The BOOM SIGNAL 2011 “Boom Operators Making Contact Worldwide” 32d EDITION 1 THE 2011 BOOM SIGNAL IS DEDICATED TO: The families of all Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Boom Operators. Their loving support during our continued deployments, TDY’s, exercises, and never ending training allow us to do what we truly love to do. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Base Organization Affiliation Page Dedication 2 Table of Contents 3 Prep for contact 7 Reader Disclaimer 8 Altus AFB 97 OG AD 9 54 ARS AD 97 TRS AD AMCAOS Det 2 AD CAE Civ Northrup Grumman Civ Andrews AFB National Guard Bureau AFR 22 756 ARS ANG Bangor ANGB 132 ARS ANG 24 Battle Creek ANGB 110 AMOS ANG 28 Birmingham IAP, AL 106 ARS ANG 29 99 ARS AD Boeing Wichita/Seattle Civ 33 St. Louis Civ Edwards FLT TEST CENTER AD 35 Eielson AFB 168 ARS ANG 37 Fairchild AFB 92 OG AD 40 92 ARS AD 93 ARS AD 509 WPS ANG 116 ARS AD Forbes ANGB 117 ARS ANG 52 Gen Mitchell IAP, WS 126 ARS ANG 53 3 Grissom ARB 72 ARS AFR 55 74 ARS AFR Hickam AFB 203 ARS AD 59 96 ARS Hurlburt Field MOB OPS SCHOOL DET 1 AD/Civ 63 Kadena AB 909 ARS AD 64 Kelly Field 313 FLTF AFR 67 Lackland AFB 344 TRS AD 68 Lincoln ANGB 173 ARS ANG 69 MacDill AFB 91 ARS AD 73 63 ARS ANG March ARB 336 ARS AFR 79 912 ARS AD McConnell AFB 22 OG AD 84 344 ARS AD 349 ARS AD 350 ARS AD 384 ARS AD 18 ARS AFR McGhee-Tyson ANGB 151 ARS ANG 104 McGuire AFB 2 ARS AD 107 32 ARS AD 76 ARS AFR 78 ARS AFR 141 ARS ANG 621 CRW AD Flight Safety Civ RAF Mildenhall 351 ARS AD 125 Osan AB 607 AOC 129 Pease ANGB 133 ARS ANG 130 64 ARS AD Phoenix ANGB 197 ARS ANG 133 4 Pittsburgh ANGB 146 ARS ANG 135 147 ARS ANG Ramstein AB HQ USAFE/A3TV AD 139 Randolph AFB HQ AETC AD 140 19 AF AD Rickenbacker ANGB 145 ARS ANG 142 166 ARS ANG Robbins AFB HQ AIR FORCE RESERVE AFR 146 COMMAND 413 FLT TEST GRP AFR Salt Lake ANGB 191 ARS ANG 148 Scott AFB HQ AMC Boom Operator CFM AD 152 HQ AMC/IG AD HQ AMC/A3TK AD HQ AMC/A3NR AD HQ AMC/A3VK AD HQ AMC/A5QT HQ AMC/A6IM Civ USTRANSCOM AD 618 TACC AD 108 ARS ANG 906 ARS AD Selfridge ANGB 171 ARS ANG 168 Seymour-Johnson AFB 911 ARS AD 170 77 ARS AFR Sioux-City ANGB 174 ARS ANG 174 Tinker AFB 10 FLT TEST OC/ALC AD 177 185 ARS AFR 465 ARS ANG Travis AFB 6 ARS AD 183 9 ARS AD 70 ARS AFR 79 ARS AFR 615 CRW AD Flight Safety Civ 5 Tyndall AFB NORTHCOM 601 AOC ANG 197 Wright-Patterson AFB AMC Test & Eval SQ AD 198 KC-46 Directorate Appendix 1 Boom Operator Memorial 200 Names Appendix 2 Boom Operators Prayer 203 Appendix 3 Boom Operator Coin/Card 204 Rules Appendix 4 AMC BOWST 205 Appendix 5 The Indispensables 209 by Lt Col Jon Tamblyn Appendix 6 Class Rosters 1957- 25 Apr 11 210 Appendix 7 Tanker Units 354 6 2011 Prep for Contact Welcome to the 32nd Annual 2011 Boom Signal. As you know this is my first year as editor, I took the controls of from Paul Greene after his impressive 11 year run. If I have made any rookie mistakes, or have forgotten anything please accept my apologies. I would like the Boom Signal to grow and expand so if anyone has any ideas on how to improve, please let me know. This has been a very exciting yet busy year for the Boom community; let me get you up to date. We finally passed the ten year long nightmare of selecting a new Tanker. In February of this year it was announced that Boeing won the contract to build 179 tankers for the AF without protest. This new tanker, the KC-46, is scheduled for its first flight in June 2014 and 18 aircraft will be built by 2017. Expect basing decisions in approximately one year from now. There are some big changes for the KC-135 community coming soon! Since the last Boom Signal edition, HQ AMC approved and funded nine Boom Operator Weapons System Trainers (BOWST). These devices are completely different from the two devices at Altus and are being built by the best sim developers in the industry. The first device is in testing and will be ready for training in Nov 2011 at McConnell AFB, KS. Some of the BOWST highlights include fully MPRS capable, 5 new receiver models to include the F-16 with CFT’s, Mirage 2000, KC- 30, KC-46, Spanish Harrier, and F-35C. The ANG is also in development of their own Boom simulator called the BOSS. The BOSS is expected to deliver similar capabilities as the BOWST, yet fit in a smaller area. Development of the KC-135 BLK 45 continues to progress. The BLK 45 mod will replace the analog engine instruments with a digital screen, relocates several other instruments, and best of all will replace the inadequate auto-pilot. No matter which tanker you fly, replacing the KC-135 autopilot is a win win for all of us! The KC-10 community is also making big changes. Development and testing continues with virtual air refueling in the BOT. This Distributed Mission Operation (DMO) technology allows the BOT to communicate with other receiver simulators to create virtual training anywhere in the world. This advanced environment will soon become the norm for all three tankers in the future. The KC-10 will also upgrade with the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) modification allowing the aircraft to operate in smaller airspace and improve navigational accuracy. Rockwell Collins was awarded the contract to upgrade all 59 airframes with a FY2015 completion date. I would like to thank all the participating units for their 2011 Boom Signal inputs. I have never seen the tanker community stretched so thin with TDY’s and deployments, yet you still managed to take time and contribute to 2011 Boom Signal. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the read. MSgt Ernest Burns Boom Signal Editor HQ AMC, Scott AFB, IL [email protected] 7 READER DISCLAIMER: Be advised the individual compiling the BOOM SIGNAL is not responsible for the content of any entry submitted for publication. The Unit’s submissions were edited for format, spelling, and compiled in logical order. However the original content was left wholly intact. The spirit of the BOOM SIGNAL is for the Units to express themselves in a manner befitting the family of Boom Operators (aka, anyway we see fit). To that end, please remember; “nothing is too cruel if it’s funny enough”. The Boom Signal Editor 8 ALTUS AFB, OK 97th Operations Group CMSgt Bruce Zahn: Approaching three years in the command chair upstairs. Yep, that’s right, the group is occupying the old 55th ARS command section, so the Chief is back at home. He has run a superb group managing to get a couple of guys promoted to Chief with several others receiving STEP stripes, AF, and MAJCOM awards. In no way is this a recruiting effort, but I’m just saying… MSgt J.D. Harston (OGV): Hardest working EB in the group. I know this, because J.D. is always down in the 54th with a full cup of coffee doing some sort of supplemental evaluation. It seems like every time I walk by Conner’s office, J.D. is sitting on the couch “supplementally” evaluating what he’s going to do on the upcoming weekend. 9 ALTUS AFB, OK 54th ARS “Jesters” 2010 SMSgt Al Evans Award Winner To all boom operators both past and present, I extend greetings from your FTU. I consider this your schoolhouse. We have all graduated from at least one course and many have served a tour or two here as schoolhouse instructors. To the booms in the MAF, we work for you. We strive daily in our efforts to produce the most technically proficient boom operators. I thank all of you across the MAF for your outstanding efforts as you fly the contingency, aero-medical, and support missions that enables our nation to project power throughout every corner of the globe. It is my pleasure to introduce our highly qualified instructor cadre. //Signed// Mike Morris, SMSgt, USAF 54 ARS/CCM 54th ARS Boom Leadership: Changes are once again happening with leadership in the squadron. Chief Hughes is off to be the OG Superintendent at Edwards, and SMSgt Morris has found his way back to the front office…once again. Now this is change that we can believe in…again…we think? CMSgt Shawn Hughes: At publishing, the Chief may find himself in two signals. His work here is done. He left the squadron with a giant trophy for the building (Al Evans Award if you live under a rock) and single handedly conducted an 18 month mental mind bending for each and every FTU instructor. We will miss the Chief. We may not miss the mental mind games he played…but we will most certainly miss the leadership. SMSgt Mike Morris: Gets to be in charge…again. Finally gets to enjoy the furniture he picked out for Chief Hughes…before he knew the Chief was on the inbound roster.