Killer Continuity

COMMANDER’S CORNER: FOCUS - PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, February 14, 2013 Vol. 57 No. 6 Killer continuity By Lt. Col. Gregory Karahalis 12th Space Warning Squadron commander THULE AIR BASE, Greenland — One of the toughest aspects of an assignment at Thule Air Base is managing job know-how and passing it on. For the most part, this doesn’t apply to the mission-related functions for which one has received training at tech school and developed expertise elsewhere in the Air Force. Rather, it applies to the many specific-to-Thule activities that often go undocumented and are not conveyed when your replacement arrives a year after you did. Unfortunately, it is an all too common occurrence to have an Airman discover a briefing, spreadsheet or application that would have saved them hours of work had they See Continuity page 13 (U.S. Air Force photo) THULE AIR BASE, Greenland — Thule personnel depart on the weekly rotator flight. Each person takes with them critical knowledge of the mission and experience that must be captured before departure. Ruffing it with K9 By Staff Sgt. J. Aaron Breeden 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE Colo. — As an oversized pick-up truck rolled into a dusty gravel lot, the silver trailer in tow was filled with the echoes of barking dogs ready for action. Members of the 21st Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section were preparing for training exercises Jan. 18 to help prepare members that would soon be deploying. Tech. Sgt. Loren Surley, 21st SFS MWD trainer and supervisor, the leader of the day’s exercises, explained the primary intent of this training was to reinforce the teamwork con- cept between the handlers and their dogs while familiarizing them with ‘outside-the-wire’ missions searching for drugs, bombs or on patrol. Having been deployed as an MWD handler, Surley understands the importance of training exercises like this as it relates to safety. “When you’re heading outside of the wire, you’re leading a team,” said Surley. “You have other people there for back-up, but usually it’s the K9 handlers who are responsible for the safety of the team.” Staff Sgt. Whitney Young, 21st MWD handler, returned from his deployment to (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J. Aaron Breeden) Afghanistan on Jan. 20 and explained how training like this prepares handlers gearing up for a deployment. Staff Sgt. Shawn Kaup, 21st Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section trainer, is attacked dur- “The exercises that were done here, and the ones I did at my regional training center, are ing training by MWD Gina under the watchful eye of her handler Staff Sgt. Whitney Young, 21st MWD section. See K9 page 14 Training like this is imperative for both handlers and dogs since they are often responsible for team safety during deployed missions. INSIDE News 1-10 Briefs 11 Classifieds 15 Well- Top dressed? honors Like Page 4 Page 8 us SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, February 14, 2013 www.peterson.af.mil eeeekkllyy SSppeecciiaallss WWNowNow carryingcarrying Asian,Asian, Mexican,Mexican, EuropeanEuropean productsproducts $1.89 $3.99 $6.50 /lb /each /box Fresh Chicken Breast Jumbo Permelo Sky Flakes Crackers $1.00 $0.89 $0.99 $1.99 /2 pcs /lb /lb /each Texas Sweet Orange Shanghai Bok Choy Fuji Apples Fresh Pineapple Thank you for a successful New Year celebration! The New Year celebration ended successfully. Here we want to thank all of you for helping to make the celebration event lots of fun and successful. We want to thank all of our customers for your loyalty and support to us. We want to thank all of our vendors (Philippine Food and Wei Chuan) for their general support. We want to thank all of the media companies for doing a great job. We want to thank all of performers for their amazing performance. We want to thank all of our employees for their hard work. Without either one of you, our celebration wouldn’t be successful. We are very thankful to all of you! We are looking forward to doing better and continuing to serve all of our customers for many years to come. sian aciﬁ c arket A SaleP price effective from 02/15/2013-02/20/2013M Always Low Prices! FRESH & FROZEN FOOD FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD! 615 Wooten Rd., Suite 160 • 719-573-7500 • Open daily 9am -8pm SPACE OBSERVER www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, February 14, 2013 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. Chris Crawford COMMANDER’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Holly Hess Editorial Staff Focus: A must in today’s dynamic environment Chief of Internal Information Mr. Steve Brady THULE AIR BASE, Greenland — As we now but where you want the team to be in Staff Writer catch up on the news, it is evident that the Col. Miguel the future. For example, a vision can address Lea Johnson financial crisis is currently center stage. The Colón a problem or state a specific goal that needs to be achieved by the team. The vision may talk about Congress, budgets and the fiscal Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers cliff preoccupies our nation and the uncer- also address something that no one else sees Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, tainty surrounding these events can distract 821st Air or simply something that no one else wants to 80903, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. us from executing the mission. Similarly, at Base Group tackle, challenging your team in a new direc- Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the tion. Just remember, although a vision appears 21st Space Wing. This commercial enterprise Air Force work centers, we can encounter a myriad of commander newspaper is an authorized publication for members of events that distract individuals and teams and to bridge the present with the future, it isn’t the U.S. military services. draw attention away from accomplishing the enough to move you from the present to the Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily the future. To make that happen you need a plan. official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, task at hand. These distractions could seem as simple as a vision and a plan are able to deal better with A plan has many benefits to leaders at all the Department of Defense or the Department of the levels. First and foremost, it provides a frame- Air Force. a member being interrupted while answering adversity. A vision and a plan help maintain work for your decision-making. The planning The appearance of advertising in this publication, a customer’s question on the phone, or a team focus and set conditions for your team to deal including inserts or supplements, does not constitute with the unforeseen changes that tend to slow process allows you to address and assess every endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Force, leader feeling overwhelmed by new tasks com- them down and get them off task. task assigned to you and to focus your team’s or CSMNG, of the products or services advertised. ing from leadership. Our environment is often efforts on a specific set of task priorities. It Everything advertised in this publication shall be made Today’s leader, more than ever, needs to impacted by variables outside of our control. effectively reduces crisis management and available for purchase, use or patronage without regard As leaders, we sometimes struggle with how to develop a vision for the team. A vision helps to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital drives the team’s energy towards the impor- status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other maintain the team’s focus during such chal- to focus your team’s energy by defining the tant tasks. In addition, plan development helps non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. lenges. It comes down to preparation, and to future goals for your team, as well as your See Focus page 13 Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by that end I’ve witnessed how teams that develop organization. It is not about where you are the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office, 775 Loring Ave., Suite 219, Peterson AFB, Colo., 80914-1294, (719) 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185, fax (719) 556-7848 or DSN 834-7848. All photographs are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. Questions, answers with wing senior leaders The Space Observer is published every Thursday. For advertising inquiries, call Colorado Springs Military From 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Newspapers, (719) 634-5905. Employees of Peterson Air PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Every 21st Space Wing Airman has a part in making Peterson AFB the best place to work, Force Base who want to place a free classified advertise- live and visit in the Air Force. Here is one issue raised by a concerned Team Pete member, and answered by wing leadership. ment should call (719) 329-5210. Articles, announcements, news briefs or feedback for As a single parent or dual-military parent situation, is child care available in the event of a recall? the Space Observer should be submitted to the 21st SW/PA During a planned exercise or long-term emergency response, extended hours are available at the Child Development Center and via [email protected]. For further information, through our family child care extended duty care program. For extended center based care, fees are based on the Department of Defense call 21st SW/PA at (719) 556-5185 or DSN 834-5185 or fee categories and the responsibility of the member.

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