The Arctic Guardian

February 2019

The Arctic Guardian

Senior Airman Kara Goodness-Tisland, 168th Maintenance Squadron aircraft mechanic, Alaska Air National Guard, installs a leading edge flap on a KC-135R Stratotanker following routine maintence Jan. 27, 2019. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Mae S. Frazier) During the first drill weekend of 2019, the 168th Security Forces Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, completed a Security Forces combative course instructed by combat arms supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Jordon Thompson. With several members currently deployed and more deploying this year, these skills will equip Airmen with the necessary tools and confidence when responding to hostile situations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Mae S. Frazier)

Lt. Col. Heather Jones, chief of medical staff for the 168th Medical Group and Col. Craig Thomas, commander of the medical group, are observed demonstrating life support CPR skills by Master Sgt. Charles Hamby, bio-environmental technician and course facilitator. Once they successfully completed the course, participants received a two-year certification with the American Heart Association. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Mae S. Frazier) 2 PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

Alaska Air National Guard Senior Airman Tyler Winterton, Crew Chief with the 168th Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, prepares his aircraft prior to mission on Dec. 3, 2018. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Master Sgt. Scott Thompson.)

3 Green Dot: 168th leaders implement

Storybystander by Airman 1st Class intervention Shannon Chace, 168th Wing Publicskills Affairs

Green Dot training volunteers with the During training, implementers are taught 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, re- what a class should look like, how to teach the flect on their involvement and the importance different parts and how to create their own of a program that addresses difficult topics independent parts. Despite this, implement- people may be uncomfortable discussing. ing the Green Dot program can be challeng- Green Dot training is an Air Force wide an- ing at times for all the volunteers. nual requirement that began three years ago. “The subject’s covered by Green Dot, like The interactive training program focuses on suicide and sexual assault, are never happy providing Airmen the tools to recognize and things that people want to discuss,” said prevent interpersonal violence. Stokes. “People need to be aware of what their “I’m very supportive of the message Green co-workers are going through.” Dot has,” said For Master Sgt. Senior Master Sgt. Scott Gracik, a 168th Carrie Stokes, a Maintenance Squad- 168th Logistics ron aircraft mechan- Readiness Squad- ic, what started out ron distribution as a simple volunteer superintendent. opportunity became “I think it’s very important for people to more personal after hearing other volunteers’ know what healthy norms are in the duty sec- stories. tion.” “I think my turning point while teaching Stokes volunteered as an implementer for the classes was the other trainers and hearing 2018 to help teach Green Dot classes. Airmen their stories,” said Gracik. “How their situa- who volunteer as Green Dot implementers re- tions affected them made me think back on ceive additional training and resources from [personal situations]. It opened my eyes a lot the non-profit Green Dot organization. and made me want to pass that information “The company that created Green Dot on a little more heart felt.” provides the training to the coordina- Despite being a military requirement, Pfau tors and the implementers, and then we expressed that she hopes people will apply the facilitate it every year to the rest of the Green Dot principals no matter where they unit,” said Senior Master Sgt. Tracey Pfau, are. “It’s not just a military program it’s something a 168th Mission Support Group contract- we should be living on a day-to-day basis,” Pfau ing officer and the 168th Wing Green Dot said. “I want my daughter and other people’s fam- coordinator. ily members to believe they can get help and feel safe in their environment.” 4 Chief's corner Join the 168th Wing Innovation Team! The Air Force started designat- The question the team aims to fitness). ing funds in 2018 for innovation answer is, “What do we need to do Once those needs have been at each wing. We had a lot of lati- our jobs better?” identified, what is within our tude in how to use them. The in- This might be an equipment power to change? Can we do structions were to use these funds need, it might be a process change. something locally? Will we need to increase lethality and readiness, The team’s focus is not just on to work with outside agencies or spending them legally. I do not spending money. We want to commands? Is there an equip- remember a time when we were ment item that will fix the prob- work all issues that will make us handed such broad direction. lem? How do we prioritize how more efficient at doing our mis- The 168th had a tight timeline we spend the funds? sions (lethality) and increase our to spend the money and we were The Innovation Team will successful using those funds to mission readiness (training, medi- answer these questions. make improvements around the cal, administrative, logistics, and -Chief Master Sgt. James Wolverton wing. One of the biggest success stories was the purchase of wireless headsets for use on the flight line. Corded headsets pose a safety risk, and were constantly requiring repair due to damage caused during cold weather. This purchase seemed like a small thing, but it had an immediate impact on our mission readiness! We knew we would be getting funds again this year, so wanted to get ahead of the curve. To that end, a team has been put together to help solicit ideas, evaluate and research options, and make rec- ommendations to our leaders within the timelines designated by the Air Force. INTERESTED AIRMEN WILL ATTEND A RECURRING MEETING EVERY DRILL, SUNDAY AT 1000 IN THE HQ CONFERENCE ROOM (THIRD FLOOR). 5 Photo courtesy: Defense Equal Opportunity Management Instutue The Black History Month poster centers on a man’s silhouette consisting of numerous images of African American's from all walks of life; inventors, scientists, military members, astronauts, actors/actresses, politicians, sports figures and others. Some members include an icon of their key invention, an aspect of their profession or life, or a key historical location. The man is attired typical of a person from the early 20th century; wearing a suit, a flat cap, and is carrying a briefcase in his left hand. 6 Black History Month poster 2019 (individuals/icons/products), L to R/top to bottom Shirley Jackson Muddy Waters Microscope Red Tail P-151C Mustang Alexander Miles Fountain pen Run DMC Mae Jemison William Purvis Th urgood Marshall Aaron Douglas Medal of Honor Cholley Atkins Daisy Bates W.C. Handy Andrew Bremmer Judge William Hastie Cotton Club Patricia Bath Mary Bethune Cookman Llyod Hall Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Carter G. Woodson Aretha Franklin Althea Glbson Blood bag Rosa Parks Alex Haley, USCG Billie Holiday Wesley Augustus Williams Security Camera NASA logo Jesse Brown Marie Van Brittan Brown Arthur Mitchell Michael Jordan Alvin Ailey James Reese Boxing gloves Jessie Owens Mark Dean Dorothy Height Sister Rosetta Th arpe Medgar Evers Percy Lavon Julian Bill Robinson Scrub pad/Alfred Benjamin Septima P. Clark Elizabeth Eckford Augusta Savage Flip Wilson Taffi c light Anna Pauline “Paulie” Mur- James Meredith Garrett Morgan ray Percy Lavon Julian Gas mask Jacob Lawrence Lorraine Hansberry Apollo Th eatre Rosa Parks Arthur Ashe Ernie Favis Langston Hughes Condeleeza Rice Duke Ellington Paul Robeson Anna Arnold Hedgeman Microphone Clara Adams, U.S. Army Athletic shoe James West Gwendolyn Brooks Maya Angelou Marie Maynard Daly Gwendolyn Brooks Postal worker Wilma Rudolph Musical Records Jackie Robinson Wilma Rudolph Otis Boykin Daniel Hale Williams A. Philip Randolph Doris Miller, U.S. Navy Bobby Wilks, USCG Fannie Lou Hamer Wanda Austin Alice Walker Colin Powell, U.S. Army Montford Point coin Frederick McKinley Jones Titanium molecular structure Judith Jamison Shirley Chisholm Angela Davis Telephone Bronze Star Medal Zora Neale Hurston Henry Sampson Valerie Th omas James Earle Jones Medal of Honor recipient, Ella Baker James Earle Jones John Canley George Carruthers Otis Redding W.E.B Du Bois Meadowlark Lemon Judge William Hastie Doris Miller, U.S. Navy Mary Winston Jackson Marian Wright Edelman Bicycle frame Louis Armstrong Barack Obama Isaac Johnson Steel worker

7 Service is a family affair for Alaskan

StoryAirman by Senior Master Sgt. Paul Mann, 168th Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska--Before each Finney was born and raised in Nenana, Alaska, a regularly scheduled drill, or RSD, the commander or village of roughly 500 people that rests along the command chief of 168th Wing, Alaska Air National banks of the Nenana River, about 53 miles south of Guard asks a unit member to share his or her per- Fairbanks. sonal story. “Growing up in Nenana gave me the full Alaskan On February 8, 2019, Tech. Sgt. Cody Finney, a experience,” Finney said. “My family had a sled dog 168th Maintenance Group production controller, team and I raced in a few local sprints with my two shared her story with wing leaders. huskies, Paaka and Chinook.” While the opportunity is a chance for the Airmen to She shared how she spent her summers at fish camp practice their public speaking skills, this is not the on the Tanana River, playing on the river bank and real reason wing commanders and chiefs ask mem- picking berries while her family monitored the bers to tell their stories. The true reason is to learn fishing wheel. Finney said her decision to join the more about one another and to better understand Alaska Air National Guard was a combination of why Airmen serve. several things in her life. (continued) 8 Finney said while “Growing up, I never she was college level would have imagined be- good at basketball, ing where I am today,” she being 5 feet 3 3/4 said. “In what seems like a inches tall she didn’t short 13 years here I have feel she was the traveled all over the world, ideal WNBA candi- seen many impressive date, so she started things and I have met looking for differ- some ent career options pretty incredible people.” before graduation. Finney credited her family While growing up for being the main reason Finney’s father, she stays. then a member of “My amazing and sup- the Alaska Army National portive husband, Master Sgt. Guard, had become a bush “Growing up, I loved playing Sean Finney, who is also a mem- pilot and even had his own basketball,” she said. “I got three ber of the 168th Maintenance plane. Finney shared that her Group, our daughters Eden and father planted the idea of her basketball scholarships while I was Eleanor, and last but not least is getting her aircraft structures a senior in high school.” my handsome boy, and power plant license in her on the unit’s alert jet. Shortly after, Douglas.” Douglas is the Finney’s head. an opportunity presented itself for dog, who as Finney put it, “is cur- “My dad came up to me one day her to join Phase Dock as an rently suffering from middle child after school,” she said. “He said aircraft mechanic and this became syndrome.” to me, ‘Cody! I know what you her home for the next 10 years. Finney finished her story to the should be when you grow up. You In 2017 she moved into her wing leaders with a memory that should be an aircraft mechanic current position with the has brought her life full circle. and get your A&P license, so I Maintenance Operations Center as “I remember one day in elemen- won’t have to pay anyone to do my an aircraft production controller. tary school we had ‘bring your annuals.” parents’ to school day,” she Finney said she laughed said. “I was always so ex- it off at first, but after a cited to bring my mom and while realized she wanted dad to show them off to my to follow in her father’s friends, I mean they were footsteps and join the both fire fighters after all. military.Heeding her fa- The kids in my class had a ther’s advice, she enlisted million questions for them in the Alaska Air National and a lot of them spent the Guard in 2006 and be- rest of the day saying, “I’m came an aircraft mechan- going to be a fire fighter ic, “unfortunately for my when I grow up.” dad, the Cessna and the “So here I am now, striving KC-135 are slightly differ- to set a good example for ent,” she said. my girls so maybe if their Finney began her career school ever has ‘bring your as a crew chief on the KC- parents’ to school day, they 135R Stratotanker, spend- will be as proud as I once ing a few months working was.” 9 Jane Lorenz (907) 377-8623 [email protected]

Suicide Prevention Tips: TAKE CARE OF YOUR WINGMAN

Ask how someone is doing and really mean it.

“How are you doing?” “Are you sure you are okay?”

Show them that you care and that they are not alone. Make a “human” connection with them.

Escort them to professional help, if they need it. DO NOT leave them alone, until they are safe!

- Jane Lorenz, LCSW Director of Psychological Health (DPH) Suicide Prevention Manager

10 The Arctic Guardian

375 Tanker Rd. Eielson AFB, AK 99702 (907) 377-8734 usaf.ak.160-arw.mbx.arw-public- [email protected] Command

Wing Commander Col. Bryan White Vice Wing Commander Col. John Oberst Command Chief Chief Master Sgt. James Wolverton Public Affairs Staff Public Affairs Officer 1st Lt. Francine St Laurent Public Affairs Superintendent Inspector General Complaints Senior Master Sgt. Paul Mann Resolution Program (CRP) / Fraud, Broadcaster Tech. Sgt. James Michaels Waste & Abuse (FWA) Reporting Staff Sgt. Adam Keele Photojournalist Tech. Sgt. Natalie Stanley 168th Wing IG: 907-377-8754 Senior Airman Mae Frazier Airman 1st Class Shannon Chace JFHQ-AK IG Hotline: 1-800-398-6061 Personnelist Airman 1st Class Amber Bowers SAF/IG Hotline: 1-800-538-8429 DOD IG Hotline: 1-800-424-9098 This Department of Defense newsletter is an authorized publication for members of the DoD. Contents of The Arctic Guardian are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the DoD. The edi- torial content of this publication is the responsibility of the 168th Wing Public Affairs Office.