COLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP SCHRIEVER SENTINEL Thursday, August 30, 2007 www.csmng.com Vol. 1 No. 8 Base Briefs ABU’s make debut at Schriever Essay contest focuses on Air By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez Force history 50th Space Wing Public Affairs An essay contest is being held in The new Airman Battle Uniform has re- which the winner will receive a ticket cently made its debut at Schriever for some to the 60th Air Force Birthday Bash deploying members here and has recently taking place Sept. 21 at Peterson. become available for purchase at Peterson’s Submissions must be 300 words or Military Clothing Sales. less and describe the most significant Two Airmen here at Schriever, who were event or events in the history of the Air both issued a set of ABU’s for their upcoming Force in the writer’s opinion. All essays deployments, offer their opinions about the must be submitted by Aug. 30. new uniform. For more information, contact Mr. “From a functionality standpoint, I love Michael Joseph at 556-7522 or at mi- the wash and wear capability,” said Master [email protected]. Sgt. Jason Gresens, NCOIC of the Financial Submit essays to michael.joseph@ Management and Analysis office here peterson.af.mil or sabrina.deramus@ who acquired the ABU for an upcoming schriever.af.mil deployment. The ABU does not require dry cleaning, Reunion & Reintegration starch or even ironing. These processes would Retreat cause the fiber to deteriorate and shorten the lifespan of the uniform as compared to the Servicemembers from Schriever current Battle Dress Uniform that is being who have returned from a deployment phased out. since October 2006 are invited to bring Despite its wash and wear feature, certain their families to the 2007 Reunion & precautions should be taken when washing Reintegration Retreat. the ABU. The chaplain sponsored event is “Be careful in how you launder it,” said slated for Sept. 14-16 at Horn Creek. Staff Sgt. Lance Tressler, NCOIC for Chapel To sign up, contact Chief Master Operations here who also is wearing the new Sgt. Lopez, NOG Rep. at 567-4615; ABU for an upcoming deployment. “Make 1st Lt. Sanders, OG Rep. at 567-2961; sure the soap you use does not have optical and Master Sgt. Maynard, MSG and brightness in it.” Wing Staff Rep. at 567-5693. Detergent containing optical brighteners For more information, contact Staff causes the fabric of the ABU to become more Sgt. Ammon Hickman at 567-3705 or at visible in the darkness under certain kinds [email protected] of light. Photo by Kim Kruiss As far as feel goes, Sergeants Gresens and Optional DG beneficiary Tressler agree on how the material allows for designation now available better ventilation. “They seemed to ventilate adequately dur- An optional death gratuity beneficia- Master Sgt. Jason Gresens talks about the new Airman Battle Uniform with 50th Space Wing commander Col. See ABU page ry designation is now available on the Terry Djuric at Peterson’s Military Clothing Sales. Virtual Record of Emergency Data. Servicemembers can voluntarily elect a designated individual to receive a maximum of 50 percent. 50th Space Wing adds new antenna to its network Servicemembers can use the remarks section to designate an optional DG ben- By Corey Dahl mander of the 50th’s Network The Air Force Space and “To me, it was a eficiary by including their first name, Space Observer Operations Group, accepted con- Missiles System Center detach- middle initial and last name, address One of the newest antennas in trol of New Hampshire’s Antedo ment, located at the Consolidated true ‘Total Force’ including zip code, telephone number the country is now part of the antenna from the Satellite Integrations Support Facility on effort.” and percentage in increments of 10 until 50th Space Wing’s Air Force Control and Network Systems Pete East, oversaw construction the current version of vRED is modified Satellite Control Network. Group at a ceremony on Peterson of the project. Col. Robert Skinner, 50th’s to allow automatic updating. Col. Robert Skinner, com- Aug. 22. The turnover makes the 50th For questions, contact Casualty Space Wing responsible for main- Network Operations Group Assistance Rep. Tyra Hickerson at 567- tenance, support and operations commander 5916 or contact the Casualty Services for the brand-new $16.1 million Branch at DSN 665-3505, toll free 1- antenna, an essential tool for tors started working together 800-433-0048 or at afpc.casualty@ satellite communications. The in 1998 to build the antenna’s randolph.af.mil antenna is one of 15 operated replacement, installing a new For more information, contact Senior by the AFSCN at eight locations ringwall, support building, Master Sgt. Boggis at 567-5412 or at worldwide. antenna and inflatable radome [email protected] “This is one of the newest just a few miles south of the old antennas to be added to the antenna. 60th Air Force Birthday Bash network since the late ‘80s,” Installation finished in 2005 Colonel Skinner said. “It’s a big and was then followed by months taking place Sept. 21 improvement over some of the of tinkering and testing to get The Peterson Consolidated Club will older technologies we were work- the antenna online. hold the 60th Air Force Birthday Bash ing with.” Now that it is active, the Antedo Sept. 21. The Antedo antenna replaces antenna can communicate with Social hour starts at 6 p.m. followed a 44-year-old antenna in New hundreds of satellites, sending by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for A view of the New Hampshire that was decom- and receiving communications, club members and $23 for non-mem- Hampshire’s Antedo an- missioned in 2004. Meant to early warning, intelligence and bers and can be purchased through tenna, before the familiar last a maximum of 28 years, the weather data. your unit’s first sergeant. “golf ball” is put in place. antenna’s retirement was well But the real accomplishment, For more information, contact Master The Antedo antenna overdue. said Colonel Skinner, has been Sgt. Michael Joseph at 556-7522 or at replaces a 44-year-old “We were lucky that it even the amount of teamwork in- [email protected]. antenna that was decom- lasted that long,” said Lt. Col. volved in getting the antenna missioned in 2004. Monica Concholar, an assistant up and running. to Col. Philip Simonsen, com- “To me, it was a true ‘Total mander of the Satellite Control Force’ effort,” Colonel Skinner Inside and Network Systems Group, said. “And when I say ‘Total News ................................. 3-6 which was in charge of the in- Force,’ I truly mean military, Get Out and Go ...................... 7 stallation project. government, civilians, reserv- Feature ................................... 10 U.S. Air Force photo Teams of civil service em- ists. This is a real achievement ployees, Airmen and contrac- for everyone involved.” 2 August 30, 2007 Schriever Sentinel Schriever Sentinel August 30, 2007 3 PUBLISHER Lon P. Matejczyk [email protected] Editorial Editor Mike Boyd [email protected] Staff Reporter Lorna Gutierrez [email protected] ADVERTISING Advertising Director/GM Tex Stuart [email protected] Tammy Fogall [email protected] Kathleen Gannon [email protected] Linda Stuart [email protected] Photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez Classified Ad Manager Four bands from Schriever competed Aug. 10 in front of Building 210 to determine who would represent Schriever at Cripple Creek’s two-day event honoring the military. Method Heidi Witherington 23 was chosen to represent Schriever and competed against bands from Peterson, Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy. The event coincided with a promotion celebration for Heidi. [email protected] those promoted to first lieutenant and captain. The promotion party and band competition was put together by 1st Lt. Rod Douglas from 50th OSS, and Capt. Umar Khan who works ART DEPARTMENT at Peterson, both part of the Company Grade Officer’s Committee. The competition was created to help generate more interest in Cripple Creek’s annual celebration for the military. Cripple Creek Honor’s America’s Armed Forces is a two-day event which took place Aug. 18-19. Art Director Rowdy Tompkins [email protected] Band from Schriever wins Cripple Creek’s Battle of the Bands Assistant Production By Lorna Gutierrez Sergeant Smith and his band, consisting “There were a lot of people there having fun,” Manager Schriever Sentinel of Curt Kemper, Bruce Chouinard and Jason Sergeant Smith said. “It was a good crowd.” Jeff Adcox Schriever’s Battle of the Bands winner, Method Ropeter, competed against four other bands Sergeant Smith and his band play a lot of mod- [email protected] 23, struck gold at Cripple Creek on Aug.18, pre- from Schriever to make it to the finals. Once ern rock covers in addition to what he calls some vailing as the overall winner in a contest that there, they played a six song set in front of the older stuff and some dance music. They’re hoping pitted them against three other bands from Fort judges and crowd. The set was a little differ- to start writing original music soon. Carson, the United States Air Force Academy ent for the band as, instead of a dancing bar The band also plans to participate in some of and Peterson Air Force Base. crowd, the captive audience was seated in the the Air Force Academy tailgate parties, in addi- Master Sgt. Kenneth Smith of Schriever, lead/ provided bleachers. But dancing or no danc- tion to participating in the USO show benefiting rhythm guitar player, heads up the champion ing, the audience and judges loved the music the troops Oct.