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5th Air Force command chief visits Kadena Airmen By Airman 1st Class Stephen G. Eigel 18th Wing Public Affairs 2/10/2015 — U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, 5th Air Force command chief master sergeant, visited Kadena Feb. 5 to learn more about the missions here. During his visit, Laurent spoke with many squadrons about why their mission is important and how they fi t in to Kadena’s mission of providing ^Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, 5th Air Force com- unmatched combat power, a forward mand chief master sergeant, speaks to the current Airman power projection platform and for the Leadership School and non-commissioned offi cer academy common defense of Japan. attendees on Kadena Air Base, Feb. 5. While at Kadena, Laurent also took the opportunity to speak with the Airman Leadership School and NCO Academy classes. “It’s important for senior leadership to speak to our classes because a lot of the time we don’t get the clear message as it funnels down,” Chief Master Sgt. Roberto Chacon, Erwin Professional Military Education Center commandant said. “It is benefi cial to hear it from the source so they can squash any rumors or ^Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, 5th Air Force com- (U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Stephen G. Eigel) mand chief master sergeant, welds under the supervision misinterpretations.” ^Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, 5th Air Force command chief master sergeant, asks questions about maintenance of Airman 1st Class Mark Pate, 18th Logistics Readiness Laurent also talked about what it equipment for the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron on Kadena Air Base, Feb. 5. During his visit Laurent met with Airmen Squadron vehicle and vehicular equipment maintenance means to become a leader and what role at the different squadrons on Kadena to gain a better understanding of the mission here. journeyman, on Kadena Air Base, Feb. 5. they will need to play in Airmen lives. “Right now you are all on trial to NCOs remembered that they are being Force and then fi gure out their goals Staff , where they had lunch with Airmen become NCOs or Senior NCOs,” Laurent watched and looked up to at all times so so that they can help them refi ne and and visited several shops around base told the classes. “My question for you they should remember that they need to accomplish their goals.” including the fi re department, airfi eld all is when you’re in court trying to be lead by example. Aft er his fi rst day touring Kadena, management, fuels, as well as attended found guilty of being a good NCO, what “Mentorship is vital to Airmen Laurent stayed for a few more days and an 18th Wing mission Brief. are your peers and the Airmen under and development,” Laurent said. “I think the toured the base again with Sgt. Maj. Laurent ended his time at Kadena with above you going to say about you.” fi rst question NCOs should ask their Bryan Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor a dinner at Jack’s Place with leaders from Laurent wanted to make sure that the Airmen is why they came in the Air to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the diff erent bases around Okinawa. 2015 Okinawa Marathon - Kadena traffic delay, Feb. 15 By 18th Wing Public Affairs Residents living inside the on-base 2/9/2015 — Gate 2 and Gate 5 will be route should consider parking their ve- closed to vehicle traffi c from 8:30 a.m. to hicles outside the aff ected area if they 3:30 p.m. Roads will be closed from Gate plan to travel anywhere from 8:30 a.m. 2 on Kuter Blvd. to Vincent Avenue and to 3 p.m. Th ere will only be one autho- from Vincent Avenue to Schreiber Blvd. rized vehicle egress route into/out of and from Schreiber Blvd. to Gate 5. How- the aff ected area. Vehicle traffi c will be ever, Gate 2 will remain open for pedes- allowed to cross at the intersection of trians traffi c with authorized base passes. Vincent Street and Beeson Street. Traf- Runners will enter Kadena AB fi c will be regulated by Security Forc- through Gate 2 on Kuter Blvd., turn left es. Runners will have priority and wait onto Vincent Avenue at Chapel 2, turn times to cross may be as long as 30 min- left on Schreiber Blvd. at Kadena High utes; please plan accordingly. Pedestri- School, and exit the base through Gate 5. ans will only be authorized to cross the Th e following facilities will be af- marathon route on the crosswalks near fected by the marathon: Chapel 2; the the Base Exchange, at the Kadena USO, Kadena Library; Shogun Inn; Offi cers and behind the Offi cers Club to cross Club; Kadena High School; Bob Hope over Kuter Blvd. Th ese crosswalks will Primary School; Amelia Earhart In- also be regulated by security forces. termediate School; dormitories locat- Please direct any traffi c related ques- ed along the route, family housing on tions or concerns to Master Sgt. Arthur Beeson Avenue; the temporary lodging H. Sawyer at the 18th Security Forces facility; and visiting offi cers quarters. Squadron at 634-3532. 2 SAMURAI GATE FEBRUARY 13, 2015 I really shouldn’t be here ... times two Commentary by Capt. David Liapis 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs couple of feet, a half a second. Th ese may of rank and position had been fl ocking to the base to much work and too little rest that night. seem like insignifi cant measurements; but see in the preceding days. Th en, unexpectedly, I got a My supervisor was stacking some pallets with a Awhen combined with fatigue, a couple of feet closer look than I ever hoped for. forklift as I guided him forward. I’m not sure how I almost cost me my career, and that half a second I wasn’t sure how I deviated so far off my well- ended up between a moving pallet and a wall, but I almost ended my life. established path down the centerline of the hangar. did. I gave the hand signal for the sergeant to stop, Th ere was a time when I was an enlisted aircraft However, I was sure I saw the half-ton of palletized but he didn’t. I managed to squeeze out of that tight electrical and environmental systems specialist and equipment I was backing into the hangar pass less spot just in time to avoid having the pallet pin me was part of the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, at than a yard from the nose tip of the $150 million against the wall at my midsection. He was too tired what was then Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. In pride of the base. and didn’t react quickly enough to my signal — again the summer of 2008, while I was assigned to work I didn’t say a word to anyone about it at the time. it was fatigue. in the support section, my supervisor and I were All I could do was imagine what my fate would Th e Air Force Safety program is nothing new. All tasked to move much of the equipment from the have been if I had destroyed the pointy end of that the right rules and guidelines existed that night as 19th AMU hangar to the 12th AMU hangar because beautiful fi ghter jet. Th e thought made me sick to my they had for years prior and have for years since. We of renovation. We had a tight deadline and the stomach. My line number for staff sergeant, gone. My just got so wrapped up in what we were doing that we Non-Commissioned Offi cer I was working for was future in the Air Force, shot. failed to consider and put into practice what we had determined to complete the task during our shift that Can you imagine being “that Airman” who been taught and what common sense told us. We knew night, even if it meant working more than 12 hours. smashed up Elmendorf’s fi rst F-22? If I had still better, but the mission needed to be accomplished ... or Th at night wore on and turned into morning, and I managed to promote and apply for Offi cer Training did it? Did it really all have to be done that night? knew it would not be long before the recently set sun School, I can picture the conversation at the offi cer It’s true getting the job done is what we are all would peak up again over the Chugiak Mountains. accessioning board going something like this, “and about. However, we need to make appropriate risk Th ings were going well for the fi rst few hours. I next up is a Sergeant David Liapis ... wait, I know that assessments and ensure we’ll be here to take on the remember gawking at Elmendorf’s very fi rst F-22 name from somewhere. Oh, yeah, he’s the guy that next mission. Our line of work has inherent risks, Raptor that had arrived only days prior as I hauled cost the Air Force millions of dollars because he was but most can be easily mitigated. Th e goal, rather, the load aft er load of pallets and equipment across the an idiot — next applicant.” quest, is for zero - zero fatalities, zero mishaps, zero hangar fl oor. I felt privileged to be able to get up close As you might have guessed, fatigue was the main dollars spent to repair or replace needlessly damaged to this jet named aft er a Jurassic Park antagonist that contributing factor in the previously related incident.

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