507th Air Refueling Wing - 513th Air Control GroupTinker Air Force Base, OklahomaMARCH 2008 Vol. 28, No. 3

Wing Annual Winners

Page 4

970th AACS 4th Qtr Winners Page 5

AntarctiaPage 6-7

Touching the Past Page A4

MRE Facts Page 10-11

INSIDE

Senior Airman Richard Santiago cooksan omelet during February UTA.

On-final EDITORIAL

PAGE 2 “Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority” MARCH 2008

Greetings OKIE warriors!

By Col. Jeffery R. Glass

507th ARWCommander’s Column

This month our wing is participating in a major deploymentexercise to Gulfport, Miss.

Roughly 323 people, including our ex-ercise evaluation team and 4th AF observ-ers will deploy. As you can imagine, a lotof time and energy has been spent plan-ning and preparing for this deployment.Many of our wing personnel who did nothave the opportunity to attend our ORIwill be deploying for this event. To manyothers it may be a little bit being an actorin the movie “Ground Hog Day.” But justremember, this is why we are all here.Take advantage of the training that’s be-ing offered. This will become an annualevent for our wing so expect to see moreof the same from now on.

Just to give you a broad overview ofevents, our exercise kicks off the momentwe receive our tasking orders and doesn’tend until the last of our team arrives homeand our equipment is put away. Just like any sports game, theteam that wins is the one with the most determination anddrive to see things through. We need to push ourselves. We

can rest when it’s all over. My advice to everyone is tomaintain your drive and make a purposeful effort to keepyourself in the “game” until the final whistle blows. Our 4thAir Force observers will be watching how well we all do ourjobs. In no small respect, we will demonstrate to all that thiswing has its eye on the ball and is committed to perfectingour warrior skills and our warrior ethos.

I also want to say that everyone in the wing, including ournon-deploying members play a criti-cal role in the overall success ofthis exercise. No job, no task isunimportant.

Finally, no matter how focusedwe are on completing the task athand we must also follow our Op-erational Risk Measures and con-stantly pay attention to SAFETY.

It would be a shame to haveworked so long and hard to preparefor this exercise to see all of ourefforts tarnished by ignoring safetyrules. It would be a tragedy ifsomeone were to be injured whileignoring those safety rules.

Remember this: If it isn’t safe,then make it safe. If you can’tmake it safe, don’t do it.

And while this may sound a bitmasochistic: Enjoy this exercise. We are a great team andwe’re working to make ourselves even better.

By Wing Chaplain(Lt. Col.) Mike Jones

Chapel Corner

Have you heard about the English teacher who askedher class to write about an unusual event that happenedduring the past week. Little Johnny got up and read hisessay. It began, “Daddy fell into the well last week...”

“Oh, my!” the teacher exclaimed. “Is he all right?” ”He must be,” said the boy. “He stopped yelling for

help yesterday.”Okay, okay. Not the greatest of jokes but it does make

a point. It’s ORE time again. After months of trainingand preparation we are on our way to Gulfport. As we

go, let’s makesure we answerthose “calls forhelp” from thosearound us.

Whether it’shelping some-one get intoMOPP4, carry-ing sand bags, orhelping clean up,give a hand andhelp out. Don’t let their call for help go unanswered be-cause we are all in this together!

We are all in this together

“Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

On-final

PAGE 3MARCH 2008

SHIRT NEWS

507th Air Refueling Wing Editorial Staff507th ARW Commander- Col. Jeffery R. Glass

Chief of Public Affairs- Lt. Col. Rich CurryDeputy Chief of Public Affairs - Capt. Bill PiercePublic Affairs Officer - Capt. Polly OrcuttOn-final Editor - Tech. Sgt. Melba KochPublic Affairs Spec - Senior Amn. Zach Anderson

513th Air Control Group Editorial Staff

Unit Public Affairs Representatives507th Civil Engineer Sq.-

Tech. Sgt. George Proctor507th Logistics Support Sq. -

Master Sgt. Paul Victorian72nd Aerial Port Sq.- Tech. Sgt. Robert Shahan507th Services Flt. - vacant507th Aircraft Maintenance Sq.- vacant507th Medical Sq.- vacant507th Security Forces Sq.- CMSgt. David Holman465th Air Refueling Sq.- Senior Master Sgt. Scott “Scooter” Wilson507th Maintenance Group-

Master Sgt. Jeff Tyler507th Com. Flt. - Master Sgt. Norma Foster1st Aviation Standards Flt - SMSgt. Rob Uzzle35th CBCS - Staff Sgt. Damon A. Wheeler

This funded Air Force Reserve Command maga-zine is an authorized publication for members ofthe U.S. military services. Contents of On-final are not necessarily the offi-cial views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Govern-ment, the Department of Defense, or the Depart-ment of the Air Force. The editorial content is edited, prepared, andprovided by the 507th Air Refueling Wing’s Pub-lic Affairs Office, 7435 Reserve Road, Suite 9,Tinker AFB, OK., 73145-8726 All photographs are Air Force photographsunless otherwise indicated. Copy deadline isNOON on UTA Sunday for the next month’sedition. If you need more time, please callus at 734-3078. This is your news source. Take it home with youto share with family, friends, and employers.

Volume 28, No. 3 MARCH 2008

513th Air Control Gp. - Staff Sgt. Grady Epperly

513th Aircraft Generation Sq. --Tech. Sgt. James Stratton

513th Ops Support Flt. --Senior Airman Raquel Lyons

`

507th ARW Mission: Man, train, equip, and sustain an Expeditionary Reserve Force in support of DoD peacetime and wartime taskings.513th ACG Mission: Citizen-airmen extending America’s Global Power operating the world’s best airborne battle management, warning and control platform.

Shirt Column

Back to basicsby Master Sgt. Deborah Kidd

507th MSF and HQ First SergeantFor the last several months our Wing has been preparing

for the upcoming exercise to Gulfport and I am very proud ofhow hard everyone is working to bring it all together. Mythanks to everyone for pulling together and getting the jobdone. However, we still have other things all of us shouldfocus on.

“Throughout Air Force history a common thread emergesfor our longstanding successes – adherence to standards anddiscipline,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force RodneyMcKinley. “Standards provide a framework for attention todetail while discipline ensures accountability.”

The First Sergeants have witnessed an increasing lapse ofdiscipline and adherence to standards throughout the Wing.The most common are uniform violations and our customsand courtesies. For example, Airmen outside without their hatson, not saluting the Wing Commander’s staff car or not stand-ing up when Colonel Glass or Chief Long enter the room arejust to name a few. This is not only required but I believefrom the first day we entered basic training we had customsand courtesies and the uniform standards drilled into our headsand the Wing Commander and the Command Chief haveearned it. So when I correct someone and the response is “Ididn’t know,” it doesn’t hold a lot of weight with me. Somemight ask why these things are important. My answer is

simple: because it’s a privilege to wear the uniform and if youoverlook the small stuff chances are you are overlooking thebig stuff as well.

I realize that doing the right thing can be uncomfortablebut the First Sergeants can’t correct all the discipline and stan-dards issues by ourselves; we need the assistance from everyAirman. The Oct. 30, 2007 roll call topic was Standards andDiscipline, described it best:

Every Airman must adhere to the Air Force Core Values:Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in All We Do.

Integrity first- Be responsible; a person of true integrity acknowledges

his or her duties and acts accordingly- Be accountable; not only for your actions, but the actions

of your subordinates- Have self-respect; behave in a manner that brings credit

upon yourself and the Air ForceService before Self- Follow rules; adhere to all standards, regulations and in-

structions in duty performance- Respect others; look out for your Wingman/subordinates,

a failure for one is a failure for allExcellence in all we do- Continue improvement; reinforce the highest standards,

which maximize the Air Force’s effort- Focus on mission completion; every task is significantIf we discipline ourselves no one else will have to. Keep

up the hard work and remember, individually and collectivelywe can make a difference.

PAGE 4 MARCH 2008“Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

KUDOS

507th ARW Annual Winners for 2007are Capt. Jeremy Overton, Master Sgt.David Dickson, Staff Sgt. RobertMussyal Jr., Senior Airman Timothy Wil-liams and Master Sgt. George Stiltner.

Captain Overton, Company GradeOfficer of the Year, is the commander,507th Communications Flight.

Overton fostered cooperation withthe Air National Guard, reutilized exist-ing fiber structure, increased networksecurity and saved $200,000. The unithosted a data system training course forreserve members at Tinker AFB; 10trained and saved $10,000 in travel costs.He hosted a 4th AF 3A0 working groupand created a command-wide handbook,setting a reserve command benchmark.

Overton led the upgrade for the 465th

Ops Flight Scheduling with multiple dis-plays, increased crew scheduling effi-ciency. He directed the modernizationof the squadron briefing room, new elec-tronics, screens, created an invaluablewing resource.

A balanced Airman, Overton attendedmilitary banquets and is an active life-time member of the Reserve OfficersAssociation.

Master Sgt. David Dickson, SeniorNCO of the Year, is NCOIC of SecurityForces for the 507th Security ForcesSquadron.

He worked a 44-man security forcesteam mobilization; made impossible lookeasy, the team is in the AOR.

Dickson designed and implementeda four-day pre-deployment training at Ft.Sill, Ok for 50 troops; getting his unitready to deploy.

He prepared 507th SFS families formobilization, built 35 spouse packets andvarious other handouts. He organized theunit deployers’ town hall meeting, feed-ing 80 people and lauded best ever byWing chaplain.

Dickson organized a family funeraldinner, fed 50 people and stepped upduring the ice storm power loss, lodgingfive households.

Staff Sgt. Robert Mussyal Jr, NCOof the Year, is a security forces crafts-man with the 507th Security ForcesSquadron.

Mussyal has vast knowledge of Mid-

eastern culture/languages which wasinvaluable during Camp Swift training.He was hand selected by SFS leader-ship to conduct intel collection on insur-gent ops in the AOR, potential life sav-ing information.

Mussyal instructed 450 wing person-nel on the M16A2 as an assistant CATMinstructor; instrumental in wing deploy-

ment preparation. He is a leader; su-pervising three personnel and ensured all44 unit personnel completed mandatoryweb-based training.

Mussyal mentored 28 kids on martialarts techniques.

He provided vital security at a localIslamic center during the month ofRamadhan; supporting 4,000-plus peoplewith no security problems.

Senior Airman Timothy Williams, Air-man of the Year, is a pavements andequipment journeyman with the 507th

Civil Engineer Squadron.Williams is a battlefield Airman who

deployed to Kirkuk Regional Air Base

during AEF 3-4. He extraordinarilymanaged roads, grounds and runways/taxiways which supported more than4,350 warriors. Williams was a keyheavy equipment operator, built up dirtberm around the south perimeter, pro-viding needed force protection. He led

the heavy equipment shop in construc-tion of personal living quarters inside theirhardened facility.

Williams is mission focused. Heevcatated 100K cubic yards eastside oftaxiway Alpha, enabling C-17 aircraft tosafely transit. He completed his 5-leveltraining at KRAB while working morethan 72 hours a week. Master Sgt. David Dickson

Staff Sgt. Robert Mussyal Jr.

Senior Airman Timothy Williams

507th ARW names Annual Winners for 2007

PAGE 5MARCH 2008 “Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

KUDOS

970th AACS picks 4th Quarter winnersMaster Sgt. Frank Deitchman, Tech.

Sgt. Angela Collins, and Senior AirmanRenee Witten were selected as SeniorNCO, NCO and Airman of the Quarterfor the 970th AACS for October throughDecember 2007.

Master Sgt. Frank Deitchman,NCOIC of the 513th Standards andEvaluations Section, was promotedto the position during tumultuous unitreorganization. His steady leadershipand all-encompassing stan/eval knowl-edge served as the bedrock to buildunit continuity.

Sergeant Deitchman developedprocess books for squadron publi-cation monitors to ensure all flightpubs are posted correctly. His inno-vative program resulted in zero dis-crepancies in section fly-away kitsduring the 10th AF staff assistancevisit.

Deitchman sharpened his leader-ship skills by attending the SeniorNCO Leadersh ip DevelopmentCourse at Carswell Joint ReserveBase.

Tech. Sgt. Angela Collins, anevaluator airborne surveillance tech-

Senior Airman Renee WittenMaster Sgt. Frank Deitchman

Tech Sgt. Angela Collins

nician, served as a standards andevaluations section augmentee andwas instrumental in the success ofthe 513th ACG higher headquartersstan/eval staff assistance visit. Shesingle-handedly reviewed all vol-umes of the FCIF library, ensured10th AF compliance with zero dis-

crepancies. Collins attended theprestigious University of OklahomaCollege of Nursing program, com-pleting 16 hours with a 4.0 gradepoint average. She served as classpresident and organized communityservice projects and addressed stu-dent/faculty issues as a liaison. Shespearheaded the 970th AACS par-ticipation in the Tinker AFB AirmanAgainst Drunk Driving (A2D2) pro-gram, which provided 600 free, safeand confidential rides home in 2007.Sergeant Collins volunteered 12

hours monthly in a nationally spon-sored health education and aware-ness program and she instructed alocal elementary school with a pre-sentation on healthy living habits.

Senior Airman Renee Witten,an information manager with the970th AACS, is the type person whotakes initiative and was proactive inbecoming the unit training assemblyparticipation monitor for the unit.She also aggressively completed herCDC requirements well ahead ofschedule. Witten volunteered to

support the squadron’s orderly roomin performing personnel specialistfunctions. She routed numerousOPR and EPRs to individuals forreview and signatures. She is anactive participant of both the Re-serve Enlisted Advisory Council andHuman Resource DevelopmentCouncil.

PAGE 6 MARCH 2008“Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

On-final 1ST ASF

Airfield inspections in AntarctiaBy Dale Hopper, FAA

And Lt. Col. Rich Curry, 507th ARW

Spending 18 days in a frozen tundra where subzero tem-peratures are common may not strike most as an ideal vaca-tion, but for Master Sgts. Lori Pink and Kirk Babcock fromthe 1st Aviation Standardization Flight, it proved to be a life-

time opportunity. These Air Force reservists from the 507th Air Refueling

Wing traveled to Antarctica to conduct airfield inspections. The mission of the 1st Aviation Standards Flight is to per-

form flight inspections of navigational-aid radar and instru-ment procedures at military and civilian installations in theUnited States and overseas. Working in tandem with the Fed-eral Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight operates fromthe Will Rogers International World Airport, Oklahoma City,and augments the Air Force Flight Standards Agency De-tachment 1, the on-site active-duty unit.

Each year roughly 11 people from the FAA travel toAntarctica to inspect the four airfields located there (includ-ing the one at the pole), making sure they are safe for use byC-130s, C-17s and helicopters ferrying supplies and thousandsof scientists with the National Science Foundation. The re-servists traveled as part of this year’s effort.

Getting there was the first hurdle the reservists faced.Sergeant Pink said she departed Oklahoma City on Oct. 11.

After arriving at Christchurch, New Zealand, the team is is-sued survival gear. After a brief delay, Sergeant Pink said theteam arrived on the continent Oct. 16. They spent 7 ½ hourspacked with cargo on the flight to McMurdo.

McMurdo Station is Antarctica’s largest community. It isbuilt on the bare volcanic rock of Hut Point Peninsula on RossIsland, the farthest south solid ground that is accessible byship. Established in 1956, it has grown from an outpost of afew buildings to a complex logistics staging facility of morethan 100 structures including a harbor, an outlying airport(Williams Field) with landing strips on sea ice and shelf ice,and a helicopter pad.

The station accommodates 1200 people in summer and200 in winter. The station covers nearly 1.5 sq. mi. (4 sq.km.)between Hut Point and Observation Hill. There are above-ground water, sewer, telephone, and power lines linking build-ings.

“Kirk and I were both on the ice,” Sergeant Pink said.“The starkness was beautiful. I was able to experience 24-hours of sunlight and see the bluest ice I’ve ever seen. I wasamazed at how dry it was there.”

One of the airfields, appropriately called Ice Runway, isbuilt on sea ice about 7 feet thick, said Sergeant Babcock.Babcock is an Air Force reservist as well as an FAA em-ployee who usually works in the Battle Creek, Mich., flightinspection field office as a mission specialist. But for the lastsix years he has temporarily relocated to McMurdo Air Sta-

Master Sgt. Kirk Babcock stands beside one of themany specially outfitted trucks used to transportthose stationed at McMurdo. Note the track usedfor front wheels.

Two FAA members operate the theodoliteequipment in Antarctica. This equipmenttransmits an aircraft position correction signal tothe “ice box” in the C-130 aircraft.

1ST ASF

PAGE 7MARCH 2008 “Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

Airfield inspections in Antarctiation for duty inAnta rc t i ca .This year,Babcock ledthe ATO flighti n s p e c t i o nteam of 11.

Ice Run-way doesn’tlast the wholes u m m e r ,Babcock said.By the end ofthe season itmelts backinto a shippinglane.

The otherairfields – Pe-gasus and Wil-liams – arerebuilt on iceover land each

year by the Department of Defense for the NSF. The ice –carrying navaids and control towers – moves about 30 feetduring the season, said Mike Ryder, an aviation systems in-spection pilot, who has done tours in Antarctica and now servesas team liaison.

That’s not a safety problem because the facilities andrunways (about 10,000 feet long and 220 feet wide) keeptheir relative positions, he said.

Once there, the team splits into two crews to take maxi-mum advantage of 24 hours of sunlight. The flight inspectorscheck the airfields similar to the way they check U.S. AirForce bases around the world, Babcock said. ATO pilots, mis-sion specialists and avionics technicians pack a specially pre-pared “ice box” into a military plane and fly different ap-proaches.

The 12-by-12-foot box is loaded with avionics used toadjust radar, precision approach landings, reporting points andto ultimately certify the airfield. The box is shipped by boat amonth before the crews get there. The crews also use heli-copters to inspect Global Positioning System procedures. Withthe airfields so close to the South Pole, normal compass andlongitude references aren’t effective, so navigation is doneusing a grid pattern.

“I was there for logistics and administrative support,”Sergeant Pink said. “Some of my duties were to take care of

paperwork between the National Science Foundation (NSF),the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), and the FAA;coordinate Information Technology needs for the team; workwith McMurdo Fixed-Wing scheduler with daily aircrew mani-fests and takeoff times; work the flight schedule in the FAA’sFlight Operations Management System; and prepare a dailysummary of mission accomplishments and flight inspectionstatus,” she said.

Babcock said he enjoyed spending time with the scientistsduring his stay.

“The ozone layer, greenhouse gases, most of the researchis done down here,” he said by phone during his tour. “Everynight after dinner a different scientist will speak about theirproject. You can ask questions right to the people doing theresearch. These are the people that write the books.”

Both reservists agree that the continent’s extreme tem-peratures can be a problem for ATO personnel. At the polethe temperature regularly drops to 50 degrees below zero.

“I have a new respect for early explorers who survivedunder the harsh conditions with so little food and appropriateshelter and clothing. I found McMurdo to be similar to asmall town in that you work hard, long hours and create funand entertainment with what you have available,” SergeantPink said.

But for all the adventure packed into a few weeks,

Babcock said he was ready when it came time to leave thecontinent.

“One of my favorite things is when we arrive in NewZealand – to smell moisture and see vegetation,” he said.

Master Sgt. Lori Pink, right, met withNBC reporter Ann Curry during hertrip. NBC did a special news reporton scientific research beingconducted on the continent while thereservists were there certifyingrunway landing systems.

An October day at McMurdo Station. The ScienceSupport Center is the large building on the left.

PAGE 8 MARCH 2008

On-final513th ACG NEWS

By Col. John Trnka

513th ACGCommander

Take care of yourselfand each other

It’s not quite “my dog ate my homework,” but I have aperfect excuse this month if this column sucks: Pain killers,aka Happy Pills. The reason I’m on Happy Pills at the mo-ment has made me think about a few things. Last week, Iwas in D.C. for a conference. Freezing drizzle, an unevensidewalk, walking faster than a snail jogs and, bam! Down Iwent. After two visits, almost six hours with some of America’sfinest medical professionals and the verdict’s in: “Yourshoulder’s messed up.” Thanks; knew that. But at least theygave me the happy pills.

Now, I know, most of you wouldn’t care less about myshoulder, except for one fact, I’m part of this unit, I’m part ofthis team. I’ve missed several days of work, missed meetingsand other obligations over something trivial – I fell on the freak-ing sidewalk. As a result, I haven’t been here for the team. Thisleads in nicely to the theme of this month’s column.

We are a team, equal in importance and responsibility. Iwon’t lie; some jobs are more visible, more glamorous, evenmore fun, but nothing happens without all of us. The unique-ness and diversity we bring matter as much as those thingsthat unify us. Next time you drive to drill, take a look at themix of countries (Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Germany,Turkey, just to name a few) and sister services working to-gether for the same cause here on Tinker. How about this,AWACS are flown, in some variation or another, by five dif-

ferent countries and NATO, representing 14 more nations.There are 19 nations involved in AWACS operations, manyof them very different from each other. These differencesstrengthen team AWACS. The same thing happens in thisunit; we all bring a unique perspective to our job.

The U.S. Air Force is an amazing organization. In Penta-gon-speak, (sorry, remember I was in Washington) our mis-sion is to “Deliver sovereign options for the defense of theUnited States of America and its global interests in Air, Spaceand Cyberspace.” The Air Force can rain death and destruc-tion down on the heads of our enemies, but it can also keep asick baby alive, flying from half way around the world to ahospital in Maryland or Texas, bring food and shelter to earth-quake victims and tsunami survivors, fight forest fires andprovide a heck of an airshow. The diversity of the mission isdwarfed by the diversity of the people who make it happen.Airmen, NCOs and officers – together - provide our leaderswith the tools to produce airpower that provides persistentand unblinking, lethal power never seen before.

The problem is, we are also fragile. I was out of work fordays, and I’m out of the flying game for a whole lot longerbecause of one slip, nothing careless or reckless or stupid.Too often though, we’re losing people because they have beencareless, reckless, or frankly, stupid. I spoke with one of themotorcycle safety instructors the other day. He said the av-erage serious injury they have is people popping wheelies –an active duty captain was killed not long ago doing a wheelieat 104 miles an hour. With all due respect to the dead – thatwas just dumb. You are a critical part of the 513th Air Con-trol Group Team, to the Air Force team, whether you’ve beenhere for two months or 10 years, your service is vital to thesuccess of our mission. More important, you’re part of a family,a circle of friends, and a community. Take care of yourself,take care of each other. Thanks for being here. Thanks forbeing a part of the 513th.

Members of the 970th Airborne Air ControlSquadron deployed to NAS Key West Jan. 19 –Feb. 1 for two weeks of annual tour. Duringthis time frame they supported F-18 trainingmissions from the Naval Air Warfare Center’sTop Gun School as well as F-16 trainingmissions from the 93rdfighter squadron atHomestead AFB. In addition to trainingmissions, the crew provided a tour of the E-3Sentry AWACS to the local Brownie troop at NASKey West. The girls - ages 5 to 6 (as well asone 3 year old little sister) - had the opportunityto see the inside of the AWACS and askquestions about military reservists and theirservice to the country.

TRAINING PLANNER A1

FY 2008 UTA SCHEDULE

01-02 Mar 08 05-06 Apr 08 03-04 May 08

07-08 Jun 08 12-13 Jul 08 02-03 Aug 08 06-07 Sept 08

As of 25 February 2008

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AFRC NCO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE

The succcess of the Air Force Reserve NCO corps depends on their ability to applyleadership and management skills learned primarily in a civilian setting to a military environ-ment. Not all of today’s mid-level NCOs have extensive first-hand supervisory experi-ence in a reserve environment; therefore, the instruction in this course is intendedto improve the students’ military supervisor capabilities and understanding oftheir positions as related to the USAFR. We focus on individual improvement whichis ultimately the real source of organizational excellence and success. See your unittraining manager for upcoming 9-20 June class.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAMILY CAREIf you need to be on the Family Care Plan, notify your first sergeant ASAP - IAW AFI 36-2908. Single parents and dual military couples with children must have a Family Care Plancompleted within 90 days of in-processing or family status change. VIRTUAL MPF1. Address Changes - You no longer have to go to 4 different screens/areas toupdate your address!!!2. Point Summarys - Point Summarys can also be viewed and printed.3. Record Review RIPS - You will now be notified via e-mail, on your birthday, tolog on to vMPF to review your RIP.4. Awards and decorations - You can also get a picture display of your awards anddecorations.

HOT TOPICS : All testing (paper and computer) must bescheduled by sending an e-mail to507.msf.dpmt@tinker.af.mil with the time anddate that you would like to test and include thecourse number.Paper testing on the UTA is only available at0750 on Sunday of the main UTA and is in Bldg.1030 (Hangar) Room 214.Computer-based testing on the UTA isavailable on Sunday at 0800 and 1300 in Bldg.1030 (Hangar) in Room 214.Please schedule all tests NLT 1500 on Fridaybefore the UTA. If you are unable to keep thescheduled time please e-mail the training officeor call 734-7075 prior to scheduled testing time.All testing is also available on Wednesdays at0800 and 1300 and Thursdays at 1300.NOTE: If you are retaking a test, you mustbring the authorization letter with you or youwill not be allowed to test.

EDUCATION REMINDER:This is just to remind everyone who wishes to

update their Education Records, officer and enlisted,that we need OFFICIAL transcripts to send oraccomplish any updates. This means that itCANNOT say "ISSUED TO STUDENT." Youmay have the college/university send it, we canrequest it, or you may bring it in as long as it is in asealed envelope with a SEAL on the flap AND itdoes not say "ISSUED TO STUDENT."

Pass and ID Hours of Operation: 0800 -1200 on Saturdays of the UTA. IEU open from 1200-1500 on Saturdayof the main UTA.

Nomination packages for AMN, NCO, or SNCOof the quarter are submitted quarterly. Packagesare due by 1400, on Saturday of the UTA after theend of the quarter. (Apr, Jul, Oct, Jan)

FREE COLLEGE TESTINGAir Force Reserve members, spouses and civilian employees may take DANTESSubject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) or College-Level Examinations Program(CLEP) or Excelsior College Examinations (ECE) FREE! (Military Only forExcelsior examinations). These examinations test college-level knowledge you mayhave gained through your job, reading, travel, or hobbies. You must test at yourReserve DANTES approved test center. Testing at another DANTES test centerwill be on a case-by-case basis. The third Tuesday of each month at 0800 has beenset aside for testing. You must call us four weeks prior to test date to ensure we willhave your test. For more information contact Chief Master Sgt. Sharlotte Eppsin the MPF Education and Training Office at 734-7075.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY PAY (FLPP)Reservists may apply for FLPP by submitting a written request for FLPP testing tohis/her commander. FLPP I requires you to be on a tour of duty that requires thelanguage. FLPP II will pay based on active duty days or IDT periods performed.Spanish and Tagalog speakers are not entitled to FLPP II. If you are proficient at aforeign language and are interested in this program please contact Chief Master Sgt.Sharlotte Epps or Master Sgt. Sharon Lochman in the MPF Education Office at 734-7075 for instructions on how to apply for FLPP.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TUITION ASSISTANCEReserve members are eligible to apply for TA for Distance Learning and In-Residencecourses to further their education up to a Master's Degree. The basic enrollment requirements are that you must: Be a participating member in good standing (no UIF, Article 15, etc.). Retainability: Officers - two years; Enlisted - ETS after course completion. Enrollment form must show course number/title, credit hours and cost of tuition.Complete TA forms in our office PRIOR to class start date.Payment occurs after satisfactory course completion. You must provide a paid receiptand your grade NLT 60 days after course completion. TA reimbursement amountsare set at 75 percent ($4500) per FY (Masters) or 100 percent ($4500) per FY (Bach-elors). For more information contact Chief Master Sgt. Sharlotte Epps or Ms. KimSilkwood in the MPF Education and Training Office at 734-7075.

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MARCH TRAINING PLANNER A3

Editor: Chief Master Sgt. Sharlotte A. Epps, Chief, Education & Training (ART)Assistant Editor: Master Sgt. Sharon Lochman, Asst. Chief, Education & Training (ART)

If you need assistance or have suggestions on how we can improve our service to you, please call us at (405) 734-7075, or stop by our office in Building 1043, Room 213.

Ethics Briefing:All reserve personnel are required tohave the DOD Ethics Briefing within 90days of reporting for duty. This briefingis held in conjunction with the UCMJbriefing during Phase II of the monthlyNewcomers Ancillary Training at 0830on Sunday of the UTA in Bldg 1043, WingTraining Room.

UCMJ Briefing:All enlisted personnel are required to havethe UCMJ briefing within two UTAs of theirfirst reenlistment. This briefing is heldduring Phase II of the monthlyNewcomers Ancillary Training at 0830 onSunday of the UTA in Bldg 1043, WingTraining Room.

Newcomers Ancillary Training

BAQ RecertificationDeadlines

If Last Then Forward Recertifica-Digit of Listing to Unit tion due inSSAN is: Commander in: by end of

month in: 1 November January 2 December February 3 January March 4 February April 5 March May 6 April June 7 May July 8 June August 9 July September 0 August October

Disaster Preparedness:Unit Training Managers must scheduleChemical Warfare Training, by name, atleast one UTA prior to the requesteddates by calling CEX at 734-5249. Allpersonnel must bring a complete trainingground crew ensemble (GCE) includingthe mask and its hood to all classes.Those attending Initial must be preparedto process through a tear agent chamber.Wear of contacts is prohibited in allclasses. Anyone arriving late, without acomplete GCE with mask, or wearingcontacts, will be released back to theirunit and reported as a no-show.Drug Testing: You must reportwithin two hours of notification.

OCCUPATIONAL SURVEYSThese surveys provide information essential for developing personnel programs, classifyingoccupations, and developing trainning programs. The Wing Survey Control Monitor (SCM)works with the Unit Training Manager (UTM) to ensure surveys are completed. AFI 36-2623,paragraph 2.7 makes completion of these surveys mandatory for all Air Force Reservemembers. It is extremely important these surveys are completed by the suspense date. If youhave any questions, contact Ms. Kim Silkwood or Tech Sgt. Jeremy Hudson at 734-7075 oryour UTM.

Military PayFile for Receive Direct

pay by: Deposit by:28 Feb 07 Mar04 Mar 12 Mar06 Mar 14 Mar11 Mar 17 Mar13 Mar 21 Mar18 Mar 26 Mar20 Mar 28 Mar24 Mar 01 Apr27 Mar 04 Apr01 Apr 09 Apr03 Apr 11 Apr0 Apr 15 Apr

Military Pay (405) 734-5016

Newcomers Ancillary Training Phase I & II are conducted monthly in Bldg 1043, WingTraining Room in basement. Unit/Ancillary Training Managers are responsible for en-suring their new personnel are scheduled to attend within 90 days of their first UTA. If youhave questions, contact the MPF Education & Training Office at 734-7075.

Day Time Subject OPRSaturday 1315-1430 Drug and Alcohol, Suicide/

Workplace Violence Prevention SGSaturday 1430-1500 Local Conditions/ORM SESaturday 1500-1530 OPSEC Training OG

Day Time Subject OPRSunday 0800-0815 Base Populace CEXSunday 0815-0830 IG Briefing IGSunday 0830-1000 UCMJ/Ethics JASunday 1000-1030 Counter Intel/Awareness SFSunday 1030-1100 Human Relations ME

**New MPF Hours**Saturday UTA

Open at 0800 - 1600, except forfollowing closures:

1300-1330 - Employments/Reloca-tions

1400-1430 - Career Enhancements1500-1530 - Customer Service

Sunday UTAOpen at 1130 - 1600

Contributing Editors:Tech. Sgt. Jimmy Talley, Education and Training Advisor Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Hudson, Education and Training Advisor (ART)Tech. Sgt. Stacy Morton, Education and Training Advisor Senior Airman Elvira Munoz, Education and Training Advisor

Ms. Kimberley Silkwood, Testing and Education Advisor (Civilian)

PAGE A4 MARCH 2008“Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

On-final UNIT NEWS

Touching the pastby Maj. Walter Jacques

513th AMXS

The past is coming to life at the 513th AMXS at TinkerAFB, OK. Since May of 2007, Senior Master Sgt. Jef-frey Minto, Specialist Flight chief for the squadron, hasbeen tracing the unit’s roots and compiling a presentationfor posterity.

“My main interest at this point is the history of the (513th)Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS),” said Minto, whowill start researching the 513th Maintenance Squadron(MXS) in the near future.

The 513th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron performs on-equipment maintenance for E-3 Sentry aircraft flown byboth the 513th Air Control Group operators and their ac-tive-duty counterparts in the 552nd Air Control Wing.

The unit designation for the 513th goes back to the 513th

Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS) at RAF

Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Minto of the 513th AircraftMaintenance Squadron displays one of the piecesin his squadron history research project.

Mildenhall, England. “It came into existence when the C-130 mission rolled there on July 1, 1972,” says Minto.

Delving further into the unit’s past, Sergeant Minto hasuncovered a World War II connection. Researching cluesfrom the unit’s history lead him to contact a former mem-ber of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Honor-able John Paul Hammerschmidt, who served 13 terms inthe House under six presidents, flew 217 combat missions“Over the Hump” during the China-Burma-India conflictof World War II, when the 513th existed as the Third Com-bat Cargo Group.

Soon, visitors to the 513th Maintenance Complex willbe able to see the fruits of Sergeant Minto’s labors hang-ing in their assembly area, providing a bridge from themodern-day E-3 mission to its predecessors throughouthistory and into the future.

Feb. 1 Promotions

Name Promoted to Unit

Allen Hockenbroch Staff Sgt 507th MXSShaun Eickson Staff Sgt 507th LSJesusa Mehalick AIC 507th MOFTavis Fowler Tech Sgt 507th MXSJeffery Holdridge Staff Sgt 507th MXSMichael Hise Senior Airman 72nd APSJames Courtney Master Sgt 507th SFSJames Harrison Tech Sgt 507th SFSDavid Smith Airman 507th SFSRuth Diaz Staff Sgt 507th OSFWilliam Ficinus Tech Sgt 513th AMXSTamila Metzger Senior Airman 513th MXSEric Miller Senior Airman 513th MXSIndira Veitch Tech Sgt 507th MSF

PAGE 9MARCH 2008 “Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

CAREER TIPS, PART 2

Tips offered to manage civil service careersBy Michelle Macfarlane

72 MSS/DPCST

Even if you are a full-time civil ser-vice employee, it is also a good idea togo out to http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/and fill out an online resume there.Internal and external vacancies fromall government agencies such asthe FAA, DOD, Dept of Army,Dept of Agriculture, Veterans Ad-ministration, etc. are advertisedthere.

Be aware that the sorting cri-teria for qualifying for a civilianvacancy are: 1.) Best qualifyingskill codes; 2.) Appraisals; 3.)Awards, and 4.) Service Compdate (final tie breaker). It’s im-portant to ensure your resumefully states all your work experi-ence.

For those seeking first time employ-ment they should log onto https://ww2.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb/newemp.htm to view new employmentopportunities. At this location you willbe able to learn more about this pro-gram and review the Frequently AskedQuestions (FAQ) and review the AirForce Job Kit.

If you are a student seeking em-ployment try logging onto <https://ww2.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb/stu-dent/students.htm> to learn moreabout this extremely successful pro-gram.

Just remember to follow the three-step process when pursuing your civilservice career: Submit a Resume,Search Job Vacancies, and Self Nomi-nate.

Submit a Resume:With the exception of DEU an-

nouncements, the Air Force requireyour resume and supplemental data be“pre-positioned” or on file and active

at AFPC before you can self nominate(apply) for positions. For DEU (Del-egated Examining) announcements,you may self-nominate at the sametime you submit your first resume byincluding the announcement number on

the supplemental data sheet. There-fore, submit a properly formatted re-sume and supplemental data as soonas possible.

There are three ways to submit aresume, either via the Air Force on-line Resume Writer, via e-mail, or di-rect mail.

When using the Air Force on-lineResume Writer, it is recommendedthat you prepare your resume andsupplemental data electronically usingthe Air Force Resume Writer. TheResume Writer is user friendly andserves as a template for a properlyformatted resume. To use the ResumeWriter go to: <https://ww2.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb/re-sume/resume.htm>

When submitting via e-mail, pre-pare your resume and supplementaldata using the instructions provided inthe Air Force Job Kit. Insert your re-sume in the body of the e-mail and sendto EXT.Resume@randolph.af.mil. Donot send your resume as an attachment.

When using regular mail, prepare

your resume and supplemental data us-ing the instructions provided in the AirForce Job Kit. Then mail a hardcopyto:HQ AFPC/DPCFR

Attn: Recruitment Service Center550 C Street West, Suite 57Randolph AFB TX 78150-4759

Search job vacanciesYou can search job vacancies

on-line or by phone:Access the Air Force Employ-

ment job search on line at https://w w 2 . a f p c . r a n d o l p h . a f . m i l / /resweb/search_by_state_nlo.asp ,or call the Air Force Job Line (In-teractive Voice Response Sys-tem-IVRS) at 1-800-699-4473(local calls, 210-527-2377) Tele-communications Device for the

Deaf (TDD) 1-800-382-0893 (Localcalls, 210-565-2276 or 565-2928).

Self NominateYou can self-nominate for positions

by accessing the Employment Websiteor by calling the Job Line number pro-vided above. Be sure to self-nomi-nate prior to the closing date of theannouncement.

The first time you attempt to self-nominate, you will be instructed tochange your Personal IdentificationNumber (PIN), which will be automati-cally set to the last four digits of yourhome telephone number. Keep yournew PIN handy for future reference.You’ll also need to reference the an-nouncement number of each vacancyfor which you wish to be considered.

PAGE 10 MARCH 2008“Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

On-final MRE

By Lt. Col. Rich Curry

Ah, the unsung, lowly MRE. It’s so much more than daily suste-

nance: the myths and facts of our mealsready to eat are woven into the veryfabric of our military way of life.

Here are a few bits of informationabout MREs you probably don’t know.

By Any Other Name: Introduced in the military in the

1980s to replace C-rations, some of theearly MRE meals were not very palat-able. Some of the most notable of thesereceived nicknames names like “Mr. E”(mystery), “Meals Rejected by Every-one”, “Meals, Rarely Edible”, “MealsRejected by the Enemy”, and even“Meals Rejected by Ethiopians.” Someindividual meals received their own per-sonal nicknames. For example, the frank-furters, which came sealed in pouchesof four, were referred to as “the fourfingers of death.”

While MRE quality has greatly im-proved over the years, many of the earlynicknames still stick. MREs are oftencalled “Three Lies for the Price of One”- it’s not a Meal, it’s not Ready, and youcan’t Eat it. It is rumored they were origi-nally to be called MNR for “Meals….No,Really!!!

Here’s a few trivia MRE bits of in-formation you may not realize:

It’s more than just Hot and Spicy:· Since 1993, an individual jar of

Tabasco sauce has been included in eachMRE.

· Cayenne is a main ingredient inTabasco. The capsaicin in cayenneblocks a chemical involved in the nervetransmission of pain.

· Cayenne is also rich in salicylates,natural aspirin-like compounds. Have aheadache and no aspirin? Massage abalm containing Tabasco into yourtemples.

· Your Tabasco sauce may be usedas a gargle for sore throats. The mostamazing and effective treatment is using10-20 drops of Tabasco sauce in a glassof warm water.

· Your Tabasco sauce may be usedto prepare a liniment for sore muscles.Capsaicin can dramatically reducechronic nerve pain. Studies have provenits usefulness for arthritis, shingles,trigeminal neuralgia, and diabetic neur-opathy. It appears to act by decreasingthe concentration of the primary chemi-cal used by nerve cells to transmit painsignals. Several weeks of regular usemay be required to achieve this effect.

· CAUTION: Cayenne pepper is anatural blood thinner. Do not take it be-fore surgery or dental treatment!

· In a bare base situation with mini-mal civil engineer support, your Tabascosauce may be used to create a home-made insect repellent to keep pests outof your tent.

MRE: The myths and factsOther MRE Trivia:· The thermal process used to cre-

ate an MRE can be likened to canningin a pouch. It protects entrees and fruits,Exposing the cooked meal to high heatand pressure kills any microorganismsthat cause mold and spoiling.

· Oxygen and moisture are two pri-mary factors in food spoilage. Protect-ing the meals from oxygen and mois-ture, the tri-laminate foil packaging is thesecret to the MRE’s shelf-life.

· Use a pinch of instant tea from yourMRE and apply it to your gums to helpeliminate canker sores.

· MREs have approximately 1300calories per meal with 55% of the en-ergy from carbohydrates, 35% from fatand 15% from protein.

· Packaging requirements are strict.MREs are designed to withstand para-chute drops from 1,250 feet and non-parachute drops of 100 feet.

· Each MRE weighs 380 to 510 g (13to 18 oz) depending on the menu.

· You can tell MREs were designed

MRE Design 2

MRE Design 1

MARCH 2008 “Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority” PAGE 11

MRE

· Given average conditions, a pack-age of Hostess Twinkies can survive inits cellophane wrapping without appre-ciable loss of flavor or freshness for upto 25 days. MREs are shelf stable for aminimum of 3 years at 80oF (26oC) and

a minimum of 6 months at 100oF (38oC).Twinkies are reputedly a great deal moreappetizing.

MREs receive makeoverBeginning this year, Meals Ready to

Eat will be sporting a new package de-sign.

MREs (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) werefirst introduced for use in the US mili-tary in 1981. Since then, the originalsimple brown MRE bag has undergonetwo major and several minor updates.The first major update occurred in 1996and changed the color of the bag fromdark brown to a tan color and introducednew bag graphics.

In 2006, the US Army Natick Sol-dier RD&E Center began evaluating

MRE: The myths and factsby the Army. They include a pack ofmatches. Maybe they figured that wouldmake them a little lighter…

· The Flameless Ration Heater(FRH) was also added to the MRE in1993. It lets soldiers heat their meals inthe field. When soldiers add one ounceof water there is a reaction with themagnesium iron compound causing thewater to boil. The FRE will heat the en-tree of an MRE by raising the tempera-ture of the 8-ounce entree by 100 F in12 minutes. The heating process pro-duces no toxic chemical byproducts.

· FRH MRE heaters are approxi-mately the shape and size of a playingcard, weigh less than one ounce, and areeasy to store, and have a 5 year shelf-life.

· FRHs are made from powderedfood grade iron, magnesium, and salt, allbiodegradable materials. Spent heaterpads contain no toxic materials, and areeasily disposed in the trash...just drainthe water off first.

· Chemicals and preservatives are notused to extend the shelf life of the MRE

· Offering soldiers a taste of home,commercial items such as M&Ms andgranola bars have been incorporated intothe MRE. Ethnic foods and vegetarianmeals have also become more popular.

· MRE menus are designed usingfeedback from soldiers in field. Surveysare conducted several times each year.As a result of customer feedback, over50 new items have been included andapproximately 12 items have been dis-continued since 1993. Today there are24 menus available.

· MREs meet the military recom-mended daily allowance (RDA) guide-lines established by the surgeon general.Developed for a healthy and extremelyactive population, the military RDA ishigher in calories and protein require-ments.

new graphic designs for the MRE bags.They started off with 18 new designsand weeded that list down to 9 designs.Further review brought the list down to5 designs. Those designs were then“field tested” with soldiers to see whichones they preferred.

Each year, the Defense Supply Cen-ter, Philadelphia (DSCP) publishes anew set of specifications for the pro-duction and packaging of MREs. Thesespecs are called “Assembly ContractRequirements” or ACRs. Inside eachACR is a design of how the MRE bag issupposed to look. While color codes andspacing are specified, exact fonts to beused are not.

The three best graphic designs werefinally approved and specified in the2008 ACR for future MRE bags. Eachdesign will be used to showcase severalofferings in the 24 meal series. Design#1 will be used on menus 1-4 and 13-16. Design #2 will be used on menus 5-8 and 17-20. Design #3 will be used formenus 9-12, 21-24.

Previous changes to MRE bag de-sign include:

1981 - Original MRE bag introduced1988 - Large menu numbers added

to the sides of the MRE bags1995 - Last year the dark brown

MRE bags used1996 - New tan bags, fonts, and

graphics introduced2001 - Two notices added to the bags:

“U.S. Government Property” and “Com-mercial Resale Is Unlawful”

2003 - New notice added to the bags:“Flameless Ration Heaters Are Prohib-ited On Commercial Airlines UnlessSealed In Original MRE Menu Bag”

2007 - Last year for the old graphics2008 - Three new graphic designs

introduced for MRE bags. Bag colorremains tan.

PAGE 12 MARCH 2008“Readiness Is OUR Number One Priority”

R-News

Midwest City, OKTech. Sgt. Melissa Melichar(405) 733-9403

Tinker AFB, OK(In-Service Recruiter)Tech Sgt. Neil Lambrecht (405) 739-2980

Tulsa, OKTech Sgt. Bill Joseph (918) 250-3400

McConnell AFB, KSSr. Master Sgt. David McCormick (316) 759-3830Master Sgt. Stephan Kimbrough(In-Service Recruiter) (316) 759-3766Staff Sgt. Jason Sommers (316) 681-2522

Altus, OKMaster. Sgt. Ronald Gregory(580) 481-5123

Moore, Norman, OKStaff Sgt. Jackie Harris (405) 217-8311

Vance AFB, OKMaster Sgt. Stephan Kimbrough(316) 759-3766

http://get1now.us507th ARW recruiters

CCAF awareness training offered

Part

ing

shot

Capt. Michelle Billeter, 507th MDS, instructs a unit member during the hands-on portionof the Self Aid and Buddy Care course. The hands-on portion must be completed as wellas the on-line course for complete credit of the course.

One of your most valuable benefits in the Air Force Reserve isaccess to outstanding higher education opportunities.

One such opportunity, the Community College of the Air Force(CCAF) is a fully accredited college headquartered at Air Univer-sity, Maxwell AFB, AL. CCAF offers 67 different associate de-grees in five general areas of study. The student earns an associatedegree after completing just 64 semester hours including 24 hoursof technical training in his/her career field. Next, the student canuse these credits at accredited four- year institutions to earn a bac-calaureate degree either through a traditional campus setting or dis-tance learning.

To further awareness of CCAF programs the 507th HumanResource Development Council (HRDC) has initiated a programto mentor all newly awarded journeyman (5-level qualification) onCCAF. The point of contact for this initiative will be the 507 wingtraining office who will set up appointments with each individual ona one-on-one basis. All Airmen are strongly encouraged to takeadvantage of the knowledge and experience of our education spe-cialists to maximize your educational experience.