<strong>PATRIOT</strong> | NEWSVolume 36No. 3-4March-April2010UTA SNAPSHOT |This funded, <strong>Air</strong> Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services.Contents of the <strong>PATRIOT</strong> are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government,the Department of Defense, or the Department of the <strong>Air</strong> Force. The content is edited, prepared andprovided by the 439 th <strong>Air</strong>lift Wing Public Affairs Office, <strong>Westover</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong> <strong>Base</strong>. All photographs are<strong>Air</strong> Force photographs unless otherwise indicated.439Patriot.Editor@westover.af.mil(413) 557-2063www.westover.afrc.af.mil439 th <strong>Air</strong>lift Wing commanderCol. Robert Swain Jr.Chief of Public AffairsVacantWing Public Affairs OfficerMaj. Wilson Camelo<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong> Technician / EditorTech. Sgt. Andrew BiscoeStaffTech. Sgt. Brian BoyntonTech. Sgt. Troy ThibeaultStaff Sgt. Timothy HuffmanSenior <strong>Air</strong>man George CloutierBriefs |Homestead missions |<strong>Westover</strong> Portal page |pg. 3pg. 4pg. 5A pilot’s impression |pg. 9Patriot Praises |pg. 11Commander’s Cup |pg. 12ON THE COVER >> Social networking and itspowerful and efficient information flow officiallyjoins <strong>Westover</strong>. Turn to pages 3 and 6 tosee more about these changes taking placeat <strong>Westover</strong> and throughout the <strong>Air</strong> Force.MOBILITY MARCH >> The mobility folder above joins the list of logistical tasks and challenges as part of the 439th <strong>Air</strong>lift Wingreadiness posture. Patriot Wing preparation for the flagship of all <strong>Air</strong> Force exercises -- the Operational Readiness Inspection --has begun. About 300 reservists participated in a February mobility exercise and ability to survive and operate (ATSO) training.Reservists will head to Wisconsin in March 2011 for the Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE), followed by the ORI, scheduled forJune 19-26, 2011. Patriot Wing aircrews will host an <strong>Air</strong> Mobility Command team at <strong>Westover</strong> April 7-14 for the <strong>Air</strong>crew Standardizationand Evaluation Visit. (photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Boynton)
EDITORIAL | <strong>Base</strong> launches into social media worldCan u blieve it?<strong>Westover</strong> has a FBpage & will tweet& RT 2!C h a n c e s a r eyou know exactlywhat this means,sort of know whatthis means, or areasking someone,“What the heckMajor Camelodoes this mean?”If you don’t knowwhat this means, please continue to readas we have fully entered the world of socialmedia, and there is no turning back.What is “social media?” First, don’tconfuse social media with specific socialnetworks like Facebook or MySpace. Socialmedia is defined as, “tools and platformspeople use to publish, converse and sharecontent online.”The “tools” thus are sites like Facebook,MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Flikr as wellas blogs, wikis, bookmarks, etc.The benefits (as well as the dangers) ofsocial media is that it is collaborative, uncontrollable,real-time and global. The factthat many in the military don’t understandwhat social media is or how to leverage itfor our military purposes, has led some towant to ban it or prohibit access.Some want to simply hide behind theveil of Operational Security (OPSEC)to prohibit bases from establishing socialmedia sites. However, social media is nodifferent than any other media -- we needto practice security at the source and complywith OPSEC.Yet, senior military leadership -- to theircredit -- has quickly realized that a “headin the sand” position on social media isnot only unsustainable due to its rapidglobal growth, it is actually detrimentalto the mission.Detrimental because open communicationwith people strengthens <strong>Air</strong>men’smorale and readiness, enhances publictrust and support for our mission, andachieves global influence and deterrencewhile enhancing our credibility.Detrimental also because we would beneglecting the fastest-growing meansof communicating and interacting withpeople both inside and outside our gates.Here are some statistics:• Facebook has 400 million users. Collectively,Facebook’s population would bethe 3rd largest country in the world.• About 500,000 people join Facebook<strong>PATRIOT</strong> | <strong>PAGE</strong> 3and MySpace daily• There are about 185,000 new blogs createdper dayIn the <strong>Air</strong> Force:• About 50 percent of <strong>Air</strong>men get theirnews from social media networks• More than 60 percent of <strong>Air</strong>men say theyuse MySpace• About 96 percent of <strong>Air</strong>men -- rankingfrom airmen to technical sergeants -- useYouTubeBefore you rush out and get a Facebookpage and start “friending” your subordinatesto know what they are doing, remember thatcredibility, transparency and collaborationare important in social media. Turn to page8 for more guidance on using social medianetworks.While yielding a sense of control is difficultand seems to run counter to our militarytraining and culture, it is important if weexpect to recruit and retain the nation’s bestand maintain a trusting relationship with ourcommunities.TTYL!Maj. Wilson CameloWing Public Affairs OfficerBRIEFS |Pullover sweaterThe <strong>Air</strong> Force Chief of Staffapproved the wear of the new 50percent acrylic/50 percent woolpullover, v-neck sweater availablein the <strong>Base</strong> Exchange MilitaryClothing Sales Stores (MCSS).<strong>Air</strong>men do not wear name tagson the 50/50 pullover sweater.Name tags are no longer worn onthe 100 percent wool sweater.The phase-out date for the woolpullover sweater is Oct. 1.For more information, call 557-2037.Tours to resumePublic affairs will resume toursthe third and fourth Wednesdaysof each month, beginning in Apriland running through December.For more information, e-mail PAat 439aw.pa@westover. af.milWing earns Outstanding Unit AwardLt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., commander, <strong>Air</strong> Force <strong>Reserve</strong>Command, recently announced that the Patriot Wing was one of 15units to receive the <strong>Air</strong> Force Outstanding Unit Award for 2009. Formore on this award, click on the expanded story on <strong>Westover</strong>’s website at www.westover.afrc.af.milIG reminds <strong>Air</strong>men of proceduresCol. Patricia Evans, 439th <strong>Air</strong>lift Wing Inspector General, remindsthat <strong>Air</strong> Force members have the right to file a complaint at any levelwithout going through their supervisory channels.“Members may also file an IG complaint without fear of reprisal;submit complaints anonymously; and submit a complaint even if themember is not the wronged party or the alleged violation did not affecthim or her,” Colonel Evans said.The IG program may not be used for matters normally addressedthrough other established grievance or appeal channels, unless there isevidence that those channels mishandled the matter or process.Meredissatisfaction or disagreement with the outcome or findings of analternative grievance or appeal process does not suffice to warrant anIG investigation, the colonel said.For more information, call Colonel Evans at (413) 557-3137 or e-mail439aw.ig@westover.af.milAnnual workshopThe Patriot Wing’s fourth annualenlisted workshop is scheduledto begin the Sunday of the JuneA UTA (June 6) at the <strong>Westover</strong>Conference Center.The theme of the 2010 workshopis, “I Am An <strong>Air</strong>man, I Am AWarrior.” It wraps up June 8.<strong>Air</strong>men interested in attendingshould contact Chief Master Sgt.Kathy Wood at 557-2876.Space A flightsSpace A f lights are availablefrom <strong>Westover</strong> as <strong>Air</strong> Force airliftmissions dictate.Passengers report to the Hangar3 passenger terminal at leastthree hours before the scheduledtakeoff. For more information,call the Space A hotline at (413)557-2549.
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