November 2013 • Idaho Air Guard • Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho • “First Class or Not at All” • www.idaho.ang.af.mil Operations Group claims Wingman Cup Col. Michael Nolan, 124th Fighter Wing commander, has awarded the 2013 Wingman Trophy to the 124th Operations Group at Gowen Field. He praised the Ops Group for their outstanding performance this year with a first place stand- ing at 86.9 percent. Second place 124th Maintenance Group at 86 percent. Third place was 124th Mission Support Group at 85.4 percent. Fourth place the 124th Fighter Wing Staff at 78.9 percent and fifth place with 77 percent was 124th Medical Group. Top: Col. Paul Kingsley accepts the Wingman Trophy on behalf of the 124th Operations Group. Left: Col. David Trimble, Commander In this issue: of the 2nd place group, 124th Maintenance Group, roughs up Col. Kingsley. (photos by Tech. Sgt. Becky Vanshur) * Commander’s Column * Wingman Cup/Wingman Day *Family Day *P-51 Pilot History *124th Operations Support be- comes a Squadron *Outstanding Airmen of the Quarter *Chief Fenicottero farewell *Welcome Chief Ladley http://bit.ly/124Beacon t November 2013 2013t1 THE BEACON is the official newslet- COMMANDER’S CALL ter of the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard. It is published monthly by the wing public affairs office. Views expressed may not be those of the U.S. Air Commander’s Column Force, Air National Guard, Department of Defense or U.S. government. Plan for a December THE BEACON STAFF WING COMMANDER UTA “Surge” Exercise Col. Michael Nolan PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER We begin a new concept in Wing Lt. Col. Gary A. Daniel Inspections during December Drill. PUBLIC AFFAIRS NCOIC We will become much more respon- Master Sgt. Tom Gloeckle sible for self-inspection in prepara- PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF Colonel Christopher Rood tion for our next ORI in Aug/17 Editor, Tech. Sgt. Sarah Pokorney 124th Fighter Wing Vice Commander which we will now refer to as a UEI Tech. Sgt. Becky Vanshur Senior Airman David Anderson (Unit Effectiveness Inspection). As Mr Miagi would say, “same but dif- 124TH FIGHTER WING ferent”. We are still held accountable for mission readiness, but it is PUBLIC AFFAIRS up to us to determine how we prove to an IG team that we are ready. 4474 S. DeHaviland St. Following the August CUI inspection this summer, IG Team Chief, Boise, ID 83705 Voice (208) 422-5358 Col. Leavitt, spent time speaking with Col. Nolan and me about the Fax (208) 422-5298 way ahead for inspections. What the IG needs to see is that we can meet our Designed Operational Capability (DOC). Each unit has a E-MAIL US DOC, but the one we are all here to support is the Fighter Squadron/ [email protected] MX statement which will drive our preparation for December’s surge. That DOC statement says we need to get hundreds of personnel and MORE NEWS. FEATURES. EASY most of our jets out of town with very little notice and then be pre- MAILING ADDRESS UPDATES & pared to fly a huge number of sorties immediately when we arrive in MORE ONLINE AT: country (better known as a “surge”). w w w.idaho.ang.af.mil; This is the capability we will test during the December Drill surge. We http://bit.ly/124Beacon will skip the getting-out-of-town phase (Phase 1) and jump right into FACEBOOK: the regeneration/combat sortie-production phase (surge exercise). Share your Air National Guard We will leave out many of the other challenges that inspectors expect related news, photos and links at us to deal with such as airfield attacks, ATSO (chemical survival), and www.facebook.com/124FWOfficial logistics issues (Phase 2). Our own team of inspectors, the Wing Inspection Team (WIT) will TWITTER: observe and evaluate the surge exercise just as an IG team would. If NEW on Twitter @124FighterWing we do well and our WIT does a good job of planning, evaluating, and documenting, then the IG will give us credit towards our self-inspec- tion program; and their physical footprint on base for the next IG inspection (our “capstone” self-inspection event) will be smaller. Get with your supervisors for more detailed information on your sched- ule and expectations. Units not assigned to maintenance or opera- tions will complete specialized inspection training and preparation. Meet “Wax on, wax off” --Col. Rood ‘Twitter Hawg 2 thttp://bit.ly/124Beacon t November 2013 www.idaho.ang.af.mil Why not make it a “wingman year” Airmen of the 124 Fighter Wing show team spirit at the fun run dur- ing Wingman Day Sept. 8, Gowen Field. Wingman Day was developed to promote the Wingman concept among Air National Guard mem- bers. (National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Pokorney) By Tech. Sgt. Becky Vanshur 124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs their inspection results, and fitness, in- Patricia DeBor, shared encouraging cluding the team relay winner. guidance for resiliency and advice GOWEN FIELD, Idaho – Why not “I don’t think Airmen realized how for Airmen who might need help “Wingman Year” instead of just “Wing- much fun a team event like this could be taking care of themselves physically man Day?” That is 124th Fighter Wing until the relay competition portion of the as a wingman with some of the new Commander, Col. Michael Nolan’s, event started. At that point I could see it in policies regarding fitness. She advises question for all Idaho Air National their faces as they really started Airmen on the process of change and Guardsmen. getting into it. I think how to use it to adjust your attitude about fitness. The 124th Fighter Wing (FW) held it rein- forces Col. its annual Wingman and Fam- “I see Airmen complaining ily Day Sept. 8, and this about the fitness test and year’s agenda had a twist, the new fitness policies and centering mainly on morale, I want to ask why…take this team-building, physical fit- opportunity to change your ness, family, and caring for attitude,” said DeBor. your fellow wingman. Nolan’s vision to carry on his year-round She listed the process of change, In the past, Wingman Day was a principles of a long-term wingman care when applying it to adjust the way full day dedicated to these topics and program and his (Commander’s Cup) you look at fitness as an Airman: 1) Chaplain guidance, financial fitness, trophy concept,” said 124th Fighter Wing Pre-contemplate by seeing your goal resiliency, suicide prevention, Sexual Executive Officer Lt. Col. Mike Knowles. at the start, 2) Contemplate by seeing Assault Prevention and Response, and Another part of building morale is rec- what is further beyond that goal, 3) safety concerns. These are now woven Prepare by starting the action with into drill activity year round. ognizing hard work, several Airmen were recognized at Wingman Day for their out- motion, this might be as little as work- This year’s Wingman Day events standing performance during the recent ing out every day for fifteen minutes, reinforced team building with a relay wing Consolidated Unit Inspection. 4) Action to continue this goal and race and built strong morale while em- make bigger goals, maintain this by phasizing physical fitness with a uni- “Although this ‘Wingman Year’ con- taking it into a long-term commit- formed fun run. cept really just started, we intend to sus- ment. If you ever relapse (step 5), get tain this vision each year,” said Lt. Col. Individual fitness scores and unit back on track. Treat step five as part Knowles. “Airmen can expect to see more of your process—that makes it easier. success in the relay both affect the over- wingman events like this one in the near all scores for the “Commander’s Cup” f utu re .” “Resiliency is the ability to trophy. The commander’s cup will rec- bounce back. Think of the changes ognize the unit most ready to accom- “With this vision of Wingman Day not and challenges with the military fit- plish our federal mission. just being a day but spread throughout the year, we are able to continue to grow as ness program as a blessing to help Each year’s winning group will ob- a unit and be more resilient wingmen as a maintain your personal fitness goals tain the highest score for their medical culture in our daily routine,” he said. or bounce back from lost goals. Make readiness, training completion, offi- that promise to yourself,” DeBor said. cer and enlisted evaluation timeliness, The Director of Psychological Health, http://bit.ly/124Beacon t November 2013t3 Wingman Day 2013 Airmen of the 124th Fighter Wing listen to a stress management and resiliency briefing from Patricia DeBor, Idaho Air Guard Director of Psychological Health, followed by a wingman run and relay, during Wingman Day Sept. 8 at Gowen Field, Idaho. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman David Anderson) Wingman Cup Relay The 124th Maintenance Group took first in the wingman cup relay race during Wingman Day Sept. 8 at Gown Field, giving a strong position as the wing tallied scores for the 124th Fighter Wing Wingman Trophy, overall winner was 124th Operations Group. (National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Sarah Pokorney) 4 thttp://bit.ly/124Beacon t November 2013 www.idaho.ang.af.mil Veteran P-51 pilots bring living history to family day By Tech. Sgt. Sarah Pokorney 124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs BOISE, Idaho – P-51 Mus- Flyover of a pair of P-51 Mustangs that were tang owner and pilot Mark visiting during the 124th Fighter Wing’s Fam- Peterson and Warhawk Air ily Day Sept.