Space Control Squadrons Get New Digs by Steve Brady 21St Space Wing Public Affairs Office
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COMMANDER’S CORNER: APPRECIATING THE SACRIFICE - PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, July 18, 2013 Vol. 57 No. 28 Space control squadrons get new digs By Steve Brady 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The 16th Space Control Squadron and its Reserve Associate Unit, the 380th SPCS, got a much-needed new home June 28, as the squadrons held a ribbon cutting to open building 2027. Located past the Exchange and Commissary complex, building 2027 is a decided step up from their old home in hangar 104 and building 504. The new space control facility is about 47,000 square feet and allows the squadrons to operate under the same roof as opposed to being housed in separate buildings. “It was inconvenient to work from two different buildings because you had command staff and operations in building 504, and a lot of the admin work was done in the hangar (104), so coordinating meetings was inconvenient,” said Capt. Jenifer Farkas, a 16th SPCS crew commander. When the squadrons were activated in 2007, there were a grand total of eight personnel assigned, but the squadrons, and their missions, have grown. The old building was also a lot smaller with not nearly enough work stations. The new building has plenty of room, windows as opposed to the hangar’s all-metal construction, an exercise area for the crews which often work shifts, and is well insulated against the elements. The squadron not only has a new building, but a new commander as well. Lt. Col. Mark Guerber took command of the 16th SPCS June 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/Robb Lingley) “This amazing facility, and (the 76th SPCS building) are PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — (Left to right) Lt. Col. Mark Guerber, 16th Space Control Squadron commander, Col. Chris Crawford, both proof of the wing’s goal to make Peterson the best 21st Space Wing commander, and Lt. Col. Dean Sniegowski, 380th SPCS director of operations, along with members from Bryan Construction, the contractor which built the building, cut a ribbon June 28 ceremoniously opening building 2027. Building 2027 is the new home to the 16th SPCS and See Digs page 12 its Reserve Associate Unit, the 380th SPCS. TACP service members honored at Colorado Springs Veterans Memorial By Michael Golembesky 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Bagpipes played in the background July 5 as two Airmen slowly lifted the white cloth covering a marble block with a single word etched on top, TACP. It was the first opportunity for the family members of the fallen Airmen to see their loved ones’ names engraved in stone on a new memorial in Colorado Springs’ Memorial Park. The six names listed on the front of the marble block represent the lives and sacrifices of those air controllers and support members who selflessly gave their all during the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The Tactical Air Control Party Memorial is co-located with the Forward Air Controllers Memorial, which also received an additional name during the ceremony. The names that are remembered on the new TACP Memorial include: Maj. Gregory Stone, 124th Air Support Operations Squadron (OIF) Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier, 169th Air Support Operations Squadron (OEF) Airman 1st Class Raymond Losano, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron (OEF) Master Sgt. Steven Auchman, 5th Air Support Operations Squadron (OIF) Senior Airman Bradley Smith, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron (OEF) Maj. David Gray, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron (OEF) The name of Lt. Col. Andrew Matyas, 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron (Vietnam), was added to the FAC Memorial. Guest speaker Col. Samuel Milam, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing com- (U.S. Air Force photo/Michael Golembesky) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Airmen from the 13th ASOS at Fort Carson hold photos of the fallen service mem- bers being honored at the unveiling of the new TACP Memorial July 5. The memorial is located within the Forward Air See TACP page 12 Controller portion of the Colorado Springs Memorial Park Veteran’s Memorial. INSIDE News 1-11 Briefs 13 Classifieds 14 Classmates MAFFS Like Page 6 Page 11 us SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, July 18, 2013 www.peterson.af.mil I SERVE MY COUNTRY. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR EQUIPMENT WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BUT IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD, FINDING A GOOD LENDER WAS CHALLENGING. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET A CREDIT CARD FOR EMERGENCIES AND A RELIABLE CAR FOR CROSS-COUNTRY TRIPS HOME. I’M A NAVY FEDERAL MEMBER. The Markets at Mesa Ridge 6916 Mesa Ridge Parkway, Fountain, CO 1139 Space Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO navyfederal.org 1.888.842.6328 Federally insured by NCUA. Image used for representational purposes only; does not imply government endorsement. © 2013 Navy Federal NFCU 12617_colaf (6-13) 12617_colaf_10125x15_613.indd 1 6/11/13 12:50 PM SPACE OBSERVER www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, July 18, 2013 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. Chris Crawford COMMANDER’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs 1st Lt. Stacy Glaus Editorial Staff America’s freedom: Appreciating the sacrifice Chief of Internal Information PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Civil War, Abraham Lincoln understood the Steve Brady As an American people, we recently celebrated Al Strait sacrifice of freedom. Staff Writer our independence as a nation. We celebrated the From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, Michael Golembesky day in a variety of ways: watching fireworks, thousands upon thousands have sacrificed their attending baseball games, hosting neighbor- Wing Staff lives to maintain our freedom. They continued Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers hood block parties, eating a few hot dogs or just Agencies to sacrifice in World War I, World War II, the Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, taking it easy with family members. Whatever director Korean War, in Vietnam, in Lebanon, during 80903, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. the activity, somewhere in the hustle and bustle Desert Storm and today in Afghanistan. Why Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the 21st Space Wing. This commercial enterprise Air Force of the day we likely heard “The Star-Spangled do they do it? Maybe Abraham Lincoln had it newspaper is an authorized publication for members of Banner” sung or played. right when he said, “This Love of liberty which the U.S. military services. The wing recently held a host of squadron came from various walks of life as lawyers, mer- God has planted in us constitutes the bulwark of Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily the change of commands. At each change of com- our liberty and independence. It is not our form official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, chants, plantation owners; educated men who the Department of Defense or the Department of the mand, someone sang the “The Star-Spangled lived a comfortable life. They had security, but in battlements or bristling sea coasts or in our Air Force. Banner.” While the style of singing was different, were willing to make ultimate sacrifices and Navy. Our defense is in the spirit which prized The appearance of advertising in this publication, one thing remained the same — the words of that did sacrifice all they had for the call of liberty. liberty as the heritage of all men in all lands including inserts or supplements, does not constitute great song. Authored by a 35-year- old lawyer everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and we have endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Force, Most lost everything they had, including fam- or CSMNG, of the products or services advertised. and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key penned ily members, for the quest for freedom. They planted the seed of despotism at our own doors.” Everything advertised in this publication shall be made the words after witnessing the bombardment of truly followed their pledge of, “For the support The question now is this. What sacrifices are available for purchase, use or patronage without regard Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy in the of this declaration with a firm reliance on the we willing to make today? Those who have loved to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital war of 1812. In 1931 a congressional resolution ones deployed know the sacrifice. Those who status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other protection of the Divine Providence, we mutu- non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. signed by President Herbert Hoover made “The ally pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, support, such as our helping agencies (chapel, Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by Star-Spangled Banner” our national anthem. and our sacred honor.” airman and family readiness center, community the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office, 775 Loring As I listened to the words and witnessed the During the past 237 years men and women support coordinator), see and know the sacrifice. Ave., Suite 219, Peterson AFB, Colo., 80914-1294, (719) passion in which the song was sung, I could have continued to pledge their fortunes, their I would hope all of us would slow down and take 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185, fax (719) 556-7848 or DSN 834-7848. All photographs are Air Force photographs not help but to ponder the work and sacrifice of honor and their very lives to maintain this free- time to ponder what our Founding Fathers have unless otherwise indicated. those who were part of the birth of our nation, dom. In a previous commentary, I mentioned given us. Then make up your mind to always The Space Observer is published every Thursday.