REPORTERTOBYHANNA Permit No. 50

First ClassU.S. Postage Paid

Tobyhanna, PA 18466

VOL. 52, NO. 1 TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, TOBYHANNA, PA. (WWW.TOBYHANNA.ARMY.MIL) JANUARY 8, 2008

NEWS NOTESRetirees meet for breakfast

The Tobyhanna Mount Pocono retirees will meet 9 a.m. on the fi rst Tuesday of odd numbered months at the Pioneer Diner in Mt. Pocono. Meetings will be held on Jan 8, March 4, July 1, Sept. 2 and Nov. 4. All Tobyhanna retirees are welcome. For more information, contact Tom Shea, 839-6355.

The Tobyhanna Taylor retirees will meet 8-10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the Family Affair Restaurant, Main St., Taylor. Meetings will be held on Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, and Dec. 17. For more information, contact Bernie Petrasek, bjpetra@juno.com.

MLK Prayer Breakfast setThe 2008 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Prayer Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Serving lines will open at the Post Restaurant at 6:30 a.m., and the program will begin at 7:00 a.m. Tickets are available in the EEO offi ce, for $5.

AUSA plans next luncheonThe Tobyhanna chapter of the

Association of the United States Army (AUSA) general membership luncheon will be held Jan. 23, 11:30 a.m., at The Landing.

The guest speaker is Dr. Richard Wittstruck, chief systems engineer for the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Offi ce for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. His presentation is titled “Quick Reaction Capabilities: The Logistics Challenge.”

The buffet lunch features stuffed chicken breast, Stan’s Roast Porketta, garlic roasted red potatoes, tangerine–glazed baby carrots, almond chocolate chip pound cake and salad. Beverages will also be served.

Tickets are $10 and must be purchased by Jan. 18. For tickets, contact a directorate offi ce. All tickets purchased with the Jan. 15 date will be honored. Military members contact Alecia Grady, 895–7069. For further information, contact James Mangino, 895–7886.

Page 3 Page 4

Soldiers get a taste of home

IRS announces change Around the Depot

Page 5

An Air Force Air Battle Manager has seen fi rst hand depot support of a key system in air and ground support coordination.

Capt. Dan Johnson, a member of the 729th Air Control Squadron, toured Tobyhanna Army Depot on Dec. 27 to see the support provided to the AN/TPS-75 radar. The 729th is based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

“I’ve had four tours in Southwest Asia in four different locations,” he said. “I used the TPS-75 during my last tour.”

Johnson’s missions were to help manage the air war during Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in 2002 and close

air support for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007.

“The TPS-75 is the primary tool in executing these missions, along with radios,” Johnson said. “We use it for air traffi c control, coordinating all military aircraft, from fi ghters to tankers.”

Air Battle Managers operate jointly with the Army and Marine Corps, coordinating Air Force fi ghters, Army helicopters and Marine Corps Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Johnson described the experience as similar to fi ghting a war over O’Hare Airport in Chicago due to the large amount of coordinating and organization needed for smooth operations.

He said that the radars performed well and had a 99.8 percent operational rate for

his units, which depend on the TPS-75. He said he knew the radars are refurbished at Tobyhanna through his stepfather, Michael Jones. Jones is the chief of the depot’s C3/Avionics Directorate’s Transponder Branch.

“We had discussed the TPS-75 because it has Identify Friend or Foe transponder capability, which is what we work on in my branch,” Jones explained.

“We used them even during adverse weather,” he said. “The systems worked very well due to Tobyhanna and the unit repair crews, so instead of dealing with equipment failures, we could deal with air control and coordinating ground support with the ground commanders.”

Paul Manarchuck, electronic integrated systems mechanic, explains the functions of an AN/TPS-75 Air Defense Surveillance Radar hot mock up to Capt. Dan Johnson, who toured depot facilities on Dec. 27. The hot mock up is used at the AN/TPS-75 Air Defense Surveillance Radar Test Facility. Johnson, an air battle manager, used the TPS-75 radar while on duty in Southwest Asia. (Photo by Anthony Ricchiazzi)

Battle manager counts on depot radar

See TPS-75 on Page 6

by Anthony RicchiazziEditor

TOBYHANNA REPORTER JANUARY 8, 20082

TOBYHANNA REPORTERCommander, Col. Ron Alberto Public Affairs Offi cer, Kevin M. ToolanEditor, Anthony J. RicchiazziAssistant Editor, Jacqueline R. BoucherStaff Writer, Jennifer CaprioliPhotographers, Anthony S. Medici, Steve Grzezdzinski

PRINTED ON PARTIALLY RECYCLED PAPER.PLEASE RECYCLE AS OFFICE QUALITY PAPER.

TEAM TOBYHANNA

E X C E L L E N C E I N

E L E C T R O N I C S

The Tobyhanna Reporter is an authorized, biweekly publication for members of the Department of Defense.

Contents of the Tobyhanna Reporter are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. gov ernment, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Army. The 6,000 copies are printed by a private fi rm in no way connected with the U.S. government, under exclusive written contract with Tobyhanna Army Depot.

The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted for publication. News may be submitted to the Tobyhanna Reporter, Tobyhanna Army Depot, 11 Hap Arnold Boulevard, Tobyhanna, Pa., 18466-5076. (Internal Mail Stop 5076.) Telephone (570) 895-7557 or DISN 795-7557.

The Tobyhanna Reporter staff can also be reached by electronic mail using the following addresses:

Anthony.Ricchiazzi@us.army.milJacqueline.Boucher@us.army.mil

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

by Chaplain (Maj.) Philip Smiley

2008 has arrived, and with it an opportunity to review the past and plan for the future.

Traditionally, we start the New Year with resolutions to be better people, work harder, spend more time with the kids, make a bigger impact on the world, and a host of other things.

Unfortunately, most of these resolutions dissolve to dust by the end of January. How soon it seems we slip back into old habits, and continue on with life as it always was.

So how should we approach this new year? Should we give up on resolutions, or just try harder to keep them?

Maybe a different way of looking at things would help. Patti and I have recently married, and I thank God for a wonderful lady to share my life with (twice in one lifetime is a true miracle—God is good!).

But both of us have lots of stuff – possessions, pictures, memories and life experiences.

The process of sorting through all of this and melding what is “yours” and “mine” into what is “ours” is quite rewarding, but it can also be very traumatic. It requires a lot of understanding, patience, careful examination, and lots and lots of organization. But it can and must be done.

Otherwise, regardless of how large the house, it will be stacked to the rafters with stuff.

How much unnecessary baggage are you holding on to — things that weigh you down, occupy your time with no positive benefi t?

Maybe instead of making New Year’s resolutions we should examine how we live, what we have, and what we really don’t need to keep.

I have a habit of saving fi les “willy-nilly” to my computer desktop. As time goes by, my screen fi lls up with more and more icons, and as a result my computer runs slower and slower. Eventually I have to sit down and sort through all the fi les, saving the important ones and tossing out the unnecessary ones.

My computer runs faster after I do this. It makes me wonder why I don’t keep it organized daily instead of waiting until my computer comes to a screeching halt.

The hard part of sorting through what we have is putting the right value on each item. But this is essential as we determine what to save and what to keep. We should take the time to sort out our lives by keeping the good and tossing out what we don’t need.

The Apostle Paul refers to the believer’s faith experience as running a race. Listen to the words he chooses as he addresses his readers:

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me…” Philippians 3:13,14 (New International Version)

And fi nally, the author of Hebrews wraps up my point with these words:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1 New International Version).

It is vital that we keep what is important, but wean away what we don’t need, or what is actually harmful to us.

So, as you contemplate the new year and what you plan to do with it, evaluate what you have; let go of what you don’t need and keep what is really important. Make the most of this brand new year. And may it be the best one you’ve had so far.

Happy New Year. And may God bless every day of it for you.

Until next time!

Refl ections of the past, hope for the future

WASHINGTON—Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody announced plans to activate three new units in 2008, and other unit-stationing decisions to support the Army’s growth by up to 74,200 Soldiers, including 65,000 active-duty Soldiers, by 2010.

The stationing plans announced during a Dec. 19 Pentagon press conference include six infantry brigade combat teams, eight active-component support brigades and various-sized combat-support and combat-service-support units.

“The Army is undergoing the largest transformational change since 1942,” said Gen. Cody. “We’ve changed our doctrine. We’ve changed our organizational structure to the Army modular force. We’ve changed the active component and the reserve component, balancing between formations.

“We’ve changed modernization and reset programs, and at the same time, under BRAC 2005, we’re changing the footprint of our Army to make it more agile, more expeditionary, but also to place our formations and our Family members in camps and stations that have a higher quality

of life, a higher quality of training ranges so that we have the right formations so that we are training as we would fi ght.”

The stationing plan builds upon the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act, Gen. Cody said, and ensures growth capacity for not only the 74,200 Soldiers, but any future growth the Army might need. It considers power projection, so that rail, air and port systems will be able to move troops when needed.

The plan also accounts for training areas at each post, camp and station, from small-arms training to large maneuver-training areas. Most importantly, he said, the Army considered the quality of life for Soldiers and their Families, and is creating real communities at installations.

BRAC relocates the 1st Armored Division from Germany to Fort Bliss, Texas; and the 1st Infantry Div. to Fort Riley, Kan., and Fort Knox, Ky., by September 2011. Per the request of the European Command commander, the Army will activate two heavy brigade combat teams in Germany in 2008 and 2010 to support near-term theater security needs, and reduce stress on Soldiers and Families by allowing time for construction in the United States to support transformation, BRAC realignments and Army growth.

The Army is scheduled to increase its strength to 48 infantry brigade combat teams

by fi scal year 2011 by retaining, activating and converting three existing BCTs and growing three new BCTs at Fort Carson, Colo., Fort Bliss, and Fort Stewart, Ga. The two brigade combat teams stationed in Germany are tentatively scheduled to relocate to Fort Bliss

in fi scal year 2012 and White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in fi scal year 2013, respectively.

The Army also plans to activate eight active-component support brigades and

Army announces stationing decisions for new troopsby Elizabeth M. LorgeArmy News Service

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody announces the Army’s stationing decisions to support the president’s plan to grow the Army by 74,200 Soldiers during a Pentagon press conference. The plan includes six new brigade combat teams. (Photo by Petty Offi cer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess)

See ARMY on Page 3

JANUARY 8, 2008 TOBYHANNA REPORTER 3

On Nov. 5, 120 boxes of Girl Scout cookies were sent to Soldiers stationed in Iraq.

On Dec. 26, Nathan Thomas presented Girl Scout Troop 658 with a certifi cate and fl ag that was fl own on a vehicle during the war.

Members of Troop 658 show off cookie cases and boxes with personalized greetings before they are mailed to Soldiers in Iraq.

A local Girl Scout troop sent a little bit of home to Soldiers overseas.

On Nov. 5, Mike Corey mailed 10 cases of Girl Scout cookies to Soldiers stationed in Iraq. Corey is a lead information technology specialist in Information Management Directorate’s Systems and Application Design Division.

The 14 girls of Troop 658 met once a week, after school, spending six hours writing messages on boxes of cookies that were purchased and donated by local businesses. Each case of cookies contains 12 boxes, totaling 120 boxes. Their greetings included messages such as “Best Wishes,” “Thank You,” “God Bless You and Keep You Safe” and “You’re the Best.”

To show their gratitude, the Soldiers sent the girls pictures of themselves holding the boxes of cookies. “They were so excited to see that the Soldiers received the cookies,” says Corey. They also sent a fl ag that was fl own on a vehicle during the war. The fl ag was presented by Nathan Thomas to the girls of Troop 658 on Dec. 26 in the lobby of Building 11. Thomas is an intern with the Command Group.

The girls and Corey mailed another shipment on Dec. 17. “This time they sent ten boxes fi lled with Christmas ornaments, cookies, candy, toys, toothpaste, mouthwash, foot powder and lotion, anything to remind them of home” says Botke. “The girls also made over 80 holiday cards to be distributed to the Soldiers.” It took the girls four hours to prepare the packages

and they shipped three more cases of cookies that day.Botke and Corey both agree that it was important for the

girls to participate in this opportunity. As a youth, Corey participated in similar opportunities during the Vietnam War. “When I saw what the girls were doing, I jumped at the chance to help,” he said. Botke also has strong bonds with people in the service.

“The girls sort of adopted the Soldiers,” says Corey. The recipients of the packages include Soldiers and deployed depot personnel. John Brooks was on the receiving end in Iraq when the fi rst shipment arrived there. Brooks is the Southwest Asia Forward Repair Activity manager, Forward Operating Base Anaconda, Balad, Iraq. He thanked Troop 658 through an e-mail that was forwarded many times until it reached Corey. In the e-mail Brooks thanked the girls, expressing how proud and honored the troops were to receive the encouraging packages. This inspired the girls to continue the project.

“The girls don’t plan on stopping,” says Botke. “They want to send more after this next shipment.”

by Jennifer CaprioliStaff Writer

Coalition strikes terrorists

WASHINGTON—Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 12 suspected insurgents on Friday during operations targeting al Qaeda operatives in central and northern Iraq, military offi cials said.

During two separate raids conducted north of Muqdadiyah, coalition forces targeted reported al Qaeda operations in the northeast Diyala River Valley region.

During one of the operations, the coalition force engaged and killed two terrorists. In a separate raid, a suspected terrorist displayed what appeared to be fresh wounds from a previous engagement. He was treated on site and subsequently detained, along with one other suspect. Coalition forces also destroyed a building in the area that was assessed to be a safe house for terrorist operations.

During an operation in Sadiyah, coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be involved in an al Qaeda in Iraq media cell operating north of Muqdadiyah. The wanted individual also allegedly is associated with numerous terrorists operating in the Diyala River Valley region. During the operation, the wanted individual identifi ed himself to coalition troops and was detained, along with three more suspected terrorists.

Southwest of Kifri, coalition forces captured another alleged terrorist leader responsible for a network operating in the Diyala region.

The detainee allegedly is responsible for numerous attacks against coalition forces. Reports also indicate the suspect was previously injured during an Iraqi security forces operation. The detainee allegedly escaped from the hospital with the help of other terrorists, killing fi ve Iraqi policemen during the escape. In Mosul, coalition forces detained fi ve suspects while targeting an alleged al Qaeda leader involved in weapons facilitation and kidnapping operations.

“Our operations are steadily chipping away at the al Qaeda in Iraq network,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We will continue to relentlessly apply pressure on these terrorists that carry out brutal attacks against the Iraqi people and the security forces that protect them.”

On Thursday, coalition forces killed seven terrorists during anti-al Qaeda operations in Muqdadiyah.

Coalition forces targeted associates of an al Qaeda leader allegedly responsible for coordinating and directing a large terrorist group, and carrying out executions in the Diyala River Valley region.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

American Forces Press Service

restation two others. —Fort Hood, Texas, will activate an air-

defense-artillery brigade headquarters and an expeditionary-sustainment command headquarters.

—Fort Lewis, Wash., will activate a sustainment brigade

—Fort Polk, La., will activate a battlefi eld-surveillance brigade.

—Fort Bliss will activate a fi res brigade.—Schofi eld Barracks, Hawaii will retain

a military police brigade and activate an engineer-brigade headquarters.

—Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., will activate a maneuver-enhancement brigade.

—A second will be restationed to Fort Drum, N.Y.

—A third will be restationed to Fort Richardson, Alaska, pending the completion of a supplemental-environmental analysis.

The Army is also stationing about 30,000 Soldiers in combat-support and combat-service-support units throughout the U.S. and overseas. The details are in a report directed by the FY 2007 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, which requires the secretary of Defense to submit a stationing plan to support Army growth.

Gen. Cody said between fi scal years 2006 and 2013, the Army expects to spend approximately $66 billion on more than 743 construction projects to support its growth. This includes 66 new child-development centers; 69,000 new barracks, which does not include renovations to old barracks; 4,100 Army Family houses, which does not

include houses built under the Residential Communities Initiative; and 23 brigade-combat-team complexes.

Gen. Cody said the ease and convenience of the complexes make him want to be a captain again. Barracks, leadership offi ces, operations facilities, motor pool, and equipment storage areas are all close together, grouped around battalion and brigade offi ces and dining facilities.

The Army conducted a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to consider any environmental impacts stationing new units would have on installations, to examine available alternatives and to solicit the views of the public. The analysis and stakeholder comments were part of the decision-making process for selecting the fi nal stationing for new units, offi cials said.

ARMY from Page 2

TOBYHANNA REPORTER JANUARY 8, 20084

WASHINGTON—The Internal Revenue Service announced Dec. 27 that the upcoming tax season is expected to start on time for everyone except certain taxpayers potentially affected by late enactment of the Alternative Minimum Tax “patch.”

Following extensive work in recent weeks, the IRS expects to be able to begin processing returns for the vast majority of taxpayers in mid-January. However, as many as 13.5 million taxpayers using fi ve forms related to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) legislation will have to wait to fi le tax returns until the IRS completes the reprogramming of its systems for the new law.

The IRS has targeted Feb. 11, as the potential starting date for taxpayers to begin submitting the fi ve AMT-related returns affected by the legislation. The February date allows the IRS enough time to update and test its systems to accommodate the AMT changes without major disruptions to other operations related to the tax season. As the IRS has said previously, it will take approximately seven weeks after the AMT patch was approved to update IRS processing systems completely.

Although as many as 13.5 million taxpayers will not be able to fi le their returns until Feb. 11, the effect of the delay may be lessened by the fact that under previous fi ling patterns only between 3 million to 4 million taxpayers fi le returns with the fi ve affected forms during these early weeks in the fi ling season.

“We regret the inconvenience the delay will mean for millions of early tax fi lers, especially those expecting a refund,” said Linda Stiff, Acting IRS Commissioner. “We’ve taken extraordinary steps to fi gure out a way that we can start the fi ling season on time for most taxpayers, including some using AMT-related forms. Our goal has always been

to make sure we can accurately process tax returns while getting refunds to taxpayers as quickly as possible.”

The February delay caused by the AMT patch will affect taxpayers using any of these fi ve forms:

—Form 8863, Education Credits.—Form 5695, Residential Energy

Credits.—Form 1040A’s Schedule 2, Child and

Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A Filers.

—Form 8396, Mortgage Interest Credit.—Form 8859, District of Columbia First-

Time Homebuyer Credit.While these fi ve forms require signifi cant

additional reprogramming due to the AMT patch, the IRS has been able to reprogram its systems to begin processing seven other AMT-related forms, including Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax – Individuals. Taxpayers fi ling these seven forms should not experience delays in fi ling, and the IRS expects to begin processing those returns starting on Jan. 14.

Electronic returns involving those fi ve forms will not be accepted until systems are updated in February; similarly, paper fi lers should wait to fi le as well. All other e-fi le and paper returns will be accepted starting in January. The IRS urges affected taxpayers to fi le electronically in order to reduce wait times for their refunds. E-fi le with direct deposit gets refunds in as little as 10 days, while paper returns take four to six weeks.

“E-fi le is a great option for everyone, especially if they are affected by the AMT,” said Richard Spires, IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support. “Filing electronically will get people their refunds faster, and e-fi le greatly reduces the chances for making an error on the AMT or

other tax issues.”In addition to fi ling electronically, the IRS

urges taxpayers to take simple steps to avoid problems:

Taxpayers fi ling electronically should make sure to update their tax software in order to get the latest AMT updates.

Taxpayers with $54,000 or less in Adjusted Gross Income can use Free File to electronically fi le their returns for free. Free File will only be available by visiting the offi cial IRS web site at IRS.gov. In all, 90 million taxpayers qualify for this free service.

Taxpayers who use tax software to print out paper copies of tax forms should make sure they update their software before printing out forms. Taxpayers using paper forms can also visit IRS.gov to get updated copies of AMT forms.

The IRS has created a special section on IRS.gov to provide taxpayers with additional information and copies of updated forms affected by the AMT. In recent days, the

IRS has posted updated copies of all forms affected by the late enactment of the AMT patch by Congress.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers that printed tax packages, which will begin arriving in the mail around New Year’s, went to the printer in November before the AMT changes were enacted. The packages refl ect the law in effect at the time of printing. The tax packages include cautionary language to taxpayers that late legislation was pending.

The IRS is also working closely with tax professionals and the tax preparation software community to make sure they can help taxpayers with all of the latest developments on the enactment of the AMT patch and other tax changes.

“The IRS is going to continue to do everything it can to make this a fully successful fi ling season for the nation’s taxpayers,” Stiff said. “We will continue to work to keep taxpayers up to date and make this situation as easy as possible for everyone.”

IRS announces ‘tax patch’ may affect some taxpayers

George Takacs, electronics technician, aligns an AN/TVQ-2 Ground Vehicle Laser Locator Designator. The 12 technicians who work in the Image Optics/Laser Branch overhaul, repair, align and test-fi re about 30 systems a year. The AN/TVQ-2 is a self-contained electro-optical system designed for close support operations in target identifi cation and designation. By measuring distance, elevation and azimuth to an aimpoint, observers can “paint a target” for laser-seeking ordnance. The designator can be used as a ground-mounted system or in conjunction with the AN/TAS-4 Night Vision Thermal Sight which mounts on a Humvee. While at the depot, the lasers are processed through four repair areas: utility room, circuit card room, 10K clean room and the Automatic Laser Instrumentation and Measurement System (ALIMS) room. Takacs works in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate’s Electro-Optics Night Vision Division. (Photo by Steve Grzezdzinski)

On the job at Tobyhanna

JANUARY 8, 2008 TOBYHANNA REPORTER 5Excellence in Electronics

Around the Depot

Equipment SpecsThe AGM-65 Maverick is a relatively inexpensive, moderately complex, highly reliable precision guided munition that was fi rst introduced into the United States inventory in 1973. It is effective against a wide variety of hard and soft targets, both fi xed and mobile, and can be employed by the military’s primary, non-stealthy combat ground attack aircraft plus a large number of foreign combat aircraft. The Maverick is a tactical,

air-to-surface guided missile designed for close air support, interdiction and defense suppression missions. There are three versions of the missile’s guidance system: electro optics (TV), infrared and laser.

Ronald Davis, electronics mechanic, aligns an infrared guidance control system.

Robert Stanaback, electronics mechanic, tests a gyro optics assembly.

Maverick Missile BranchCommand, Control and Computer/Avionics Directorate

The branch’s 22 employees disassemble, repair, align, modify and overhaul the three versions of the Maverick missile guidance system. Customers include the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, foreign military sales and Boeing. The branch runs two shifts to meet production schedules and customer requirements.

Robert Holmes, electronics mechanic, checks for circuit cards on a Maverick missile infrared guidance control system.

Robert Stevens, electronics mechanic, purges and fi lls a Maverick missile guidance control system.

Kevin Ellis, electronics integrated system mechanic, tests the electro-optics guidance control system on a Maverick missile.Photos by Steve Grzezdzinski

George Becker, electronics mechanic, balances a Maverick missile infrared guidance control system.

Ronald Davis, electronics mechanic, overhauls a Maverick infrared guidance control system.

Gerard Spitzer, electronic measurement equipment mechanic, repairs a circuit card repair station.

Russel Dunkelberger is the supervisor, Safety Division, Command, Industrial Risk Management Directorate.

He supervises 10 people and is responsible for developing, administrating and evaluating the depot’s safety and occupational health program.

Dunkelberger earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health physics from Bloomsburg University in 1995. He received a master’s

degree in environmental pollution control from Penn State University in 2003.

Prior to his current position he was a health physicist. He began his career at Tobyhanna in March 2007.

Dunkelberger is a 1990 graduate of Southern Columbia High School in Catawissa.

He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Catawissa. They are the parents of 4-year-old Brock.

Dunkelberger’s hobbies include football and wrestling with his son, his koi garden pond, and tropical freshwater and marine aquaria. He is the commander of the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 541.

TOBYHANNA REPORTER JANUARY 8, 20086

Thomas Adams Electronics worker D/CSChristopher Allen Electronics mechanic helper D/ISRShannon Allen Electronics worker D/CSKimberly Appel Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsDaniel Balish Electronics worker D/CSAllan Batzel Electronics worker D/C3/AvionicsAndrew Beck Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsBernard Benko Electronics mechanic D/SISJoseph Betz Electronics mechanic D/ISRLeonard Bieble Electronics mechanic helper D/C3/AvionicsHarold Black Electronics mechanic helper D/ISRJohn Borgna Electronics mechanic D/CSMarc Bourdeau Elecrtonics worker D/CSJames Boyanoski Electronics worker D/ISRDonald Brown Painter helper D/SISMichael Burns Electronics mechanic D/CSThomas Bzdil Electronics worker D/CSStephanie Cammerota Packer DDTPJeffrey Case Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsMatthew Chase Electronics mechanic helper D/CSRoy Collins Packer DDTPMark Coviello Electronics mechanic D/CSDennis Cummings Electronics mechanic D/CSJoseph Czech Electronics mechanic D/CSBarry Davis Electronics mechanic helper D/SISJohnathan Dennis Electronics worker D/CSPaul Diandriola Purchasing agent ContractingHein Do Electronics mechanic D/ISRBonnie Donley Electronics worker D/CSFrank Fallabel Electronics mechanic D/ISRJames Filipowich Electronics worker D/C3/AvionicsTimothy Franz Electronics mechanic D/ISRFrank Freda Distribution process worker DDTPJoseph Gagnon Electronics mechanic D/ISRJoseph Gallagher Electronics D/CSDavid Gavronsky Electronics worker D/ISRNicole Gerhart Electronics worker D/SISMark Glose Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsNelson Griffi n Electroplating worker D/SISJesse Gunderman Electronics mechanic helper D/C3/AvionicsJonathan Hart Electronics mechanic D/ISRMorris Hunsinger Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsDavid Iverson Electronics mechanic D/ISRJames Jadosh Electronics worker D/ISRRobert Jamieson Electronics mechanic D/SISJayson Jayne Electronics mechanic D/CSNatasia Kenosky Electronics worker D/CSWalter Klem Electronics mechanic helper D/C3/AvionicsWilliam Kunkle Electronics mechanic helper D/CSChristopher Kutra Electronics worker D/ISRRichard Lankford Electronics mechanic D/CSPhuoc Le Electronics worker D/CSJames Legg Electronics worker D/CSWilliam Lezner Electronics mechanic D/SIS

OrganizationTitleName

WELCOME TO THE DEPOT

continued on Page 7

NEW SUPERVISORSS

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HTTP://WWW.TOBYHANNA.ARMY.MIL/ABOUT/NEWS/REPORTER.HTML

OrganizationRetirement dateTimothy Stauffer Dec. 1 D/CSRobert Latella Dec. 3 D/SIS Paul Baum Dec. 31 D/C3/AvionicsKenneth Best Dec. 31 D/IRMGlenn Brodt Dec. 31 D/C3/AvionicsCarol Brogan Dec. 31 D/BMDaniel Delucia Dec. 31 D/SISThomas Donlin Dec. 31 D/SISThomas Gaughan Dec. 31 D/PMRichard Henning Dec. 31 D/CSJudy McAndrew Dec. 31 D/PMHenry Negvesky Dec. 31 D/SISRichard Orlowski Dec. 31 D/CSRichard Orzello Dec. 31 D/C3/AvionicsGeorge Poplawski Dec. 31 D/CSDonald Roche Dec. 31 D/PMCharlie Wells Dec. 31 D/PE

Name

Dunkelberger

Johnson noted that the sandstorms in Iraq were little more than a big brown mass of dirt and dust. “There were no clouds, just dust pushed into the air.”

Johnson viewed the TPS-75 and associated equipment facilities and saw how the technicians repair and test the radar and the AN/TYQ-23.

The TYQ-23 includes the radar scopes and other equipment used by the controllers. “It is the command center for the TPS-75,” said Franklin Frey, chief of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate’s Surveillance Systems Division.

Frey said although the unit repair crews are the

fi rst line of repair, Tobyhanna also provides on-site support.

“The system is used worldwide and we provide world wide support, including Mobile Depot Maintenance for emergency repairs and maintenance,” he said.

Johnson says he was impressed by the depot’s large-scale operations and depot support of the radar and command center. “Tobyhanna-supported equipment is in very good condition,” he said.

“I will continue working with the TPS-75 while in my unit and may possibly work with it in the future.”

TPS-75 from Page 1

THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) MONTHLY RATES CHART IS

ON THE INTERNET

www.tsp.gov/index.html

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• Swoyersville: 1 opening, van, 7 passengers, 5/4/9, available in Feb. 1, call Joe Belinka, X56229 or John Kotchik, X56883.• Clarks Summit: 1 opening, van, 7 passengers, 5/4/9, “A” placard, shared driving, contractors welcome, call Gene, X59415.• Jim Thorpe, Route 903: 2 openings, van, 7 passengers, 5/4/9, runs both Fridays, call Pat, X57671.• Stroudsburg: 5/4/5, meet in South Stroudsburg, call John Kulp, X58751.• Montdale, Eynon, Peckville, Jessup, Dunmore: 1 opening, 5/4/9, van, both Fridays, “A” placard, shared driving, various pick ups on Route 247, call Michele, X57565 or Rich, X55943.• Nanticoke, Sugar Notch: 1 opening, 14 passengers, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. shift, “A” placard, call John Bienick, X57361 or X57646.• Dickson City: 1 opening, van, 7 passengers, 5/4/9, available in January, call Dave Stevens, X59065.• Jim Thorpe, Route 903: 1 opening, 5/4/9, both Fridays, call Brian Hydro, X58727.• Route 590, Lakeville, Ledgedale, Greentown areas: 1 opening, van, 5/4/9, runs both Fridays, call Shep, X56059.• White Haven: 1 opening, van, 7 passengers, 5/4/9, nonsmoking, call Jeanne, X57783.• Wilkes Barre: reforming 15-passenger van pool, Dec. 3, limited space available, 5/4/9, meet at Sam’s Club 5:45 a.m./drop off about 5:30

p.m., cost per month is $110, contact John Alden, X58640 or send e-mail.• Wilkes Barre: 2 openings, van, 7 passengers, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. shift, meets at Sam’s Club, call Rosanne, X57285 or Arlene, X58008.• Scranton, West Side: 1 opening, van, 7 passengers, 5/4/9, house-to-house pick up, available Dec. 1, “A” placard, call Ron Hazlett, X59646.

• Wireless phone: prepaid, Tracfone, 40 minutes free, no bills, no surprises, no annual contract, $19, call Jay, 489-8319.• Free: Beagle, to a good home, 7 years old, good with kids, playful, named Toby, does tricks, loud, lives for food, would be a dog for someone who is already familiar with Beagle temperaments, owners will take dog back if it doesn’t work out, call Terry, 839-9428.Vehicle: 2000 Pontiac Grand AM GT, 4-door, sedan, Ram Air V6, dark green, new tires and alloy wheels, all belts recently replaced, loaded with options, needs nothing, excellent condition, 66k miles, Blue Book value $7,400, asking $5,800 OBO, call 457-9795 or 856-3742.• Snow blower: 9.5 hp Ariens, new, never used, $875, call Jan, 848-2551.• Misc. items: Panasonic television, $30; recliner, $20, call Paul, 655-8207.• Used car: 2000 Ford Explorer XLS, 4WD, good condition, V-6 4.0 liter, air, abs, all 4 wheel, P/S, P/W, P/L, single CD player, automatic, 53,050 miles, serious inquiries only, $5,000 as is, call Peg, 842-0566.• Collectibles: Miniature liquor bottles, 500-1,000 assorted, many hard to get, old and new, sets included, serious inquiries only, call Steve 954-5881.• Motorcycle: 2006 Yamaha Road Star Silverado 1700cc, gold/silver two tone, 3,500 miles, special edition, lots of factory extras, Vance and Hines Long Shots, stock pipes, chromed out, serious inquiries only, $9,750, call 347-5294.• Jeep: 1992 Jeep Renegade, mint condition, red, 6-cylinder, wide fender kit (red), 130k miles, fog lights, AC, CD/MP3, neoprene seat covers, undercarriage accent lighting, 3 roofs (red hard top, full soft top, bikini top), hard doors, soft doors with removable plastic windows, factory lifted, must see, asking $4,250, call 347-5294.

JANUARY 8, 2008 TOBYHANNA REPORTER 7

Thomas Littman Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsMichael Lloyd Electronics mechanic D/CSWilliam Ludwig Electronics worker D/CSJohn Macking Electronics worker D/CSKhalil Mamari Electronics mechanic D/CSMichael Manenkoff Electronics mechanic D/ISRJoseph Martin Electronics mechanic helper D/ISRJerry McCammon Sheet metal worker D/SISPatrick McDonough Electronics worker D/SISJack McGreevy Electronics worker D/ISRCharles Medwetz Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsBrian Mertz Painter helper D/SISFrank Mihalich Distribution process worker DDTPCharles Mills LD supply technician D/PMJoseph Molanda Electronics mechanic D/ISRDaniel Moran Electronics worker D/CSJohn Musheno Electronics worker D/CSVincent Ngyuen Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsJohn Nicosic Electronics mechanic D/CSKevin Orlanich Electronics worker D/CSRobert Orloski Electronics mechanic D/ISRNikie Ortiz Electronics mechanic D/SISRichard Pitcavage Painter helper D/SISJohnny Richards Security guard D/IRMBruno Rocuba Electronics mechanic helper D/C3/AvionicsChristopher Rorick Electronics worker D/CSMichael Ryder Electronics worker D/CSDebra Sandy Electronics mechanic D/C3/AvionicsMichael Sampson Electronics worker D/C3/AvionicsDennis Scheckler Electronics mechanic D/IRSThomas Scheland Electronics mechanic D/CSDaniel Seip Distribution process worker DDTPRobert Shay Electronics mechanic helper D/CSMichael Sheehan Electronics mechanic helper D/CSJanet Schillinger Electronics worker D/CSRaymond Silveri Electronics worker D/ISRDaniel Sinnott Electronics mechanic D/CSHoward Slinger Painter helper D/SISJustin Stangl Electronics mechanic D/ISRDerrick St. Julien Human resource specialist CPACDaryl Strunk Painter D/SISGreg Swithers Electronics mechanic D/ISRKenneth Taddonio Electronics mechanic helper D/C3/AvionicsRonald Tetlak Electronics mechanic helper D/C3/AvionicsNicholas Tielli Electronics mechanic helper D/CSKenneth Turcotte Electronics mechanic D/ISRJoseph Twardowski Electronics mechanic D/CSMary Uhrin Electronics worker D/CSDavid Walsh Electronics worker D/CSWaymer Ward Electronics worker D/ISREdward Weiner Distribution process worker DDTPSean Weir Electronics mechanic helper D/ISRAndrew Weston Electronics worker D/CSJoseph Wolfe Electronics mechanic helper D/ISRThomas Yankay Electronics mechanic helper D/ISRMarie Zaleski Electronics mechanic D/C3/Avionics

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WELCOME TO THE DEPOTCOMMUNITY BULLETINEditor’s Note: The Community Bulletin provides an avenue for depot and tenant employees to advertise van or car pools, and for-sale items. Money making items such as rentals and personal business will not be accepted. Information must be submitted via e-mail to Jacqueline.Boucher@us.army.mil, or written items can be mailed to the Public Affairs Offi ce, mail stop 5076.

Submissions must include a name and telephone extension. Only home phone numbers will be published in the Trading Post section. Ads will be published in four consecutive newspapers. It is the customer’s responsibility to update or renew items listed in the Community Bulletin.

For information, call Jacqueline Boucher, X58073.

TRADING POST

VAN/CAR POOLS

To our friends,We wish to express our appreciation to

everyone who sent their prayers to comfort us during the recent passing of my father.

The many cards, emails and kind words about Tom, from the people who knew and worked with him, were much appreciated.

He spent a good portion of his life here and built many friendships along the way. We are truly grateful that so many people took the time to express their sympathy; it was a great comfort to us.

Audrey and John Bandru and family of Thomas Battle

To my Tobyhanna family,I would like to thank all of my friends,

especially my co-workers in Production Management (and B.L. in particular), for their out-pouring of support when I lost my husband, and best friend.

Your many cards, phone calls and words of encouragement kept me going when I thought I would lose my mind. You, my Tobyhanna Family, kept me grounded enough to help my son and remember that life is worth living even after the loss of one so dear to you. God bless you all.

Susan NavarraProduction Management Direcorate

THANKS

OR SEND AN E-MAIL TO

ask-toby@conus.army.mil

ASK-TOBY

CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK

1-877-275-8629570-895-8629

DISN 795-8629

TOBYHANNA REPORTER JANUARY 8, 20088

The Curran family’s idea of fun involves getting soaked while traveling at speeds up to 60 mph.

Gene, Patty, Kevin and Molly have been sailing over log jumps and tearing around stationary buoys while competing in jet ski races since the 1990s. They’ve all claimed titles at national- and world-levels in individual categories.

Patty was hooked after watching her first race in 1994. Her husband Gene, a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, joined the racing circuit in 1997 after recovering from neck surgery. The children followed suit when they came of age—Molly started racing when she was 11 years old; Kevin, 13. Today the teens are freshmen at North Pocono High School and Bucknell University, respectively.

“It’s a really cool family sport because everyone gets involved,” Gene said, explaining that with most sports, unless you’re a coach, you’re not involved. “With jet skiing, parents can be more than just spectators,” he said.

Sharing a common interest has brought the family closer together, improved their health and fed their competitive nature.

The family travels around the country competing against their peers in regional and national events, as well as the world finals in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. They race in the

American Power Boat Association (APBA), an affiliate of the International Jet Sports Boating Association, which organizes and assists regional racing promoters in the United States, and regulates a variety of personal watercraft racing competitions.

The foursome admits to being fierce competitors on and off the water and although mom no longer competes, they still practice on the lake near the house. They coach each other on technique and work together to improve performance.

The Currans compete in Region 8, which covers territory from Maryland to Maine. They compete in a closed-course, riding the stand-up style jet ski. A closed course is a contest of speed and riding ability while negotiating multiple laps of a ½- or ¾-mile course. Other types of courses include the slalom, freestyle, endurance and drag race.

Molly remembers spending her summers at jet ski races watching and cheering for her mom, dad and brother. Last year, she finished first in the world in the girl’s junior category, ages 13-15.

“When I was about 9 years old I started to train, so as soon as I was legal to race, I could,” she said. “I love the excitement and thrill of racing and the competition.” Molly also snow skis, plays volleyball and soccer, and dances jazz and ballet. At school she is an honor-roll student, the class president and a member of the history and Red Cross clubs.

The entire family prefers the standup-style jet ski to the sit-down model because they feel it is more challenging to ride. The 130-horsepower, standup-style jet ski weighs about

300 pounds and can accelerate from 0-50 mph in three seconds, according to Gene.

“Personally, I think the standup models are much more fun,” said Kevin, who also enjoys running, cycling, juggling and Alpine ski racing, but admits “the thrill of jet ski racing, especially at the national or world championships, is the best.”

In addition to the thrill of the race, Patty realized that riding a jet ski was an excellent way to keep her family healthy. She explained that racing blends their love of the water with their spirit for competition to make exercising fun.

“It’s a workout,” said Patty, adding that she’s usually totally spent after a race. “You’re using every part of your body.”

Gene likes the idea of staying fit as he grows older and plans to race as long as he’s able. “This keeps me going physically,” he said. “If I’m in bad shape, I’m likely

to get hurt or get my butt kicked.” Plus, everyone needs a hobby, he added.

As the team’s mechanic, Gene also gets to use his skills as a mechanical engineer to come up with new designs and prototypes. “I’m always doing goofy things that no one else has tried,” he said. Gene works in the depot’s Tactical Satellite Design and Support Division, Production Engineering Directorate.

Even at work, he’s often the person depot officials seek out to tackle the unusual projects. During his 24 years here, Gene said he has been charged with “thinking outside the box” on a number of projects. Most recently, he worked with an electrical technician and five veterans to devise a plan to move an Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft from the Wyoming Valley Airport in Forty Fort to the depot. The 53-

year-old fuselage was airlifted in two sections, suspended 130 feet below a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The effort accomplished what some touted as one of the heaviest, and possibly the largest airframe lift by a CH-47 helicopter.

As the family dynamics continue to change, Patty and Gene hope they will continue to race together as long as possible.

Demanding schedules make it harder and harder every year, according to Patty, who is an industrial engineer assigned to the Productivity, Improvement and Innovation Directorate’s Industrial Modernization Division.

“When I started, there weren’t many women in the sport and the biggest challenge was finding time to practice when the children were little,” she said. “It got harder and harder as they grew and developed interest in outside activities.” Patty was ranked 12th in the world during 1999 and 2001.

Right now, Kevin’s biggest obstacle is juggling college life and racing. He wasn’t able to attend the world finals or nationals this year. At 17, Kevin already qualifies to race at the expert level.

Racing can be costly and time consuming, but having the family together is great, Patty said, noting that the children are teenagers and we enjoy spending time with one another.

“Racing pulls us together, keeps us strong,” she said.Molly recalls how her dad helped her during her first

race. It was an ocean race and the waves were “huge,” she explained.

“I was so scared, because it was not only my first race, but my first time riding on waves,” Molly said. “It was my dad’s support at the starting line that gave me the confidence to ride a great race and place well.”

Some of Kevin’s most memorable moments are of practicing at home with the family, especially when his sister was first learning to ride.

Gene recommends people watch a race before deciding if jet ski racing is the right sport for them. Competitors can register fairly cheaply, he remarked, and if they have a jet ski and safety equipment they can compete in the APBA. Riders are separated into classes based on the type of watercraft an individual owns and the modifications. Youth classes are broken down by age. Individuals 16 years old and older compete in the novice, amateur, expert and pro classes. Expert and pro competitors race for money, he added.

“I was in the novice and amateur classes until this year,” Gene said. “I moved up after taking a national title.” Gene has been ranked one of the top 10 racers in the world in his class.

Even after all these years, Gene said he still gets nervous at the starting line. There are 18 other riders standing shoulder to shoulder when the flag drops, he explained. Then, everyone is jockeying for first place traveling at about 50-60 mph toward the first buoy, he said.

“It’s the most nerve-racking, thrilling part of the race,” Gene said. “After all the races I’ve competed in, I still get shaky at the starting line…it makes me feel really alive.”

“There is no other thrill like going into the first turn at 50 mph only inches from other riders,” Kevin said.

The 2008 racing season runs from May to September and as soon as the weather turns warmer, the Currans will begin training for another year on the water.

by Jacqueline BoucherAssistant Editor

Below, from left, Molly, Kevin, Patty and Gene Curran. Left: Kevin leads the pack on the #3 jet ski at the start of a race during the 2006 National Championship. (Courtesy photos)

Above, Gene sails over a log jump during a national championship race in Nashville, TN. Right, Molly makes a turn onto the front straightaway at the world championship races. Below, Patty competes in the 1999 World Finals.

THRILL RIDE