What makes this unit 'special' pg 6-7 - Hurlburt Field

What makes thisunit ‘special’pg 6-7Photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary EmeryUSAFSOScelebrates40 yearspg 3DUI-FREE• Congratulations to the 1stSpecial Operations MedicalSupport Squadron for more than1,375 days without a DUI.• Congratulations to the 1stSpecial Operations HelicopterMaintenance Squadron for morethan 365 days without a DUI.RED HORSEbikers hithighwaypg 4Forty-threepercent of basegoal reached! Runsthrough April 18.Contact your unitrepresentative todonate

Couple reaches milestone togetherby Staff Sgt. Angela ShepherdPublic AffairsRetirement day is a day Airmenlook forward to for 20 or more years.It is a day that marks the end of an erain their life, one that is happy and sadall at the same time.But for two Hurlburt Field officers,that day was even more specialbecause they got to celebrate it witheach other.On March 30, Lt. Cols. Chris andPam Kaufman, a married couple whohave collectively given the Air Forcemore than 40 years of service, fittinglyended careers of dual sacrificesand joyful experiences with a dualretirement ceremony.“What a great ceremony this is,”said Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley, Air ForceSpecial Operations Command commander,who served as the ceremony’spresiding official. “We do retirementsall the time, but it’s not too oftenwe get to celebrate two outstandingcareers at the same time.”The 823rd RED HORSESquadron held its firstmotorcycle safety pokerrun March 30 to educatethe less experienced cyclistson riding safely, no matterwhat the terrain.Col. Steve Hammock,823rd RED HORSE commander,opened the sessionwith a few words to hisAirmen.“This is a great opportunityfor everyone toensure that you get safetytips while riding,” ColonelHammock said. “You knowhow risky it is sharing theroad with other drivers.Share these safety tips withother riders out there.”Staff Sgt. Ed Lecuyer,1st Special OperationsWing ground safety office,reviewed some of the itemsthat bikers learned duringtheir prerequisite motorcyclesafety course.Other speakers includedTech. Sgt. BenjaminReynolds, 1st Special OperationsSecurity ForcesSquadron, Master Sgt. CarlCupp from Hurlburt Field’smotorcycle club, Sentinels COMMANDO Apr. 6, 2007Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley (left), AirForce Special Operations Commandcommander, shares a laugh with Lt.Cols. Chris and Pam Kaufman, who retiredsimultaneously March 30. Photoby Staff Sgt. Angela Shepherd.The ceremony proceeded fairlyusually, with the presentation of theretirement orders and certificates,first for Colonel Chris Kaufman andthen for Colonel Pam Kaufman.It wasn’t really until the presentationof the spouse appreciation certificatesthat the ceremony saw a lightheartedcrossover.“How strange is this?” asked Maj.Gen. Donald Wurster, AFSOC vicecommander and co-presiding official.“I’m not used to presenting these tosomeone in uniform who was justretired.”After both colonels were officiallyretired, they each had a chance to saytheir thanks and goodbyes, but takingcenter stage was the message theyhad for each other.“Thank you for being my biggestcheerleader,” Colonel Pam Kaufmansaid to her husband. “It’s been myprivilege to share this day with youas it has been to spend our livestogether.”Colonel Chris Kaufman then explainedhow the pair decided allthose years ago to handle their AirForce careers together.“When I asked her to marry me,I told her that we should stand sideby side for the rest of our lives andface everything together, and that’sexactly what we’ve done.”RED HORSE rides to promote motorcycle safetyby Jamie HaigCOMMANDO editorof Freedom, and Lt. J.D.Peacock, Okaloosa CountySheriff’s Office.Master Sgt. StephenZajac, 823rd RED HORSESquadron, conceived andcoordinated the idea for therun while deployed.“There were quite a fewfolks talking about the newbikes they purchased,”Sergeant Zajac said. “Withthe amount of new riders inour squadron, our risk factorhas seriously increased.I wanted to do somethingto mitigate this risk, get thefacts out and dispel rumorsabout riding.”After the briefings, ridersand bikes were inspectedfor proper safety gear andequipment before the startof the 118 mile run.The course captured fivedifferent riding scenariosfrom heavy traffic conditionsto winding countryback roads – all venuesoffer a different challengefor the motorcyclist.“We had riders with awide range of riding experience,”Sergeant Zajacsaid. “They ranged fromzero experience, to severalmonths to decades. Theone-to-one contact of newriders with knowledgeableriders allowed for bettermentoring.”Lt. Col. AnthonyDavit, 823rd RED HORSESquadron deputy commander,and a motorcyclistsince 1991, was an activeparticipant in the run.“There is no better wayto teach guys how to ridewell other than to ridewith them and point outareas in which they canimprove,” Colonel Davitsaid. “We covered manyareas that aren’t coveredby the Motorcycle SafetyFoundation courses such asgroup riding and riding intraffic.”The squadron receivedgood reviews from all ofthe riders, and it is planninga base-wide, all squadronmotorcycle safety pokerrun later this year.“All-in-all, this eventmet all of its training objectives,”Colonel Davit said.“The next time we do this,we’ll open it up to theentire base so we can promotemore than just properwear of personal protectiveequipment.”Airmen from the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron roll outto start the motorcycle safety poker run March 30. Thesquadron held the run to better educate the less-experiencedriders on motorcycle safety in various terrains.Photo by Jamie Haig.AirCommandoSaluteSeniorAirmanLindseyGilbertPhoto by 2nd Lt. Jesse BrannenSenior Airman Lindsey Gilbert,1st Special OperationsComponent Maintenance Squadron,is from Elko, Nev., andenjoys going to the beach, sewingand playing with her son.Her supervisor had this to sayabout her: “Airman Gilbert is theepitome of what every Airmanshould strive to be. Her integrityis impeccable and beyondreproach, and each and everyday, she puts the Air Force firstin her life.“No matter how hard the task,Airman Gilbert is always the firstin line to perform it. Her outstandingdedication earned herthe privilege of being the 1stSpecial Operations MaintenanceGroup command chief executivefor 90 days. During her time inthis job, her work was outstanding.Airman Gilbert encompassesour Air Force Core Values ofintegrity first, service before selfand excellence in all we do.”Airman Gilbert’s favoritepart about being stationed atHurlburt is the operations tempoensures the workload is steadyand everyone is able to feel pridein what they do every day – thereare real tangible outcomes.The best piece of adviceAirman Gilbert can give otherAirmen is this: “If you don’t puteverything you’ve got into makingthe little things right, no onewill give you the responsibilityto take on the big things.”

Holy Week scheduleCatholic services:Good Friday – Stations of theCross, noon; Mass, 7 p.m.Saturday – Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30p.m.Sunday – Easter Masses, 7:15 a.m.and 10 a.m.Protestant services:Sunday – Easter Sunrise Service,6 a.m. on the Soundside; UnityService, 11:30 a.m.USAFSOS coursesThe South Central Asia OrientationCourse will take place April 16-20.This course is designed for personnelpreparing to live in or deploy to SouthCentral Asia or have a professional oranalytical interest in the region. Thecourse provides non-technical educationon the cultural, historical, political,economic, social, and religiousand security dynamics of the region.For more information, call Capt. ScottMcIntosh at 884-7133.The Contemporary InsurgentWarfare Course will be offered April23-27. This course is designed for U.S.Special Operations Command andsubordinate command personnel inthe ranks of staff sergeant to lieutenantcolonel, and Department of Defenseand non-DOD personnel whose jobrequires knowledge of military operationsother than war. For more information,call Capt. John O’Kane at884-9023 or Senior Master Sgt. BlaineRuhbusch at 884-1853.The Middle East Orientation Courseconvenes May 7-11. This course isfor personnel preparing to live in ordeploy to the Middle East, who workwith individuals from this region, orhave a professional or analytical interestin the area. Spouses are welcome toattend on a space-available basis. Formore information, call Maj. StephanieKelley at 884-7988.For more information on thesecourses, visit https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/milonly/tenantunits/jsou.Family FestThe Family Fest and Annual EggHunt beings at 10 a.m. tomorrow inthe Community Park with an egghunt. The day’s events include performancesby an Irish dance groupand Korean martial arts group, rides,games and family fun. For more information,call Zollie Ford or CharlesLowrey at 884-4597.Inside the gates ...Volunteer ceremonyThe Annual Angel Awards andVolunteer Excellence Awards ceremonywill be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in TheSoundside. For more information, callRuthy Srun at 884-5442.Career, job fairOkaloosa-Walton College will hostan area-wide career and job fair 10a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday on the Nicevillecampus. More than 50 companies willbe represented to discuss full- andpart-time jobs and summer employment.For more information, call 729-5227.AFCEA LuncheonThe Emerald Coast chapter of theArmed Forces Communications andElectronics Association will host a luncheon11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesdayin the Eglin Air Force Base Officers’Club.Guest speaker is Col. GregoryBrundidge, director of communicationsand information, Air CombatCommand. The cost for lunch is $9for members, $11 for non-members.For more information, call Staff Sgt.Robert Goodson or Sandi Dauphin at884-3428.Adventure RaceThe Hurlburt Field AdventureRace will start at 5:30 a.m. April 14in Crestview. Kayak, hike and bikeride for a unique adventure. For moreinformation or to register, call 884-6884.FOCUS 56The next FOCUS 56 meeting is 3:30p.m. April 17 in J.R. Rockers. For moreinformation, call Staff Sgt. Laura Bellat 884-7393.Aderholt workoutBeginning April 18, the AderholtFitness Center will hold the Workoutof the Day every Wednesday startingat 7:30 a.m. in the multipurpose room.The WODs can be scaled to various fitnesslevels. For more information, callConnie Morreale at 939-0809.Supply classThe 1st Special Operations LogisticsReadiness Squadron has supply blocktraining the third Wednesday of eachmonth, and the next class is April 18 atthe following times and places:Bldg. 90710 – 1-2 p.m., Block I –general indoctrination; 2-3 p.m., BlockIIA – bench stock; 3-4 p.m., Block IIB– repair cycleBldg. 90120 – 8:30-10:30 a.m.,Block III – Equipment management/deployed equipment management.For more information, call the 1stSOLRS at 884-4055.Faith in the FoxholeThe next Faith in the Foxhole luncheonlecture series is noon April 19in the chapel annex. The guest speakeris Col. Kenneth Rodriguez, Air ForceSpecial Operations Forces vice commander.For more information, call884-7795.HSC coffeeThe Hurlburt Spouses Club coffeewill be held 6:30 p.m. April 19in The Soundside. The cost is $18.35for members and $20.35 for nonmembers.For more information, callCarolyn Kuhl at 581-0572.Hazardous waste dayThe 1st Special Operations CivilEngineer Squadron will hold hazdarouswaste disposal day from 8 a.m.– 1 p.m. April 20 at the storage facility,Bldg. 90523 on RED HORSE Road.There is no charge for disposal. Formore information, call 884-4651.Autism walkThe Emerald Coast AutismSociety and the Autism Society of thePanhandle will host Walk 4 AutismAwareness 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 28.For more information, call Tech. Sgt.Aundoy Jackson at 884-6745.ASMC scholarshipsThe Gulf Coast chapter of theAmerican Society of MilitaryComptrollers has nine scholarshipsavailable to students seeking anundergraduate degree in financialmanagement or computer sciences.Application packages are available atwww.gulfcoastasmc.org/education.htm. The deadline is May 7. For moreinformation, call John Diniger at 883-3542 or Vera McBride at 882-5346.AADD volunteersAirmen Against Drunk Drivingis an all-volunteer program, and theprinciple behind it is to provide individualswho have had too much todrink a ride to their residence withoutreprisal.This program directly supportsthe wing commander’s zero tolerancepolicy toward DUI offenses and alcoholrelated incidents. AADD alwaysneeds volunteer dispatchers and drivers.If you are interested in volunteering,please e-mail AADD presidentSenior Airman Megan Stanton atmegan.stanton@hurlburt.af.mil.A donation booth will be set up atthe commissary April 21-22.IEAUPDATEThe Department of Defenseannounced MountainHome Air Force Base,Idaho, as the winner ofthe 2007 Commander inChief’s Annual Award forInstallation of ExcellenceMarch 30.Hurlburt Field, MountainHome AFB and ColumbusAFB, Miss., were the threefinalists in competition forthe title. The IEA inspectionteam visited Hurlburt Jan.28-30.“The evaluation team wastruly impressed as they sawfirst hand some of our outstandingprograms,” saidCol. Michael Smietana, 1stSpecial Operations MissionSupport Group commander.“From the way we takecare of everyone at theAirman & Family ReadinessCenter, to our recyclingprogram and our efforts toprotect the environment,our award winning ChildDevelopment Center, ournewly opened LandingZone, the list goes on – weall have a right to be proud.Hurlburt truly is an excellentinstallation; and wedidn’t necessarily needanother trophy to prove it,”he said.“Everyone on the baseneeds to remember that westill won $500,000 whichwill be put into quality-oflifeimprovements.”COMMANDO

Airmen from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron furiously paddle across the sound during an in-squadron Monster Mash March 30, which is a team building, exercise.The squadron is well known for their combat controllers and pararescuemen, however, they could not do their jobs without the support staff that is behindthe scenes. The events included Airmen from across the unit. Photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery.23rd Special Tactics Squadron:Special mission,special team23rd STS Airmen work together on packing aparachute in the squadron. The support peopleare the backbone of each operation and trainingmission. Photo by Senior Airman Ali Flisek.Airmen in the 23rd STS canexpect to spend a lot of time awayfrom home. With five-month longoperations in theater, plus trainingTDYs, they’re often gone for morethan 200 days a year. Because ofthe nature of the mission, Airmenare not assigned to an aerospaceexpeditionary force bucket, butthey can volunteer for AEF rotations.Airmen in the 23rd STS are constantlyworking to make sure parachutesare checked and packedcorrectly, weapons are functioning,people trained in cardio-pulmonaryresuscitation and nightvisiongoggles and oxygen masksare maintained. They make it possiblefor our battlefield Airmen togo out and fight America’s wars,knowing they have an entire teamsupporting them.“Being part of the 23rd STSgives me a great sense of pride andaccomplishment,” said Airman1st Class Deena Gough, 23rd STS.“When people ask what squadbyStaff Sgt. Mareshah HaynesPublic AffairsWhen most people think ofthe 23rd Special Tactics Squadron,they think of combat controllersand pararescuemen. But mosthave no idea of what really goeson inside the gates of the compound.Although the 23rd STS is hometo these battlefield Airmen, thereare many career fields contributingto the squadron’s success.The 23rd STS is almost a completelyself-sustained squadronwith its own armory, medical,maintenance, intelligence, lifesupport, communications, administrativeand training functions.Many Airmen might be insupport career fields, but in thissquadron they get training opportunitiestheir counterparts in traditionalsquadrons might neverget the chance to take.Such opportunites range fromall-terrain vehicle and motorcycledriving to support dives.“The better they (support personnel)understand, the betterthey can set up equipment,” saidMaj. Spencer Cocanour, 23rd STSdirector of operations.Ground radio maintainers areespecially encouraged to trainwith the CCTs because they willbe the ones maintaining the radiosin the field. The radio maintenanceshop makes sure the navigationalaids, cryptological equipment,unmanned aerial vehiclesand Global Positioning Systemequipment are working properly.Vehicle maintainers have theirhands full as well. Aside fromvehicles that can be found in anyregular motor pool, they have tolearn how to maintain and troubleshootvehicles like motorbikesand ATVs. With all the wear andtear put on the vehicles duringtheir rigorous training and realworldmissions, they always needto be repaired, rebuilt and havetheir engines recalibrated. COMMANDOApr. 6, 2007

(Above) An Airman with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron communications section,prepares a mobile communications pack for use in the field or deployed location.(Right) A tech. sergeant from the 23rd STS, returns a rifle to the rack inside of thesquadron’s armory. Photos by Senior Airman Ali Flisek.ron I’m in and the numbers‘23’ come out of my mouth,there is nothing better than tosee the look of astonishmentand appreciation on peoples’faces.”“Though there’s an incrediblestandard to live up to; Iwouldn’t have it any otherway,” Airman Gough said.(Editor’s note: for a moreexpanded version of this article,visit: www.hurlburt.af.mil.)A 23rd Special Tactics Squadron Airman in the life support section, tests the oxygen mask and hoses for ateammate prior to use in the field. The 23rd STS is a self-sustained squadron with its own armory, medical,maintenance and other support elements on-site. Photo by Senior Airman Ali Flisek.COMMANDO