January - Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station

Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pittsburgh Pa.Vol. 46 No. 01January 2007Inside:• 2007 UTA PAy TAble• New OG COmmANder• STeel wArriOr ChAlleNGe• hOw TO mAiNTAiN A heAlTy weiGhT

2 January 2007 The FlyoverCommanderCol. Randal L. BrightEditorial StaffChief, Public AffairsMr. Shawn M. WalleckDeputy Chief, Public AffairsMaster Sgt. Mark A. WinkloskyNCOIC, Public AffairsStaff Sgt. Ian D. CarrierStaff WriterSenior Airman Marc C. NickensStaff WriterSenior Airman Lou BurtonStaff WriterAirman First Class Jamie L. PerryAdministrationSenior Airman Cynthia RayWing PhotographerTech. Sgt. Mary Louise A. HaneyUnit Public AffairsRepresentatives758 th Airlift SquadronSenior Master Sgt. Marshall MartindaleTech. Sgt. Kevin J. George911 th Operations Support FlightLt. Col. Michael DvorchakChief Master Sgt. Carl Hughes911 th Aeromedical Evacuation SquadronMaster Sgt. Robert Buchanan911 th Maintenance Operations FlightMaster Sgt. Cynthia M. Laughlin911 th Maintenance SquadronSenior Master Sgt. Terrance KeblishMaster Sgt. Kevin Timbers911 th Aircraft Maintenance SquadronVacant911 th Mission Support GroupTech. Sgt. Eleanor Weaver911 th Civil Engineering SquadronTech. Sgt. William Fulkerson911 th Communications SquadronSenior Airman Francis L. HartleyAirman Amber J. Reed911 th Mission Support FlightStaff Sergeant Shannon HughesSenior Airman Jonathan D. Ballinger911 th Security Forces SquadronStaff Sergeant Donald W. SingletonSenior Airman John P. Caligiuri911 th Services SquadronCapt. Richard D. FryeMs. Coleen Czachowski911 th Logistics Readiness SquadronCapt. Michael A. MasonMaster Sgt. James Donnelly32 nd Aerial Port SquadronMaj. Paul Hurley911 th Aeromedical Staging SquadronSenior Master Sergeant Maureen ReitzSenior Airman Ryan KoeglerThis funded Air Force Reserve newspaper is anauthorized publication for members of the U.S. militaryservices. Contents of the Flyover are not necessarilythe official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.government, the Department of Defense or theDepartment of the Air Force. Photographs are U.S. AirForce photographs unless noted.Editorial content and photographs provided by911th Airlift Wing, Public Affairs, Pittsburgh IAP ARS,2475 Defense Ave., Coraopolis, Pa. 15108-4403. 911thAW web page address: http://www.pittsburgh.afrc.af.milContentsWhat’s inthis issue?Commentary..............................................4911th Wing Commander recaps 2006 events and looks to 2007 challengesCommentary..............................................5OSI Special Agent speaks about their mission and servicesOG Assumption of Command.....................5Lt. Col. Frank L. Amodeo replaces Col. Steve ClaytonSteel Warrior Challenge crowns victor.......6A physically demanding competition for a worthy cause911th Chronicles...........................................7A look back at Teresa D. James’ aviation and military achievementsMoney Matters.............................................8How to calculate long term savingsMoney Matters (continued)...............................92007 Reserve Unit Training Assembly Pay ChartSafety.........................................................10Being aware of potential hazards reduces the risk of fires at workHealth & Wellness .....................................11If weight loss is this year’s resolution, do it with diet and exerciseOn the CoverOn Patrol...Master Sgt. Shawn Denham, SFSstand ready during a recent jointtraining exercise with Soldiersfrom the Army’s 99th RegionalReadiness Command. The trainingoccurred during the second phaseof Operation Steel Hammer, whichprovided security forces Airmenwith the training needed tooperate in a battle environment.(Photo by Master Sgt. Mark Winklosky)

The FlyoverCommentaryJanuary 20073Reflect on the past,welcome new challengesAnother year has come and gone and wewelcome 2007 with all it has to offer andchallenge us with. Looking back at the last year,we have several things to be thankful for and severalgreat accomplishments. I encourage each of you toreflect on the past year and then to look forward to thechallenges we have in the coming year.You should be proud of this past year’saccomplishments and look forward to tackling thisyear’s challenges with the same level of integrity youhave become known for throughout the years.In January we will be getting an education and aboost to our Human Relations Development Council.Major Chris Damigella, a guest lecturer fromYoungstown, Ohio, will teach our HRDC the improved basics to get us back on track to better serveyou, our Air Force family.Work with your commanders and first sergeants to bring forth your ideas for things that we need toaddress as we seek to make our HRDC more effective for you.This year we have our annual Wings Over Pittsburgh Airshow, scheduled for June 16-17, 2007. Theshow will be highlighted by our own USAF Thunderbirds. In September the Aeromedical StagingSquadron welcomes their Air Force inspectors for a Health Services Inspection. These are just two ofthe significant events on the calendar at the moment.As you read this Flyover, you will have already celebrated the holidays. However you choose tocelebrate, I hope that your holiday season was safe, and that you took the time to enjoy family andfriends. Many nations around the world do not allow their citizens the flexibility to celebrate the waythey choose or to celebrate at all. We owe our thanks to you for preserving that right by defending thisnation. I thank you and I am proud of you!Amy and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year and hope thatyou embrace it with the same level of vigor you have shown us you possess.Again, thank you for the service that you provide for our nation and I am honored to be yourcommander.

4 January 2007 The FlyoverEver vigilant, always on the lookout911th Office of SpecialInvestigationsBy Special Agent Mickel HowellAFOSI Det. 325 OL-AI am Special Agent Mickel Howell with the Air ForceOffice of Special Investigations. Throughout the past21 months I have met with many of you.For those of you whom I have not met,this article describes what I am doinghere in the Pittsburgh area.AFOSI’s mission encompasses thefollowing areas: major criminalinvestigations, fraud investigations,and counterintelligence support toforce protection.If there is an instance where amajor crime or fraudulent activityoccurs, I will contact my AFOSIsupport unit and they in turn will sendother agents to conduct the investigations.Part of my CI mission is to provide base leadershipwith current threat information. I work closely withlocal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies toascertain the existence (or non-existence) of threatsCommentarydirected at our military installations and there respectivepersonnel in the Pittsburgh area.As everyone knows, the world we live in has changeddramatically over the past five years. What use to be“nothing” might now be considered “suspicious.” Thisis where I need your support. If you observe a personor group of people acting suspiciously in the communitiesaround our bases, please let me know.As a Federal Agent, my investigative authorityextends beyond the base fence line. If youare downtown Pittsburgh, at the airport,having lunch in Robinson Town Centeror on the way home from the unittraining assembly and see somethingsuspicious, please let me know as soonas possible. I can look into thematter further and coordinate withother law enforcement agenciesthat can assist in identifying orclarifying threat information.By working together, we canquickly neutralize potential threats. Ifyou would like to report something in person,my office is in Building 127 or I can be reached viaphone. My phone number is (412) 474-8824. You canalso contact the Security Forces Law EnforcementDesk at (412) 474-8250 to report suspicious activities.TOP 3ELECTIONSThe 911th Airlift Wing Top 3will hold elections immediatelyfollowing the WingCommander’s call at the MoonTownship Middle School onJan. 7, 2007. For moreinformation contact SeniorMaster Sgt. Barbara Creeganat 412-474-8284.

The FlyoverNewsJanuary 2007Amodeo assumes command of Ops Group5By Senior Airman Marc Nickens911th Public AffairsLt. Col. Frank L. Amodeo, a 1996Embry Riddle AeronauticalUniversity graduate, assumedcommand of the 911th Airlift WingOperations Group, Dec. 3, 2006 asCol. Randal L. Bright, 911th AirliftWing commander, hosted the event.Lt. Col. Amodeo comes to the911th Airlift Wing from Westover AirReserve Base, Mass. where he wasthe deputy Operations Groupcommander.His other commands haveincluded the C-130H evaluatoraircraft commander, Niagara FallsAir Reserve Base, N.Y., MC-130Hevaluator aircraft commander,Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., andMC-130E evaluator aircraftcommander, Kadena Air Base,Japan.“To become and remain expertswe have to safely make the most ofevery training situation,” said Lt.Service before self(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mary Haney, 911th CS)From left to right: Capt. Ann M. Pesta, 911th Maintenance Operations Flightcommander; Lt. Col. Frank L. Amodeo, 911th Operations Group commander;and Lt. Col. Paul Dobracki, 911th Operations Support Flight commanderserve the 2006 holiday meal to Reservists’ during the December unit trainingassembly.(Photo by Senior Airman Marc Nickens, 911th Public Affairs)Lt. Col. Frank L. Amodeo speaks to the 911th Operations Group after takingreigns as their new commander during an Assumption of Command ceremonyheld Dec. 3, 2006. Lt. Col. Amodeo closed his comments with a special thanks tohis family for all their support. Also pictured here are Tech. Sgt. Robert J.Mathe, a member of the group, and emcee for the ceremony, and Col. Randal L.Bright, commander of the 911th Airlift Wing and host of the event.Col. Amodeo.“Leaders and supervisors of the911th Operations Group, I will callon you to set the right example andto groom the next generation of AirForce leaders. As your commander,I will do what I can to provide youthe leadership, tools andenvironment to succeed. As wecontinue to do our part to defendfreedom and our way of life, I amhonored to serve as yourcommander.”“I have to, from the bottom of myheart, thank my wife Lisa and mydaughters Stephanie and Nicole,”said Lt. Col. Amodeo.“Thank you for your patience andlove throughout my military career.I understand the sacrifices you havemade as you supported me while Idid my small part to serve ourcountry,” he said. “Nothingcompares to the commitments youhave kept, thank you for yourunending support.”Col. Steve Clayton, who servedas the OG commander since August2004, returned to Dobbins AirReserve Base, Ga., to assume dutiesas the 94th Operations Groupcommander.

6 January 2007 The FlyoverNewsTeam Knappster I crowned as first ‘Steel Warrior’Story & photos bySenior Airman Lou Burton911th Public AffairsThe first annual Steel WarriorsChallenge Competition washeld December 2, 2006. Theevent raised $630 and all proceedswere donated to the WoundedWarriors program.Wounded Warriors is anorganization that provides support tomilitary members and their familieswho have been wounded, injured orkilled during combat operations, saidAmy Bright, Advisor to the PittsburghSteel Warriors chapter.From providing initial comfort aidslike clothing and entertainment forthose wounded to providing specialretreats to help families enjoy theirtime together, the Wounded Warriorsprovides respite for those affected bytragedy.“My step son was wounded inIraq and as soon as Capt. Knappbrought up the project I agreed tohelp,” said Mrs. Bright.The event hosted an assortmentof physical and team-building eventswhich included team push-ups, anobstacle course and a rock climbingwall.The Key Spouse Group, acompilation of military husbands andwives who volunteer their support,were the nexus for developing theevent, said Capt. Charles Knapp,commander of the Mission SupportFlight.“Both Services and SecurityForces played a big part in makingthe challenge course happen as well,”said Capt. Knapp.The turnout for the event produced64 participants who comprised 16teams of four people. Participantsreceived a variety of prizes, includingT-shirts and coins provided byservices, said Capt. Knapp.The winner of the event was team‘Knappster I’ which consisted ofCapt. Charles Knapp, Tech. Sgt. TimCrane, Staff Sgt. Shannon Hughesand Senior Airman James Abel of theMission Support Flight. “The winningteam received a large rotationtrophy,” said Capt. Knapp.“We hope to make this an annualTech. Sgt. Donna Brown, MSF maintainsconcentration as she makes her wayup the rock wall.event. Everyone had a great time,”said Capt. Knapp.For more information on how toget involved or make a donation tothe Wounded Warriors organizationcheck out their website atwww.woundedwarriors.org.Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Kaminski leadsthe civil engineering team through thesynchronized stepping challenge.Senior Airman James C. Abel and Staff Sgt. Shannon Hughes of the MissionSupport Flight’s “Knappster I” team navigate their way through the crab walkobstacle portion of the Steel Warrior Challenge competition, Dec. 2, 2006.

The FlyoverJanuary 2007NewsChronicles:Teresa JamesWW II Aviator and Pittsburgh ARS Officer7By Tech. Sgt. Lorraine M. Jacobs,911th HistorianBetween 1942 and 1944, agroup of brave young femaleaviators answered the call to dutyand filled the critical need forpilots in noncombat roles.The Women’s AuxiliaryFerrying Squadron —28 womenknown as the “Originals”—andthe Women’s Flying TrainingDetachment merged to form theWomen Air Force Service Pilots.Out of 25,000 applicants, 1,830professional women pilots wereaccepted. They trained underaustere conditions and arduousroutines, receiving limitedcompensation for their efforts.Only 1,074 candidatescompleted the training.Collectively, they flew more than60 million miles in 78 differentaircraft frames with a mission thatincluded ferrying aircraft,instructing other pilots and towingtargets for aerial gunnery. By theend of 1944, higher headquartersdisbanded the WASP program; thewomen received neither a newassignment nor GI benefits.One of the “Originals,” TeresaD. James resided in the Pittsburgharea. Ms. James earned herprivate pilot license at theage of 19 andworked as(Courtesy photos)a stunt pilot and “barnstormer.”She went on to earn herinstructor’s license at the age of26 and her commercial license atthe age of 27. By the time shereceived General “Hap” Arnold’scall to join the WAFS in 1942; shehad more than 2,000 flight hours.For the next twenty-sevenmonths, Ms. James gainedexperience on many WW IIaircraft including T-19’s, the P-47Thunderbolt and the P-51Mustang. She flew many missionsas a flight leader and becamefamous when she was chosen asthe pilot to ferry the 10,000th P-47, “Ten Grand,” from theRepublic factory to itsembarkation point.She remained in the WASPprogram until the U.S.Government disbanded theorganization in December of 1944.In 1950, the Air Forcepresented these aviators with theopportunity for a commission tothe USAF Reserves innonflyingpositions.TeresaD. Jamesacceptedthecommissionto thepermanentrank ofMajor. In1952, sheservedwith thePittsburghAirReserve Stationas a Public Information Officerand then as a Women’s Air ForceTraining Director from 1953to1960.From 1961 to 1965, she servedin Elmendorf, Alaska as aCasualty Assistance Officerwhere she earned twocommendation medals. MajorJames returned to the PittsburghAir Reserve Station in 1966 andfaithfully served with theorganization until she retired in1976.Among other accomplishments,Major James continued to fly as ahobby and volunteered time andtalents toward gaining veteran’sbenefits for the Women AirService Pilots. Major Jameslogged more than 10,000 hoursduring her career—a lifetime thatincluded many firsts for women asaviators and as members ofArmed Services’ organizations.She presently resides in Florida.(Acknowledgement for researchcontributions: Lt. Col. (ret.)M.J. Flaherty, USAFANG).

8 January 2007 The FlyoverMoney MattersVisualize a wealthy future to guide financial decisions10 percent savedtoday equals finacialsecurity in retirementBy 911th Family Support OfficeIn America we often look atbuilding things from the foundationup. In other cultures they look attheir vision and find the ingredientsto reach the top. Budgeting, andlittle debt are foundation items to“avoid” problems. Visualizing awealthy future will help guide yourdecisions.One of the ancients’ keys towealth building is not only to avoid“bad debt,” like today’s revolvingcredit accounts, but also to live onless then you earn.Today we have far moreopportunities to get a return on ourinvestments then the ancients did.For example in the twentieth centurycompound interest was “invented”which allows us to obtain interest onthe interest we earn. According toAlbert Einstein that was the greatestinvention of our last century.If you set aside 10 percent ofyour income for savings andinvestment, you are likely to havea chance at great wealth if youhave enough years to accumulatecompounded interest. Here’s anexample of how it works: A 19year old male plans to retire at age65. His goal is to have a milliondollars. If he earns a 10 percentreturn compounded over time heneeds to only invest $2,000 per yearin a tax deferred IRA for eightyears to achieve that goal. On theother hand, a 27 year-old whoinvests $2000 per year until age 65would only have a little over$800,000 accumulated.Both of the above scenarios arepositive ones compared with thechoices many Americans make asthey mortgage their futures byheavy debt and a lack of savingsor investing. As Reservist the ThriftSavings program is an easy tounderstand road to take to investing.Try their website at: http://www.tsp.gov/ and learn more aboutyour options.Charles E. Kelly CommissaryOakdale, Pa.724-693-2463PROMOTIONSAirman Antonio Y. CaroAirman Timothy R. WoodyAirman Matthew O. WolfeAirman 1st ClassBrett A. SchuringSenior Airman Emily R. HeimSenior Airman Melanie A. VilkTech. Sgt. Chris B. Stotler

The FlyoverMoney MattersJanuary 200792007 Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show ContestPut your thinking caps on because the 911th Airlift Wing ViceCommander is looking for creative people to submit their ideasfor this year’s design of the patch, coin, shirt and poster forthis year’s air show. This year’s theme is “Wings OverPittsburgh Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the UnitedStates Air Force.” For more information contact Col. ThomasE. Kittler at 412-474-8040.FITNESS CENTERHOURSMonday to Friday6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.UTA Friday7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.UTA Saturday8 a.m. to 8 p.m.UTA Sunday7 a.m. to 1 p.m.For more information call412-474-8245.

10 January 2007 The FlyoverSafetyPotential for workplace fire is year-roundBy 911th Safety OfficeRecently an Army counterintelligence building on FortGeorge G. Meade, Md. was heavily damaged by a sixalarmfire that took three hours to contain and causedthousands of dollars in damage.Fires are the sixth leading workplace killer. Eventhough modern buildings are made from fire resistantmaterials and use sophisticated suppression systems,fire can still be deadly. Most fires can easily beprevented. By being aware of and on the lookout forleading causes of fire, workplace fires can be eliminated.The most effective way to fight a fire is to keep itfrom starting in the first place. Fires can only start whenoxygen, heat and fuel are present. So basic fireprevention is to keep these elements apart. Here aresome examples of what to look for at work:Work Stations and Desks:• Space heaters under desks and work stationslocated too close to combustible or poorly ventilatedareas.• Candles and incense being burned in the workarea.• Tangled cords, “multi-plugs,” extension cords andpower strips without circuit protection.Electrical Sources:• Frayed, broken or missing wire insulation.• Bypassed, missing or broken ground connections.• Overloaded circuits, breakers, fuses, links andequipment.• Flammable or combustible materials stored tooclose to electrical equipment.• Dirty, greasy, worn or poorly maintained equipmentand power tools.• Dull bits, blades and cutters cause overloading.• Flexible wiring used in place of permanent wiring.(Photo courtesy of Fort Meade Public Affairs)OSHA’s statistics show that thousands of workers arekilled or injured by workplace fires each year. A faultypiece of heating and air conditioning equipment causedthe fire that severely damaged parts of Building 4554recently on Fort George G. Meade, Md.• Extension cords in poor condition.Welding should be done out in areas free ofcombustibles and surrounded by fire protection screens.Keep a fire extinguisher handy.Place smoke alarms and fire detectors in areaswhere fires may start. Test them monthly, and replaceany batteries at least once a year. Keep escape routesand fire exits clear. Correct and report unsafe situations.Don’t smoke in NO SMOKING areas. The signsare there for a reason.You should know:• The location of firefighting equipment and how touse it;• Your fire evacuation procedures and escape route,and;• Which equipment and operations to shut downbefore you leave your office.Remember: Fire safety on the job is everyone’sresponsibility - especially yours!Winter Parking• Designated parking lot forovernight POV parking is eitherParking Area “G” behind the VOQor Parking Area “K” adjacent tothe Civil Engineering compound.• Parking between buildings 418and 419 is no longer authorized.• Vehicles found by SecurityForces personnel to be in violationwill be towed off base at theowner’s expense.(graphic by William Pope, Westover ARB, Mass.)

The FlyoverHealth/SportsJanuary 2007 11Achieving, maintaining a healthy weight in the New YearBy Mary CalvagnaHealth Gate Data Corp.You may have heard that losing weight is as easyas eating less and exercising more. Well it’s true—taking in fewer calories than you use each day is thesimplest way to lose weight. Never mind the faddiets, weight-loss pills, and zany herbalremedies—it all comes down to abalanced diet and a regular exerciseprogram.Using the Body Mass Index:The first step is determining yourcurrent weight status: Are youunderweight, normal weight, overweight, orobese?A good measure for this is the BodyMass Index (BMI), a standardized methodused by many health professionals toevaluate weight and body fat. BMI iscalculated by dividing weight in kilograms byheight in meters squared.It gives you an indication of whether youare at risk of health problems that arerelated to being overweight or obese. If yourBMI is 25 or higher, you are at risk for anumber of serious health problems, includinghigh blood pressure, high cholesterol, heartdisease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, andosteoarthritis.To find your weight in kilograms, multiplyyour weight in pounds by 0.45.For example:If your weight is 130 pounds: 130 x 0.45 =58.5. Your weight is kilograms is 58.5.To find your height in meters, multiply yourheight in inches by 0.0254. For example:If your height is 5’6", that is 66 inches: 66 x 0.0254= 1.6764. Your height in meters is 1.6764.To square the number, multiply it by itself: 1.6764 x1.6764 = 2.81For the example above, the BMI is: 58.97 dividedby 2.81 = 20.98BMI values are interpreted as follows:• 18.4 or less = underweight• 18.5 to 24.9 = normal weight• 25 to 29.9 = overweight• 30 and over = obeseAlthough this is a reliable method, it is notfoolproof. Because muscle tissue weighs more thanfat tissue, heavily muscled people may fall into theobese range when they are not obese.Eating a Healthful Diet:To lose weight, you need to take in fewer caloriesthan you use—this is where your diet comes in. Itmay be in need of an overhaul. But, you don’t wantto lower your calories at the expense of nutrition. Tolearn more about developing a healthful diet thatis right for you, read our article on the latestfood guide pyramid: Unlocking the Secretsof the New Food Pyramid.Try not to think of your new eating habitsas “going on a diet,” instead, think of it as alifestyle change. Adding more fruits, vegetables,and whole grains to your diet and cutting back onsaturated fat and cholesterol are good for you nomatter what your age. Creating a healthful dietthat you can stick to throughout your life will helpyou achieve and maintain your desired weight.Getting Regular Exercise:To lose weight, you need to use more caloriesthan you take in—this is where exercise comes in.Not only does regular exercise help you get to anideal weight, it can help you stay there too. If youdon’t exercise already, it is time to get started. Agood goal for many people to work up to isexercising 4 to 6 times a week for 30 to 60minutes at a time. If you are not sure how tobegin, read our tipsheet: Starting a RegularExercise Program.There are several different typesof exercise that you can do. Anideal exercise programcombines four types ofexercise:• Aerobic• Weight-bearing• Strength training• StretchingIt is a good idea to talk with your doctor beforebeginning an exercise program.No Time Like Today:Now that you have the tools, getting started is up toyou. Start slowly, have carrots or an apple for a snack,instead of a bag of chips. And take a walk around theblock before or after work today. Just remember, thesooner you begin working toward your ideal weight,the sooner you can reap the healthful benefits.

911 AIRLIFT WING/PAPITTSBURGH IAP ARS2475 DEFENSE AVENUECORAOPOLIS PA 15108-4403OFFICIAL BUSINESSProduced by Air Force News AgencyFor more information about synthetic fuelsvisit www.af.milFlyover printed on recycled and recyclable paper with soybean ink