UP, up and AWAY COMMENTARY: Reagan’S Legacy Worth Studying, Page 2
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VOL. 44 NO.24 JUNE 18, 2004 Inside UP, UP AND AWAY COMMENTARY: Reagan’s legacy worth studying, page 2 NEWS: Operation Night Hawk attacks drug use, page 3 Scales of Justice, page 4 FEATURE: Academy sets record on pioneer his- tory straight, page 6 Mitchell Hall keeps busy despite sum- mer vacation, pages 8-9 SPORTS: Pole vaulter, javelin thrower earn All-American honors at NCAA championship, Photo by Tech. Sgt. James A. Rush Maj. Ken Orr goes through checks of his glider’s flight controls on the airfield Tuesday. Academy tow planes and gliders page 5 resumed operations Tuesday after a 10-week suspension for a safety review of maintenance operations. focused on all active duty instructors regaining flight training pro- ficiency. Weather permitting, the goal for the week was more than Briefly All Academy aircraft 100 sorties by close of business today. Cadet instructor pilot Outdoor Pool Closure upgrade flights are scheduled to start no later than Monday, with initial training for new cadet students planned for July 6. The outdoor swimming cleared for flight after Several measures resolved concerns expressed by Academy pool, located next to the offi- leaders since the suspension was ordered. Col. Jeff Kendall, 34th cers’ club, closes today, due to OG commander, led a multi-agency Air Force team through a series water leakage. 10-week stand down of actions including a nose-to-tail audit of all aircraft and their com- Base engineers have been By Tech Sgt. Dean J. Miller ponents to confirm aircraft configurations. An overhaul of the monitoring this problem since Academy Public Affairs maintenance contract also proved critical to the return-to-flight late May, and despite their best order, according to the commandant of cadets. attempts, the leakage cannot Academy aircraft were cleared for flight Tuesday with the lift- “Our biggest effort was to look at the contract we had in place. be stopped with an easy and ing of a flight suspension order in place since April 2. Academy air- Our contract was insufficient to support our flying operations,” said quick repair. manship courses resume with the return-to-flight order. Brig. Gen. John Weida, commandant of cadets. “We were The outdoor pool will Second only to safety, the priority this week in the 34th resourced for a certain level of flying operations that we would remain closed until further Operations Group was to initiate a series of missions initially I See Glider, page 9 notice. For information, con- tact the Base Fitness Center at 333-3531 or 333-9135. General retires after 17 years of Academy service NCO Academy By Butch Wehry win scholarships.” The Airman who flew KC-135, EC- Six Academy technical Academy Spirit staff The dean said see- 135, T-43 aircraft and served as a T-41 sergeants are among the stu- ing faculty innovation instructor pilot, voices particular pride in dents graduating with Class The Academy said goodbye Tuesday and successes has been Academy research to help the solve prob- 04-2 at the Forrest L. Vosler to one of its top officers after 17 years of most gratifying. The lems with UAVs, small satellites, F-22 NCO Academy May 20. service to the school and six years as Dean general is proud to modeling and homeland security. Tech. Sgts. Dennis Fulmer of the Faculty. have expanded the General Wagie was also excited that and Shelly Schenkel of the 10th Brig. Gen. David Wagie, Academy realm of learning by General Wagie cadets got involved in research through Medical Group earned distin- dean of faculty, retired after 32 years of using cutting-edge independent study courses. Solving ill- guished graduate honors. Other service to the Air Force and serving as the technology in the classroom. He is also defined problems with Air Force rele- base NCOs in the class were school’s top academic officer. excited about the new Scholars Program vance really prepares cadets to be officers, Tech. Sgts. Michael Andrews, The general shared some thoughts available for the top tier of his cadets. he said. Jeffery Carlson, Faline Kubes about his six years as dean. Other innovations include teaching National acknowledgement of the and Christina Witte. “My greatest satisfactions have been new majors like computer engineering, high quality of Academy educational pro- The NCO Academy is one in a number of areas,” he said. “Seeing systems engineering and systems engi- grams such as The Princeton Review and of the three phases of the Air cadets work hard and succeed-both those neering management. The Dean is also U.S. News and World Report, continue to Force NCO Professional that struggle to graduate…and also those very pleased at how many of the Academy show that this institution is world class Military Education Program. that excel and go on to grad school and courses received high student critiques. I See Dean page 3 Academy Spirit 2 COMMENTARY June 18, 2004 L REFLECT A Graphic art by Erick Phillips But do you project that commitment in the way you comport yourself on a daily Reagan s life holds key lessons basis? Do those around you see in you that R By Brig. Gen. Mark T. Matthews Most importantly, I think it was his sin- fervor as manifested by your commitment to 48th Fighter Wing commander cerity; his sincerity in the love for his coun- know your job and do it well? Do they sense try and the sincerity of the love for his wife. your sincerity by the way you treat and talk N ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, Like every president in my lifetime, he had of those officers and NCOs appointed above England (AFPN) – In 1980 it seemed his detractors as well as his fierce propo- you? Do you show yourself as one who improbable to me that an actor I remembered nents, but only the most cynical of pundits holds sacred the values of loyalty and hon- most as host of “Death Valley Days” might doubted his heartfelt belief in what the esty in the way you keep the trust of your get elected, much less succeed, as President United States stood for, his love of the spouse and others close to you? of the United States. But I and a lot of other American people and his commitment to the If not, then your words will ring hollow Americans were mightily surprised. first lady. and your actions will be suspect. Your appar- What I failed to understand at the time Regardless of your own political view- ent commitment, unmasked by your insincer- was the importance of not only communicat- points, I think these characteristics are ity, will be seen as nothing more than a ing, but selling, a vision of where you wanted instructive for all of us. As members of the superficial facade worn as a means to some to lead people. I’ve met a lot of smart folks United States Air Force, we define ourselves self-serving goal. over the years, but only a few had this rare gift by our commitment to defend the liberties Don’t misunderstand. It’s not wrong to as did our 40th President. How did he do it? guaranteed by our Constitution. use your military service as a way to gain an education, learn a life-long skill, or just as an opportunity to go out and do something really interesting while you figure out how you want to spend the rest of your life. But while you do this, if you’re not equally as committed, as demonstrated by your sinceri- ty, in preparing yourself for what we all took an oath to do – defend liberty, with our lives if necessary – then you will fall short of the standard our citizens, and those who would follow you, expect. June 11 was a day of national mourning. We had this day to reflect on the life and many achievements of President Ronald Reagan. Most importantly, we had this time for introspection and before us an example of a great American who simply loved his Photo by Danny Meyer Academy cadets joined the parade for the state funeral procession of former President country and its people. “Win one for the Ronald Reagan June 11. President Reagan died June 5. Gipper.” Learn from him. Airman s father introduces him to core values at early age By Staff Sgt. Nolan Hildebrand Worth Doing, Is Worth Doing Well.” office to the pharmacy, we all have important tasks 52nd Operations Support Squadron As a young boy, I would frequently eyeball that that are critical to Air Force mission accomplishment. shaving mug in hopes of one day putting the lather on We should treat each and every task as mission SPANGDAHLEM AB, Germany (AFPN) – my face and sliding the razor across my soon-to-be essential, because the Air Force core value When we think about the classrooms in life, I’m sure whiskers. As a boy, I paid little attention to the motto. “Excellence In All We Do” doesn’t afford us an the bathroom is not at the top of the list, but the bath- Now, as a man, I look back and realize that even option of when to give 100 percent. It demands that room just happens to be where I learned my first core though I didn’t think about the motto, I internalized it we give our very best, everyday, in everything we do. value. as a core value. While not everyone has a shaving mug to remind I was taught “Excellence In All We Do” by my I’ve been guided by that simple, yet powerful them that “What Is Worth Doing Is Worth Doing father.