Military Parents Get a Break by Staff Sgt
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
COLORADO SPRING S MILITARY NEW S PAPER GROUP Thursday, September 6, 2012 www.csmng.com Vol. 6 No. 36 Did you know? Military parents get a break By Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys 50th Space Wing Public Affairs Parents need breaks; especially from the stresses that often contrast with the joys of parenting. Give Parents a Break, funded by the Air Force Aid Society, understands that and is of- fering a helping hand. The program offers parents no- cost child care for specific times and Did you know the 310th Space Wing is dates each month. GPAB takes place hosting a cake-cutting ceremony 11 a.m. on Friday or Saturday, and alternates Saturday at the Satellite Dish dining facility between days and nights. Parents in in celebration of the Air Force’s birthday as need of break can take their children well as the anniversaries of the Air Force to the Child Development Center dur- Space Command and 310 SW? Everyone ing the specified program times, even is invited to attend. if it’s just to snag some much-needed shut eye. “Give Parents a Break is a great Base Briefs program that allows parents to take a moment to themselves away from Schriever hosts deployed the stress of kids,” said Staff Sgt. family dinner Ashley Bass, 50th Operations Group Team Schriever hosts a Deployed Milstar and Advanced Extremely High Frequency evaluator. “My husband is U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys Family Dinner 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Jerzi Parish, daughter of Staff Sgt. Ben Parish, and Lillian Abney, daughter of Master Sgt. Heather Abney, look Tierra Vista Community Center for currently deployed, and it has been a difficult year. Having one day a month through the pages of a book together at the Child Development Center here. The CDC offers a variety of activites the families of deployed members. The for children to participate in while their parents get some much needed time to themselves during the Give Parents dinners are an opportunity for families See Break page 5 a Break program here. to relax and have a nice meal and talk with each other about their experi- ences while their loved one is or was away. Anyone who is about to deploy or who has recently returned from a deployment is encouraged to attend and bring their family. This is a great way for the families to get to know one Defenders on the Line another and also for the more seasoned By Tech. Sgt. Shawn McCowan spouses to share their wisdom with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs families and/or members who may be BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — The population of new to the whole deployment process. Bagram Airfield represents a true “melting pot” of the ongo- Family members and spouses are great ing international effort to support stability in Afghanistan. resources to learn from. If there are Servicemembers from America’s four major military branches, questions or concerns that someone military members from several NATO member nations, civil- may not feel comfortable speaking with ians, and even Afghans, all work together toward the common leadership about, perhaps just talking goal of ensuring the nation remains free and secure. with someone who has had similar ex- The thousands of men and women from around the world periences may be beneficial. There will who call “BAF” their temporary home depend on an effective be a bouncy castle for the kids and a security force to keep them safe. It might be easy to imagine great “end of summer” barbecue hosted such a major responsibility belonging to an elite special opera- by the 50th Civil Engineer Squadron. tions unit. In actuality, Bagram’s safety rests in the capable For more information, please contact arms of U.S. Air Force security forces teams deployed from Tech. Sgt. Tina Johnson at 567-3920. Active Duty, Reserve, and Air National Guard units from all over the world. Center holds PD classes While the mission may be challenging and complex, both The Professional Development Center leadership and security forces individuals agree that the current holds the following classes: PME/CDC team is ready for the trials their job may bring. End of Course Test Schedule: Tuesday, Lt. Col. Thomas Sherman, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Thursdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. — Squadron commander and Bagram Defense Force commander, noon; You Stink, 1 p.m. Sept. 25. For says the plan for this “blended” band of “Defenders” has been in more information, call Master Sgt. the works for years, but is being expertly executed today. Amy Hunter at 567-5927. “This operation is a great actualization of the ideals that began with Operation Safeside in Vietnam in the 1960s. Enemy forces Find, apply for federal can not touch us in the air. We have an incredible amount of air superiority. Our adversaries realized they need to get those service birds while they were in the nest. Having Air Force defenders The Schriever Airman and Family responsible for that is the best way we can accomplish that mis- Readiness Center and Civilian sion. We have Air Force defenders working in an integrated base Personnel Office team up to bring concept both from the source to the perimeter and throughout you the steps you need to know in ap- the Bagram security zone. Air Force defenders ensure Bagram plying for federal employment. The Airfield is protected,” said Sherman. class is available 8-11 a.m. Friday at He credits their effectiveness to the professionalism of the the A&FRC, Building T-65. For more diverse team of defenders who work for him, from personnel information, contact Liz Archuleta at management to the newest patrol member. 567-3920. “We have got an incredible mix of everything from America’s More Briefs page 6 sons and daughters, Coalition and allied forces, and even contrac- tors. We have new Airmen and experienced personnel, combat veterans to first-timers, and the great integration of the Guard, U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Raymond Geoffroy Reserve, and Active Duty components. The way we structured Inside Senior Airman Arsenio De la Cruz, a gunner with the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces this is absolutely seamless. As our defenders arrive on the ground, Defense rules in football battle ........ 2 Squadron, poses for a photo in front of a Crew Operated Weapons System before a we’re compartmentalizing them into mission sets.” Fostering incredible teams ................... 3 mission at Bagram Airfield Afghanistan, Aug. 18. The CROW system allows De la Cruz Looking back at his years leading security forces both deployed to engagement threats from within the safety of his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected-All IA/COMSEC team sets example ...... 7 See Defenders page 4 Terrain Vehicle. De la Cruz deployed from Schriever Air Force Base. 2 September 6, 2012 Schriever Sentinel Defense rules in battle of top Schriever football teams By Scott Prater Schriever Sentinel Bob Black found Zach Probasco in the right corner of the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown completion in overtime Tuesday, lifting Players Pool to a 12-6 victory against the 4th Space Operations Squadron. Players Pool remained unbeaten with the win, while 4 SOPS suffered its first defeat of the Schriever Intramural Flag Football League season. “I had a feeling that route was going to be open earlier in the game,” Probasco said. “I told Bob I thought my defender would bite on the pump fake and he did, so I was able to get open after that and Bob threw a perfect ball.” In a mostly defensive struggle, Players Pools scored mid- way through the second half to break a scoreless tie. From there, all it needed to do was maintain possession and run out the clock. Nick Goirigolzarri disrupted that plan when he stepped in front of a Black pass with less than four minutes to play in regulation and returned the interception 50 yards to tie the game at 6-6. “Black is probably the most deceptive quarterback in the league,” Goirigolzarri said. “He reads defensive coverages well, eludes pass rushers and finds his receivers. In this case, I noticed the receiver on the outside kept running a slant and Bob kept looking it off the whole game, but I could tell he wanted to throw it eventually. I was just able to jump the route.” The touchdown ended up being 4 SOPS’s only score of the game. “We were able to put a lot of pressure on their QBs and take away their time and space,” said Black, Players Pool co-team captain. “We have to thank our pass rushers, Brian U.S. Air Force photo/Scott Prater Weiss, Brian Peterson and Probasco, for creating that pres- Bob Black, Players Pool, attempts to pass during the first half of Players Pool’s 12-6 Schriever Intramural Flag Football victory against 4th Space sure. Our rush was a big part of our success last season and Operations Squadron Tuesday at the base football field. it looks like it will be again this year.” Goirigolzarri and Jeff Brown traded possessions at quarter- back for 4 SOPS, which moved the ball at will on occasion but Fow, but he’s a good jumper and managed to get a hand in from Black to Terry Baxter. never could mount a sustained drive. Part of that came due on pretty much everything they threw at him.” Brown, Goirigolzarri and 4 SOPS dropped to 1-1 on the to the Players Pool defenders, such as Craig Armogida, who Players Pool’s no-huddle, spread offense had an equally season, but have plenty to look forward to.