VOL. 45 NO.06 FEBRUARY 11, 2005 Inside COMMENTARY: Prep school graduates winners, page 2 NEWS: New Secretary of the AF looks to future, page 3 Majors Night, page4 AF needs help understanding lan- guage. FEATURE: Airman in Superbowl ad, page 7 Family talent runs through veins, page 8 SPORTS:Hockey splits two, page 10 Briefly Exercise Evaluation Team member Staff Sgt. Michael Holland, 10th Security Forces, pays close attention to the emergency workers during the Major Accident Response Exercise held Feb. 1. The exercise was in preparation for the upcoming Unit UCI tip Compliance Inspection, which will be Feb. 28 through March 8. (Courtesy Photo) Have a positive attitude. Inspectors want you to do well and expect you are at least meeting mission Unit Compliance Inspection time: Get ready! requirements. Inspectors occasionally encounter indi- By Col. Tom Philipkosky team that we’re ready. The Unit inspectors: Introduce every- want to see documentation to Academy Inspector General viduals with uncooperative Compliance Inspection will one in your work area to the verify checklist items are being or adversarial attitudes. begin with the arrival of 170 inspectors as they arrive. followed. Have you heard? Unfortunately, when that inspectors from AFIA and Be proud: We have noth- Don’t be confrontational: The Unit Compliance happens, it can be more dif- AETC on Sunday, Feb. 27. The ing to hide. Presentation is You might disagree with the Inspection Team is coming!! ficult to find the positive inspection team will evaluate everything — be excited about inspector’s observations, but It is show time at the Air mission impact. Help the our compliance with instruc- what you do. Be a team player try to explain your thoughts Force Academy. It has been inspectors help you. tions, policies and programs. and show a sense of urgency without emotion. Attitude! about 2 1/2 years since our On March 9 at 2 p.m. in Arnold during the exercises. Attitude! Attitude! entire Academy team has been Hall ,we will be briefed on our Remember military cus- The inspection team will Tabernacle dedication inspected, so now is the time to results. toms and courtesies: Look have access to all our facilities Bishop Michael highlight our outstanding Here are some last minute sharp and be sharp! Render and will be wearing IG identi- Sheridan from the Catholic accomplishments! reminders as you prepare for appropriate courtesies in and fication badges. Uniform of Diocese of Colorado Everyone has pulled the inspection: out of your work area. the week during the UCI will Springs, will formally bless together to train, exercise and Last minute clean up: Talk up your programs: be uniform of the day. In dis- the Air Force Academy’s review functional checklists Ensure work centers and Show them through the check- playing our professionalism new Roman Catholic Cadet over the past several months offices don’t have a cluttered lists. Brag about your accom- and hard work, we can do our Chapel Tabernacle at the and now it’s time to demon- look with scattered paperwork, plishments and awards. part in ensuring a successful Sunday, 10 a.m. Mass. The strate to the Air Force empty boxes, etc. Be ready to show docu- UCI. The Academy team is Tabernacle, handmade in Inspection Agency (AFIA) led Meet and greet your mentation: Inspectors will ready! Rome, is a custom work of art in silver and gold depict- ing the Last Supper of Jesus Cadet remembered during memorial service Christ with His Disciples. It By the Academy Public Affairs Cadet Schmeltz passed away Jan. 31 walk away feeling good about them,” has been placed in the after collapsing following a physical fitness Schmeltz’ commander, Maj. Eric Berggren Catholic Cadet Chapel sanc- Memorial services were held for Cadet test at the Cadet Field House. told a local newspaper Tuesday. “After talk- tuary 4th Class Edward Schmeltz of Chatham, Fellow cadets remembered Cadet ing to E.J., you felt good about yourself.” Portions of the N.J., Tuesday at the Cadet Chapel. Schmeltz as a loyal friend who would always The cause of Cadet Schmeltz’ death has Tabernacle were crafted in The memorial was attended by Cadet made them smile. not been determined and is currently under Spain and assembled in Rome. Schmeltz’ parents and Academy cadets. “When you talk to some people, you investigation. Academy Spirit 2 COMMENTARY February 11, 2005 Prep School integral to Academy success By Col. Harvey Johnson cent of all minorities attending the Academy, including Academy Preparatory School commander 53 percent of African Americans, 48 percent of Hispanics, 35 percent of Native Americans and 16 per- Who are those young men and women you may have cent of Asian/Pacific Islanders. When a cadet goes home seen competing in sports or parading in the field west of wearing Air Force blue to American Samoa, inner-city the Community Center Gym? Baltimore, or a town in Kansas so small it’s not on maps, Each year, about 235 of the 9,000-10,000 applicants that simple action speaks more persuasively than any to the Academy are offered the chance to attend the advertisement the Air Force could devise. Additionally, Academy Preparatory School. These troops are a select 77 percent of all regular Airmen attending the Academy lot – minorities, prior-enlisted, and recruited athletes. went through the Prep School. Preps continue to be They round out the Academy’s diversity of race, experi- leaders in diversity. ence and talent. In the key areas of honor and character, former Preps Second Lt.Tommy Heier inspects Cadet Candidate As Preparatory School commander, I want our 200 in the class of 2008 account for just 2.5 percent of cadets Connie Ambrose during an open ranks review. on aptitude probation, 3.2 percent of conduct probations, plus students to be more than simply prepared to enter (Photo by Tom Hunt) the Air Force Academy – I want them to be like an F-16 and 3.8 percent of honor probations. Our goal is for our the second before brake release – at full afterburner, Having a small student body allows for a high graduates to be like the bit of yeast dispersed through ready to rocket into the blue. degree of student-staff interaction. Prep School staff not bread. We want them to be the catalyst that makes the If they graduate in 10 short months having shucked only teach academics, they sweat with Preps under the whole mixture rise: the nucleus of success for each off the less-desirable traits they formed in high school Colorado sun while running basic training; they see them Academy class. and adopted the best of academic, athletic, character and in the evenings while pulling duty officer shifts; they run Academically, Preps are never going to match military disciplines, we’ve done our job. It’s admittedly Cadet Candidate Room Inspections; and they evaluate direct-entries’ soaring grade-point averages. Preps come a tall order. Preps during the Physical Aptitude Evaluations. After 10 in with an average 3.3 grade point average and an 1,100 Here’s what we as an institution already do: take months, Preps are ready to become leaders. average SAT, compared to 3.9 GPA and 1300 SAT scores candidates who typically aren’t on par academically with Right out of the chute, in cadet basic training, preps for direct entries. But Preps have compensating advan- those who enter directly into the Academy and set them are the go-to people for military knowledge on every- tages. They’ve been through a time-crunch already. up for success. After a year at the Prep School, our stu- thing from saluting to marching and shining shoes. They They’ve had classes on study skills and time manage- dents go on to graduate from the Academy at virtually already know and they help others learn. They are the ment. They’ve gone through one basic training – prior- the same rate as direct entries. In fact, for the freshmen early military leaders. service entries have gone through two. They can help through junior classes currently at the Academy, a slight- Athletically, Preps comprise 30 percent of recruited their peers with the time-management balance. ly higher percentage of Preps have remained than direct athletes at the Academy. They are also the athletic lead- Their GPA isn’t as high, but the Academy and the entries. ers. In the class of 2008, former Preps account for only Air Force want and need the talent and diversity Preps Prep School graduates also tend to be slightly more 6.4 percent of the cadets on athletic probation. offer. Our track record is good. All told, 22 former Preps committed to making the Air Force a career after the The Prep School provides a large portion of the have become general officers. Academy. About 52 percent of Prep graduates staying Academy’s diversity. We send about 175 students to the So that’s who those young folks are over by the base for 20 years, versus almost 49 percent of direct-entry Academy every year – that’s about 13 percent of each gym. They are talented people preparing to lead on the Academy graduates. class. But for Classes 2004-2007, they made up 46 per- Hill and beyond. DOD sets Combined Federal Campaign pledge record Action Line By Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample to become impossible. But it’s not impossi- “It’s not just the numbers — those American Forces Press Service ble yet, so next year we’re going to break figures are impressive enough — but the The ACTION the record one more time.” spirit behind some of the gifts is as LINE, 333-3900, is a WASHINGTON — Cigars and roses Mr.