Seattle 2017

SAVE THE DATE!!

SEATTLE 2017

MSC ASSOCIATION BIENNIAL REUNION

31 Aug – 3 Sep 2017

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Seattle,

Washington, 98188-3388, USA TEL: +1-206-575-8220 FAX: +1-206-575-4743 RESERVATION DETAILS COMING SOON!

USAF MSC Association

NEWSLETTER ______August 2016

FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Officers and Key Contacts I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! We’ve had several hot and humid days Col Denise Lew Chairman this month in the DC area, so I was happy to enjoy some relief from the heat by Col Steve Meigs spending a few days in the comparatively pleasant climate of San Diego. It was the President first time I have attended the “Midsummer Classic,” the 2016 Major League Baseball Col Doug Anderson Vice President All Star Game. Although the game itself didn’t turn out to be very exciting, the Home Col Al Obuchowski Run Derby, held the night before, and the Legends and Celebrity Softball game, held Treasurer two nights before, were a lot of fun to watch. The multi-day event was filled with Lt Col Joe Haggerty Secretary concerts, a Fan Fest, street parties and other activities, and I hope to have a chance to Col Randy Borg go again when the All Star festivities are held at the Nationals Stadium in 2018. Director Col Dennis Beatty Director A big thanks to Col (ret) Garry Stanberry for his contributions serving as lead for our Lt Col Sam Bowker Survivor Family Member Committee. He graciously served and exceeded his term in Director this capacity, and has turned over this responsibility to Col (ret) Randy Borg, who Col Don Taylor Director has volunteered to succeed him (thank you Randy!) Col Frank Nelson Director Thanks also to Col (ret) Steve Meigs for volunteering to take over as chair of the Col Kevin O’Shea Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner Perpetual Scholarship Fund, and though Director Col Teri Mueller continuing to serve on our board, this means he is going to resign his officer position Director as our USAF MSC Association Board President. The board will be making a decision Col Curt Pritchard soon on his replacement. Additionally, he has also spent a lot of time and effort Active Duty Liaison Col Jim Moreland spearheading the initial planning for our 2017 USAF MSC Association Meeting and Newsletter Editor & Reunion to be held in Seattle. More details on the plans so far are explained later in Webmaster the newsletter. Capt Wm. M. Copeland General Counsel Capt Ken Bonner Meanwhile, in the world of military health care, many provisions in the draft Member Services language of the House and Senate versions of the FY17 National Defense

Authorization Act have a lot of people worried on the potential impact on the Military Health System as we know it. We will be anxious to see what actually comes out in the final version.

ACol summary Charlie Brown published III by the Senate Armed Services Committee can be accessed at: Director http://www.armedCol Bob Hauser -services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FY17%20NDAA%20Bill%20Summary.pdf Director I wishCol Denise everyone Lew a safe and enjoyable time over the rest of the summer and into the fall! Director Col Tim Morgan Sincerely, Director Col Jim Pearce Denise Director Lew , Chairman Lt Col Dan Mayer Secretary Maj Wayne G. Terry 1 Newsletter Editor Capt Wm. M. Copeland General Counsel PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Greetings from sunny San Antonio! I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the summer. I have several items to cover, so I will get right to it. First, as hopefully you have heard by now, we have a date and venue for our biennial reunion in 2017. You may recall that we conducted a poll last year regarding potential locations for this event and our membership overwhelmingly selected Seattle, Washington – so we are headed to the Emerald City! Dates for the reunion are August 31 – September 3, 2017. The Doubletree Suites by Hilton Seattle Airport/Southcenter will host our event. Our hotel is conveniently located in proximity to the airport and across the street (one block) from the largest mall in the state (The Westfield: Southcenter Shopping Mall - www.westfield.com/southcenter/ .

I will not bore you with all the details, but in summary, we received 11 proposals from hotels in Seattle based on the criteria in our request for proposals. We narrowed our initial search down to three hotels with the best room rates and facilities to accommodate our functions. We are extremely grateful to Col (ret) Bill Dick, who resides in Seattle part- time, for serving as our man on the ground during this process. Bill visited the three locations, met with the POCs, and toured each facility. Based on his assessment and the hotel’s proposal, the Doubletree was selected hands-down by the Board. They have provided superb rates and accommodations for our event, and the staff is excited to host us. In the coming months we will provide more detail regarding the process for room reservations and reunion registration, but in the meantime – SAVE THE DATE!

One postscript: we selected the dates for the reunion based on many who expressed a desire to take advantage of an Alaskan cruise in conjunction with the event. The hotel has graciously agreed to give us our rates three days before and after the reunion timeframe, facilitating either a cruise pre- or post-reunion. We will also get some websites to you regarding the cruise schedules for that timeframe.

Second, as Denise mentioned I am very honored to assume the chairmanship of the Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner Perpetual Scholarship Fund later this summer. I will replace Col (ret) John Lake who has superbly led this important function for 10+ years. Obviously, this responsibility will demand my full attention. Given ongoing discussions we are having on the Board with respect to creating a relationship between the Fund and the Association, I do not think it is appropriate for me to simultaneously chair the fund and hold a leadership position on the Board. Subject to discussion/approval by the Board, I intend to remain on the Board and serve out my term as a Director.

Finally, speaking of the scholarship fund, the Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner Perpetual Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament is being postponed. We will keep you posted via EMAIL as soon as a date/place are established. This is our major fund-raising event for the Scholarship, so please remind your fellow MSCs and friends to be on the lookout for upcoming announcements. If you just cannot wait, you can always mail me a contribution for the scholarship fund!

That’s enough from me. Thanks for your patience and enjoy the newsletter!

Best regards,

Steve Meigs, President 2

WEB & NEWSLETTER STUFF Jim Moreland, Editor & Webmaster

Have you visited our website lately? You may have noticed that when you enter www.MSCassociation.org, you now see https://mscassociation.org pops up. The “s” after the “http” indicates our site is now secure! Your data is safe behind our firewall using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. We were able to get the Honor Roll loaded for all of 2016. We are working on the complete Honor Roll next, and then on individual accounts where you can update your own profile information, pay your annual registration, and other features we probably have not even thought about yet. Our phone number remains the same – 404-500-MSCA (6722). We will keep you posted on our web site progress by EMAIL. If you get an email you don’t like, please send an EMAIL to me at [email protected]. Please do not UNSUBSCRIBE as our new bulk mailer will not let me add you back in FOR ANY REASON (part of the CAN SPAM ACT rules). You will have to wait until the next monthly list is created, and even then I will have to manually clear each of you with our ISP, so please do not UNSUBSCRIBE unless you truly want to stop hearing from us on all issues. Thanks to all of you for the feedback (both good and bad) to help us make the new website better and better. Our feelings are not easily hurt, so if you think something can be better, please send notice to [email protected]. On the newsletter and History Project side, don’t forget… we are always looking for more “MSC Stories”. If you have an idea or topic and need some help getting it into words, let me know and we can do an interview by phone. Thanks to all of this month’s contributors; especially Col (ret) Kerry Dexter, for his 9/11 story.

AROUND THE CORPS Submit Your News Items to [email protected]

VETERANS DAY LUNCHEON HOSTED BY MSC SPOUSES IN SAN ANTONIO Photos Contributed by Col (ret) Joe Vocks

A group of San Antonio MSC Spouses invited their MSCs to lunch on Veterans Day! We had a private room at a local Mexican Restaurant near The Dominion, with more than a dozen couples in attendance.

Corps Chief Number 12, Col (ret) Frank “Revere” Rohrbough made a special appearance at the beginning of lunch as a character right out of history. His moving narrative was a great way to start the outing, and he actually looked and sounded very authentic in historic garb. The food was great and the company even better! Thanks to the San Antonio MSC Spouses for a wonderful outing. 3

NEW CORPS DIRECTOR

As we say goodbye to Col Mike Foutch as Corps Director and thank him for all of the support and advice he has provided over the past several years to our Association, we now welcome Col Curt B. Prichard, who will take Mike’s place. I have known Curt since he was a young logistics officer and then later when he served in the White House Military Office Medical Unit. We look forward to working with Curt and his staff on MSC and MSC Association issues. Curt’s official contact information is:

CURT B. PRICHARD, Colonel, USAF, MSC, FACHE Director, Medical Service Corps Division Chief, Medical Manpower & Personnel Office of the Air Force Surgeon General Comm: 703-681-6973 (DSN: 761) [email protected]

Col Foutch relocated to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ where he is the 87th Medical Group Commander. I know you will all join me in wishing him the very best in this very important new role for him. His official contact information is:

MICHAEL D. FOUTCH, Col, USAF, MSC Commander, 87th Medical Group Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ (609) 754-9306 (DSN 650) [email protected]

LIFE MEMBER MAJ (ret) BOB BONDS RIDES FOR DIABETES

Life Member Major (ret) Bob Bonds recently signed up to participate in his 4th American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure ride in Houston on 1 October. He would like to invite you to ride with him in the effort to Stop Diabetes. This Tour de Cure ride is an especially exciting time to join him because you will be helping celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Tour de Cure! By riding and raising funds in the Tour de Cure, you’ll be helping to train school personnel to keep children with diabetes safe at school, provide assistance to individuals who are being discriminated against because of their diabetes, provide support to people who are newly diagnosed with Type II diabetes, and so much more. P.S. Use the links above and below and thank you in advance for your help! You can also follow Bob’s progress in training for the Tour on Facebook.

Click here to visit his personal page. If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=8130450&pg=personal&fr_id=11043&et=HoT3EXbjrfauUla3V3MVrw& s_tafId=604998

Click here to view the team page for Team Red Houston

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?team_id=723888&pg=team&fr_id=11043&et=YXY25Qnbr6jM2ng7kDhc_A 4

&s_tafId=604998

Click here to view the company page for Team Red If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?company=RED_RIDERS&company_id=12670&pg=company&fr_id=11043 &et=pLYRFR_KH8kb8zc-l3wu_g&s_tafId=604998

13th GETS A VISIT IN PITTSBURGH

Brig Gen (ret) Peter Bellisario (13th Corps Chief and second MSC General Officer) reports attending a Pirate’s game with his wife Joan and Florida visitors Col (ret) Mac McClean and his wife Chris. He did not mention the date, the opposing team, or the score, so I will leave that to our readers to contemplate.

General B. says Mac and Chris were visiting Pittsburgh in conjunction with a conference which resulted in them attending the game together. (Ed. Note: I did check, but there were no AARP conferences in Pittsburgh last month, so I cannot imagine what Mac was possibly attending there. It could certainly have been Chris’s CME, but we will just have to “guess” until they offer up the whole rest of the story!)

In the photo, General B and his wife Joan are on top. Chris and Mac are on the lower level. That’s Honus Wagner in cast iron above both couples. According to StadiumPage.com, Honus Wagner was the best Pirate of them all and one of baseball's greatest players ever! His statue was originally dedicated in 1955, the year of his death. According to the inscription on the statue's base, it was moved from Shenley Park to Three Rivers Stadium in 1972. It was moved to its current location in 2001, just a few years after General B returned to Pittsburgh after his retirement.

59th LOGISTICS & READINESS SQUADRON CHANGE OF COMMAND

In another memorable moment, Tim Morgan, Perry Cooper and your Newsletter Editor, had the pleasure of attending the Change of Command ceremony where Lt Col Patrick Misnick assumed command from Lt Col Stephanie Dudza. The presiding officer was Col Lorne Heyne, Commander, 59th Support Group, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. Patrick moved from Port San Antonio, where he managed the multi-million-dollar contract operation that builds and maintains the majority of AF Medical Service War Readiness Material assemblages. Stephanie took his place as Chief, AF Medical WRM Industrial Operations, Port San Antonio, AFMOA/SGALW.

COL DUANE BRAGG’s RETIREMENT Weeks prior to Duane’s actual retirement date, Col (ret) Tim Morgan hosted an enjoyable evening at his home just outside of San Antonio, where he entertained several generations of Log Chiefs. At some point during the evening, as depicted in the picture to the left, Tim presented Duane with one of his “barn wood” Texas Flags as a memento of his contributions to the AF Medical Service and to AF Medical Logistics.

Duane’s “real” retirement ceremony was held a few weeks later at Fort Detrick where the current AF Surgeon General, Lt Gen Mark Ediger, retired Duane in an afternoon ceremony attended by over one-hundred tri-service guests. Pictured to the right are Lt Gen Ediger, Duane’s wife Patricia, their son Martin, and Col Bragg. Three former Log Chiefs were in attendance; #18, Col Jim Moreland, #20 Col Perry Cooper, and #22, Col Don Faust. Col Bragg honored each of the former Log Chief’s with his personal Log Chief’s Coin, numbered with each former Chief’s sequence number. None of the former Log Chief’s really knew “their number” until Duane started what might be another tradition in the Log-Dog world. Duane and his family will be retiring in the greater Boston area.

COL ED LAGROU’S PIN-ON Col (ret) Jim Moreland I was proud to have been asked to be the Promoting Officer at Col Ed Lagrou’s pin-on at Eglin AFB, FL on 31 May, 2016. In addition to the usual stuff, it was particularly impressive to be part of the ceremony under the wings of a B-52 static display, and hear one of his own Squadron Members sing the national anthem, and his own son, Brandon Lagrou, lead the AF Junior ROTC Honor Guard in posting the colors. Brandon is just completing his tour as the JrROTC Wing Commander at Niceville High School, and by the time you read this, will be in Air Force Basic Training. When asked by his Father (and others) why he chose the enlisted path vs. attending college and enrolling in ROTC, Brandon said, “I want to do it just like my Dad did it…start out enlisted and then seek commissioning.” How do you argue with that? It was an honor to be the promoting officer at Col Lagrou’s pin-on. Ed’s Mother and Father from his home state of Michigan were in attendance, and his Dad and I enjoyed sitting next to Ed & Mary’s pool, enjoying the evening Florida breeze and our favorite cold beverages, solving the problems of the world.

I always knew Ed would do well from the first day I met him as a SSgt at Kadena AB, Japan. Ed was always the “go to” guy for our entire executive staff and many others at Kadena. He was way ahead of his time in 1991 when he and two of his friends installed the first Medical Unit IT network (I think we called it the Novell Netware server or something like that) in PACAF. From Kadena, I went to the San Antonio portion of the AF Surgeon General’s office in the Medical Logistics Division. Ed was assigned to Bolling AFB as a TSgt, where he worked for MGen (ret) Mike Wyrick, so we continued communicating frequently. From there, he was commissioned and attended HSA and we have remained in touch over the years. As he completes his role as the Support Squadron Commander at Eglin, he is programmed to move on to Ramstein AB in Germany, where he will serve in a Readiness Planning role. Their daughter Hope will be enrolled in her junior year at University of Maine at Orono. All of our best goes to the entire Lagrou family as they move on to their respective new life roles. 6

HOUNDS FOR HEROES Col (ret) Jim Moreland

Major (ret) Phillip Cooper was recently matched with a service dog, “Tucker” as part of the Austin “Hounds for Heroes” program. Tucker is trained to maneuver through crowds and help remove Phil from situations that are uncomfortable for him. Prior to being commissioned as an MSC, Phil was a Navy Combat Medic, supporting Marine Corps units deployed in Viet Nam. He was severely injured, and was awarded the Purple Heart. My wife Allison and I had the opportunity to meet Tucker when Phil and his wife Penny visited us in San Antonio in June this summer. Tucker is the younger, better looking of the two on the left, and he is eager to please and serve Phil. If you are interested in learning more about Hounds for Heroes, visit their web site at https://www.houndsforheroes.us/ ,

HealthNet President/CEO Announces Plans to Retire This Fall Contributed by Life Member, Ted Terrazas

Jimmy Brown is a Retired AF MSC, good friend and mentor. I think other AF MSCs would like to know he is retiring again.

3 June, 2016: HealthNet President/CEO Jimmy Brown today announced his plans to retire after four years of remarkable service with HealthNet. Jimmy, 65, began his work with HealthNet in 2012 as President/CEO. Under his leadership, the organization has grown from seven locations and a budget of $45 million annually into a thriving network of nine primary care centers, three specialty care centers, five dental centers, seven school-based clinics and several outreach programs and an annual budget of $66 million. Service growth under Jimmy’s leadership has included the addition of West Health Center and its women’s health expansion; Northeast Health Center; Northwest Health Center; the HealthNet Pediatric Evening Clinic; the HealthNet Pediatric Dental Clinic; the Homeless Initiative Program Health Center; and the upcoming expansion of Martindale-Brightwood Health Center. The number of patients served has grown 20 percent, to nearly 60,000 a year. Jimmy is only the third President & CEO in HealthNet’s 48-year history. His leadership has led to all-time high scores in patient satisfaction, employee satisfaction, significant financial improvement, improved clinical results and major facility upgrades. HealthNet has garnered numerous recognitions under Jimmy’s leadership, including two successful Joint Commission site visits; being the first in Indiana and among 30 organizations in the U.S. to earn the Joint Commission’s Primary Care Medical Home Accreditation, being among the top 10 percent of Federally Qualified Health Centers nationwide to earn a perfect score during a HRSA Site Review; and receiving a HIMSS Davies Award for using health information technology to substantially improve patient outcomes. Succession planning has been an ongoing strategic priority of HealthNet’s Board of Directors. The Board plans to form a search committee and begin a national search in June. A successor is expected to be selected by fall 2016 to work with Jimmy, the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Directors to ensure a smooth transition. “This is an exciting time in HealthNet’s history, and we welcome the community’s input,” said HealthNet Chief Operating Officer Rick Diaz. “Our vision is to provide world class quality in community health care. As the state’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center and one of the largest in the U.S., we have the opportunity to lead at the local, state and national levels in advocating for the underserved and in finding innovative ways to improve health outcomes and reduce barriers to efficient, affordable health care. We look forward to continuing Jimmy’s legacy and setting a new standard for the delivery of compassionate health care and support services, regardless of someone’s ability to pay.” 7

BURIAL OF COL (ret) FRED GRAVES Col (ret) Mac McClean

I attended Fred’s funeral yesterday, 17 June 2016. It was a very nice service. A friend of Fred’s gave a great eulogy and the priest did a super job recognizing Fred and emphasizing that God would be waiting for Fred. Sounds like Fred might have had an “in” based on all the charitable things he did at the church. Met his son Greg for the first time. Greg lives in Colorado. We had a lunch in the church hall afterwards. One of the folks there, who had attended the funeral, stated that he and Fred had been classmates at Nursing School in Chicago. Not sure how many knew Fred was a nurse before being commissioned as an MSC. Please keep Norma in your thoughts and prayers. As you may recall it was always “Fred and Norma” and you seldom saw one without the other. Her grief will not be gone in a day or two, but time heals all wounds, so they say. Hope that holds true for Norma. Of course I told Norma that she and Fred and Greg were in the thoughts and prayers of all their MSC friends and Scott AFB friends as well. According to his obituary (http://tinyurl.com/FredGravesObit ) Fred entered active duty in June of 1956 as a 2nd Lt. at Scott AFB Medical Center. He retired with the rank of Colonel as administrator of Scott AFB Medical Center, the same base where his career began, after 26 years of active duty. Inurnment was June 20, at the Sarasota National Cemetery.

BURIAL OF COL TOM SCHWARK, USAF, MC

As reported in a previous newsletter, Col (ret) (Dr.) Tom Schwark passed from this life on 24 April 2015. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery on 16 May 2016. Dr Schwark was highly regarded in MSC circles, and the ceremony was befitting such a wonderful Commander and friend to all of those who knew and loved him. As you can see in the photograph, the ceremony can only be described as very moving and absolutely superb. From the flight of Honor Guard Airman, to the horse drawn caisson, it was a fitting tribute. In addition to his wife Lee, and many other family members and friends, MSC Association members Phillip Cooper and Jim Moreland attended.

LIFE STORY FOR BERNARD BAUMAN

Bernard (Bernie) Francis Bauman, age 96, went to our Lord on July 19, 2016. Born one of seven boys in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 26, 1920, to Anthony and Irene Bauman, he attended Edison High and worked on the family farm until he joined the US Navy in 1942. He served in the Pacific War Zone in World War II aboard the USS Langley. Upon his return from action in 1945, he married Katherine Sullivan in San Francisco. Bernie remained in the Navy Reserves until 1950, when he received a commission in the USAF Medical Service Corp before retiring as a Major in 1970. Major Bauman served all over the World, including the Pacific Theater, Germany, and Vietnam, serving as a hospital administrator at numerous stateside bases. He attended San Jose State, received a Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching, attended many military schools, and received a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration from Baylor University in Texas. Following his military retirement, Bernie was a Hospital Administrator for Doctors Hospital of Los Angeles and Beverly Enterprises. His family lived in Palos Verdes, California, and was active

8 in the South Bay Community. Bernard and Katherine retired to Hemet West in 1982. Katherine passed away in 2001. Bernie later married Mary Ball who passed away in 2015. In addition to his many military and civic awards, he was the recipient of a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of triage medicine in time of war or catastrophe. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, brothers Baby Bauman, Richard, Howard, and Edward. He is survived by his four children, Judith Handwerker (husband Mark), Craig Bauman (wife Bea), Mary Nickerson (husband Jeffery), and Patrick Bauman (wife Kim). As of today, his growing family also includes seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. He is survived by his brothers Leonard (wife Beth), and Willard (wife Ruthe). Bernie was a life member of the MSC Association, San Jose State Alumni, and Retired Officer Association. He was a former member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was an avid world traveler, hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed photography, square dancing, bowling and playing bridge. Most of all, he loved spending time with his wonderful friends and family. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the veteran’s organization of your choice in Bernie’s name. Services were held at Miller-Jones Mortuary in Hemet, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Ed. Note: We always enjoyed talking with Bernie and his brother Willard (also a retired MSC and Life Member of the Association). Bernie’s Grandson recorded a great video of Bernie’s life: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JqU7cDLXnT8. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

AROUND THE AIR FORCE Derived from months of AFA Magazines, AFA Daily EMAIL Updates, and other sources

GOLDFEIN SWORN IN AS CHIEF OF STAFF USAF release 7/5/2016

Gen. David Goldfein, the Air Force’s 21st Chief of Staff, was officially sworn in during a July 1 ceremony at the Pentagon. Goldfein, who was confirmed on June 29, replaced the now retired Gen. Mark Welsh as Chief. “My commitment to you as your Chief, as the 21st Chief, in the 21st Century, is that I will work every day to be a leader of character,” Goldfein said in a message to airmen posted on YouTube. “I’ll leave nothing on the table. I’ll look for the opportunity in every challenge. I’ll treat team building as a contact sport, and I’ll remain laser focused on warfighting excellence.” Watch his message on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwxlDrvyPac.

SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING ON AF CHIEF OF STAFF

So… it is not like they don’t know! After listening to the opening statement from the SASC Chairman, Senator John McCain (R) AZ, it was evident our new Chief of Staff faces even more challenges than most can even imagine, especially when you read or hear Senator McCain’s description of where we were in 1960 vs. where we are today. Following are some excerpts from Sen McCain’s remarks you may find interesting:

June 16, 2016 - “General Goldfein, we thank you for joining us this morning. We're grateful for your many years of distinguished service to our nation and for your continued willingness to serve. Now more than ever, a strong Air Force is central to our nation’s ability to deter adversaries, assure allies, and defend our national interests.

“Global challenges continue to grow—the threat of terrorism from North Africa to the Middle East to South Asia; advanced potential adversaries like Russia and China; and rogue states such as North Korea and Iran. Despite these growing threats, today's Air Force is the oldest, smallest, and least ready in its history—no doubt in part because of arbitrary budget cuts that Congress and the President agreed to five years ago and have since failed to reverse.

“Even under the best of budget conditions, modern air, space, and cyber capabilities are much more expensive in absolute terms than their predecessors—that is, if they even have predecessors. That’s one of the primary reasons the Air Force’s inventory of warfighting weapons has steadily decreased over the past decades.

“In 1960, the Air Force had over 2,000 bombers and 4,300 fighters. In 1980, that declined to 323 bombers and 3,600 fighters. Today, the Air Force has a mere 159 long range bombers and less than 2,000 fighter aircraft. Today, the Air Force is retiring aircraft faster than it procures them and will continue to do so for years to come.

“While the aircraft we have today are highly capable, our adversaries are shrinking that gap or finding asymmetric ways to negate our advantage. The Air Force’s global reach and global power are being tested, as our adversaries invest heavily in fifth-generation fighter aircraft, advanced missiles, and integrated air defense systems that expand contested airspace and exacerbate the tyranny of distance.

“Meanwhile, as our Air Force shrinks, the combination of relentless operational tempo and misguided reductions in defense spending continues to deplete readiness. The Air Force does not expect a return to full spectrum readiness for more than a decade.

“General Goldfein, addressing these three challenges—capacity, capability, and readiness—will require the next chief of staff’s strong leadership and personal engagement.

“One the of the principle obstacles you will confront is a huge bow wave of modernization investment program costs that are all coming due in the next decade. Just consider the list of Air Force modernization priorities: F- 35A fighters, KC-46A tankers, B-21 bombers, JSTARS, Compass Call, AWACS, and a new trainer aircraft. Not to mention a modernized nuclear force including the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, B61 gravity bomb, and the Long Range Stand Off weapon. There is simply no way all of these important, yet expensive modernization programs will fit into the projected Air Force budget. At this point, it is by no means clear to me that the Air Force has conceived a plausible path through this tremendous budget crunch. With the future of our Air Force on the line, it will be your task if confirmed to chart this course in the coming years.

“In any event, no matter how many dollars we spend, we won't be able to provide our military the equipment they need in a defense acquisition system that takes too long, costs too much, and innovates too little. In the last two defense authorization bills, this committee has embarked on a major effort to reform this system, including ways to empower our service leaders to manage their own programs, and take on greater accountability. I will be keenly interested to hear how you would employ these new authorities to accelerate and streamline Air Force acquisition programs, ensure our warfighters get the equipment they need when they need it, and act as a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars.

“Finally, we must acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the outstanding men and women of the United States Air Force. As you mention in your opening statement, General Goldfein, the Air Force has been at war

10 for 25 years straight. And we cannot take our airmen for granted. We must recognize that high operational tempo, reduced readiness, and lucrative opportunities outside the Air Force continue to drive some of our best talent to leave the service. I am interested in your plans recruit and retain the best talent for our Air Force, including how best to provide a competitive and tailored compensation package that incentivizes retention, especially for pilots.

“General Goldfein, we look forward to your testimony.”

The entire SASC Hearings on Gen Goldfein’s confirmation is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLexlcyV97g

RECRUITING THE FUTURE

The Pentagon is overhauling how it recruits and retains service members, using all-digital approaches and even targeted ads to expand the pool from which future service members will enlist. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday unveiled more proposals in his "Force of the Future" initiative, a broad approach to make the Pentagon become more enticing to future uniformed and civilian hires. The changes will start at the outset of recruiting, moving away from a system weighed down by stacks and stacks of paperwork into an all-digital system for recruitment and enlistment within five years. "Plenty of our personnel can tell stories about having to fill out the same packets of paperwork over and over again," Carter said during a speech in the Pentagon courtyard. "Not a good sign for a new recruit who's been hearing that we're the most technologically advanced military in the world."

The Pentagon also will expand work done by its Joint Advertising, Market Research, and Studies Program to use data science and micro-targeting to "build a precision recruiting database." Currently, 40 percent of new recruits come from just six states mainly in the south, while most Reserve Officer Training Corps and service academy graduates come from the north. "We can't keep fishing in the same old ponds," Carter said. "Instead, we have to fish in more ponds, new ponds, and ponds we haven't been in in a long time."

THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO OFFICER PROMOTIONS IN DECADES

The military needs to change how it retains its officer corps, and start encouraging experiences outside of the traditional military mission and while working to promote those best suited for a job instead of those who are the most senior. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, in unveiling new initiatives for his Force of the Future project to modernize the military personnel system, proposed four changes to the Defense Officer Personnel Act. "Together, these stand to be the most consequential changes to our officer promotion system in over 30 years, if not more," Carter said during a Pentagon speech on Thursday.

Carter proposed that the military services be able to adjust, based on performance, the "lineal numbers of their officer corps" to promote based on performance, not on seniority. The services should be able to defer when officers are considered for promotion, so an officer can put off promotion boards if they wish to pursue "less traditional career paths" and not be harmed for it. The Pentagon should be able to recruit a properly skilled civilian and place them into service at a rank commensurate with their experience, much like a medical doctor. While this wouldn't work for certain jobs, such as aircraft wing commanders or infantry leaders, it would help to recruit the best cyber operators from civilian jobs into military service. Lastly, Carter said future defense secretaries need to have the flexibility to adjust officer promotions and retainment down the line. He called on Congress to grant this leeway, saying "there's good news here because we know some on Capitol Hill already agree with us."

FIFTH GEN FIGHTERS PLAN INTEGRATION

Commanders of operational F-22 Raptor wings and leaders of the emerging F-35A Lightning II units met at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., to discuss joint training, maintenance, manpower, and strategies to help integrate the F-35s into the joint team. Col. Pete Fesler, 1st Fighter Wing commander, said the two aircraft have “incredible capability” and were designed to work together. Although the F-35As were designed primarily for the air-to-ground mission and the F-22 for the air-to-air fight, they will bring “complementary capabilities to assist each other in either role,” Fesler said in an Air Combat Command release. “Together they are a team that is optimized to go after an air threat and a surface threat simultaneously.” The F-22 community plans to share its decade of fifth-gen experience with the F- 35As, which are expected to achieve initial operational capability in August. Maintenance was considered a key area for shared experience. The integration planning started 20 months ago when four F-22s deployed to Eglin AFB, Fla., to conduct introductory training missions with F-35s from the 33rd FW.

NORTH KOREA - A VERY REAL THREAT

Osan AB, South Korea—North Korea has the fourth largest military in the world, of which roughly 70 percent is forward deployed "fairly close" to the demilitarized zone, which is not even 50 miles from the base here. Its artillery force is the largest in the world with 13,000 systems, pretty much all of which are hidden within 11,000 underground facilities. North Korea is believed to have 800 theater ballistic missiles and "enough plutonium for six to eight nuclear weapons," according to a 7th Air Force briefing. Although its aircraft are mostly "holdovers from the Korean War … they have a lot of them and quantity is a quality all of its own," said Col. Rob Bortree, commander of the 607th Air Operations Center. The underground facilities create "additional problems" because if a crisis were to arise US and South Korean forces would first have to find the weapons then figure out how to attack, said Bortree. "The current assessment is [North Korea] will attack with very little to no notice," he added. "They can't sustain offensive maneuver and depth, so their initial plan is to get in and push us to the table to get concessions." Bortree said North Korea is "highly lethal." With their ambitious and often public ballistic missile development program, North Korea's 60,000 to 100,000-strong Special Operations Force is often overlooked. However, it is "one of the largest SOF forces on record and they have the ability to move them very quickly south, so that will be a significant challenge for us," Bortree told Air Force Magazine. "They also have a history of escalating quickly to get what they want."

MORE ON KOREA -- ARMISTICE ALWAYS ON THE MIND

Osan AB, South Korea—For 63 years the Korean peninsula has operated in a state of armistice—not war, not peace. That fact is not lost on airmen here as they work daily to bolster the relationship between the US and the Republic of Korea amid increasing tensions over North Korea's recent nuclear test, aggressive ballistic missile development program, and its satellite launch earlier this year. "I was here in 2007 and the mentality was not what it is now. There is a heightened sense of alertness. The threat seems more real now," said TSgt. Joshua Melching, a joint terminal attack controller with the 607th Air Support Operations Group here. Melching said the fact that he could be "called to the fight here overnight or in the next five minutes" is always on his mind. Col. John Rice, director of ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) for the 7th Air Force, said the Korean peninsula is not the same as it was even five years ago. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is significantly different from his father or grandfather. The "most notable" difference, said Rice, is "his continued development of weapons that would pose a more strategic threat off the peninsula." Col. Rob Bortree, commander the 607th Air Operations Center, said one of the changes over the last five to 10 years is North Korea's ability to directly threaten US territory. US and ROK forces also have changed. "We've become much more agile in our ability to posture capability and employ capability immediately," said Rice, who noted that includes ISR and strike. ROKAF capabilities also have "exponentially increased," he added, citing several foreign military sales in the works. For example, the US State Department signed off on a potential $2.5 billion deal last year to modernize 134 ROKAF KF-16s and South Korea also plans to procure RQ-4 Global Hawks.

AIR FORCE CELEBRATES F-35 IOC

Air Force leadership celebrated its newest operational aircraft at its main operational base, saying the F-35A will soon be the backbone of the fleet. "The F-35 will soon become the quarterback of the joint force," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said during a ceremony at Hill AFB, Utah, celebrating the Aug. 2 declaration that the F-35 has reached initial operating capability. Hill is home to the 388th Fighter Wing and associated 419th Reserve Wing that are the first to fly the aircraft operationally. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said there is still work to do as the F-35 moves toward full operating capability, including keeping costs down so the Air Force can continue to move toward the total fleet goal of 1,763 aircraft. "But most important of all, we need to continue the focus on our people," James said during the ceremony. "Those that fly, those that maintain, those that support this unit and others." The new aircraft will give the Air Force an "unmatched advantage" in wars to come, officials said. "I have a message to our adversaries," Goldfein said, "It sucks to be you."

TEXANS TO ARGENTINA

The State Department recently approved a $300 million deal to send T-6C Texans to Argentina to help bolster the training for that country's air force. The deal comes shortly after Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James visited South America, where allies there pressed her for easier and faster foreign military sales. Argentina requested 24 T-6s, along with spare engines, initial spare parts, and other support, including Air Force Materiel Command Services and travel, according to a State Department release. The department notified Congress of the sale on July 29. "The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally," the release states.

US SEEKS TO BASE MORE AIRCRAFT IN SPAIN

The US has asked Spain for permission to expand operations at Morón Air Base for operations in North Africa, reportedly moving helicopters from Afghanistan to conduct anti-drug operations. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo said this week the move is likely but there is no timeline just yet, according to Europa Press. The move would broaden the United States' reach into countries in North Africa, expanding on the build-up of the base with a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey contingent outlined in a May 2015 deal between the two countries. The US initially planned to base the aircraft in Morocco, but instead moved the aircraft and troops to Morón, García-Margallo said. Morón is home to the Air Force's 496th Air Base Squadron and has hosted airlift and tanker aircraft in missions across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) RATES DRIVER’S LICENSES

On Jan 29, 2008, Minimum Standards for Driver's Licenses and Identification Cards Acceptable by Federal Agencies for Official Purposes; Final Rule was published in the Federal Register. What does that mean to us? It might just result in your state Driver’s License being turned away as valid identification for Federal Installations or for use as a valid ID to get a new military ID card or worse, not being accepted as valid for flying on commercial aircraft. Fortunately for most of our readers, we have other DoD issued identification, but it would not hurt to check the authorized list periodically. It is at: https://www.dhs.gov/current-status-states- territories. Checking the website on 9 August, it appears only American Samoa, Minnesota+, Missouri, and Washington+ remain on the Non-compliant states/territories list. Minnesota and Washington are suffixed with a + indicating Federal officials may continue to accept Enhanced Driver’s Licenses from these states. Only 24 states/territories are actually “compliant”. The other 28 have an extension, allowing Federal agencies to accept

14 driver's licenses from these states until October 10, 2016. (NOTE: + = Federal officials may continue to accept Enhanced Driver’s Licenses from these states) MILITARY & VA MEDICAL NEWS

MOAA PERSPECTIVE – THE TRICARE CLASH MOAA June 2016 Edition – Washington Scene Section, pp 27-30

MOAA calls it the TRICARE CLASH, saying the “House and Senate versions of the FY2017 Defense Authorization Bill, both propose sweeping health care reforms but set up a contentious battle over approaches to beneficiary fee changes.”

“2016 is shaping up to be a crucial year for military compensation and benefits, as both (House and Senate) bills propose sweeping changes to health care and more.” Without repeating the whole article, here are the highlights:  Both the House and the Senate call for consolidating responsibility for military health care facilities, policy, budgeting, and delivery under the Defense Health Agency (DHA).  The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission documented that care in military facilities is more costly than civilian care.  Military providers are less productive than their civilian counterparts, and there is little accountability for these conditions.  Despite resistance from military service leaders, Armed Services committee leaders of both chambers appear convinced the only way to address oversight, access, budget and quality concerns is to consolidate the program under one responsible agency.  Both bills reject DoD proposals to impose an enrollment fee for TFL (TRICARE for Life).  Both also propose major changes to fees for younger beneficiaries, while going about it in different ways. The Senate would adopt the hefty fee hikes proposed by DoD, but would phase in the $450/$950 (individual/family) TRICARE Standard enrollment fee over five years. (Ed. Note for those who don’t know… there is NO FEE for TRICARE Standard enrollment today). The House bill would grandfather all currently serving and retired beneficiaries from most of the fee hikes, but would impose them on new entrants after Jan 1, 2018. The exception would be a new TRICARE Standard enrollment fee for current eligible that would start in 2020.”

(Ed. Note: Nothing is certain until laws are passed and programs implemented, but the onslaught of new fees for existing TRICARE Standard enrollees seems inevitable unless those affected can convince their elected officials otherwise. The question in my mind is why? Collecting a thousand dollars for a family enrollment fee may well stress the budget of TRICARE Standard enrollees, but I cannot find any numbers that indicate what this really means to the DoD in the way of cost reductions to the overall program. One thing is certain: any increases in healthcare costs for DoD beneficiaries is a direct “hit” on their compensation, whether active duty or retired.)

On a more positive note from MOAA, “the Senate Armed Services Committee…left no doubt about their determination to address problems with beneficiary access and program efficiency, quality, oversight, and contracting. On the downside, they left no doubt that they think many TRICARE fees should be increased. From an SASC press release: “[These] reform initiatives adhere to a simple guiding principle: that beneficiaries should only be asked to pay more into a military system that delivers greater value.” That will be difficult to do for TRICARE Standard. The good news: TFL seems to be safe and immune from any increases. Everybody else… look out!

WHERE DO WE STAND TODAY? Col (ret) Jim Moreland

MSCA Chairman Denise Lew provided a link in her opening letter to a summary published by the Senate Armed Services Committee, so let’s look at that and other sources to evaluate where we are and where we are headed. Charts and graphs can be used to tell a story, sell a program, just satisfy the masses, or get them really fired up. According to this chart, those of us using TRICARE Standard represent the smallest percentage of Military Beneficiaries, yet that is the program being targeted for the most drastic changes.

Remember the survey we talked about in a previous newsletter where MHS survey respondents responded very negatively about TRICARE PRIME, and especially TRICARE PRIME for active duty where they were forced to see military providers in military health care facilities? Reasons given included things like long appointment waiting times for other than acute problems, excessive wait times for referrals, and few choices when picking a primary care physician. TRICARE Prime enrollees, especially those “on base” frequently cited problems with not being able to see the same providers. TRICARE Standard on the other hand, reported the fewest complaints. So now, it is a bit of a mystery why TRICARE Standard is targeted for a complete overhaul, while all the other, less desirable programs (according to the survey) are left untouched.

The NDAA Link from Col Lew offers these insights, mostly medical program related, but at least one General Officer related:

“To get the number of General Officers back in line with what is left of the military force, cuts are required.” The NDAA contains a provision that would reduce the number of general and flag officers by 25 percent. There was no specific mention of the impact on DoD or AF Medical Service General Officer Billets. (Ed. Note: I saw no specific mention of Medical General Officer billets but you will see below, there was mention of “bloated” medical HQ staffs.)

“NDAA initiates a comprehensive reform to modernize the military health system and provide beneficiaries with higher quality care, better access to care, and a better experience of care. Critically, the NDAA’s reform initiatives adhere to a simple guiding principle: that beneficiaries should only be asked to pay more into a military system that delivers greater value. The reforms in the NDAA constitute an important first step in the evolution of the military health system from an under-performing, disjointed health system into a high- performing integrated health system that gives beneficiaries what they need and deserve: the right care at the right time in the right place.

“While battlefield medicine is a pocket of excellence in the military health system that must be maintained, it is also clear that the military health system, designed decades ago, has increasingly emphasized delivering peacetime healthcare at the expense of strengthening operational medical force readiness. Prior to 2001, medical force readiness suffered immeasurably, forcing the military services to build a more robust combat casualty care capability to meet the demands of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. For example, OB/GYN physicians

16 substituted as trauma surgeons in combat theaters because the military had too few qualified trauma surgeons to meet combatant command requirements.

“Bloated medical headquarters staffs – over 12,000 strong – have failed to take quick action on what needs to be fixed in the direct care component of the military health system. Despite the lack of additional capacity to enroll patients in bottle-necked primary care clinics, beneficiaries continue to be required to receive care at military hospitals. While the military services claim they need more patients in their hospitals to maintain medical force readiness, the most common health services performed by military providers relate to pregnancy, childbirth, and pediatric care. In addition, the current stove-piped military health system command structure leads to inevitable turf wars among the military services and the Defense Health Agency, paralyzing decision- making and stifling healthcare innovation. Data show that military healthcare providers have much lower productivity than their comparable civilian counterparts, which severely limits beneficiaries’ access to healthcare services. Although set at an unreasonably low level, DOD’s productivity goal for physicians – 40 percent of the Medical Group Management Association median – cannot be met by many military medical providers. Moreover, a recent study by the Institute for Defense Analyses shows that the military services underestimate the true costs of officer and enlisted medical personnel compared to the total costs for government civilians and contractors. The study concluded that the complete cost to the taxpayer of military medical personnel far exceeded the cost of civilian healthcare providers with comparable skills. Data also show that the total cost to provide healthcare services in military treatment facilities is greater than the cost of providing the same types of services in the private sector.

“The private sector component of the military health system is not without its own flaws. Beneficiaries complain about the cumbersome authorization and referral process for specialty care and a lack of access to care in large TRICARE provider networks. The current TRICARE program’s myriad outmoded regulations and policies focus on “the system” rather than doing the right thing for beneficiaries. TRICARE’s obsolete medical support contract strategy results in high acquisition costs, routine bid protests, implementation delays, high management costs, and costly contract extensions. Under those contracts, the Department, and ultimately the taxpayers, remain solely at risk for the cost of all healthcare services provided, and the rigid adherence to fee- for-service provider reimbursement fails to encourage individual and institutional network providers to provide higher quality care, better access to care, and higher patient satisfaction at lower costs to the Department and the taxpayers. With a clear need for reform, the NDAA contains a number of provisions designed to improve the Military Health System’s ability to provide the timely, quality care beneficiaries deserve.

“Creating Health Value:” • Expands the full range of telehealth services available to beneficiaries. • Authorizes lower co-payments for high-value pharmaceuticals and medical services. • Eliminates the requirement for pre-authorization for specialty care referrals. • Requires a plan to improve pediatric care and related services. • Incentivizes participation in disease management programs. • Authorizes enrollment of eligible beneficiaries in federal dental and vision insurance programs managed by the Office of Personnel Management. • Authorizes new and improved TRICARE health plans – TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Choice, and TRICARE Supplemental. • Eliminates existing cost-shares for services provided under the current TRICARE Standard plan and replaces them with fixed co-payments to lower overall costs for beneficiaries.

“Enhancing Access to High Quality Healthcare:” • Expands and improves access to care by requiring a standardized appointment system in military treatment facilities.

• Creates local high-performing military-civilian integrated health delivery systems in which military treatment facilities would form strong partnerships with civilian health systems and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide integrated health services for beneficiaries. • Expands telehealth capabilities in the military health system. • Creates specialized care centers of excellence at major military medical centers to model specialized care delivery in high-performing health systems like the Cleveland Clinic. • Requires contracts for turn-key primary care/urgent care clinics at military treatment facilities. • Authorizes a pilot program to give commercial health insurance coverage to reserve component members and their families.

“Improving Beneficiaries’ Health Outcomes:” • Increases beneficiary involvement and shared responsibility to improve health outcomes and to lower costs, including focused efforts on smoking cessation and weight reduction. • Incentivizes participation in disease management programs. • Incentivizes use of high-value individual and institutional healthcare providers

“Improving and Maintaining Operational Medical Force Readiness:” • Creates specialized care centers of excellence at major military medical centers. • Expands military-civilian trauma training sites and requires integrated trauma team training. • Requires establishment of personnel management plans for important wartime medical specialties. • Requires development of quality of care outcome measures for combat casualty care. • Requires greater focus on medical research to understand better the causes of morbidity and mortality of service men and women in combat. • Requires development of a trauma care registry. • Requires development of standardized tactical combat casualty care training. • Expands eligibility for care in military treatment facilities to veterans and certain civilians.

“Demanding Performance Accountability:” • Establishes performance accountability for military healthcare leaders throughout the military health system. • Establishes rigorous criteria for selection of military treatment facility commanders. • Establishes minimum lengths of tours of duty for military treatment facility commanders.

“Driving Efficiencies and Eliminating Waste:” • Right-sizes the footprint of the Military Health System to meet operational medical force requirements and the medical readiness of the Armed Forces. • Realigns the medical command structure of the Department of Defense and shrinks headquarters’ staffing creating greater efficiency in the management of the Military Health System. • Eliminates graduate medical education training programs not directly supporting operational medical readiness requirements and the medical readiness of the Armed Forces. • Authorizes conversion of military healthcare provider positions to civilian or contractor positions. • Requires a multi-year study by the Comptroller General of the United States to find healthcare waste throughout the military health system. • Requires centrally-managed, performance-based professional staffing contracts.

“Modernizing TRICARE Medical Support Contracts:” • Incorporates value-based healthcare methodology and value-based provider reimbursement into TRICARE contracts. • Expands access to the full range of telehealth capabilities.

• Allows contractors to use the latest innovations in the private sector health plan market. • Transfers financial risk for the delivery of healthcare services to contractors and healthcare providers. • Focuses contracts on building networks of high-value providers. • Requires a competitive, continuously open contracting strategy. ------

(Ed. Note: I remain concerned that the current proposed changes will adversely impact TRICARE Standard, which was the only part of TRICARE that got consistently good marks in the survey that all these changes seem to be based upon. In my opinion, each of you, as a current or eventual recipient of retired care, should know that TRICARE Standard is about the finest insurance program that exists on the planet. Combined with a $135 per month supplement, the TRICARE Standard of today delivers a retired military member and spouse, virtually 100% coverage for all deductibles and co-pays including pharmacy. I am left wondering what could possibly be done to deliver a better service under any label, and I find it difficult to believe that any “meddling” DoD or our elected officials might do will improve it or make it cost any less.)

AN MSC STORY - SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 REMINISCENCES By Col (ret) Kerry Dexter

This coming September 11th marks the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This anniversary holds special meaning for me as I was stationed at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 and both my wife and I will forever remember the events of that day.

I had been at the Pentagon since the summer of 2000 when I PCA'd from the Surgeon General's office at Bolling AFB to be the medical program analyst in the Air Force Plans and Programs Directorate. I worked on the fifth floor of the Pentagon in the "A" or inside ring of the building.

I, like all of you, still remember seeing the first terrorist hijacked plane slam into the North World Trade Center tower. Many of us thought it was just a horrible accident. Then the second plane hit the South tower at a little past 9 AM Eastern time and we knew that something more sinister was afoot. Very shortly after watching the second plane crash into the south tower I signed out of my duty section and began the long trek to the Pentagon Health Clinic where I was undergoing physical therapy for a dislocated shoulder that I had suffered, along with a couple of broken ribs, just a week before on a wipeout during a bicycle commute to the Pentagon. I got checked in and ushered to a room in the clinic and had just removed my shirt for treatment when the fire alarm went off and I heard a great deal of shouting and commotion in the clinic waiting room.

The exam room door flew open and I was directed to immediately evacuate the building due to a bomb that had gone off on the opposite (west) side of the building. As I joined the huge throng of people exiting the east side of the building I saw people with obvious injuries. When we got outside most people just milled around for a while waiting to see if and when we would be allowed back in the building since nobody seemed to know what had really happened.

However, there was plenty of medical action going on and it was a marvel to behold. I remember seeing Lt Gen P.K. Carlton, the AF Surgeon General, who had been in the Pentagon for a meeting running out of the same entrance doors I had just exited pushing a gurney and yelling for an intubation kit. The sleeves of his long sleeve blue shirt appeared to be charred and while trying to save a life was also trying to bring some order to the chaos that was everywhere. He became a hero of mine that day as I observed his leadership. I also observed and tried to assist other groups of medics and non-medics who were trying to get the injured to nearby hospitals. Most ambulances had gone to the plane-impact site on the west side of the building so those assisting the injured on the east side of the building where I was, were commandeering vehicles of opportunity to move the injured to hospitals. Fortunately, there was a large parking lot on the east side and with many people who had driven to work that day deciding to leave, the injured were loaded into their cars to be driven to nearby hospitals.

One scene that I will never forget involved a group of medics pushing a gurney with an obviously seriously injured person on it. The group jumped out in front of a mid-sized SUV and asked if the driver knew how to get to Arlington hospital. The driver said yes and the medics attempted to get the gurney into the back of the SUV, but it would not fit. So the medics looked for a larger SUV which they quickly found, flagged down and again asked if the driver knew how to get to Arlington hospital. The driver said he did not. The medics, undeterred, got the gurney loaded into the SUV and then yelled into the surrounding crowd asking if anyone knew how to get to the hospital. A person stepped forward and he was directed to get into the vehicle to guide the driver. So off went three people who had never met each other, with two of them desperately trying to save the life of the third--just two among many unsung heroes that day.

By this time most of us who had evacuated the Pentagon knew that a plane had been deliberately flown into the west side of the building. After witnessing the above events, people around me starting yelling for everyone to get as far away from the building as possible since a fourth hijacked plane was unaccounted for and could be heading for the Pentagon. We all started to run away from the building. I believe I ended up in Theodore Roosevelt Park and stayed there for several minutes until the all clear was given.

When I heard the all clear I went back to the East entrance to see if there was anything I could do to help out. While there I met another officer from my duty section who said our office had been released to go home and that was where he was headed. I told him that I was going to stay and try to help out, but I had a bit of a predicament in that I did not have my briefcase with me and my Metro fare card was in it. He loaned me one of his Metro checks so that I could get home. I then went and found someone in authority from the clinic and told him of my desire to stay and help out. He directed me to a group of people who were going to go back into the center court of the Pentagon where it was believed casualties would be brought and treated. We were told we had to take off our outer shirts and wear only our undershirts since it was believed there was a possibility we could come into contact with excessive heat from a fire on our way through the Pentagon and they did not want our shirts to melt and cause burns to our skin. I found this to be a rather unusual request, but I did want to help so I took off my shirt, folded it as neatly as I could and put it under a bush.

Our rather large group made it through the five rings of the building and into the inner court without incident and we immediately started preparing for casualties. One of the things a group of us were directed to do was to break open all the soft drink machines (there must have been 10-20 of them), pour out the contents of the bottles 20 inside and fill them with water, since we were told much water would be needed to treat the injured. Someone found a large hammer and broke off the locks and the rest of us proceeded to pour out the soda in the bottles and fill them with water.

About this time I realized that I should probably call home and let my wife know I was all right. Unfortunately, I did not have a cell phone and even though I knew where a bank of pay phones was located inside the building off of the center court, we were told we absolutely could not go back into the building for any reason. Therefore, I attempted to call home using a borrowed cell phone, but had no luck whatsoever getting through since all cell phone networks were unusable due to the high demand being placed on them.

Meanwhile, my wife, Lorana, who was at home growing more frantic by the hour since she did not know my status, had received several phone calls from my duty section leadership. The first call said that everyone got out safely and were accounted for. However, shortly after this call she got another one stating that since I had signed out before the plane crashed into the building, no one knew what had become of me since they could not remember where I had signed out to. Finally, the co-worker I met outside the building who gave me the Metro check called her and told her he had seen me after the evacuation, that I was fine, and that I told him I was staying behind to try and help. This gave her some comfort, but she was still very anxious to actually hear from me. Meanwhile, the home phone was ringing off the hook with calls from family and friends asking about my well- being. Our 22-year-old daughter was going to school in Utah and was very anxious as was our 20-year old son who was in California serving a Mormon mission. Our 18-year-old son, who was still at home and was a good boy, but not very diplomatic, finally in exasperation at the fretfulness of my wife stated, "Mom, if he is dead, he is dead and there is nothing you can do about it!” Needless to say Lorana did not find this very comforting.

After I had assisted in emptying out thousands of dollars’ worth of sodas, trying frequently to call home on cell phones with no success and knowing Lorana would be worried sick, I decided I would just have to disobey orders and walk back into the building and try calling from a pay phone. It was around 2:30 PM, five hours after the plane slammed into the building. I did just that, getting through on my first attempt. I definitely heard and felt the relief in Lorana's voice as I talked with her briefly, letting her know I was OK and that I would be home soon. Interestingly, to this day it is Lorana and not me that cannot watch footage of the terrorist attacks on that day. Though she was and is a very strong, stable person, the emotional roller coaster ride she was subjected to that day left her with a mild form of PTSD.

By around 3 o'clock we still had not treated any casualties and Gen Carlton paid us a visit, thanking us for our willingness to help, but informing us that all the injured had been and were being treated near the site of the crash. He encouraged us to go to the west side of the building to see if we could help out so we all exited the building and walked around the outside to the crash site. I will never forget turning the corner and seeing the damage that had been done by the aircraft. It literally took my breath away. Although I did not feel hatred for those who perpetrated the attack, I felt the closest thing to it and knew I was witnessing the effects of something truly evil. I have always believed that there are forces for good and evil in this world and this attack just cemented into my mind that evil cannot be tolerated in any form. It must be destroyed. If we give it even a tiny "toe hold" it will grow until it can eventually destroy the good. We are seeing examples of this in our world today.

After walking all the way from the east side of the Pentagon to the west side, seeing the horrific damage and the fire still burning we were told that everything was under control and our services were not needed. So our group disbanded and we all headed to our homes. I went and collected my shirt and realized that I would have to walk to the Pentagon City Metro stop since the Pentagon stop was closed due to the attack. I felt very self-conscious

21 walking the little less than a mile to the Pentagon City station since I did not have my hat. It was back in my office with my briefcase.

When I got to the Pentagon City station and onto a metro car, a wave of relief came over me, but only for a brief moment. I sat by the door on a seat that faced into the car and just hung my head exhausted. After a moment I looked up and saw a man sitting across from me obviously in some sort of medical distress. His eyes were rolled back into his head and he was making strange movements with his arms and body, moving around like he was in slow motion. I also saw that he had wet himself. I asked the lady sitting next to me how long the man had been like this and she said she did not know as she too had just got on the train. I tried to get the man's attention, but he would not respond. As is typical on the Metro, the few people on the car saw what was going on, but were determined to mind their own business and not get involved. They kept their heads in their books and newspapers.

We rolled through the Pentagon Metro stop and then reached the Arlington Cemetery stop at which point I jumped out of the train to flag down the driver, forgetting that there was an emergency cord I could have pulled. I knew the driver would look down the train before leaving the station to visually double check that all doors were closed so I knew he would see me. He motioned me to come to him and I told him about the situation in the car in which I was riding. After hearing my report, he told me that he could keep the train at this station and wait for an ambulance which would take 20-30 minutes to arrive or he could continue on to Rosslyn, the next station, and a major metro hub and have an ambulance waiting for us when we got there in 5-10 minutes. Then he looked me in the eye and said, "Colonel (I was a Lt Col at the time), what should we do?" So I made my last major decision of this very eventful day (and likely the most important one) standing on the Arlington Cemetery Metro Platform talking to a train driver. I said, "Let's go!" and ran back to my car.

When I got back to the car, the other passengers were becoming more engaged. A woman noticed that the man was wearing a bracelet that had a compartment in it so we opened it and pulled out a piece of paper stating that he was diabetic. Then another woman identified herself as a nurse and asked if anyone had a piece of candy, which another passenger quickly produced. The nurse tried to get the candy into the man's mouth, but the man was clenching his teeth and started to become combative. At this point we just left him alone and watched him carefully so that he would not hurt himself or anyone else. We arrived at Rosslyn and sure enough an ambulance crew was there in short order and took control of the situation. I was somewhat relieved that I was not proceeding any further on the blue line as I knew this medical emergency would cause the train I was on to be delayed for many minutes as well as any other trains coming up the line.

When everything was under control I exited the train and took the escalator down to the Orange Line level hoping and praying that I was finished with my excitement for the day. My prayer was answered and the rest of my Metro ride was uneventful as was my bus ride home from the Vienna station to Centreville. Though it was rush hour, due to the events of the day, there was only one other rider on my normally very full bus. Needless, to say when I arrived home after 6 PM I was greeted very warmly and emotionally by my wife and son.

Epilogue: I, along with all other Pentagon employees, went back to work the next day on 9/12 at the direction of Donald Rumsfeld as a statement to the terrorists that they might have inflicted damage, but they were not going to bring the work of the Department of Defense and the nation's military to a stop. The building reeked of smoke and the office I had worked in, which was in the recently renovated portion of the building, was not able to be occupied due to significant damage caused by the water used to fight the fire. We worked out of a temporary location for six months. I attended the memorial service, attended by President Bush, a week after the attack and though still in shock from the events of a week earlier was greatly comforted by President Bush's presence and remarks. I PCS'd from the Pentagon in June 2002 to Elmendorf AFB as a colonel-select. I will never forget the events of 9/11 and the untold acts of courage and heroism I witnessed that day.

HSA CLASS 16-D TEAM BUILDER AWARD WINNER

Captain Eric Carver is the latest winner of the Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner Team Builder Award. Winners of the Award are peer nominated and selected. The Team Builder Award is sponsored by the MSC Association and includes a Life Membership in the Association. Captain Carver is assigned to the 920 ASTS, Patrick AFB, FL (AFRC), as the Clinical Operations Flight Commander. Eric and his son Jake claim Asheville, NC as their home town. Eric is Provost, St. Petersburg College Health Education Center. He was previously the Academic Director, Center of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, and a faculty member, Health Informatics, at St. Petersburg College. Congratulations Eric, and welcome to the MSC Association!

AF MSC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER – EDITORIAL Jim Moreland

I read a lot. AF Magazine, MOAA Magazine, AMSUS Journal, and a host of other publications including VFW and American Legion, AARP publications and Readers Digest. My political alignment aside, all of those sources constitute a lot of what you read in this newsletter. What strikes me most these days, is the continual doom and gloom forecasts put forward in most of the media. But guess what? Those negative headlines and stories have been around since I was an Airman Basic in 1972. We just seem to be exposed more these days. And yet, here we are; still with the strongest and best Air Force and the best Medical Service in the world. I don’t mean to be glib, but as an Airman in 1972, driving a decades old Chevy pickup truck for a Security Police Law Enforcement vehicle that I had to park six of eight hours a shift and do my building checks on foot for lack of fuel money, I think I have a pretty good perspective on dire budget times (albeit as Airman E-2.) But here we are, decades later, except now, one aircraft can approach a “b” billion dollars a copy. The vehicles I see on today’s AF bases are mostly new and even shiny new. Why is that if we are so short of money? Despite all the ugly politics, the fact is, the Air Force and particularly its Medical Service, still has the best and brightest figuring out how to do whatever needs to be done with whatever resources are available. They fight hard every year in the budget battles, and our Commanders, Administrators, and Flight Commanders do a phenomenal job of leading their troops to deliver health care and get the mission accomplished. It is what we do and what we have always done. So chin up folks. Things always sound desperate in the press, but we old-timers all trust in today’s leaders and future leaders to continue getting the job done, just as we always have done. The responsibility for getting the mission accomplished within the resources allocated falls disproportionately on Medical Service Corps Officers. Judging from what I have seen over the past few years visiting with HSA classes on behalf of the Association, I am incredibly impressed with the quality and probably more importantly, the awesome energy and enthusiasm I feel while I am among them. I sleep well at night, knowing our future and our legacy is in good hands!

NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD – ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES.....

1st Grade Teacher: How old is your father? Kid: He is 6 years. Teacher: What? How is this possible? Kid: Well, he only became a father when I was born! First Grader logic is difficult to refute. 23

Wisconsin couple was treated for minor injuries at the local hospital emergency room after their Smart Car hit a squirrel on local Hwy 8. The squirrel refused treatment and left the scene.

LOCAL MSCs TO ORGANIZE MOTORCYCLE CLUB

With so many folks riding motorcycles these days, we hear that our fellow MSC riders are considering a new chapter in the greater SATX area. To accurately represent the group, one member offered up this graphic for their Club vests.

Naproxen users are encouraged to start their own Chapter. THOUGHTS ON WINE

STORY TOLD OF MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT WHO LIVED MODEST LIFE AS JANITOR (http://www.medalofhonornews.com/2011/05/story-told-of-medal-of-honor-recipient.html) Contributed by Life Member LtCol (ret) Dave Fox Retired Air Force Col. James Moschgat shared the Medal of Honor recipient William "Bill" Crawford story on a Friday night with about 200 people gathered at the annual Pueblo Medal of Honor Foundation Golf Tournament Dinner in 2011. Moschgat was a cadet at the Academy when, one day in the fall of 1976, he was reading a book about individual experiences from World War II. Moschgat said he was reading about a Colorado man named William Crawford, an Army private who, in September 1943 in Italy, raced through intense enemy fire — three times and on his own initiative — to detonate hand grenades on enemy gun sites. After the battle, Crawford later was captured by the Germans and was presumed dead. Crawford re-enlisted in 1947 and retired in 1967 as a master sergeant. After the Army, he went to work at the Academy where, according to Moschgat, he blended in and developed a reputation for being a shy, shuffling janitor. Moschgat said he wondered if this war hero was the same man who cleaned his squadron's quarters. I looked at my roommate and said, Jim, you're not going to believe this, but I think Bill our janitor is a recipient of the Medal of Honor." The next day, Moschgat said he showed Crawford the book and asked if it was him. "He looked at it a moment and said it was him. He said, ‘That was a long time ago and one day in my life.’

September 13, 1943, Crawford was serving as a private with the 36th Infantry Division in southern Italy. On that day, he was acting as a squad scout when his company attacked Hill 424 near Altavilla Silentina. During the battle, Crawford twice moved forward through continuous fire and, using hand grenades and his rifle, destroyed machine gun nests which were holding back his platoon's advance. After the battle, he was captured by the Germans and presumed dead. So in 1945, the Medal of Honor was presented to his father. Later in the year, he was among a group of soldiers rescued from German captivity

He retired from the Army after 23 years of service and later worked at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and as director of the Lucretia Vaille Museum in Palmer Lake.

While working at the Air Force Academy, he mentioned to friends that he had never received the Medal from the president. In 1984, during that year's graduation ceremony, President Ronald Reagan formally presented him with the Medal. Crawford died at age 81 on March 15, 2000, in his residence at Palmer Lake. Upon his death Governor Bill Owens authorized all Colorado flags to be lowered to half-staff in his honor. He is buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs.

The original story on the Home of Heroes website: A Janitor’s Ten Lessons in Leadership By Col. James Moschgat, 12th Operations Group Commander follows:

William “Bill” Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure; one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor. While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory. 25

Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties. Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job-he always kept the squadron area spotlessly clean, even the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so well, none of us had to notice or get involved. After all, cleaning toilets was his job, not ours. Maybe it was his physical appearance that made him disappear into the background. Bill didn’t move very quickly and, in fact, you could say he even shuffled a bit, as if he suffered from some sort of injury. His gray hair and wrinkled face made him appear ancient to a group of young cadets. And his crooked smile, well, it looked a little funny. Face it, Bill was an old man working in a young person’s world. What did he have to offer us on a personal level? Finally, maybe it was Mr. Crawford’s personality that rendered him almost invisible to the young people around him. Bill was shy, almost painfully so. He seldom spoke to a cadet unless they addressed him first, and that didn’t happen very often. Our janitor always buried himself in his work, moving about with stooped shoulders, a quiet gait, and an averted gaze. If he noticed the hustle and bustle of cadet life around him, it was hard to tell. So, for whatever reason, Bill blended into the woodwork and became just another fixture around the squadron. The Academy, one of our nation’s premier leadership laboratories, kept us busy from dawn till dusk. And Mr. Crawford...well, he was just a janitor. That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a book about World War II and the tough Allied ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story. On Sept. 13, 1943, a Private William Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on Hill 424 near Altavilla, Italy. The words on the page leapt out at me: “in the face of intense and overwhelming hostile fire ... with no regard for personal safety ... on his own initiative, Private Crawford single- handedly attacked fortified enemy positions.” It continued, “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, the President of the United States…” “Holy cow,” I said to my roommate, “you’re not going to believe this, but I think our janitor is a Medal of Honor winner.” We all knew Mr. Crawford was a WWII Army vet, but that didn’t keep my friend from looking at me as if I was some sort of alien being. Nonetheless, we couldn’t wait to ask Bill about the story on Monday We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the page in question from the book, anticipation and doubt on our faces. He starred at it for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something like, “Yep, that’s me.” Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the book, and quickly back at our janitor. Almost at once we both stuttered, “Why didn’t you ever tell us about it?” He slowly replied after some thought, “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.” I guess we were all at a loss for words after that. We had to hurry off to class and Bill, well, he had chores to attend to. However, after that brief exchange, things were never again the same around our squadron. Word spread like wildfire among the cadets that we had a hero in our midst -- Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had won the Medal! Cadets who had once passed by Bill with hardly a glance, now greeted him with a smile and a respectful, “Good morning, Mr. Crawford.” Those who had before left a mess for the “janitor” to clean up started taking it upon themselves to put things in order. Most cadets routinely stopped to talk to Bill throughout the day and we even began inviting him to our formal squadron functions. He’d show up dressed in a conservative dark suit and quietly talk to those who approached him, the only sign of his heroics being a simple blue, star-spangled lapel pin. Almost overnight, Bill went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one of our teammates. Mr. Crawford changed too, but you had to look closely to notice the difference. After that fall day in 1976, he seemed to move with more purpose, his shoulders didn’t seem to be as stooped, he met our greetings with a direct gaze and a stronger “good morning” in return, and he flashed his crooked smile more often. The squadron gleamed as always, but everyone now seemed to notice it more. Bill even got to know most of us by our first names, something that didn’t happen often at the Academy. While no one ever formally acknowledged the change, I think we became Bill’s cadets and his squadron. As often happens in life, events sweep us away from those in our past. The last time I saw Bill was on graduation day in June 1977. As I walked out of the squadron for the last time, he shook my hand and simply said, “Good luck, young man.”

With that, I embarked on a career that has been truly lucky and blessed. Mr. Crawford continued to work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado where he resided until his death; one of four Medal of Honor winners living in a small town. A wise person once said, “It’s not life that’s important, but those you meet along the way that make the difference.” Bill was one who made a difference for me. While I didn’t see Mr. Crawford for over twenty years, he’d probably be surprised to know I thought of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons. Here are ten I’d like to share with you. •Be Cautious of Labels. Labels you place on people may define your relationship to them and bound their potential. Sadly, and for a long time, we labeled Bill as just a janitor, but he was so much more. Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously says, “Hey, he’s just an Airman.” Likewise, don’t tolerate the O-1, who says, “I can’t do that, I’m just a lieutenant.” •Everyone Deserves Respect. Because we hung the “janitor” label on Mr. Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others around us. He deserved much more, and not just because he was a Medal of Honor winner. Bill deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our team. •Courtesy Makes a Difference. Be courteous to all around you, regardless of rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team. When our daily words to Mr. Crawford turned from perfunctory “hellos” to heartfelt greetings, his demeanor and personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for all of us. •Take Time to Know Your People. Life in the military is hectic, but that’s no excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who are the heroes that walk in your midst? •Anyone Can Be a Hero. Mr. Crawford certainly didn’t fit anyone’s standard definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the day he won his Medal. Don’t sell your people short, for any one of them may be the hero who rises to the occasion when duty calls. On the other hand, it’s easy to turn to your proven performers when the chips are down, but don’t ignore the rest of the team. Today’s rookie could and should be tomorrow’s superstar. •Leaders Should Be Humble. Most modern day heroes and some leaders are anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your “hero meter” on today’s athletic fields. End zone celebrations and self-aggrandizement are what we’ve come to expect from sports greats. Not Mr. Crawford-he was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics. Leaders would be well-served to do the same. •Life Won’t Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve. We in the military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However, sometimes you just have to persevere, even when accolades don’t come your way. Perhaps you weren’t nominated for junior officer or airman of the quarter as you thought you should-don’t let that stop you. Don’t pursue glory; pursue excellence. Private Bill Crawford didn’t pursue glory; he did his duty and then swept floors for a living. •No Job is Beneath a Leader. If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it. •Pursue Excellence. No matter what task life hands you, do it well. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be.” Mr. Crawford modeled that philosophy and helped make our dormitory area a home. • Life is a Leadership Laboratory. All too often we look to some school or PME class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those you meet every day will teach you enduring lessons if you just take time to stop, look and listen. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read hundreds of books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr. Bill Crawford and the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn.

Bill Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also a teacher, friend, role model and one great American hero. Thanks, Mr. Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons.

NEW/UPGRADED MEMBERS Captain (ret) Kenneth P. Bonner – Member Services

The pace of new members slowed a bit since the last newsletter, outside of the graduating HSA Classes of 16-C and 16-D. We welcomed 57 new members since our last newsletter. We added 17 new or upgraded to Life Members, which was a significant increase from the previous newsletter. As always, annual members who upgrade to life status, enjoy the benefit of a $20 discount on the age-based membership fee and can pay in four quarterly payments. It’s an easy option to consider! Below are the new members to our association, as well as members who upgraded to Life.

New Members

LT COL TY J. OBENOSKEY NEVADA CITY CA LT JORDAN J. MUELLER LOMPOC CA CAPT RICKY L. ALDRIDGE PENINSUA OH CAPT VICTORIA M. WEIGER BONAIRE GA LT TRACY L. BADGER HOUSTON TX LT COL ROBERT A. CORBY GAINESVILLE VA LT MARY K BAILEY BOX ELDER SD CAPT PATRCIK J. DAUGHERTY ARLINGTON VA LT KIESHA BEAVERS ALEXANDRIA VA CAPT ERIC CARVER PALM HARBOR FL MAJ JAMES BROWN MILTON MA CAPT BRIAN BARBIER METAIRIE LA LT RYAN W BUCK HILL AFB UT LT LANCE D. HAYES APO AE LT JONATHAN D. CHARLES REYNOLDSBURG OH LT ROBERT D. PADRON CRESTVIEW FL LT JOSHUA C. CRAIG CONVERSE TX LT JEANNETTE M. GABE TUCSON AZ LT DEONTA M. ELLIS DEL RIO TX LT INARA SANTORA GRAND FORKS AFB ND LT NICHOL R. FRINK JBER AK LT JENNIFER MACHADO COLORADO SPRINGS CO LT JOSHUA D. HOGELAND LEES SUMMIT MO LT DEREK WILLMOTT VANCE AFB OK LT LAWRENCE R. HOVBRE HALIFAX MA LT NICOLE M. BROWN EIELSON AFB AK LT KAUSHARL R. JAYAWARDENA BEAVERCREEK OH LT CRAIG W DIEDERICH QUAKER HILL CT LT BENJIMAN P. JENNINGS WARNER ROBBINS GA LACIE L. JACOBS JACKSONVILLE FL LT MICHAEL J. LEMOINE VILLE PLATTE LA LT TIMOTHY G CUMMINGS LUMBERTON NC LT BIN MA PANAMA CITY FL LT JEREMY T. DEEP APO AE LT IRIS MORALES PLANTATION FL LT DERRICK W QUEZADA ALBUQUERQUE NM LT RODRIGO M. PAES HANSCOM AFB MA BREANA KEMP SURPRISE AZ CAPT BLAKE A. PAGE FORT COLLINS CO LT DARRYL YANCY CROWN POINT IN LT JORDAN K PICKELL MIDWEST CITY OK LT STEFANIE DEPRIEST DENVER CO LT CORY RICHARDSON NEW BRAUNFELS TX LT PATRICK K DELATOUR LT RANDY H. SCOLLAN ST LOUIS MO LT AARON SOTO-VALENCIA TACOMA WA LT DANA SECHRIST DAYTON OH LT CHRISTIAN A. KAFEL GOLDSBORO NC LT CAMERON SMITH ABILENE TX LT JAIME L. HOLLINGSWORTH MOUNTAIN HOME ID LT LAURA M. TROMBLEY HAMPTON VA CAPT JARED B STEWART LIVINGSTON LA LT NATASHA VAN-REIL MOUNT VERNON NY LT MARCUS A. HINCKS DOVER DE LT TYRONE D. WILLIAMS MINOT ND LT SHANNON L. BROOKS ALAMOGORDO NM COL AL FLOWERS APO AE

New Life Members (Highlighted entries are new members.)

LT COL TY J. OBENOSKEY NEVADA CITY CA LT COL ROBERT A. CORBY GAINESVILLE VA COL GARY J. TRICHE SAN ANTONIO TX COL MICHAEL W. JIRU MILL VALLEY CA COL FREDERICK A. VAGO POTOMAC FALLS VA COL ANTHONY J. SANTARSIERO LILBURN GA MAJ PATRICK H. HOEY JR. THE VILLAGES FL MAJ CHARLES S. HUGHES JR. HERNDON VA MAJ RICHARD W. JOHNSON BRISTOL VT LT COL JOSEPH P BURGER III KNOXVILLE TN COL KENNETH G. HERMANN OSWEGO IL COL RICHARD B. ROESSLER UNIVERSAL CITY TX LT COL BRIAN J. CRAMER CEDARBURG WI COL LORN W. HEYNE SAN ANTONIO TX COL JACK W. HUDOCK TRUCKEE CA LT COL PATRICK S. REESE TIPP CITY OH COL RICHARD H. SMITH SAN ANTONIO TX CAPT ERIC CARVER PALM HARBOR FL MAJ JAMES BROWN MILTON MA HSA Class Team Builder Award Winners shown in italics.

Please give them all a warm welcome to the Association! And, for all of our members, please let us hear from you. Tell us what you like, don’t like or what you want to see that you are not seeing on the web and in our newsletters. Your feedback is important to us. Just a reminder to use [email protected] for any inquiries related to your membership, [email protected] and [email protected] for newsletter and web stuff respectively.

I’d like to close with a request that our members help us grow our membership of active, prior MSC’s and retirees. In my business I run into current and former MSCs all the time and it amazes me how many are not members or are not aware of the association. We need to reach out to our colleagues and encourage them to join. So, I am asking each member contact their former and current colleagues and encourage them to join. I’m open to any suggestions to get the word out in an effort to grow our membership. Thank you.

Please just another reminder to note the new MSC Association address and update your records. The new address is 709 Lower Field Cir, Westminster, MD 21158.

SOUNDING TAPS ADDITIONS TO THE HONOR ROLL SINCE OUR LAST NEWSLETTER

MONTH DATE OF REPORTED GRADE FIRST NAME LAST NAME DEATH

MAY NONE

JUNE COL GEORGE A. KAYE 24-May-16 COL FEREDERICK J. GRAVES 13-Jun-16

JULY LT COL ACIE C. BARFIELD 29-Apr-16 COL SKIP BONHAM 16-Jul-16 COL WILLIAM D. CURRIE 2014 LT COL JAMES A. McNAB 2-Jun-16 MAJOR BERNARD F. BAUMAN 19-Jul-16 BOLD = Members

Last minute addition: Capt Jon Blaker, former MSC, but known better to many of us as Mr. Jon Blaker, DoD/HA Medical Logistics, died in early July and his memorial service was held Sunday, 14 Aug 2016 in Pennsylvania. No other details were available at press time. The complete Honor Roll and the latest additions can be found at www.mscassociation.org. Look for Honor Roll on the menu.

Thanks again to all who contributed! Keep those notes coming to [email protected]. We continue to collect MSC Stories for newsletter publication and eventual inclusion in one of two remaining MSC History volumes in our set of three. And, please rip out the SAVE THE DATE page on the inside cover and tack it on your refrigerator to keep you reminded of the 2017 Reunion in SEATTLE!

Jim Moreland, Newsletter Editor for the Moment

Non -Proﬁt Organization U.S. Postage PAID USAF MSC Association, Inc. Permit Number 1001 709 Lower Field Circle San Antonio, TX 78233 Westminster, MD 21158-4443

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