesechanges include returning to the U.S. insignia with circle for theservice dress uniform and the deletion of the optional shoulderboard rank for the blue uniform, making the sleeve chevronsmandatory.The implementation date for the circled insignia is Jan. 1, 2007,and the date for mandatory wear of chevrons on the sleeves isOct. 1, 2006, Air Force officials said.“We are going back to our heritage. (The enlisted)started wearing lapel insignias in December1902,” said Chief Master Sgt. MalcolmMcVicar, the director of the Air Force EnlistedHeritage Research Institute at Maxwell Air ForceBase, Ala. “The enlisted insignia was on a circulardisk and the officer’s was not.”On April 27, 1918, when the Air Service proposedits first collar insignia, the tradition carriedon with the enlisted insignia having a circle surroundthe device. The insignia design haschanged through the years, but the tradition ofthe circle around the insignia remained until 1991when a decision was made to eliminate the collarinsignia for all ranks. However, by 1995, the collarlapel insignia was brought back with the currentU.S. insignia and no circle for all Airmen.“Every Air Force uniform board since 1991has had a request to bring back the circle aroundthe insignia for enlisted wear,” Chief McVicarsaid. “Keeping with General (T. Michael)Moseley’s vision on returning to our heritage uniform, the uniformboard approved the change.”The shoulder board rank, originally called shoulder mark insignia,for senior NCOs was first introduced in 1976. The shoulderboards were thought of as a way to bring some recognitionto the top three NCO ranks, and were approved in 1982. In 1991,the chevron designs changed for the top three enlisted ranks byproviding immediate recognition at a distance in any uniformcombination. A stripe was removed from the lower portion of thechevron and added to the top for master, senior and chief mastersergeant, to include the chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Ithas been more than 10 years since the new enlisted chevronswere introduced. Since then, there have beennumerous recommendations to remove theoptional enlisted shoulder boards worn bysome within the top three enlisted ranks, ChiefMcVicar said. “This issue was comprehensivelyaddressed with the introduction of ourcurrent chevrons that provide easy identificationof the top three enlisted ranks with all uniformoptions,” he said. “Again, returning heritageto our uniform, the uniform board removedthe shoulder board option.” The chiefmaster sergeant of the Air Force sees thesechanges as a way to keep the Air Force’s enlistedheritage alive. “We are the greatest enlistedAirmen in the world,” said Chief MasterSgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley.Effective Oct. 1 shoulderboard insignia for enlistedranks E-7 throughE-9 are no longer authorized.Chevrons must beworn on the sleeves.“The distinct enlisted aspects of our uniformare a tribute to those who served before usand set the solid foundation we follow today.We should take great pride in wearing ourstripes on our sleeves and donning the circledlapel insignia.”Retirement application process centralized for reservistsBy Tech. Sgt. Rob MimsARPC Public AffairsDENVER – Beginning July 31, all eligiblemembers of the Air Force Reservewill submit their retirement applicationelectronically via the virtual PersonnelCenter Guard and Reserve, a 24/7 customerservice Web portal operated by theAir Reserve Personnel Center here.“The ultimate goal is to improve andstreamline how we deliver services to ourreservists,” said Col. Ann Shippy, ARPC<strong>commander</strong>. “We’re leveraging technologyand Web application to help strike thebalance necessary to continue to deliverservice with fewer personnelists.”Previously, reservists had to visit theirlocal military personnel flight, completethe required retirement application package,submit it to their supervisor or <strong>commander</strong>,and send it to ARPC.This new Web-enabled service is availableat any time from anywhere in theworld and will give Airmen the ability tomonitor the status of their applicationfrom start to finish. Reservists can log onto the vPC-GR at http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/support/default.asp to begin the process.When the submission is received, thecustomer is e-mailed a tracking number.After the member’s <strong>commander</strong> (or programmanager for individual mobilizationaugmentees) has electronically endorsedthe application, the Reserve PersonnelContact Center at the ARPC will verify eligibilityand finalize the application.Once approved, the vPC-GR will sende-mail notifications to the member and theperson’s <strong>commander</strong> or program manager.This new process only applies to memberswho have not yet initiated a retirement application.This process does not apply toAirmen who have already applied for retirementthrough their local MPF.ARPC and the National Guard Bureau areworking together to expand this capability toAir National Guard members in the near future.The technical wizards and personnelspecialists of the Service Delivery TransformationTeam at ARPC continuously studywhich processes handled by local MPFscan be centralized and automated at ARPC.Craig Carter, Thomas Laursen and GregoryZipprich from ARPC’s PersonnelData Systems directorate, developedvPC-GR from scratch with limited investmentwhile expanding on an Air Forcestandard case management tool that isfully integrated to Web service delivery.Each time a new process is tagged for automation,the team works on developingthe application to deliver the service.In the future, centralized servicesshould account for nearly every aspect ofevery reservists’ personnel actions, frominitial enlistment to far beyond retirementand everything in between.ARPC and the Air Force Personnel Centerare working simultaneously on centralizingand automating many of their processesfor all Airmen and civilians in the Total Force.For more information about ARPC PersonnelService Delivery, visit http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/psd/default.asp.BEACON July-August 2006 9

NEWSAmerica Supports You: Sesame StreetTeaches Troops’ Kids Coping SkillsBy Paul X. RutzAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, April 26, 2006 – Elmo and his red, fuzzy fatherwill star this summer in an effort to teach young military childrenand their caregivers how best to handle a parent’s deployment ina program called “Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families Copewith Military Deployment.”This July, Sesame Workshop, the makers of Sesame Street,will launch the program as a DVD kit. Performed in English andSpanish, it will not air on television but will be distributed free toschools, childcare programs and family support centers, thanksto a gift from Wal-Mart stores and other sponsors. JeanetteBetancourt, vice president for content design at SesameWorkshop’s education and outreach division, said an analysis ofthe resources available to help children with this problem exposeda need. “We found that although there was a wealth of informationaround deployment, it seemed to be targeted muchmore to children that were more school age, less so, materialsthat involved young children — preschool — and then even lessso, Spanish language materials.” The kit is the result of analysisdone by the workshop with support from the <strong>New</strong> York State Officeof Mental Health and the Military Child Education Coalition.Focus groups composed of families with deployed membersmade up a large part of thestudy, Betancourt said. Thekit covers all phases of deployment— frompredeployment to homecoming— and the unique challengeseach phase poses,she said. Sesame Workshop,a nonprofit education effort,has been doing these specialprojects since its inception in1968. The group has doneoutreach projects on subjectslike early literacy,asthma, lead poisoning, goingto the doctor and schoolreadiness. Soon after theSept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,the workshop did aspecial set of TV programscalled “You Can Ask,” whichfocused on fear and grief inchildren under age 5. The TVprograms, in English, Spanishand Chinese, were repackagedand distributed tochildcare programs, mentalhealth care programs, and thelike, via the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency. Those programs’ success helpedlead to “Talk, Listen, Connect” because they developed an interest“on how we could talk about difficult topics with young children,”Betancourt said. That model led to a partnership with Wal-Mart on this outreach project. “We were looking for ways tomeet an unmet need,” said Mia Masten, Wal-Mart’s northeast10 BEACON July-August 2006U.S. director for community relations. She said that whenSesame Workshop approached Wal-Mart, the retail giant gave$892,540 to produce the project, noting also that many of thecompany’s employees are Reserve and National Guard members.“It’s really an extension of our long-term relationship with militaryfamilies,”Mastensaid. Wal-Mart is amember ofAmericaSupportsYou, a DefenseDepartmentPhoto by Richard Termine for Sesame WorkshopSesame Street’s Elmo and his dad tape a segmentfor “Talk, Listen, Connect,” an outreach program formilitary families created by Sesame Workshop in <strong>New</strong>York, April 20. The bilingual DVD is part of a packageof complimentary materials that will be made availableto military families beginning July 2006.“We were lookingfor ways to meet anunmet need.”— Mia MastenNE, US director for community relations, Wal-Martprogram highlighting grassroots and corporate support for thenation’s troops and their families. Retired Marine Maj. Gen.Charles Bolden is an advisory board member on the project. Heand several military members met with educators during a conferencehere in January and connected Sesame Workshop with theMilitary Child Education Coalition, which helped support the focusgroup research prior to taping. Bolden said everyone on thepanel agreed a significant portion of their time should be devotedto the unique problems ofGuard and Reserve families. “Forpeople in the Guard and, to some extent,the Reserve, this is kind of foreignto them, and deployments arenot something they ordinarily didprior to now,” he said. “Sesameseemed to have come up with a wayto reach out to these kids who aren’tin a military community the way thatthe active duty folk are, so that wasone of the reasons that we felt theyshould be a special target for thisproject.” According to a 2003 demographicsreport by the Defense Department,661,402 children of militarymembers are under the age of 5. Thisproject will produce 138,000 DVD kits,according to a press release. Boldenand other retired military officers haveoffered to help distribute the DVDs“so that we reach the maximum numberof families in the most criticallyneeded areas,” he said. Although thisprogram is targeted toward militarychildren, Bolden said he already seesa benefit he had not foreseen whenthe project began. “Military childrenare not the only ones who are involvedin separation and deployments and the like,” he said.“One of the benefits that you get by doing something like this isthat you’re also able to reach, say, kids from the State Department,kids from oil and gas companies, people whose parentsare moving around and deploying all the time and undergo excessiveabsence much the same as military kids do.”

NEWSTraumatic injury protection not just for combatBy Karen NaccarelliVeterans Affairs Insurance ServiceEducation continues to be best weapon against AIDSROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – In the past 25 years,more than 25 million people worldwide have died from AIDS –acquired immune deficiency syndrome.Although not considered a high risk group, Air Force peopleare still at risk and routinely receive briefings about it before deployingto countries that have high levels of infection.“Since 1991, more than 1,400 U.S. Air Force personnel havedeveloped HIV infection during their service,” said Maj. (Dr.)Robert O’Connell, director of the HIV department at WilfordHall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. “Nearly half ofthese people have died from their infection.”Twenty-six new cases were identified in the Air Force lastyear. Six of those infected are Air Force reservists, accordingto Major O’Connell.AIDS is considered a sexually transmitted disease, so educationis targeted at populations that would be at high risk forcontracting STDs.The Air Force is committed to combating this diseasethrough proactive educational awareness campaigns as wellas routine clinical counseling and screening to identify newinfections. People deploying to certain African nations andPHILADELPHIA – Some Air Force reservists may not beaware they don’t have to be on active duty or serving in combatto receive assistance if they become severely injured.The Traumatic Injury Protection program, which is part of theServicemembers’ Group Life Insurance plan, went into effectDec. 1, 2005. Traumatic SGLI pays benefits of between $25,000and $100,000 to seriously injured service members.The program has a retroactive provision for people injured inOperation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom beforeDec. 1, 2005.“TSGLI was developed because the administration and Congresswanted to address the plight of injured service membersand their families who were facing financial difficulties,” saidThomas M. Lastowka, director of the Veterans AdministrationInsurance Program.Veterans’ organizations expressed the need for financial assistancebecause family members were leaving their homes and jobsbehind to be with injured members at a medical or rehabilitation facilityfar from home during an extended period of recovery.“This resulted in situations where service members and theirfamilies were living under very tight economic conditions whilethe member was recovering from a serious injury and often incurringlarge debts,” Mr. Lastowka said.The strain on service members and their families often makesthe recovery process more difficult, according to Mr. Lastowka.“TSGLI is designed to provide rapid financial assistance to helpmembers and their families during this difficult period,” he said.“The feedback we have heard on TSGLI so far has been positive.TSGLI is accomplishing its mission and making a difference in thelives of injured service members, veterans and their families.”The program covers traumatic losses such as anatomical lossof limbs, quadriplegia, or loss of sight, hearing or speech. Paymentsdepend on the severity of injuries. A complete list of coveredlosses is available at www.insurance.va.gov .Reservists in the Selected Reserve, including those in the AirForce Reserve Command unit program, are covered by TraumaticSGLI even if the injury did not occur in the line of duty becausethey are covered full time by SGLI. For example, they are covered ifthey suffer a loss due to a traumatic injury while at their civilian job.If traumatic injuries occurred before Dec. 1, 2005, while supportingOperations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom, somepeople may be eligible for a retroactive Traumatic SGLI payment ifthey were traumatically injured and suffered a qualifying loss betweenOct. 7, 2001, and Nov. 30, 2005. They did not have to beenrolled in SGLI at the time of their injuries to qualify for retroactivepayments.If service members suffer a loss due to a traumatic injury andsubsequently die, their SGLI beneficiaries can receive a TraumaticSGLI payment. However, they must have survived at leastseven days after the traumatic event for their beneficiaries to receivethe payment.The program does not cover losses due to physical or mentalillnesses or diseases, except in the case of certain infections or abiological, chemical or radiological weapon. The VA compensationprogram provides for people with these kinds of conditions.Other program exclusions include losses as a result of committingor attempting to commit a felony, losses due to suicideattempts, self-inflicted wounds, or willful use of an illegal or controlledsubstance, unless used on the advice of a medical doctor.People who do not have basic SGLI coverage are not covered bythe program.More information about Traumatic SGLI is available on the VAInsurance Web site at www.insurance.gov/sgliSite/legislation/TSGLIFacts.htm . To file a claim, people need to download thecertification form from the VA Insurance Web site atwww.insurance.gov/sgliSite/legislation/TSGLIFacts.htm .Theycan also obtain the form by calling an Air Force representative at210-565-3505 or e-mailing afpc.casualty@randolph.af.mil .AFRC <strong>New</strong>s ServiceThailand are particularly at risk because 50 percent of theprostitutes in those countries have HIV.“It is important to let people know it is a threat, and theyshould be aware of it,” said Lt. Col. Tim Bennett, publichealth officer and health promotion director for Air ForceReserve Command at Robins AFB.Every year, an estimated 40,000 Americans become infectedwith HIV, and many of the newly infected are youngpersons under the age of 25.Even more disturbing is an estimated 252,000 to 312,000HIV-infected people in the United States are unaware thatthey are HIV positive. This is particularly dangerous becausethey are at high risk for transmitting HIV to theirsexual partners and they do not seek medical treatment becausethey aren’t aware they are infected.“The only way to defeat HIV and AIDS is to reduce thenumber of people who become infected in the first place,”said Major O’Connell.Despite medical advances in treatments, 25 years later,prevention is your best defense, there is still no cure.AFRC <strong>New</strong>s ServiceBEACON July-August 2006 11

ELEPHANT WALK - KC-10 Extenders and C-17Globemaster IIIs from McGuire Air ForceBase, N.J., taxi down the flightline duringthe emergency response exercise ElephantWalk. This is the first time C-17s and KC-10shave been paired in an exercise. Nineteenaircraft launched from McGuire June 30, aspart of the exercise. An elephant walk originallyreferred to the nose to tail slow taxi ofdozens of heavily laden bombers duringWorld War II and the Cold War. It is auniquely Air Force term. Their assembly, taxiand preparations for takeoff, looked similarto heavy elephants leading each othersingle file to the next watering hole; hencethe name.U.S. Air Force photo by Carlos CintronUTAMONEY514th Air Mobility WingAir Force Reserve CommandMcGuire AFB, N.J. 08641-5218OFFICIAL BUSINESSPRSRT STDU.S. Postage PaidPermit # 04517Philadelphia, PADrillDatesPaydaysAug. 12-13*Aug. 25Aug. 26-27*Sept. 8*Pay dates are subject to change. For information,contact your unit pay monitor.