FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 GATEWAY TO THE AIR FORCE • LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS • www.lackland.af.mil • Vol. 67 No. 36 PAYING TRIBUTE INSIDE Bldg. 171 project Commentary 4 right on schedule Straight Talk 5 Recognition 6 By Mike Joseph divided into eight bays News & Features Staff Writer after Port San Antonio took control of the facili- Renovation of one of ty. Each bay runs the largest buildings in between 40,000 and San Antonio, Bldg. 171 50,000 square feet. at Port San Antonio, is Port San Antonio was on time as the first per- unable to find enough Stem cell transplant 12 manent tenants prepare occupants to fill the to move into their new building, and an agree- surroundings in mid- ment was worked out October. following BRAC 2005 “Everything is run- that now will allow the ning on schedule,” said Air Force to take back Heath Drader, Bldg. 171 the building through a Assisting Armenia 14 program manager and series of fair market chief of Air Education value land and building and Training Com- exchanges between the mand’s Base Realign- two parties. ment and Closure pro- BRAC 2005 provided gram management of- the Air Force with fice. “The contractor has money to move and con- Adopting MWDs 15 done a superior job solidate agencies. With although we’ve thrown some additional pro- him a few curves as gram dollars, Bldg. 171 we’ve gone along.” became a viable housing The renovated build- option for these new ing, more than 450,000 agencies. square feet, is a single- “When you crunch all story structure that the numbers (and do) a POW/MIA marathon 22 stretches one-quarter cost benefit analysis, it mile. makes perfect sense to When complete, Mr. do it all in this building Drader said it would be versus new buildings at one of the largest single- Lackland,” Mr. Drader level administrative said. buildings in the Depart- Mr. Drader said as ment of Defense. much as possible was Photo by William Belcher A former shipping salvaged but basically, Members of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency Color depot and logistics cen- each bay had to be reno- Guard unfurl the POW/MIA flag during a ceremony Sept. 17. The agency's annual ter before BRAC 1995 vated. Still, renovating View the Talespinner online remembrance of those held prisoner of war and missing in action recognized five ex- at www.lackland.af.mil closed Kelly Air Force POWs in attendance and paid tribute to fallen comrades from the U.S. Armed Forces. Base, Bldg. 171 was See PROJECT P2 PAGE 2 TALESPINNER SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 SFS implements new visitor access policy A new policy is changing the way installation should be aware that a visitors can be sponsored on base at criminal history check may be con- Lackland. ducted on all non-DoD individuals Sponsoring a visitor onto the instal- requesting access. lation requires an authorized sponsor. All visitors over the age of 18 must Authorized sponsors are limited to have a valid photo identification card active duty and retired military and in their possession and have an their dependents over age 18, authorized sponsor. Department of Defense civilian “Every visitor on the installation, be employees, Reserve and National it a contractor, personal guest, pizza Guard on orders, and Inter-American delivery person, etc., are the responsi- Air Force Academy instructors. There bility of the wing commander,” Mr. are no other personnel categories that Levasseur said. “To mitigate risk to can sponsor a visitor onto the installa- the Lackland personnel and mission, tion. stringent entry protocols are a must.” Authorized sponsors may request Personal visit requests of less than visitor entry in one of three ways: 30 days require an authorized spon- • Send a digitally signed e-mail from a sor. Visit requests of more than 30 government e-mail account to days but less than 179 days require an [email protected]; authorized sponsor along with an • Personally go to one of the visitor endorsed memo from the unit com- centers to vouch for the guest; or mander. The 37th Mission Support • Send a hardcopy memo to 37th Group commander must approve visits Security Forces Squadron, Pass and in excess of 180 days. Registration. The hardcopy memo “Although the base entry proce- option requires a signed signature dures may seem to be inconvenient, card be on file in Pass and they are necessary to ensure Lack- Registration. land remains a secure place to live, E-mail requests can be sent while a work and play,” said Mr. Levasseur. visitor is at the VRC although advance “Through education and cooperation notice is preferred. For groups of 30 by all Team Lackland members, we or more, 10 business days is required can help to ensure we aren’t the next for processing. national headline reporting a vicious Photo by Alan Boedeker According to Mark Levasseur, chief, attack.” James Ramos checks an ID card at Lackland’s Airman’s Gate Monday. The 37th Security plans and programs for 37th SFS, the Additional information can be Forces Squadron no longer accepts phone call requests to sponsor a non-DoD ID card- change may be an inconvenience, but obtained by calling 37th SFS Police holder onto Lackland. Authorized sponsors may request visitor entry in person, through a a necessary step in securing Lackland Services at 671-7255. digitally signed e-mail from a government account, or by sending a hardcopy memo to assets. All sponsors and visitors to the (Courtesy of 37th SFS) 37th SFS, Pass and Registration. PROJECT from P1 into Bldg. 171 as bays are completed. Mr. Drader said bays 1, 3 and 4 Support Group upon completion in “But those BRAC agencies weren’t should be completely occupied by late 2010. Bldg. 171 was more cost effective for going to fill up the building, so several mid-November. Recently, Lackland, Port San the Air Force than erecting new facili- other agencies that needed to region- Bay 2, which is being used as swing Antonio and the City of San Antonio ties. alize are moving here that aren’t tied space now, and bays 5, 6, 7 and 8 will entered into an agreement to fund a “Nobody can afford to build any- to BRAC,” said Mr. Bohannon-Bey. be finished and occupied in multiple growth management study to provide thing,” said George DeCoux, 37th One of the agencies relocated into phases during 2010. traffic and infrastructure recommen- Mission Support Group deputy com- Bldg. 171 before October 2010 is the When the $70 million project is dations at Port San Antonio. mander. “Everyone wants to renovate Air Force Services Agency. complete, about 2,900 workers will The increased traffic flow, Mr. existing buildings if possible.” Consolidating the services agency call Bldg. 171 their new office home. DeCoux said, should not affect According to Rumel Bohannon-Bey, operations and moving to Bldg. 171 Although the BRAC programming Lackland as a minimum of two gated Lackland BRAC/Joint Basing program will save the Air Force about $2.5 mil- office is managing the massive reno- entries are planned for Bldg. 171. manager, over the next year, several lion a year in leases. vation project, the building will be “It’s like having another wing to units from Brooks City-Base will move Barring any unforeseen problems, turned over to the 37th Mission support,” said Mr. Bohannon-Bey. To report Fraud, Waste & Abuse matters or if you have a concern and are unsure if you should file a complaint, contact the 37 TRW/IG Office at 671-3347 or e-mail to [email protected]. SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 TALESPINNER PAGE 3 News RIFLE DRILLS BRIEFS FLU VACCINE AVAILABLE The seasonal flu vaccine is available at several base locations, and base med- ical officials recommend that it be taken within the next two weeks. Locations are: • Wilford Hall Medical Center flu vaccine tent, WHMC front lawn, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Kelly and North Central clinics, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Immunization clinic, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH Activities for Hispanic Heritage Month continue for Team Lackland. A Hispanic Heritage-themed 5K run is Wednesday, a luncheon Thursday at the Photo by Robbin Cresswell Members of the Air Force Honor Guard drill with M-1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets during a Sept. 18 performance. The Gateway Club and a Latin dance Oct. 3 Air Force Honor Guard drill team tours worldwide in public and military venues to recruit, retain and inspire Airmen. at Mitchell Hall. AFISR CELEBRATION Personnel officials launch new civilian employment Web site The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency By Staff Sgt. Steve Grever employment site also aligns with AFPC’s will celebrate its 61st anniversary today Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs roll out of the “Your Future” employ- and Saturday with a series of events. ment marketing and recruiting cam- A dedication ceremony for an RF-4 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE paign this month. aircraft is 9-10 a.m. today in front for (AFNS) – Air Force Personnel Center “The overall strategy of the ‘Your officials have developed a new Air Future’ campaign is to help market and Bldg. 2012 on Kirknewton Street. Also Force civilian employment Web site to brand the Air Force as a premier civil- today, a remembrance ceremony and educate potential applicants and the ian employer,” said Shirlene LeBleu, the special tribute for 1st Lt.