Patrick Paved Way for JBSA
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A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS • www.lackland.af.mil • V ol. 68 No. 28 • JULY 15, 2011 INSIDE Commentary 2 Patrick paved way for JBSA Recognition 6 What’s Happening 18 let alone transfer the garrison Exiting commander into a mission support group.” News & Features Patrick said each installation now has a better understanding March to remember helped unite city's of the others. “It has taken constant com- military members munication,” he said. “It’s not just a culture of Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. It’s overcom- By Steve Elliott ing the ways business was done FSH News Leader for years to arrive at outcomes in different ways. We’re trying to After spending fi ve and a half standardize those procedures.” of his last seven years in San The general said he’s been Antonio, Brig. Gen. Leonard Pat- impressed by the support of the rick, the fi rst commander of the different services and especially 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint the wide variety of mission part- Base San Antonio, will be mov- ners under the JBSA umbrella. ing on to take command of 2nd “I’m really proud of my Army Air Force at Keesler Air Force mission partners and the job Base, Miss., after his change of they do every day,” Patrick said. command ceremony July 18. “I’ve learned that although there Brig. Gen. Theresa C. Carter Photo by Robbin Cresswell are service differences, the cul- will assume command of the Brig. Gen. Leonard Patrick relinquished command of Lackland’s 37th Training tures are very compatible. My 502nd ABW and JBSA, after Wing July 24, 2009, to take charge of Joint Base San Antonio and the 502nd mission partners go out of their serving as Director of Instal- Air Base Wing, headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, July 31, 2009. Now nomi- way to thank our folks, tell them lations and Mission Support, nated for major general, Patrick heads to Keesler AFB, Miss., to take command they’re doing a good job. And of the 2nd Air Force. Headquarters Air Mobility Com- my Air Force mission partners mand at Scott AFB, Ill. know the only way they’re going As Patrick prepares to transfer ton was different from both of in the Air Force call, ‘base oper- to be successful in their mission, leadership of the unique joint- them,” he said. ations,’ which is the building on is if I do my job effectively.” service command to his succes- “For example, before the gar- the fl ightline and the organiza- “We’ve been fi ghting and train- sor, he took time recently to re- rison became the mission sup- tion that controls airfi eld opera- ing as a joint team for years,” he fl ect on the unique experiences port group, we put the emer- tions, is what the Army says is said. “Because of how intercon- associated in standing up such gency responders from the ‘everything inside the fenceline’ nected we are here in San An- an expansive venture, which three installations together and to support the installation. JBSA Airmen start fi rst leg of 2,181-mile tonio, we are learning how to be march to Ground Zero, P12 supports more than 80,000 full- exercised a rehearsal of concept “What what we were calling more joint, not only in military time personnel, 145,000 stu- drill on how we would perform a command post, they were call- operations, but in support to dents and a retiree community command and control for the ing the installation control cen- civic opportunities as well.” of more than 250,000. The gen- 502nd ABW during a crisis,” ter. What we were calling the The general is quick to as- eral said the biggest initial chal- Patrick related. crisis action team, they didn’t sure personnel throughout JBSA lenge was communication. “After about 10 minutes, gar- even have a term for. We were that leadership is still trying to “The terminologies and pro- rison representatives put their talking past each other,” Patrick maintain service cultures, and cedures at the installations hands up and said they didn’t said. “I realized we had a lot of honor the heritage of each in- were very different. The Lack- have any idea of what we were homework to do in learning the stallation. land culture was different from talking about,” the general said. Army culture, just so we could View the Talespinner online Randolph, and Fort Sam Hous- “We quickly discovered what we support our mission partners, See PATRICK P5 at www.lackland.af.mil PAGE 2 TALESPINNER JULY 15, 2011 COMMENTARY Coming home: life after deployment Editorial staff BRIG. GEN. LEONARD PATRICK, By Master Sgt. Robert Hobbs 502ND AIR BASE WING 59th Inpatient Operations Group COMMANDER Homecoming. This word can OSCAR BALLADARES, fi ll you with equal amounts of DIRECTOR, 502ND ABW OL-A PUBLIC AFFAIRS happiness and dread. In the military, we experience more JOE BELA, homecomings in a few years CHIEF OF INTERNAL than most people experience COMMUNICATIONS, 671-4111 in a lifetime. Whenever we are coming back from a deploy- MANAGING EDITOR, VACANT ment, TDY, or unaccompa- MIKE JOSEPH, nied tour we experience high SENIOR WRITER, 671-4357 amounts of euphoria but we also wonder if our children will JOSE GARZA, remember us, if our spouse SPORTS EDITOR/STAFF WRITER, will accept us, and whether our 671-0478 friends are still our friends. PATRICK DESMOND, We wonder if our place in DESIGN/LAYOUT, 671-0478 the world is still as we left it and more often than not it will Offi ce: be. One should recognize that 1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102 friends, family, and coworkers Lackland AFB, Texas will have adapted in a healthy 78236-5103 way to us being gone. This can Courtesy photo (210) 671-1786; Coming home from deployment can be a time of happiness and relief. But the transition back also brings challenges. (fax) 671-2022 be the source of stress, anger, E-mail: [email protected] and altercations with the ones Commander’s Action Line: we love the most. ment was born. negatively. Give your signifi cant friends, family, and coworkers [email protected]. Straight Talk: 671-6397 (NEWS) In my family, I largely handle We were not arguing about other the benefi t of the doubt what, if anything, is troubling For advertising information: the fi nances. Back in 1997, the fi nances. There was no to avoid trivial arguments and you about your experience Prime Time Military Newspapers Internet banking was non-ex- missed payment or bounced spoiling your homecoming. Do while deployed or even your 2203 S. Hackberry San Antonio, Texas 78210 istent. Therefore, when I went checks. We were arguing about your homework before jump- homecoming. Most importantly, (210) 534-8848 on an extended temporary duty my place in the household and ing to conclusions. Let things accept that your place has (fax) 534-7134 assignment, I passed everything her adaptation to my absence. roll the way they were if it’s not been usurped. The family to my wife including a schedule It certainly was not a happy working. did what they had to do and of when the bills needed to be start to my homecoming and You may fi nd that the family adapted to your absence. They This newspaper is published by paid and the checkbook. When looking back now I realize I is happier with the new system will have to adapt to you being Prime Time Military Newspapers, a private fi rm in no way connected with I returned, she received a bill could have handled the situa- of things and maybe you are home as well. Make it as easy the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive writ- and promptly wrote the check tion better. I could have trusted the one that should adapt. on them by thinking of them ten contract with Lackland AFB, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force to pay it. I asked, “Why are that my wife’s new system Remember, you are in control and how they may be feeling. newspaper is an authorized publication you writing a check for that? It obviously was working and of your emotions. Cooler heads You were loved, respected, for members of the U.S. military ser- vices. Contents of the Talespinner are doesn’t get paid until the 15th.” compared it to the way I had always prevail. If need be, sit and most of all, missed. How- not necessarily the offi cial views of, or She replied, “I didn’t care for done things and determined if down with your loved ones ever, you were never replaced endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or the Depart- that system so I just used a her way was better and if so and have an open and honest and are always welcomed ment of the Air Force. rolling register.” Thus, an argu- praised her instead of reacting conversation. Discuss with your home! The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supple- ments, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the De- partment of the Air Force or Prime Time COMMANDER’S ACTION LINE Military Newspapers, of the products or services advertised. To submit an Action Line, your request to 37TRW. telephone number or email ad- Everything advertised in this pub- email the Lackland Public Affairs [email protected]. dress, you will receive a reply.