Cleared Hot ASOS sharpens skills in Florida

Air Power First Sergeant’s Corner: Do you have a plan? he exan

147th Reconnaissance Wing TTexas Air National TGuard Ellington Field JRB Houston, TX January 2014 Vol 6 Issue 1 147thHere ASOS performs comes live fire training the in Fla. boomBy 2nd Lt. Alicia Lacy 147th RW Public Affairs Col. Terence Winkler Wing Commander AVON PARK AIR FORCE Other tasks included jump opera- Col. James Smith RANGE, Fla. – There is no room for tions, close combat attack, air assault Vice Wing Commander error, and accuracy and timing are ev- and close air support controls. Lt. Col. Shaunte Cooper erything. Due to the dynamic nature of a Executive Officer With almost any occupation, training TACPs job, it can be necessary for a is integral and maintaining proficien- member to recall weeks, months, and Capt. Fredy Reyes Public Affairs Officer cy is imperative; however, for tactical even years of training in a moment to air control party members, being pro- be able successfully and properly ex- 2nd Lt. Alicia Lacy ficient in their jobs can mean the dif- ecute its mission. Public Affairs Officer ference between life and death. Because of this, nerves can run Master Sgt. Sean Cowher Maintaining the skills required to high as TACPs deliberate dozens of Public Affairs Manager be adept in one of the most physically potential outcomes, calculate the pre- Staff Sgt. David Porcelle and mentally demanding career fields cise positioning of the aircrafts, plot Photojournalist in the Air Force can prove difficult, points and distances, relay targets and Staff Sgt. Mindy Bloem especially for drill-status guardsmen. locations to key personnel, whether Broadcast Journalist To support that need, 14 TACPs with it’s the ground commander or a pilot Senior Airman Chasity Lollis the 147th Air Support Operations equipped with the firepower neces- Photojournalist Squadron, Texas Air National Guard, sary to execute the mission, or make at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base the recommendation to pull the trig- Senior Airman Susanna Coronel Photojournalist in Houston, Texas, trained here De- ger. All these things can happen with- cember 15-21, 2013, to perform pe- in moments in the heat of battle, and riodic evaluations, currency training, any decision can pose great implica- proficiency training, and upgrade tions. training, as well as using the opportu- “(The necessity to maintain that nity to train with and mentor forward proficiency is) critical enough to not air controllers with the Czech air want to display incompetency on the force as part of the National Guard’s next UTA,” said a staff sergeant with This funded Air Force publication is pro- State Partnership Program. ASOS continued on page 8 duced for members of the 147th Recon- naissance Wing at Ellington Field. Con- tents of The Texan are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force, the National Guard Bu- reau, or the Texas Air National Guard. The editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office and members of the 147th Reconnaissance Wing. 14657 Snieder Street Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base Houston, TX, 77034-5586 (281) 929-2662

www.147rw.ang.af.mil www.facebook.com/147RW [email protected] Members from the 147th Reconnaissance Wing Air Support Operations Squadron and the Czech Air Force train at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida to complete required pe- Cover: A member from the 147th Reconnaissance Wing Air riodic evaluations December 16, 2013. Perfoming exercises at the Florida range allows the Support Operations Squadron checks his equipment airmen to hone the necessary skill sets to perform their jobs and missions in an environ- during a training exercise at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida, December 16, 2013. ment that allows for the use of live fighter aircraft and live munitions to replicate real-life National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Alicia Lacy warfighting scenarios. National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Alicia Lacy. 2 January 2014 Texas Counterdrug Task Force cracks down on local drug haven Texas Military Forces

HARLINGEN, Texas – Chants of “Knock it Down, Knock it Down!” reverberated through a small Harlingen neigh- borhood in mid-De- cember as the Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force’s Operation Crack- down demolished anoth- er abandoned and unsafe structure. The house was known as a drug haven to the local Harlingen Police Department. The structure was less than half a mile from the Sam Houston Elementary School. Operation Crackdown Tech Sgt. Carl White Jr., 147th Civil Engineers, 147th Reconnaissance Wing, Texas Air Na- is a program in which tional Guard, raises the bucket on the Komatsu excavator to reach out and collapse the front Texas Military Forces of a dilapadated house in that was identified by local law enforcement as being used for illicit drug activity, Harlingen, Texas, Dec. 16, 2013. Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force’s Opera- (TXMF) soldiers and air- tion Crackdown destroys drug havens in partnership with city officials and law enforcement men demolish structures agencies. (Army National Guard photo by Ken Walker, Texas Joint Counter Drug Task Force associated with the drug Public Affairs Office). trade. To date, the pro- gram has demolished close to 1,350 slowly raised the boom and posi- Sam Houston Elementary School structures, varying from frame tioned the bucket over the roof of assistant principal Faustino Villan- houses, to an abandoned ware- the small wood structure that just ueva said the children’s participa- house, to a 40,000 sq./ft. former five years earlier had been called tion throughout the day helps them nursing home. home to an elderly man. understand their involvement in The task force is responsible for The massive 45,000-pound ex- the community. the coordination and organization cavator roared as its bucket cut “It’s good because the children of all Crackdown missions; they through the wooden structure as look up to the National Guard and partner with cities across the state easily as a hot knife through butter. service members in the armed forc- to help reduce drug use and other First the roof collapsed then White es,” Villanueva said. “They see [the illegal activities. folded the walls onto the structure service members] and feel proud, Thirty-five fifth-grade students, as if he was giving an advanced ori- confident and secure.” from Sam Houston Elementary gami demonstration. The structure Fifth grade teacher, Odilia More- School gave a clear and unmistak- collapsed into a pile of rubble and no, said some structures close to able, “knock it down” command, dust in under five minutes. the elementary school were unsafe ordering Texas Air Guard Tech. Sgt. As dust rose up and debris settled and she worried her school children Carl White Jr. to destroy the build- to the ground, the children raised would one day be injured if they ing. the hands and yelled with excite- were to explore the abandoned and Without hesitation, White smiled ment, “cool,” “this rocks” and “Wow, dilapidated structures. and gave a nod to the students as he did you see that?” Members of the Operation Crack- Counterdrug continued on page 6 3 January 2014 First Sergeant’s Corner TAX HELP Do you have a plan by Senior Master Sgt. Malvin Baegra-rivera AVAILABLE In recognition of the complicated As the New Year begins, I hope you had the opportunity to reflect and set goals nature of filing taxes as a military for 2014. I say this because, without purpose, passion or direction we are not able to service member and in support of accomplish what we expect from ourselves and others. financial readiness, the Department Most of the time, airman ask me, “What do you have in mind now First Ser- of Defense offers tax consultation geant?” The response is, “What do you want me to have in mind?” and e-filing services through Mili- This months article is about the fact that no matter who you are, there is a time tary OneSource at no cost to service and place for an exit plan. Whether it is a new career opportunity or concluding a members and their eligible family life of service to our nation or state, we must plan to exit. It is like everything in life members. 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Have you practiced in- Consultations can also help service terviewing for a management position? members maximize their refunds When something happens, whether it be good or bad, you should be in control of and get connected to additional re- your destiny at all times. How can you turn all of your useful knowledge and experi- sources and services of benefit to ence into a “what if” plan? them, such as no-cost financial coun- Common sense tells us that being prepared is the best form of crisis preven- seling services, which can include tion. For example, you probably have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in your basic budgeting, money manage- home. Not because you think there’s going to be a fire, but because you want to be ment, debt consolidation and hous- prepared. Your career exit strategy should work the same way. You should have a ing issues (being behind on mort- plan in place, just in case something happens. gage payments or facing potential Okay, you get the picture. 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4 January 2014 Airmen of the Year

Senior Airman Hayden Shockley Tech Sgt. Mario Munive

Master Sgt. Joseph Ashwood Master Sgt. Lorne Major

5 January 2014 Counterdrug continued from page 3 where drug users, drug dealers and the mayor said. “This partnership, gang members use them as a place along with the excellent job of our down team are personally selected to get high, execute drug transac- police department, has been a key for their heavy equipment operator tions and participate in other illegal factor in the significant reduction in skills, knowledge and experience. activities. crime we have experienced during SGT Chris Mejia, 342nd the past two years.” Engineering Company, Harlingen Police De- has assisted with Op- partment Commander eration Crack for several Miryam Anderson ex- years as a heavy equip- plained the police often ment transport driver. deal with repeat calls “This is our third mis- for service to structures sion in Harlingen. We which are used for drug love coming to Harlingen activity and criminal because the city has done mischief. all of the necessary prep- “This resource [Opera- aration and welcomes us. tion Crackdown] helps During our missions in police in reducing crime. 2011 and 2012, we [tore This is a win, win situa- down] 55 Harlingen tion for all. Our neigh- structures. We plan on bors have been telling us demolishing around 30 how pleased they are with structures at 15 locations what the Texas Military this trip,” Mejia said. Forces, the Texas Joint Each mission requires Counterdrug Task Force up to a year to plan, co- and Operation Crack- ordinate and receive down are doing,” Ander- clearances for all the legal son said. requirements to be com- Col. Suzanne Adkin- pleted. Each structure is son, commander of the required to undergo sev- Texas Joint Counterdrug eral safety and hazardous Task Force, said the pro- materials inspections and Tech Sgt. Carl White Jr., 147th Civil Engineers, 147th Reconnais- gram is beneficial to local then receive written per- sance Wing, Texas Air National Guard, uses the heavy 45,000 pound communities, as well as mission from the owners Komatsu excavator to crunch rubble from a destroyed house into to service members. prior to demolition. smaller pieces ready to be transported to a local landfill, Harlingen, “Operation Crack- Texas, Dec. 16, 2013. The house, identified by local law enforcement City Code Enforce- as being used for illicit drug activity contained gang graffiti painted down enhances military ment Manager Elida on many walls. Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force’s Operation readiness by allowing Mendoza said one of the Crackdown destroys drug havens in partnership with city officials Air and Army National time consuming parts and law enforcement agencies. (Army National Guard photo by Ken Guardsmen members to is tracking down the le- Walker, Texas Joint Counter Drug Task Force Public Affairs Office). utilize their equipment gal owner and receiving in a ‘real world’ mission. their written permission. Many of Mayor Chris Boswell This improves readiness for Texas the houses have not been lived in also expressed support for Military Forces soldiers and air- for several years, family members Operation Crackdown. men, while enhancing the public move away and the properties be- “The partnership with the Texas safety of citizens and their children came abandoned. National Guard has proven to be a by supporting communities in the Once abandoned, the former successful tool in beautifying our demolition of structures used by the homes can quickly become a place community and fighting crime,” drug trade,” Adkinson said.

6 January 2014 Space Heaters

The use of space heaters is discouraged due to the un- The Official 147th RW controllable human factors involved. If space heaters Facebook page is must be used, users and supervisors are responsible for ensuring compliance with AFI 91-203 and RWI 32-2001. www.facebook.com/147RW • Keep all space heaters at least 18 inches away from combustible material. • Use space heaters only as a supplementary source of heat. These devices are not intended to replace the building’s heating system. • Do not use surge protectors or extension cords with space heaters. • Do not use space heaters with damage cords. • Only U.L. listed electrical space heaters shall be used. • They must be equipped with overheat protection f and an auto shutoff switch that de-energizes the heater when tipped. • Space heaters shall not be left on when unattended. This Month in History 1945 Border area of Luxemburg, Belgium and Germany - As the last pockets of Nazi forces are wiped out or captured by advancing American forces, the “Battle of the Bulge” comes to a close. The Germans had launched their sur- prise offensive five weeks earlier, on December 16, in an effort to break the American and British armies apart while also capturing the vital port of Antwerp. In the opening hours of the offensive units of Pennsylvania’s 28th Infantry Division bought valuable time in fighting to delay the enemy ad- vance. During the course of the battle other Guard organizations, including the 26th (MA) and 30th (NC, SC, TN) Infantry Divisions plus numerous non-divisional units played important roles in stopping and then turning back the German assault. And in the air, five former Air Guard observation squadrons flew sorties in support of ground operations. These were the 107th (MI), 109th (MN) and 111th (TX) Tactical Reconnaissance squadrons along with Oklahoma’s 125th and Missis- sippi’s 153rd Liaison squadrons.

7 January 2014 ASOS continued from page 2 Though the TACPs traveled to Florida to train, the exercise provided beneficial training for the the squadron. “It is self-driven for pretty much other units involved. everyone. If you want to be a sharp member, The fighter pilots are gearing up for deploy- you practice, practice, practice.” ment, so the training was a valuable opportunity And for the week, that is what they did. for them as well, said the ASOS commander. During the weeklong training exer- In addition to the added experience with cise, members worked with Air CCA and CAS controls, incorporat- Force Reserve F-16C pilots ing the Czech FACs into the train- from the 93rd Fighter ing enabled them to understand Squadron, 482nd how U.S. forces operate and Fighter Wing at vice versa. Homestead Air “We work together during Reserve Base, HH- deployments, so we know 60 Pave Hawk pilots what to expect,” said another from the 301st Rescue staff sergeant from the squad- Wing at Patrick Air ron, “and it also helps with the Force Base, Air Nation- language barrier.” al Guard standardization This is not the squadron’s evaluation program advisors first time working with the from the 194th Air Support Czech Republic’s FACs. Operations Group at Camp As part of the Department of Murray Tacoma, Wash., Army Defense’s State Partnership Pro- Reserve parachute riggers gram, Texas and the Czech Re- from the 421st Quartermaster public are linked up as partners Company at Fort Valley, Ga., to support the security coopera- and four forward air control- tion objectives of the U.S. European lers from the Czech air force. Command commander, whether it’s The members were able to utilize through improving the partner coun- the 106,000 acre air-to-ground try’s capabilities or increasing cul- training range as a location to tural awareness and strengthening perform exercises in a joint en- the relationship between the U.S. and vironment, using real-world the partner nation. equipment, personnel and sce- The squadron has worked with the narios to better mirror situations European nation since about 2009, they may face downrange. performing exercises in both the U.S. “Live air is always better than and the Czech Republic. simulated air because of the real- “Training here helped (the FACs) ism,” said a technical sergeant with because they don’t have the same air- the unit. frames in the Czech Republic and vice At the culmination of the train- versa,” the TACP said. ing, 38 F-16 sorties were flown, From their experiences working there were nine jumps from the with the 147th ASOS, the Czech FACs HH-60, six BDU-33s per jet were said they have learned new tactics and dropped, about 120 joint terminal techniques that they have started to attack controls and four JTAC implement. evaluations were completed, The SPP is a DOD security coop- 16 day and night CCA controls eration program run by the National were executed with 13,500 rounds Guard that also serves as a mechanism of ordnance expended, and 36 for training National Guard members. controls among the four Czech The program began in 1992 and now FACs were performed. nearly every state participates.

8 January 2014 Saturday Sunday 11 January 2014 12 January 2014

Salisbury Steak Baked Chicken Chicken Cordon Bleu Fried Catfish Mashed Potatoes Vegetable Blend Green Beans Macaroni and Cheese Cornbread Stuffing Black Eyed Peas Smothered Squash Steamed Rice Brown Gravy Smothered Cabbage Dinner Rolls Cornbread Assorted Salads Assorted Drinks Assorted Deserts

Short Line

Cheeseburger/Hamburger Hot Wings Grilled Chicken Sandwich French Fries Tamales Vegetable of the Day

Public Affairs Seeking Stories Looking for inspiring and/or interesting sto- ries or ideas. Must be newsworthy and relevant to the 147th Reconnaissance Wing. Photos can be provided upon request. If interested call 281-929-2662 or send an email to [email protected]. 9 January 2014