COMMANDER’S CORNER: FOUR PRIORITIES - PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, August 27, 2009 Vol. 53 No. 34 Space wing colors change hands by Thea Skinner Colonel Whiting was previously assigned 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer to Newport, R.I., as an Air Force fellow. He Col. Jay Raymond relinquished com- has also served as a crew commander as- mand of the 21st Space Wing to Col. Stephen signed to successive space warning assign- Whiting in a change of command ceremony ments at Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass., at the base parade field Aug. 20. and Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., where he Command priorities, dedication to per- worked radar issues and became the execu- sonnel, and upholding missions were of tive officer of the operations group. He was top concern, in consideration of the wing’s also a former commander at Clear Air Force numerous warfighting platforms such as Station, Alaska. geographically separated units and tenant During the ceremony, Colonel Raymond units. The 21st SW commander provides handed the blue and yellow guidon to Lt. Gen. support and protection for more than 16,000 Larry James, 14th Air Force commander, who personnel across six installations. in turn handed the flag to Colonel Whiting, “My leadership style is rooted in the signifying the passing of command. premise that he who leads must first serve,” General James traveled from Vandenberg Colonel Whiting said during the ceremony. Air Force Base, Calif., to officiate the “That is my job — to serve you and give you ceremony. the tools and resources you need to success- “Being a commander is an extremely im- fully accomplish your mission.” portant duty,” General James said. “We don’t He outlined his four priorities as providing bestow that responsibility lightly. Col. Jay trained combat-ready and disciplined forces, Raymond has done an absolutely outstanding professionally operate all wing installations job in leading this wing. Of course you don’t providing outstanding support to mission do that without the participation of your partner tenants, develop Airmen and prepare family. They really do put out a lot of team them for worldwide deployment in response effort and team sweat that is often behind to combatant commander taskings, and con- the scenes. tinue to enforce a culture of compliance and “Command is about people and mission continuous improvement in the wing. — and you really have to balance those two. “We will be dedicated to creative, adaptive, Jay certainly did a great job taking care of the flexible, and timely planning while always people. If you look around at what has gone demonstrating complete discipline in the on around this base over the last year or two, execution of all of our missions,” Colonel it truly is transformational,” he said. Whiting said. “We understand that compli- Col. Stephen Whiting, 21st Space Wing commander, addresses the crowd after assuming command of the 21st During Colonel Raymond’s command, ance with guidance is absolutely critical and SW during the change of command ceremony at the base parade field Aug. 20. Prior to taking command of the a privatized housing operation with new in fact some of that guidance was written in 21st SW, he served as a member of the inaugural Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellows Program, with duty at blood by those who went before us.” the Strategic Studies Group, in Newport, R.I. (Air Force photo by Craig Denton) See Space wing page 8 Falcon Flight takes Eagle Flight, ALS increases AF knowledge by Thea Skinner The students get important leadership traits 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer to be front line supervisors. Whether they The final Jeopardy question is: How stay in the Air Force or not they use super- many years did Chuck Norris serve in the visory skills anywhere. We saw an increase Air Force? The question was successfully in test scores before and after the Jeopardy answered by Falcon Flight during the new (contest),” she said. Airman Leadership School Jeopardy learn- Participation in JEA is encouraged ing tool. The flight is one of two teams for a throughout ALS, she said. total of 24 Airmen that graduated ALS on ALS is an in-residence course and the Aug. 12. first level of enlisted Professional Military Falcon Flight triumphed over Eagle Flight, Education that enlisted Airmen complete in with a final score of 1,400 to700, answer- their Air Force career. The five-week course is ing that Mr. Norris served four years as a designed to develop a mindset and associated military officer before learning martial arts. skills within four core graduate attributes of Airmen from Cheyenne Mountain Air Force every senior airman: combat leader, super- Station, Peterson and Schriever Air Force visor of Airmen, military professional and Base participate in the course. ALS provides supervisory communicator. In order to be senior airmen with tools to understand their promoted to the staff sergeant rank, gradu- position structurally and to become effective ation is mandatory. noncommissioned officers. “ALS means a lot — it is your stepping The Jeopardy challenge was put on by the stone to learn friendships and bond, so Junior Enlisted Association. why not learn a fun game,” said Tech. Sgt. “It (Jeopardy) is two-fold — it gets the Alyse Partridge, former Air Force Enlisted students to learn about the Junior Enlisted Association president and moderator for Peterson Airman Leadership School Eagle Flight engages in team work during the new Jeopardy learning tool Association,” said Master Sgt. Tami Toma, Jeopardy. “Some Airmen- they just need unveiled at Peterson’s ALS Aug. 11. The learning tool incorporated questions based on basic training and dress 21st Force Support Squadron, ALS comman- appearance guidelines. (Air Force photo by Thea Skinner) dant. “Senior Airmen are able to learn about See Falcon Flight page 9 the association and history at the same time. INSIDE News 4 Commentary 3 Briefs New 12 CMSAF September Leisure 10 visits Dog days recreation First Knight 13 Page 5 Page 7 Page 10 Space ObServer 2 Thursday, august 27, 2009 www.peterson.af.mil Space ObServer www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, august 27, 2009 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. Stephen Whiting COMMANDER ’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs Mr. Jeff Bohn Editorial Staff Chief of Internal Information Four priorities lead to mission success Mr. Steve Brady Deputy Chief of Internal What a great time to be assigned to the 21st will continue to do so. Airmen from this 1st Lt. Jonathan Simmons Space Wing! My family and I are thrilled to Col. Wing have distinguished themselves in ev- be back in the wing, and living in Colorado ery corner of the globe performing myriad NCOIC of Internal Springs. We have enjoyed meeting many of Stephen Whiting of incredible duties, and in return we will Tech. Sgt. Ray Bowden you already, and very much appreciate the ensure that each member of the wing has ev- Staff Writer warm welcome you have given us. We look 21st Space ery opportunity to fully develop themselves Ms. Thea Skinner forward to visiting all our units both here both personally and professionally. at Peterson AFB as well as at our geographi- Wing Finally, we will continue to reinforce a Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers cally separate units all around the world. commander culture of compliance and continuous im- Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, We also are excited to be working with our provement within the wing. As I mentioned 80903, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the new Vice Commander, Col. Jim Jennings, earlier, we will be dedicated to creative, 21st Space Wing. This commercial enterprise Air Force and his wife, Teri. faithfully serving our larger military fam- flexible and timely planning, while always newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Although this is a time of great change ily that includes our families, retirees and demonstrating complete discipline in the Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily the within the wing, the critically important the local community. The 21st Space Wing execution of all our missions. We understand official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, mission we perform as America’s Space probably has the most diverse set of instal- that compliance with guidance is absolutely the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. Superiority Wing hasn’t changed. So, let me lations of any wing in the Air Force, from critical and, in fact, some of that guidance The appearance of advertising in this publication, review our top priorities that will ensure our home here at Peterson; to the national was written in blood by those that have gone including inserts or supplements, does not constitute our mission continues to be successfully before us. endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Force, treasure that is Cheyenne Mountain Air or CSMNG, of the products or services advertised. achieved. Force Station; to America’s northernmost It will take every single member of our Everything advertised in this publication shall be made First, our top priority is to provide trained, base at Thule Air Base, Greenland; to the Total Force team to successfully fulfill our available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital combat-ready, and disciplined forces able to gems that are Cape Cod Air Force Station, mission. We need all the skills and talents status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other successfully execute JFCC SPACE Joint Space Mass.; Cavalier Air Force Station, N.D.; and of every active duty Air Force, Air National non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.