(850) 678-1080 • [email protected] ★ The Hometown Paper for Hurlburt Field ★ Friday, January 23, 2009 Inside Airmen fight battle of the bulge Weight Warrior program aims Presidential advice Local to cut fat, add health, strength offi- cials By Dianne Bitzes raise the entrance fee from $25 to Correspondent $50. Last year, we did have fewer and Wednesday kicked off the fourth people drop out of the program, so promi- annual Weight Warrior competition we kept the $50 fee, thinking it nente at Hurlburt might provide enough incentive to people Field, designed keep people going. It’s still a better discuss to help those deal than paying a trainer $25-$30 at what who want to a gym downtown.” they think President lose a few The Weight Warriors competition Obama’s priorities pounds or just was originally based on the popular get stronger to reality television series “The Biggest should be. See page 2. do so in a con- Loser.” Like its televised counter- Calling all officers trolled atmos- part, Weight Warriors helps contest- phere. ants make regular exercise and The NWF Military “There is an Karen Cataldo health-conscious dietary choices part Officers Association entrance fee of their everyday living. announced new leaders ($50) which covers the cost of prizes “It’s our goal to help develop a and welcomed any war- and T-shirts,” said Karen Cataldo, specialized program for individuals rant or commissioned director of the Riptide Fitness so they can achieve their personal Photos by Dianne Bitzes officer, active or retired, Center, which sponsors the program. health goals,” said Cataldo. In the middle of the group trying to improve their health is “A critique session following the Capt. James ‘Bubba’ May (wearing glasses). His wife, to join. See page 5. 2007 contest indicated we should Please see AIRMEN, page 4 Robin, is to his left. What’s up? Check out Helping airmen get handle on finances the Patriot Seminar covers investment, savings and money security calen- dar for By Dianne Bitzes places Correspondent to go A financial readiness program at Eglin Wednesday and was just what the banker ordered. things to do during the “I learned new strategies for dealing with a split Gulf Coast holiday sea- household,” said Tech. Sgt. Heath Autrey of the 33MXS. son. See page 6. “Much of what they offered was relevant to my situation, with the 33rd moving this summer.” Sting like a bee Through a partnership with several federal agencies The Womens Airforce and nonprofit organizations, the Department of Defense (DoD) brought its Financial Readiness Campaign road Security Pilots— show to Eglin Wednesday. At the invitation of Col. Rick WASPs—of World War LoCastro, 96th Air Base Wing commander, the campaign II flew more than 60 targeted active duty, Guardsmen and Reserve members million miles in support and their families to the customized community outreach of the war effort. See event. story, page 7. “When DoD offered the Personal Finance and Transition road show to interested bases, we jumped at the opportunity,” said Vince Halverson, director Airman & Family Readiness Center. “We invited A&FRC coun- terparts at Hurlburt and NAS Whiting Field to collaborate Photo by Dianne Bitzes Better Business Bureau adviser Tammy Fowler provides information to Please see HELPING, page 3 Capt. and Mrs. Mario Maxwell. Honor Guard reflects Commando pride By Dianne Bitzes the flag,” recalls honor guard Correspondent NCOIC Staff Sgt. Janieson Hurlburt Field’s base honor Ross. “Going down on one knee guard is housed in an out-of- in front of her—presenting her the-way building just west of JR the flag that moments earlier Rockers at the end of the park- draped her husband’s casket; ing lot. Inside the building, visi- there’s nothing like it.” Ross tors can’t help but notice two speaks from experience; he’s caskets sitting on elevated been a member of the honor stands at the far end of the guard since 2000. room. Stacks of folded flags The volunteers make a one- line the window sills. The wall year commitment to be on the opposite the caskets has a honor guard. mural-sized organizational “It’s a huge sacrifice, even patch, painted by honor guard though we are assigned here,” member Senior Airman said Alvarado. “There is a lot of Eduardo Alvarado. The base after-hours time required.” honor guard motto: “To honor The year-long special duty with dignity.“ assignment is broken into two “There is nothing like the halves. For the first six months, Photo by Dianne Bitzes feeling you get when an 85- personnel practice daily for Members of the Hurlburt Field Honor Guard practice removing a flag from a casket and folding it year-old widow puts a vise grip into a triangle. on your arm as you hand her Please see HONOR, page 4 Page 2 Hurlburt Patriot Friday, January 23, 2009 Economy seen as most urgent Obama priority Other concerns include terror threat, foreign oil dependence, health care By Del Lessard will be the top priority for the expressed the fear that credit, lack of confidence and the said: “The Obama administration and Kenneth Books new president. Americans’ reliance on govern- effects of an international finan- is inheriting a financial sector, Staff Writers Maintaining high quality edu- ment to solve the country’s eco- cial crisis. The president’s first economic performance and feder- Prominent local people, no cation in the U.S. during bad eco- nomic problems will result in priority, his second priority and al budget disaster. Their No. 1 pri- matter what nomic climate will be challenging more headaches in the future. his third priority need to be the ority will necessarily be getting a their party for the new administration, but “The laws of economics and the fundamentals of the economy.” fiscal stimu- affiliation, Tibbetts is hopeful based on laws of politics often clash,” he “I do not believe government lus package agree. The Obama’s selection of Arne said. creates prosperity, but government through most urgent Duncan as Secretary of Retention can place obstacles in the way of Congress priority— Education. As schools superin- of existing economic activity and govern- and then fig- and the tendent in Chicago, Duncan has jobs and cre- ment can be ill-timed or wrong- uring out greatest been a non-polarizing figure and ation of new headed in the strategies it uses,” how to cut challenge— has supported the same priorities ones are the Gaetz said. “There are things gov- spending facing that she does—science, technolo- top priorities ernment can do that will harm dramatically Barack President gy, engineering and math, as well suggested by economic recovery and things in 2011 and Obama is Barack Obama as an emphasis on pre-kinder- Larry that will help it. I think the presi- 2012 once Rick Harper the faltering economy. Other, sec- garten for 4-year-olds, Tibbetts Sassano, dent will have to carefully (meas- recovery is ondary, concerns include the need said. head of the ure) the amount of government in in place. A normal federal budget for constant vigilance against ter- “As the financial crisis contin- Okaloosa Larry Sassano the economy so we don’t over- deficit would be from 1 to 3 per- rorism, health care, and ues, she said, the public needs to County Economic Development dose.” cent of gross domestic product, Americans’ dependence on for- understand that schools won’t be Council. He said he feels that “By every indication, the pres- and we ended up just over 3 per- eign oil. able to deliver the same level of Okaloosa County is poised to lead ident understands that everything cent for 2008. But the federal On Tuesday, Obama was services. Florida out of the recession with else depends upon recovering this budget deficit for just the first sworn in as the country’s 44th Okaloosa County the influx of construction dollars country’s economic vitality,” three months of the new fiscal chief executive. The Bay Beacon Administrator Jim Curry said tied to the planned basing of the Gaetz said. “I’m reading a book year, which began Oct. 1, was asked a variety of local communi- he’s sure that the economy and Army 7th Special Forces Group called “Traitor to His Class: The bigger than the entire federal ty leaders what they thought the the war will at Eglin Air Force Base, followed Privileged Life and Radical budget deficit for FY 2008. The top priorities should be for the be Obama’s by planned training facilities for Presidency of Franklin Delano budget deficit will likely hit $1.2 new administration, as well as priorities. the Joint Strike Fighter. Roosevelt,” by H.W. Brands. So trillion for 2009, which is 8 to 9 what priorities they thought “But if I had Sassano said the president’s many of the problems we’re fac- percent of GDP.” President Obama himself would his ear I top three priorities appear to be: ing now parallel difficulties the Peter J. Blome, secretary of stress. would like 1) jobs and the economy; 2) halt- country faced in 1932 and 1933, the Libertarian Party of Okaloosa Dist. 1 Congressman Jeff to put right ing foreclosures in the housing including lack of confidence in County, said Obama should con- Miller, at the top, market; 3) freeing up borrowing the economy and greed on Wall centrate on increasing individual Rep., lowering our for consumers. Street. I think Obama is seeing rights and safeguarding constitu- Chumuckla, dependence “Clearly their first priority is the same things FDR saw and that tional rights. said, “I hope on foreign the economy,” said Niceville busi- is, until the nation’s economy “There should be a reemphasis the Obama oil,” Curry Jim Curry nesswoman and Democratic Party recovers, very little else will get upon the rule administra- said.