July - Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass

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PATRIOT | NEWSAFRC commander visits Westoverby 1 st Lt. Andre BowserAs the leader of the Air Force Reserve Commandtoured the Patriot Wing June 4, thethree-star general made it a point to shake as manyhands as possible, connecting with troops in moreways than perhaps even he knew.Making his way through a group of Airmen, Lt.Gen. James Jackson shook the hand of one particularlynervous Airman who dropped a ballpointpen after greeting the general.Lt. Gen. Jackson could have moved on. Hecould have made his way to greet others in line,especially given the thunderstorm that was fastapproaching Westover and the fact that his aircraftmight be grounded before he could returnto his headquarters in Georgia. But he stopped.Kneeling down to the retrieve the pen, Lt. Gen.Jackson, in that smallest of gestures, exhibitedthe second core value that every Airman shouldcarry: Air Force Core Values: 1. Integrity First, 2.Service before self, 3. Excellence in all we do.Lt. Gen. Jackson said he traveled to Westover because there isno better way to connect with Airmen than to travel to wherethey are.“I love my job at thePentagon, and my staffat my headquarters,” hesaid, but he added thatthose environments areinsulated by several layersfrom the needs of theeveryday Airman. “WhenI go on the road and meetthe units - that’s the bestway to learn where theproblems are.”The main problems heis finding are related tofunding availability - or the lackthereof - for many Air ForceReserve initiatives across thecountry, he said, including military construction lags, as well asfunding for aircraft upgrades and training for personnel, amongothers. However, he said, the solution rests in the Airmen hemeets and the endurance they display by doing more with less.“Every member knows they are a valued member of the team,”Lt. Gen. Jackson said, adding that it is up to the members towork efficiently in order to “make the best choices for the AirForce Reserve.”TOUR TALK >> Lt. Gen. James Jackson, commander of Air Force Reserve, meetsSrA. Christopher Whelihan, 439 th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, during his tourof Westover. Also pictured from left are are Lt. Lt. Col. Col. Luis Luis Nunez, maintenance MXG deputy group commander,commander, AFRC Command AFRC CMSgt. Command Cameron CMSgt. Kirksey, Cameron and Col. Kirksey, Kerry and Kohler, Col. Kerry 439 thdeputyMXG Kohler, commander. 439 th MXG commander. (photo by SrA. (photo Kelly Galloway)by SrA. Kelly Galloway)RANGE OF RANK >> Lt. Gen. James Jacksonshakes the hand of 1 st Lt. Matthew Borowski, 439 thAirlift Control Flight, while Col. Michael Miller, 439 thOperations Group commander looks on. (photoby SrA. Kelly Galloway)Touring several squadrons on base, accompanied by the newAFRC Command CMSgt. Cameron Kirksey, Lt. Gen. Jacksonlearned about the functions of different shops in keeping ouraircraft in the air and the base running smoothly.In a word, the general said he was “impressed.”His visit came in the middle of a tough fiscal climate,and he said no matter the challenges ahead, puttingAirmen first would always be his mandate becausewithout them there wouldn’t be an Air Force Reserveto lead.“It’s going to be a difficult time,” he said, referring tocuts mandated by Congress that would see Westoverwith half the aircraft it currently has by 2014, as wellas furloughs presently facing many civilians and airreserve technicians. “We can work our way throughthe turbulence,” he assured.Lt. Gen. Jackson said tours of bases likeWestover only affirm what he already knows.“We have an outstanding group of Airmenhere: Great teams, great leaders, great Airmen,”he said of Westover.“The problem we’refacing is funding, but we’ll make our way just fine.”In parting, just minutes before he boarded the small aircraftdestined for Georgia, the storm clouds fast approaching, he offereda unique bit of advice to the Patriot Wing to help ensurethat we continue to be “Leaders In Excellence” in the future:“Don’t be afraid to look for better ways of doing business… tomake the best choices for the Air Force Reserve.”
ART creates furloughsurvival tipsby MSgt. Andrew Biscoe“People say I might be nuts forsaying this, but I’m embracing thefurloughs.”MSgt. Ellen Moore is an air reservetechnician assigned to the 42 ndAerial Port Squadron, and a singlemom with one son.“We had enough notice, so I’veplanned financially,” she said. “I livewithin my means anyway. I hide mymoney, not forgetting where I put it,of course, but so I won’t spend it.”MSgt. Moore has been at Westoverfor 18 years. She’s well-knownthroughout her squadron and recentlytook part in getting APSARTs together to figure out how todeal with the furloughs.“I’ve bulked up on food, paperproducts and cleaning products. Mycellar looks like a grocery store,” shesaid. “Clipping coupons takes time,but it saves so much money.”As does breaking other habits thateat up budgets.“Think about the $12 or so youspend each week getting that coffeeat the drive-through,” she said. “Youcan save so much by cutting down onthat alone. You can make your lunchat home before you come to work.”“Shop wisely,” MSgt. Moore said.“Follow the flyers. Save your ATmoney.”She was referring to annual tourmoney, which MSgt. Moore depositsin a separate bank account.“I came up with a savings in mybudget that amounted to $3,300 duringthe year,” she said. “I could spendthat in a year on scratch tickets.”The Department of Defense isscheduled to begin the furloughsJuly 8. More than 750 civilians andARTs at Westover will take 11 daysof unpaid leave through the end ofSeptember.PATRIOT | PAGE 5New aircraft fuel systemlanding at Westoverby TSgt. George CloutierGassing up planes at Westover is aboutto get a big improvement, thanks to a recentlyawarded $24.5 million fuel hydrantsystem funded by the Defense LogisticsAgency.The military construction contract wasawarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,New England District. The Corpsof Engineers will manage and supervisethe project which will be accomplishedby Structural Associates, Inc. of EastSyracuse, N.Y.“We’ve been working with the samefueling infrastructure that has beenhere since the days of the Strategic AirCommand when B-52s were flying outof Westover” said Col. Steven Vautrain,439 th Airlift Wing commander. “A C-5can hold 323,000 pounds of fuel. Thisnew system is going to greatly increaseour ability to deliver that fuel to aircraftas quickly and safely as possible, which isabsolutely mission essential.”“This project is going to totally replacethe C-5 fuel hydrant system and supportinfrastructure on the ramp,” said Capt.Brett Bailey, 439 th Civil EngineeringSquadron. He also serves as a civilianPOPE’S PUNS |with base civil engineering as chief ofdesign. “The project will construct apressurized hydrant fuel system with 14hydrant outlets and two 210,000-poundabove-ground fuel storage tanks,” hesaid. “Work will include modifying theexisting pumphouse, and constructingnew truck fillstands, a hydrant hose truckcheckout, product recovery system, andmodifying the existing transfer pipeline.Upgrading this system will be a hugebenefit to the 439 th AW in continuing tomeet its mission.”Upgrading the existing fueling infrastructureon the aircraft parking ramp isno small feat and comes with a huge coordinationeffort between many Westoverorganizations.“With the project scheduled to startin September and take about two yearsto complete, that impacts a lot of operationsand requires close coordinationwith many agencies here on base,” Capt.Bailey said. “CE, Corps of Engineers, aircraftmaintenance, airfield management,security forces, and fuels are all tirelesslyworking to ensure the project goessmoothly. We’re going to be conductingan elephant ballet out there for two yearsand we have a world-class team doing it.”by W.C.Pope
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July - Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass

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