randolph air force base 65th year • no. 43 • october …extras.mysanantonio.com/randolph/102811...

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE 65th Year • No. 43 • OCTOBER 28, 2011

INSIDE ... PUBLIC WELCOME AT AIR SHOW, P3 ... GROUNDED EXCITEMENT, P3 ... 502nd ABW AWARD WINNERS, P8 ... GREENER GOLFING, P11

A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio

OCTOBER 28, 2011PAGE 2 WINGSPREAD

By Airman 1st Class Precious Yett502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Eberle Park at Randolph Air Force Base is a popular location where people get together for recre-ation or physical fi tness; however, it also carries history.

Eberle Park was dedicated to Capt. Joseph N. Eberle, who died at age 27 when his F-82 Shooting Star’s wing buckled and his plane crashed on Randolph AFB between the main gate and administration building during a fl yover in 1953.

It was customary at the time to have a single fi ghter fl y-over each afternoon while the base band played "Retreat." The band would line up on the steps of the Taj, the 12th Flying Training Wing Headquarters, and just before they be-gan to play, a fi ghter pilot would come over the gate, fl y south toward the Taj and bank to go past it. After Captain Eberle passed away, Randolph never had evening fl y-overs again.

“It began to fall, not turning or div-ing, just coming down fl at like a toy that had been dropped,” Rod Carlisle, a student at the elementary school at the time of the crash and an eyewit-ness, said.

“I dropped my bike and jumped

into a trench that had been dug by the sidewalk to install an irrigation line. I looked back up as the plane hit fl at on the ground. As it struck, there was a terrifi c smashing sound. Not an explosion, but the sound of a metal crusher at work. There was a mov-ment of silence.

"I could see the wreckage lying perhaps 50 yards from me. The pea green color of the interior of the airplane was clearly visible. It wasn’t spread out and I was surprised at what a small mound it amounted to. Another moment and the wreck van-ished in an orange and black fi reball. It was a shocking accident. Crashes were common at that time, but never one so close and witnessed by so many. The base was a long time recovering from the loss of Captain Eberle. We

never had evening fl y-overs again.”The cause of the accident was

deemed by a board of pilots to be a “failure of the left wing, probably caused by turbulent conditions at high airspeeds, which together ex-ceeded the design limitation for that type of aircraft.” There was no evi-dence of pilot error. The investiga-tion also revealed certain conditions in that type of aircraft, which led the Air Force to implement restric-tions on the F-80s which have since saved lives.

It is important we remember that the ground we walk, run and play on is sacred. A life is often lost while completing a duty. Everything around us has history embedded into it, sometimes with an Airman’s sacrifi ce behind it.

COMMENTARY

This newspaper is published by Prime Time Military News-papers, a private fi rm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Randolph AFB, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Wingspread are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, includ-ing inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Prime Time Military Newspapers, of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affi liation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Offi ce of the 502nd Air Base Wing. All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

The deadline for submissions is noon Thursday the week prior to publication. All submissions can be emailed to [email protected]. For more information, call the Wingspread offi ce at 652-4410.

Wingspread Offi ce1150 5th Street East

Randolph AFB, Texas 78150Phone: (210) 652-4410

Wingspread Advertisement Offi cePrime Time Military Newspapers

2203 S. HackberrySan Antonio, Texas 78210

Phone: (210) 534-8848Wingspread email

[email protected]

502nd Air Base WingOperating Location Bravo

Editorial StaffBrig. Gen. Theresa Carter

CommanderMarilyn Holliday

Chief of Public AffairsAirman 1st Class Precious Yett

EditorAirman 1st Class Alexis Siekert

Robert Goetz, Alex SalinasStaff Writers

Maggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer

Four AT-6 Texan aircraft execute a maneuver during the 2009 Randolph AFB Air Show. The AT-6 Texan aircraft will be on display at this weekend’s air show. See today’s Wingspread insert for complete details on the 2011 air show. Photo by Wayne Cooper

Remembering Capt. Joseph Eberle"Everything around us has history embedded into it,

sometimes with an Airman’s sacrifice behind it."

ON THE COVER

JBSA travel survey The 502nd Air Base Wing is conducting a Traffi c Points of Origin study to evaluate mili-tary, retiree and civilian population traffi c patterns at Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis. All Joint Base San Antonio active-duty service members, Reserve, Department of Defense civilians and contractors, retirees, and depen-dents age 18 and older who travel on and around Joint Base San Antonio installations are eligible to participate in the survey. Each respondent will receive a coupon for a free cup of coffee at any JBSA AAFES Express store and automatically be entered to win one of three prizes – a $100 gas card, or one of two $50 exchange gift cards. The survey is online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JBSAsurvey.

WINGSPREADOCTOBER 28, 2011 PAGE 3

By Airman 1st Class Alexis Siekert502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

The air show is here, and with it, thousands of visitors will soon be on Randolph Air Force Base.

The 2011 Randolph AFB Airshow is projected to have 150,000 people in attendance each day.

Security is a main priority on a daily basis, so to accommodate the masses at an event as large as the air show, Randolph has brought in backup.

In addition to Randolph’s everyday security forces Airmen, military work-ing dogs and surveillance cameras, 42 trained augmentees will be at work—helping to keep everything running smoothly and orderly, Robert Vick-ers, 902nd Security Forces Squadron Plans and Programs Branch chief and 2011 Airshow primary security oper-ations coordinator, said.

Saturday and Sunday, the East Gate, Stable Gate and South Gate will open for public entry, bringing visitors directly to the public parking

area. From there, all will be shuttled to the air show grounds. Department of Defense ID cardholders will still be able to access the base through the main gate; however, even cardholders entering through the visitor’s gates will be bussed.

“Any time you try to fit 150,000 people into a small, confined space, you’re going to have traffic problems – no different than parking at a sport-ing event,” Vickers said. “There are going to be some backups, so we ask

everyone to be patient. Those with ID cards are urged to go through the main gate to help alleviate some of the congestion.”

Items allowed on base include chairs, blankets, diaper bags and camera bags. All items brought to the gate will be searched by the augmen-tees posted at the entrances.

Items such as backpacks, coolers, pets, weapons and drugs are pro-hibited.

All vendors will be inspected and

given a thorough background check prior to showtime.

Upon entry, parents will be given the option to place wristbands on their children. Parent names and cell-phone numbers may be written on the wristbands in case of separation.

There will be a “Mini-Taj” on the air show grounds that will act as a reporting station for lost children and general information.

Augmentees will also be in place at every flightline gate.

“You won’t be able to leave the flightline through the flightline gate without an identification card or be-ing escorted by somebody who has an ID card,” Vickers said.

In the case of an emergency, Vick-ers urges everyone to remain calm and follow the directions of the secu-rity, medical or fire services officials.

“We are ready for the air show, helping to ensure everyone has a fun and safe time,” he said. “Just cooper-ate with the security officials and there will be nothing to worry about.”

Randolph welcomes public to air show“We are ready for the air show, helping to ensure everyone has a fun and safe time. Just cooperate with the security officials

and there will be nothing to worry about.”Robert Vickers

902nd Security Forces Squadron Plans and Programs branch chief

By Ashley Murphy902nd Force Support Squadron marketing

When people hear the term “air show,” they typically think of masterful aerial demonstrations, aerobatics and sounds of freedom. What they might not realize is the amount of family-fun ac-tivities that will happen right under their feet.

This year’s air show boasts nearly 1.8 million square feet of displays, interactive games, simu-lators, items for purchase and activities on the Randolph flight line. Things such as a dedicated children’s area, a real F-4 Phantom II simulator and food for purchase will keep family members of all ages entertained.

“There is so much to do and see on the grounds alone during the Randolph air show, participants may not even be able to do it all,” Shelta Reese, 902nd Force Support Squadron marketing director, said. “This year, along Taxi Way E, we have a dedicated area just for children and youth. These activities go beyond what we have done in the past and it is an exciting addition to the ground line-up.”

The children’s area will have a rock climbing wall, Euro ball, quad jump, balloon animals, a variety of in-flatables and places to take family photos. The newest trend, a Euro Ball, allows participants to walk on wa-

ter inside a giant transparent ball in complete safety. Adventure-seeking participants can also try the quad jump, where all ages can enjoy the thrill of launching more than 25 feet in the air attached to a bungee, without the fear of falling or getting hurt. Most of the children’s area will require tickets for participation, which can be purchased on the flightline. Also, Step-ping Stones to Aviation, Inc., offers pedal powered aircraft for youth to maneuver through a course, and receive a certificate of completion in the end.

“Everyone wants to be a pilot when they come to an air show,” Reese said. “We want to give the young children that opportunity.”

Participants can try their hand at flying in a real F-4 simulator, which will be located in Hangar 41. There will also be two virtual flight simulators – Sonic Boom and Lone Star – which allow people to fly, at-tempt landings and even participate in “dog fights” through a video game-style simulation.

Outside the children’s area will be vendors selling food, drinks, air show memorabilia and novelty items. There will also be sponsors offering “ride and drives” with the newest sports cars.

“The ground activities, just like the flying show, take a lot of coordination and planning,” Reese said. “We have been at this for the past year-and a half. I promise that participants will not be disappointed.”

Air show provides excitement at ground level

Courtesy photoEuro Ball, a new attraction at this year's air show, allows participants to walk on water inside a giant transparent ball in complete safety.


NEWS

By Robert Goetz502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Whether they’re helping a motorist whose vehicle won’t start or dealing with the consequences of se-vere weather, members of a coordinated emergency management team will be prepared to take action during the 2011 Randolph Air Force Base Airshow this weekend.

“Our ultimate goal is for the 150,000 people we’re expecting at the air show each day to have a safe, enjoyable event they will remember for years to come,” Mance Clark, Randolph antiterrorism/force protection officer, said.

Preparing for emergencies begins months in ad-vance of the air show and involves players from the 502nd Air Base Wing Crisis Action Team, 902nd Mis-sion Partner Team and 902nd Emergency Opera-tions Center, as well as organizations ranging from the 902nd Security Forces Squadron and 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron to the 359th Medical Group, Clark said.

“The first part is evaluating the current situation – examining the environment and working with police agencies in local communities, just getting a feel for things so as to provide optimal security,” he said. “We develop a course of action based on predictable and all-hazards approaches.”

Clark said planners must make sure all resources are available at the air show to manage a situation of any magnitude.

“There are in-depth security plans to counter per-ceived or predictable threats,” he said.

Preparations also include operating instruc-tions for all members of the team and contingency planning.

Clark said responders must be ready to cope with a variety of scenarios.

“A true emergency could be an aircraft crash, a bomb or an active shooter,” he said. “Outside of that, it’s managing a number of smaller incidents. Some of the situations are lost children; lost items such as cameras, sunglasses and keys; vehicles that won’t start because the battery is dead; and vehicles

with flat tires but no spares. You have to be prepared for just about anything.”

Dealing with emer-gency situations is not the only task of the team, Clark said. Meeting the needs of Airmen who work at the air show is another concern.

“We want to make sure they’re fed and supplied with water so they’re not dehy-drated,” he said. “They will be working 12- to 14-hour days.”

Preparing for a huge volume of traffic both days requires the co-operation of local law enforcement agencies, Clark said.

“We work with Uni-versal City, Converse and Schertz – getting the traffic flowing off FM 78, Loop 1604 and Pat Booker Road,” he said. “For the first two

hours of the show, everybody’s coming in.”Work continues after the air show, when the team

analyzes its efforts.“We look at what we did and determine what we

could do better,” Clark said. “Did we have enough manning and equipment? Lessons learned help us develop future plans. You want to capture that while it’s fresh.”

Clark said there’s “no such thing as overkill” in terms of emergency preparedness. He said air shows are “one of the biggest Air Force recruiting tools out there,” as well as a tradition for many families, so attention to detail and being prepared for a “multitude of different scenarios” are vital in the process.

“You leave no stone unturned,” he said. “If noth-ing happens, you’re happy, but you always plan for the worst.”

Emergency responders ‘leave no stone unturned’AIRSHOW PREPARATION

Photo by Dona FairStaff Sgt. Edward Grant, 902nd Security Forces Squadron, prac-tices detention methods on U.S. Army South Specialist Justin Angelone during a major accident response exercise Monday.

Photo by Melissa PetersonMembers of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron and 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron practice crowd control and tending wounded spectators during a major accident response exercise Monday.


By Alex Salinas502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs

Kris Kite, 902nd Communications Squadron air-field systems chief, believes communication among people can be the difference between order and chaos. In preparation for the Randolph Air Force Base air show, this belief is the driving force that enables precision and safety in such a large-scale event, Kite said.

In fact, there has not been a spectator casualty at a military air show in 60 years. The scrupulous planning that goes on behind a Randolph air show is testament to a strong emphasis on communication.

“Our job [for the air show] is to provide effective communication to personnel,” Kite said. “We want to provide safety to everyone and maximize our ef-ficiency in reacting to any and all situations.”

To accomplish this, the 902nd CS established an air show network consisting of nine talk groups, or networks, that work together to make the show run smoothly.

There are 149 personnel involved throughout the nine talk groups, who carry a land mobile ra-dio that allows them to communicate within their specific talk group, as well as other groups, Kite said. The LMRs also allow them to communicate with those involved within their day-to-day base

operations. Kite said the programming of the LMRs to re-

ceive and send signals among all groups increases their effectiveness, and allowed the 902nd CS to save money.

In the past, LMR equipment was rented commer-cially, whereas now internally-owned gear is used and was programmed to enhance its capabilities.

Their range and power source derives from the LMR tower located across Bldg. 990, which in-crease the range of the LMRs. At full capacity, per-sonnel can use the radios, which look like walkie-

talkies, to speak with others as far as Sheppard AFB some 400 miles away.

Kite explained the LMR tower network is also connected to the city of San Antonio. If a major accident were to occur on base, during an air show or not, Randolph has the capabilities to con-tact outside safety groups like city and local fire departments for help.

Frank Stark, 902nd CS base spectrum manager, said the “interoperability between bases, which is exponentially increased,” due to the LMR tower, will aid the base in any contingency.

Monday, Randolph practiced a major accident re-sponse exercise where base members had to react as if a plane crash happened at the air show.

“We practice these exercises to gain better reac-tion times,” Kite said. “Just like with anything else, practice makes perfect.”

Kite has worked six air shows at Randolph and has documented the statistics and performances of each show from a communications standpoint. After each show, a person is contracted by the 902nd CS to evaluate the communications from the show. This way, an outside perspective is gained and used to improve future shows, Kite said.

“Every air show is an exercise on its own,” he said. “We learn from every one of them, and like technology, we make them better and better."

Communication is key during Randolph air show“Our job [for the air show] is to

provide effective communication to personnel. We want to provide safety to everyone and maximize our efficiency in reacting to any

and all situations.”Kris Kite

902nd Communications Squadron airfield systems chief

Red Baron strikes again

Chaplain (Capt.) Sean Knox (right), Chaplain-in-charge of the Catholic program at Randolph, congratulates Deb Hernandez, 902nd Comptroller Squadron, as the winner of the contest for naming the Chaplain's vehicle. The unveiling of the name took place during a Burger Burn for the 902nd CPTS at the main chapel Oct. 21. Randolph chap-lains will use the vehicle as a ministry tool, delivering water to flightline workers and pilots.Photo by Don Lindsey


Retiree Appreciation Day

Photo by Don LindseyIke Clinton, Retired Enlisted Association, Chapter 80, talks with Glenna Walker during Retiree Ap-preciation Day Oct. 22 at Randolph.


Children who hit the pavement in their Halloween attire have their sights set on bags full of treats, but their hauls need not be drenched in sugar.

Dental professionals urge people who are passing out treats to consider alternatives that won’t lead to cavities.

“Sugar-free candy can be a good Halloween al-ternative, especially if the sweetener is xylitol,” Barbara Meares, 359th Dental Squadron registered dental hygienist, said. “Xylitol is a natural sweetener that inhibits bacterial growth and therefore is a bet-ter choice for a non-caloric, anti-cavity sweetener. It’s easy to distribute and does not contribute extra calories or cause cavities.”

Another good candy choice is dark chocolate, Meares said.

“Think dark chocolate due to the antioxidants, flavonoids and healthier fat in real cocoa-based chocolate,” she said.

Other good alternatives include nuts and apples, Meares said.

“Give out packages of nuts,” she said. “They are a good source of protein. Apples are always a good

choice and they can be tart or on the sweet side, depending on your preference.”

Fruit substances are another option, but there is a caveat.

“Dry fruit can be a great snack if you drink water or chew xylitol gum afterwards,” Meares said. “You must get the sticky fruit off the teeth.”

Treats do not have to be edible.

“Halloween is just fun, so give away plastic games, whistles or yo-yos to the trick-or-treater,” Meares said.

However, people should also be careful about giv-ing out small plastic objects to very young children because these objects can pose choking hazards.

Homemade treats used to be a Halloween staple, but those days are gone – at least for trick-or-treaters.

“In this day and age, we are all concerned about tampered food, so making low-calorie treats is not an option,” Meares said. “Save the nutritional home-made goodies for home.”

Meares said parents should also limit the amount of candy their children eat when they return home from trick-or-treating.

“Let them have a few things and freeze the rest for later,” she said.

Meares said sugar not only can lead to cavities, it can contribute to obesity.

“You are trying to teach good nutritional snack choices for a healthier life,” she said. “One bite of sugar puts 20 minutes of acid on your teeth.”

Fighting tooth decay begins with a healthy diet.“The things that are good for your teeth are good

for the rest of you,” Meares said.

Halloween treats can have scary consequences

Courtesy graphic


Randolph ChapelMeetings Schedule

• CATHOLICMonday-Friday

11:30 a.m. - Bldg. 975Saturday

5:30 p.m. - Bldg. 975Sunday

8:30 a.m. - Bldg. 97511:30 a.m. - Bldg. 975

ConfessionSaturday

4:30 p.m. - Bldg. 975

• PROTESTANTTraditional

SundayService

8:15 a.m. - Base theater

ContemporarySunday Service

11 a.m. - Base theaterRandolph Air Force BaseHalloween Trick-or-Treat

Hours: Oct. 31 6-8 p.m.

Base BRIEFSFall Hi-JinxRandolph Youth Programs presents Fall Hi-Jinx, a safe alternative for Halloween, Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the youth center. The event will feature games, arts and crafts activities, a spook house and a costume contest, as well as goodies and prizes. Children and youth are welcome.For more information, call 652-3298.

Main Circle closureThe Main Circle in front of Air Education and Training

Command Headquarters (Bldg. 900) will be closed Nov. 1 through Jan. 18 for roadway repairs. Traffic will be detoured. Drivers must obey all construction traffic signs in the area. A student bus stop will be temporarily moved from Main Circle drive to Outer Octagon. For more information, call Peggy Hill at 652-1249.

Lane closure Due to the BXtra entrance realignment, the street between

the Kendrick Club and the BXtra, closest to the BXtra park-ing lot, will be closed Nov. 7-18, affecting east bound traffic.

Nov. 21 - Dec. 2, the lane closest to the BXtra will be closed. This lane closure will affect the inbound traffic on 3rd street west. For more information, call Vince Darby at 652-1219.

Tax assistance volunteers neededThe Randolph Tax Center seeks volunteers to prepare

income taxes during the upcoming tax filing season. Volunteers can be active-duty, civilian, retiree or a family

member. Training will be provided by the Internal Revenue Service and by Randolph tax coordinator, LaMarr Queen. To volunteer, call 652-1040.

National Drug Take Back Day The Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled a Na-tional Prescription Drug Take Back Day at the base exchange Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to provide a venue for people who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

Commissary closureThe commissary will be closed Nov. 7-8 for a mandatory store reset. For more information, call Janet Awaldt at 652-5102, ext. 3006.

Base exchange pharmacy remodelingThe 359th Medical Group’s refill pharmacy at the base

exchange will be closed Nov. 21-23 for remodeling.All BX pharmacy operations will be temporarily moved

to the main clinic pharmacy at the 359th MDG during the closure period.

The prescription refill call-in system will still be opera-tional, as will the civilian prescription drop box at the BX. For more information, call the pharmacy at 652-4127.

2011 RAFB Annual Health FairRandolph’s Civilian Personnel Section hosts the 2011

Health Fair Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Airman and Family Readiness Center Ballroom, 555 F Street, Bldg. 693. Health provider representatives will be present.

Federal Benefits Open SeasonThe Federal Benefits Open Season runs Nov. 14 - Dec.

12. This is the time to make changes to a current policy or change to a different health provider through the Benefits and Entitlement Service Team. Changes take effect Jan 2.

NOW SHOWING atthe Randolph Theater

"Contagion" (PG-13)Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law

Today at 7 p.m.

"I Don't Know How She Does It" (PG-13)Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer

Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

$4.50 for adults – $2.25 for children 11 and younger

SAPR seeking victim advocatesThe Sexual Assault Prevention & Response (SAPR)

Program seeks volunteers to serve as victim advocates. Military personnel and DoD civilian employees may volunteer. Individuals selected must attend the mandatory 40-hour VA training. Training takes place Nov. 28 - Dec. 2. Email [email protected] for an application. The deadline to sign up is Monday.

To submit a sports or news brief for publication in the Wingspread, email all information to [email protected].


Congratulations502nd ABW 2011 third quarter award winners

Junior Enlisted MemberSenior Airman Stacey Herko

802nd Force Support Squadron

Noncommissioned OfficerStaff Sgt. Ron Turner

902nd Security Forces Squadron

Senior Enlisted MemberMaster Sgt. Tracette Abney

802nd FSS

Civilian Wage GradeRobert Smith

802nd Civil Engineer Squadron

Civilian Nonsupervisory Cat IIJoseph Domeier

902nd CES

Civilian Supervisory Cat IJames Rouse

902nd Logistics Readiness Squadron

Company Grade OfficerCapt. Antwan Floyd

902nd SFS

Civilian Nonsupervisory Cat IRichard Campos

802nd Contracting Squadron

Civilian Nonsupervisory Cat IIIRhonda Chavez

902nd CONS

Civilian Supervisory Cat IIChristopher Underwood

502nd Comptroller Squadron


FEATUREFEATURE

902nd SFS Training Hits the Bullseye

Photos by Rich McFaddenMembers of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron take cover and practice their communica-tions and tactics as they approach a simulated hostile fi re zone. The Randolph squadron deployed to Camp Talon on base Oct. 18 for a fi eld training exercise that hones the expedi-tionary skills necessary for deployment.

Left to right: Senior Airman Adam Dunham, Airmen 1st Class Fronshia Wilson and Joshua Zuniga, and Staff Sgt. Scott Mel-lott, 902nd Security Forces Squadron, re-view assembly instructions for setting up an expeditionary tent Oct. 18.

Members of the 902nd Se-curity Forces Squadron assemble an expeditionary tent during an exercise here Oct. 18.

Members of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron sweep build-ings to clear a simulated village of simu-lated enemy combatants during an exercise here Oct. 18.

More than 65 members of the 902nd Security Forces Squadron worked together during a fi eld training exercise Oct. 18 to hone their expedition-ary skills and prepare for future deployments. During the fi eld training, the squadron teamed up to accomplish mission objectives, which were to construct a base expeditionary tent in a simulated deployed location and to clear a village of hostiles while using their team tactics. The fi eld training is conducted annually to keep SFS Airmen profi cient. This year, the fi eld training was conducted at the Camp Talon training area on the east side of Ran-dolph Air Force Base.


902nd Force Support Squadron Briefs


SportsBRIEFS

Veterans' Day golf tournament

The Randolph Oaks Golf Course hosts a Veterans' Day golf tournament Nov. 11, with tee times at 7-9 a.m. The entry fee is $10 plus green fees and cart rental. Call 652-5268 to sign up.

Registration for youth basketball, cheerleading

Registration for the 2011-12 basketball and cheerleading programs takes place through Monday at the Randolph Youth Center, Bldg. 584.

These programs are for boys and girls ages 5-18. The registration fee is $45. All players must have a cur-rent sports physical on file by the start of the season.

Coaches are also needed. Call the youth center sports director at 652-3298 for more information.

Bike fitnessThe Rambler Fitness

Center hosts bike rides every Thursday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Appropriate cycling gear (no mountain bikes) is required. These rides are led by a member of USA Cycling.

Get ready to golf The Randolph Oaks Golf

Course offers five days of golf lessons plus time on the course for $99 (clubs furnished). All participants will also receive a punch card for 10 nine-hole rounds of golf. Call PGA golf professional, Charles Bishop, at 244-3415 for more information.

SPORTS – HEALTH – FITNESS


When Kenneth Boyce was hired more than three years ago to become Randolph Oaks Golf Course’s superintendent, he listed im-proving the greens, working on the bunkers and pruning the trees as his priorities.

He’s followed his script to a “tee.”“The greens are 100-percent covered –

they’re healthy and resilient,” Boyce said. “We’re getting the fairways and tees in better shape, and we’re almost there with pruning all the trees. We worked on bunker renova-tions the first year.”

Armed with a bachelor of science degree in horticulture from Texas Tech University, Boyce came to Randolph with a mission to improve the condition of the 62-year-old golf course. Troy Gann, who manages the course, said the superintendent is succeeding.

“Our greatest improvement was in hiring Mr. Boyce, who is taking the golf course to the next level,” he said. “The course just seems to get better every week. Our customers con-tinue to brag on the job Kenneth is doing.”

Boyce, whose emphasis in college was in turfgrass science, immediately applied his knowledge to upgrading the putting sur-

faces, which he said were ragged when he started.

“We soil test and make sure we maintain the proper nutrient ratios,” he said, refer-ring to the measured application of potas-sium, calcium, manganese and nitrogen to the soil. “We predominantly hand-water the greens to control high and dry areas.”

Boyce said about 140 of the course’s 240 acres are irrigated with recycled wastewa-ter supplied by the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority. He said the course’s native areas are not watered.

“Water is pumped from their recycling plant into our four irrigation lakes,” he said. “They’re a chain of lakes that are linked by underground pipes, and they’re filled every day.”

Boyce said the drought has had a huge im-pact on the amount of irrigation this year, but the recycling plant provides a steady source of water.

“We’ve pumped more water this year than in the previous three,” he said.

Boyce said he and his crew are also having success controlling weeds and pests, such as cutworms, which can affect the greens.

“Everything is generally in better shape,” he said. “We have pretty good control on ev-

erything that can cause harm.”Gann said the trimmed trees are one of the

course’s most noticeable improvements.Boyce said pruning allows light to filter

to the grass and gives golfers more room to swing under the trees.

“You can see through the golf course,” he said. “It gives it a country club appear-ance.”

Boyce, who’s been a golfer since age 9, said he’s looking forward to other projects, such as rebuilding the tees, reconstructing some of the fairway bunkers and improving the driving range.

“The sky’s the limit,” he said. “We want to keep getting better and better. People feel the conditions here are good. There’s a good quality turf to hit off and the greens are all true.”

Boyce said he’s had advantages in attend-ing to his duties, including “a lot of support from the people above me” in the form of funding and equipment.

Gann said Boyce has provided leadership, education, a strong work ethic and team building and has the benefit of a “great staff.”

“Kenneth and his staff are always tackling projects to improve play,” he said.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

Randolph golf course greens updated 'to a tee'

Kenneth Boyce, Ran-dolph Oaks Golf Course superintendent, takes a soil sample to be tested for nutrients Tuesday.Photo by David Terry

randolph air force base 65th year • no. 43 • october …extras.mysanantonio.com/randolph/102811...

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