Volume 1, Issue 4 Jan. 14, 2006 Baghdad International Airport, Iraq able of TTcontents Change of Command Col. Dennis Ployer takes charge of 447th AEG. Page 2 Commentary Each AFSC is critical to Air Force puzzle. Page 3 Air Force News What’s happening around the Air Force? Page 4 Give and Take, Teach and Learn Building a new Iraqi air force. Page 11 Safe Keeping Escorts help keep base secure. Page 12 Who Let Them Dogs Out? Military Working Dogs, handlers provide critical mission. Page 12 Dining Facility Menu Get your grub on at Striker. Page 13 Chapel Events Come visit one of Victory Chapel’s services or studies. Page 14 Magi Mystery Did the Magi of Gospelcome from Iraq? Page 15 Sizzlin’ Hot Services Base activities in one hot spot. Page 16 Sather Pathfinder / Jan. 14, 2006 Page 2 CHANGE OF COMMAND Colonel Ployer takes charge of 447th By Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell Chief, Public Affairs Col. Dennis Ployer assumed command of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group from Col. Joel Malone here Jan. 14. Colonel Ployer comes to Sather from Pittsburgh International Airport, Air Reserve Station, Pa., where he serves as 911th Airlift Wing vice commander. Immediately following the change of command, Colonel Malone redeployed to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., where he will resume duties as 20th Operations Group commander. Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, presiding officer, lauded Colonel Malone for his accomplishments as commander and charged Colonel Ployer with continuing the outstanding tradition of the 447th. “Colonel Malone, you have been wildly successful as a commander,” General Gorenc said. “Personally, I will miss your wise counsel and unbelievable expertise. “Colonel Ployer, earn the trust of your Photo by Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell people,” the general said. “Know them, Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, Col. Dennis Ployer and Col. Joel Malone face the audience after know your mission, and always do the very change of command was completed Jan. 14. best you can. And always remember, to command is an honor and privilege.” This marks the colonel’s second “We will have the opportunity to work Colonel Malone then thanked the men and deployment here, although much has closely with our Iraqi counterparts as they women who had served under him, prior to changed since his first deployment here as begin flying their own C-130s in the near General Gorenc presenting him with the commander from July through December future,” said Colonel Ployer. “It is an Bronze Star Medal for his leadership here 2003. exciting time for the Iraqis and for us, as we during AEF 7/8. “The base has seen many improvements see a new partnership developing that none The unit flag was relinquished by Colonel since I left here two years ago,” Colonel of us could have predicted just three years Malone to General Gorenc and passed to Ployer said. “But the mission essentially ago.” Colonel Ployer, who formerly accepted remains the same – moving people and The colonel said he is ready to meet the command of the group. cargo in and out of the theater to sustain the challenges ahead and wants the men and During his remarks, Colonel Ployer said warfighters. women of AEF 9/10 to be mindful of the the bar had been set high by AEF 7/8, but “What has changed significantly is the mission and their surroundings. he looks forward to the challenge of raising dynamics of the Iraqi people,” he said. “In “We need to be mindful that we are still in the bar further during his rotation. the past year, they have demonstrated a hostile environment and to be aware of “I am excited and honored to join such a democracy through three successful the need for safety, security and each others professional community of Airmen, elections and brought a former tyrant to well being,” he said. “If we stay focused on Soldiers and civilians,” Colonel Ployer said. trial.” the mission and taking care of one another, “I am eager to work with the men and A major change that AEF 9/10 will we’ll be able to leave a lasting legacy that women of AEF 9/10 to improve upon the witness first-hand is the stand up of Iraq’s we’ll be proud to tell our grandchildren outstanding accomplishments of our first postwar Air Force base next door at about one day.” predecessors. New Al Muthana. Sather Pathfinder / Jan. 14, 2006 Page 3 COMMENTARY Every part counts in the Air Force puzzle professional integrity of the crewmembers My part of the puzzle (and yours) fits into and the support Airmen on the ground. This the overall puzzle: Each Air Force Specialty By Capt. Julie Wokaty-Kozma professional integrity comes from knowing Code having its own unique pieces and 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron your job, performing your duties to the best each AFSC irreplaceable to the total of your ability and constantly striving to mission. ALI BASE, Iraq — Descending into improve your skills. Professional integrity allows us to trust Baghdad, my C-130 Hercules crew From my perspective as a C-130 pilot, I that others are doing their jobs correctly, prepares for landing. know that each crewmember is trained in and to accept their product as flawless. I The copilot coordinates with air traffic specific duties and must be able to perform count on the professional integrity of control while the navigator ensures we those duties proficiently. The training and maintenance Airmen, intel Airmen and air follow desired ground track to the field. checklists are standardized. Everybody terminal operations center Airmen in my The flight engineer runs checklists and the knows what to expect and what’s expected job — to name a few. Being able to trust in loadmasters scan for threats. We keep our from them, regardless of whether they’ve their abilities and integrity saves crucial speed up as long as possible, configure flown together or not. time in a combat zone. This trust is vital to close to the airfield and the plane settles mission accomplishment. onto the runway. Professional integrity also involves Through all the maneuvering, challenging yourself to stay at the top of coordinating and flying I have a sense of your game and never growing complacent. deja vu — with a twist. I’ve done all this The enemy and their weapons are before, but never with this group of people. constantly changing. Every Airman must It’s the same, yet different. stay ahead of these changes to win the war. I arrived at Ali Base the last week in Staying in the books and keeping up to December and soon set out on my first speed on latest tactics, techniques and Operation Iraqi Freedom mission in more procedures keeps our skills sharp and up to than a year. While it was far from my first date. time flying in combat, it was my first time Knowing that you work hard to be your flying in combat with this crew. In fact, it best at your job and trusting others to do the was my first time flying with this crew — same, that’s the professional integrity that ever. allows us to show up in a combat zone and I knew little more about them than their complete a mission with people we have name, rank and crew position. This will never worked with. It distinguishes change over the duration of the professional warfighters from ordinary deployment, of course. But one might citizens. wonder: What enables a crew of people No matter how your duties fit into the who haven’t flown together before to puzzle, you are vital to the Air Force successfully maneuver an aircraft to mission. Wherever your piece of the puzzle accomplish a combat mission? Each piece of the puzzle is important, fits, work hard to bring the entire picture I believe the answer boils down to the unique and irreplaceable. together for mission accomplishment. This funded newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services overseas. Con- Front Page photo tents of the Sather Pathfinder are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Depart- Col. Dennis Ployer Formerly known as the BIAP Sentinel ment of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force. takes the guidon Vol. 1, Issue 4 The content is edited, prepared and provided by the public from Brig. Gen. Jan. 14, 2006 affairs office of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group. This Frank Gorenc, publication is a bi-weekly product, produced on the 2nd 332d AEW Editorial Staff and 4th Saturdays of each month. All photographs are commander, as U.S. Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. the new 447 AEG The Sather Pathfinder accepts stories, photographs and Col. Joel E. Malone commander. See Commander, 447th AEG commentaries, which maybe submitted to the public affairs staff—located in the group headquarters building— Page 2 for rest of Lt. Col. Stephen D. Graf or can be sent directly to the newspaper at story. Deputy Commander, 447th AEG [email protected]. Deadline for publication is one week prior to publication. For more information, Photo by MSgt. Randy L. Mitchell call 446-2408, or e-mail the public affairs office. Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell Editor/Chief, Public Affairs Sather Pathfinder / Jan. 14, 2006 Page 4 AIR FORCE PERSONNEL NEWS 2006 defense budget increases pay, benefits By Donna Miles — A new bonus of up to $2,500 for — Income replacement benefits to help servicemembers who agree to transfer from offset the pay loss some reservists and American Forces Press Service one service to another and serve for at least guardsmen experience when called to active three years; duty, based on specific guidelines provided WASHINGTON — President George W.

Load more

Table of Contents