Air Force Transitions to a Single Combat Uniform
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189th Airlift Wing WARRIOR Vol. 21 No. 46 June 2018 Arkansas Air National Guard Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. ANG flight engineer student rocks the 154th TRS school house, pgs. 4-5 Commander’s Commentary, pg. 2//C-130H upgrades underway, pg. 3//154th TRS trains student loadmasters, pg. 6-7// Demon 51: 30 years later, pg. 8//Summer safety, pg. 9//Air Force transitions to single combat uniform, pg. 10-11// 2 Warrior, June 2018 Warrior, June 2018 3 www.facebook. Commander’s Commentary com/189AW C-130H upgrades underway By Col. Thomas D. Crimmins www.instagram. 189th Airlift Wing Commander com/189AW reetings Warriors! We have a very busy super UTA this month, followed Publication Staff Gby our Annual Training in Gulfport, MS. If you can’t tell already, the heat has arrived and summer is already here in Arkansas. With Memorial Day behind Col. Thomas D. Crimmins 189th Airlift Wing us, summer activities are now in full swing. Please remember to stay hydrated, Commander use appropriate personal protective equipment (including sunscreen), and obey all applicable laws and safety guidelines for your specific form of recreation. VACANT As you all know, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Director of the Air Public Affairs Officer National Guard have directed an Air Force-wide Safety Stand Down to pause and Tech Sgt. Jessica Condit reflect on our safety culture and practices in light of recent mishaps. We will take Public Affairs Superintendent the entire day Sunday to focus on safety in all areas -operational, personal and Senior Airman Kayla K. Edwards professional. Conducting the stand down during super UTA allows us to include Editor the maximum number of wing members, especially our drill status Guardsmen. We have already reduced our flight operations during the last couple of weeks This un-funded Air in order to recover from our surge earlier this year, and have seen benefits in Force newsletter is increased aircraft maintenance rates without a significant reduction in our student an authorized elec- tronic publication for production. members of the 189th Chief Boston and I recently returned from the DANG’s Senior Leader Airlift Wing, their Conference in Milwaukee, WI. During our discussions there, Lt Gen. Rice families, retirees and reflected on the safety culture that existed in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He pointed out that community leaders. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jessica Condit we, as an Air Force and Air Guard, now have a strong safety culture embedded Contents of the War- The C-130 Hercules has been around since the 1970s and the fleet is long overdue for some major in our Airmen’s DNA. Gone are the days when the Air Force required recurring rior are not necessar- overhauls. Click the link below to check out this article in National Guard Magazine to read about ily the official views safety conferences and focused workgroups. While that may very well be true, I the upcoming upgrades to the C-130H. ask that you “truth test” DANG’s assumption during your small group discussions of, or endorsed by, https://www.ngaus.org/newsroom/news/herculean-renewal on Sunday. Although we are far better prepared and knowledgeable regarding the U.S. government, Department of De- safety today, we can always do better and should never get complacent in our fense, or the Depart- dangerous business. ment of the Air Force. Additionally, here locally on Little Rock Air Force Base, we have seen an All photographs are increase in death by suicide, attempted suicide, and suicidal ideations. Taking property of the U.S. care of ourselves and fellow Airmen in this area is a personal safety concern. Air Force unless oth- Therefore, we will also take time on Sunday to focus on areas where we can erwise indicated. improve in suicide awareness and prevention. Also in small groups, I’m asking The editorial content that we identify areas of personal stress and risk, and the resources and programs is edited, prepared that are available to assist those in need. We have the best Airmen in the world and provided by the entrusted to our care, and this wing’s mission requires all of us to be at our Public Affairs Of- fice of the 189th Air- best. We need you! Please let us know what we can do to help—individually, lift Wing, 112 MSgt. organizationally, personally, or professionally. Dan Wassom Road, Drill is always busy, and this month is no different. We have promotions, Little Rock AFB, AR retirements, the $100K Innovation Fund “Sink or Swim” challenge, the Awesome 72099-4802, DSN Wassom 5K, and Family Day. Enjoy yourselves, have fun, stay safe, and take care 731-6068, commer- of each other. On 1 July, please join us at Dickey-Stephens Park for an Arkansas cial 501-987-6068. Travelers game! We have secured 200+ tickets for a “189 AW Appreciation Day” Call or email to be beginning with the first pitch. Expect details to follow on when and where to pick added to the distribu- up your tickets. Thanks to Chief Boston for arranging this, and we hope to see you tion list. there! 4 Warrior, June 2018 Warrior, June 2018 5 path became clear during an exercise she participated in “Putting everything you’ve learned together and ANG student rocks the 154th school house that allowed her to see first-hand what a flight engineer finally getting to fly, that’s that was my favorite part of does. this whole process,” Corker said. “It’s really cool how it By Tech. Sgt. Jessica Condit all works when you finally get to do the job.” 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs “I’ve always had an interest in becoming aircrew. he 154th Training Squadron of the Arkansas Air within the Air National Guard. The service member Watching everyone work made me realize that It takes a dedicated person to become an instructor. TNational Guard recently graduated a flight engineer must also be selected over peers to participate in the becoming a flight engineer was just what seemed Handing down knowledge from one flight engineer student at the top of her class May 16, 2018, here at program. The entire course is approximately 11 months, right for me,” Corker said. “Being a prior maintainer to another takes patience and perseverance on all Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The student, Staff Sgt. with six of the months at Little Rock Air Force Base for definitely helped, but I didn’t see any reason not to give levels. While it is sometimes a tedious and seemingly Megan Corker, from the 130th Airlift Wing of the West academic and flying training. From C-130H simulator my all and maybe add a little extra effort in there. I’m unrewarding task, instructors within the unit explain Virginia Air National Guard, portrayed excellence from training to performing on the actual aircraft, Corker excited to learn more and do more as a go forward and that every step is worth the challenge. Roles explains the beginning of the course, enabling her to proficiency broadened her perception and knowledge of the flight move on.” that watching a student finally grasp an idea they advance above her peers. engineer career field. have been struggling to understand is one of the most Throughout the course, Corker learned the different rewarding parts of his job. A flight engineer, who is an enlisted member “As soon as she got here we realized she was responsibilities of her new career field. From training of the aircraft’s flight crew, monitors and operates an above average student and we wanted to cut in the flight simulator to flying in the C-130H, the steps “I enjoy being able to teach brand new individuals the aircraft’s complex systems. To become a flight her training short,” said Master Sgt. David Roles, she took to complete her training were tedious and regardless of what stage in their career they are, they engineer, an Airman must first have a feeder Air Force the 154th TRS lead flight engineer instructor. “She time-consuming, but worth the effort in the end. She volunteered to become an enlisted flyer,” said Master specialty code in one of many maintenance career fields actually only had eight of each training event, which deems her success at the 154th TRS to not only her Sgt. Jason Terry, the 154th TRS assistant flight engineer is not the norm. I’ve never seen anyone proficiency military background, but also to her instructors she had superintendent. “Teaching them and sharing relevant advance that much before. We had to check the throughout the duration of her time at the unit. experiences here and the things you’ve encountered as a regulations to make sure we could even do that.” flight engineer in an operational unit is very rewarding.” Support and encouragement is essential to the success of anyone who is ready to set goals and new milestones in their life. Corker attributes her drive to excellence to her father, who taught her to always give 110 percent in everything she does. She applies this outlook throughout her life as well as in her prior career field as a C-130 crew chief. While her father encouraged her throughout her life, her previous supervisor played a key role in her decision to pursue the goal of becoming a flight engineer. “My supervisor from my old shop definitely instilled in me the work ethic that I have now,” said Corker. “I knew from the beginning that I always wanted to fly, and he cheered me on the whole way when I told him what I wanted to do.