Be Alert ... School Starts Monday
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE 64th Year • No. 33 • AUGUST 20, 2010 Be Alert ... School starts Page 10 Monday INSIDE ... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, P3 ... COL. PEEL TAKES COMMAND, P5 ... GRIDIRON GRIT, P12 ... SIGN-UP FOR RAMBLER 120, P14 PAGE 2 WINGSPREAD AUGUST 20, 2010 AUGUST 20, 2010 WINGSPREAD PAGE 3 COMMENTARY ON THE COVER NEWS Maj. Mike Cranston, T-1 instructor pilot, signals for pick up during a simulated helicopter rescue after a water bail out. Contractor gains appreciation for AF The practice was part of water survival Mission accomplished for ‘workhorse’ simulators refresher training for T-1 pilots Aug. 5. By Robert Goetz helped students learn how to use radar By David Roberts that servicemembers also face a unique For more photos of the training, see 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs and navigate using radar. Defense Media Activity-San Antonio set of circumstances at home. page 10. Photo by Steve White Colonel Deitschel said more than “In addition to my For instance, when my work day is Combat systems officer training at 20,000 students from the Air Force, “Where’s Sergeant Thompson?” finished, my time is essentially my own cluelessness about the Randolph won’t end until the last class Navy, Marines and Coast Guard and “He’s TDY until Wednesday at oh-six- until the start of the next work day. graduates Oct. 1, but one of the pro- aviators from 37 different countries hundred, but then he has his PT test, countless acronyms However, for military members, the gram’s most durable – and essential – honed their navigation skills using the and he starts out-processing next week duty day never ends. Servicemembers WINGSPREAD being constantly tools was retired last week, its final T45 simulators at Mather and for his PCS to a new AOR.” are on duty 24/7, and as a result, they mission accomplished. Randolph, where it was a constant for “Oh. I thought he was going to help bandied about, I was must be prepared to report to work 502nd Air Base Wing Members of Class 10-15, the 562nd nearly 20 years. me with the CSAF and SecAF stories, whenever they are needed. This means Operating Location Bravo also largely unaware of Flying Training Squadron’s C Flight, He said the T45 simulator was “anti- but I guess I’ll have to check with my that they face restrictions on conduct, Editorial Staff spent the afternoon of Aug. 11 conduct- quated” compared to the state-of-the- NCOIC to see what the plan is.” the sacrifices made by travel and personal freedom that those Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick ing their last missions in the CSO pro- art T25 simulator that was used at “Well, if you need help with the pho- of us in the civilian world often take Commander those with whom I was gram’s remaining T45 navigation simu- Randolph’s 563rd FTS, the squadron tos, you can call the MAJCOM with the for granted. 1st Lt. Ryan Ernst working.” lators, which have served the Air Force tasked with the electronic warfare com- VIRINs, and they should be able to get As a result of this constant dedication, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs since they were first used at Mather Air ponent of CSO training. The T25 simu- you the cutlines ASAP.” our homeland is safe, and our nation Kelly Parsons Force Base, Calif., in the early 1970s. lator is now a mainstay at the 479th While this hypothetical conversation remains strong. Editor “The T45 simulator has been around Flying Training Group at Naval Air may be an exaggeration, it captures the In some regards, this is true. Many Because of this, I am both privileged Airman 1st Class Precious Yett for 37 years,” said Lt. Col. Peter Station Pensacola, Fla., where the next essence of the dialogue I heard on my servicemembers do work in an office and proud to have the opportunity to Robert Goetz, Brian McGloin Deitschel, 562nd FTS commander. “It’s generation of CSOs is training. first day as a contractor for the Air environment similar to their civilian work beside my Airmen counterparts, Staff Writers been a workhorse for the Air Force.” “Someone had to push buttons,” Force News Service at Defense Media counterparts. They spend time off with and to gain a perspective on both the Maggie Armstrong “Direct replicas” of what students see Colonel Deitschel said, and the operators Activity-San Antonio. friends and family, and are continuously Air Force and the greater U.S. military Graphic Designer in the T-43 aircraft, the program’s 24 at the console, personnel from contractor Prior to my arrival, I was unaccus- working to grow in their careers. that many civilians may never T45 simulators – four student stations LB&B Associates Inc., acted as pilot and tomed to working with members of However, I have learned that the life encounter. Each day on the job is a and an operator/instructor console in air traffic controller while adjusting air- Photo by Rich McFadden the military. As a result, my first of a servicemember requires a unique learning experience, and the more I Wingspread Office each of six complexes – prepared navi- speed, altitude and headings. From left to right: Second Lt.s Daniel Howe, Chris Creveling and Dan Duck, from the days working alongside my Airmen set of challenges and sacrifices not learn, the more I am able to con- 1150 5th Street East gation and electronic warfare students 562nd Flying Training Squadron, plot the course they will take during the last T-45 colleagues were both humbling often faced by civilians. tribute, within my function, to the Air Randolph AFB, Texas 78150 for their future duties. The simulators See SIMS P8 simulation at Randolph. and enlightening. Perhaps the most poignant of these is Force’s mission, which in a small way Phone: (210) 652-5760 In addition to my cluelessness about the fact that many current servicemem- is my mission. Fax: (210) 652-3142 the countless acronyms being constant- bers have, at some point in their This mission has changed the way I Wingspread Advertisements Prime Time Military Newspapers ly bandied about, I was also largely careers, deployed to Iraq or think. 2203 S. Hackberry unaware of the sacrifices made by those Afghanistan, in support of operations Where I previously seldom noticed San Antonio, Texas 78210 with whom I was working. Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Air Force planes in the sky, I now try to Randolph’s ‘flying classroom’ down to final missions Phone: (210) 534-8848 While I had always respected ser- The stories of the dangers, trials and identify them. Wingspread e-mail By Robert Goetz electronic warfare students, Lt. Col. Robert Orris, Paraphrasing Col. Jacqueline Van Ovost, former vicemembers’ role in protecting our triumphs of deployment, as told by my Where the operations in Iraq and [email protected] nation, I didn’t fully realize that the coworkers and in countless news arti- Afghanistan used to be news stories on 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs 563rd Flying Training Squadron commander, called 12th Flying Training Wing commander, Colonel mission to protect and defend extend- cles and commentaries read during the television, now I sit up and take a per- it “an opportunity to put their learning to use in a Deitschel said instructors “take spectators and ed at all times to each and every course of my daily responsibilities as an sonal interest in what is going on there This paper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, a An aircraft that has helped train budding navi- more realistic environment.” make them aviators” in the time they study here. private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under gators and electronic warfare officers at Randolph “This one’s a bit different,” said Maj. Jeffrey “They grow up while they’re here,” he said. member of the military. editor, have been both touching and and how it affects our men and women exclusive written contract with Randolph AFB, Texas. This com- Like many civilians who have seldom heart-wrenching. in uniform. mercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publica- for nearly 20 years will soon be grounded forever, Welborn, 562nd FTS director of operations. “This The T-43 retirement observance, which will begin crossed paths professionally with men Additionally, when servicemembers And, where I used to bristle at the tion for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the but not before the “flying classroom” completes time we’re combining both squadrons in a final Sept. 16 with a golf tournament at 9 a.m. and a social Wingspread are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed two important missions. event. They will be learning from each other.” hour for dining-in and spouses’ dinner participants at and women in uniform, I always deploy, they leave behind loved ones copious use of acronyms, I now use by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the assumed that wars were fought by des- and the comforts of home. They spend them on a regular basis, though I some- Department of the Air Force. Students in Class 10-15, Randolph’s final combat Students planned the mission and gave a briefing 5:19 p.m., will feature the aircraft’s final flight, part of ignated combat troops, with other mili- holidays, birthdays and anniversaries in times forget that DEERS does not refer The appearance of advertising in this publication, including systems officer graduating class, are taking part in Wednesday.