VOL. 44 NO.50 DECEMBER 17, 2004 Inside COMMENTARY: Holiday message from AF leaders, page 2 NEWS: Cadets launch rockets for grades, page 4 Program thrives on donations, page 5 Military gets cookie vote, page 6 Command post keeps Airmen informed, page 7 Meals at dining hall for spouses of deployed, page 8 FEATURE: The Bird juggles academics, competition, page 10 SPORTS: Friday Night Fights, page 11 Cadet represents U.S. during International Rugby Tour, Photo by Charley Starr page 11 The final touch Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Sloan, Superintendent Enlisted Aide, puts the final touches on her holiday creation made of gin- gerbread, animal crackers, pretzels and Oreo cookies. See page 9 for full story. Briefly Last issue New civilian personnel system moves ahead The Academy Spirit will resume publishing Jan. By Butch Wehry ees will be brought into the program later. Academy Spirit staff 7. Please submit all infor- This new personnel system “The Academy is scheduled for the mation a week prior to pub- “will simplify the way we hire, third increment of Spiral One,” said the The schedule of implementation for the lication. For questions, call Academy civilian personnel chief. “While initial deployment of the National Security assign, compensate and 333-7581. there is no timetable to project exactly when Personnel System was announced on reward Air Force civilian our local implementation will occur, it will Airmen’s Attic Wednesday. employees while preserving likely be in the 2006 time frame.” The Airmen’s Attic has A memorandum, signed by Ms. Mary Portions of NSPS involving labor and Lacey, the program executive officer for the our benefits and protections, an immediate need for vol- union relations, however, may be imple- NSPS Office, announced the start of the unteers. The volunteers mented for all Spiral One employees (GS) program. Debbie Huber should be available to work Academy Civilian Personnel,Chief as early as July. “This new personnel system will sim- three to six hours on a “Academy employees will be receiving plify the way we hire, assign, compensate employees at Continental U.S. locations in weekly basis. The Attic and reward Air Force civilian employees more information about this exciting pro- the Air Force will be among the first also needs volunteers on an while preserving our benefits and protec- gram in the weeks ahead,” Ms. Huber said. employees to convert to the new system in “as needed” basis to assist tions,” said Debbie Huber, Academy More information is available on the with pick-up and deliveries Civilian Personnel chief. Spiral One implementation. NSPS Web site at http://www.cpms. of large items such as fur- Ms. Huber said deployment of this sys- However, the implementation plan is osd.mil/nsps. Specific procedures are still niture and appliances. Call tem will be incremental across the incremental with the first group of DOD under development and Academy officials Deb at 472-9774 for more Department of Defense. installations scheduled for July 2005. will pass on more information as soon as it information. Essentially all General Schedule Federal Wage System and overseas employ- is available. Academy Spirit 2 COMMENTARY December 17, 2004 Air Force leaders send holiday message This season, pause and greatest air and space force - the heart and soul of our American and to serve in America’s Air Force. We combat capability, and the bedrock of what makes this thank each of you and your families for your incom- reflect on your faith, nation great. parable commitment. “For those deployed, please know that you and family, and friends your families are in our thoughts and prayers, and that we are enormously proud of the work you’re doing. In By Dr. James G. Roche and Gen. John P. Jumper Afghanistan and Iraq, you continue to fight terrorism Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff while helping courageous people find the path to stability and self-governance. For those of you who serve in the “In this special holiday season we offer our sincere United States, you defend our Republic to keep best wishes to our Air Force family - our Total Force of Americans safe. active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilians, as well as your “At home and abroad, you give our nation price- families who support your remarkable commitment to less gifts through your service - our cherished freedoms protect freedom and defend the United States. and the opportunity to live in peace. “You are the most important part of the world’s “This is an extraordinary time to be an You can wipe out life, career for $10 Prevent friends or taking a designated driver who will absolutely abstain and push the food and soft drinks. from drinking alcohol. If you find yourself in a situa- The only thing that counteracts the effect of alcohol tion where you have been drinking and don’t have a is time. The more time without alcoholic beverages, the family members designated driver, call a friend or a member of your better chances are to reduce your guests’ blood alcohol squadron. If you can’t find someone you know to drive content. Take your guests’ keys if you have to, because you home, call a cab. friends don’t let friends drive drunk. from driving drunk No one can fault you if you attempt to get someone The best present hosts can provide to a friend or sober to drive you home. But don’t use this as a crutch family member this year is to keep them alive and pre- By Col. Gary Lane to continuously call someone out because you didn’t vent them from getting behind the wheel with alcohol 5th Maintenance Group commander plan ahead. in their system. Remember to act responsibly during I know of no supervisor, first sergeant or comman- this wonderful time of year, and don’t be caught dead MINOT AFB, N.D. (AFPN) - With the holiday sea- der who will not give you a ride home without reprisal drinking and driving. son upon us, we need to plan our holiday parties and if you have been drinking. There is nothing as heart Have a very happy holiday season. gatherings wisely. wrenching as an officer showing up at your family’s Did you know that for $10 or less, you could be home at 3 a.m. to tell them that you were killed in an under the influence of alcohol within 1 hour? accident because you were drinking and driving. I A 180-pound person who drinks as little as 2.75 know I’ve had to make this very notification to a fami- ounces of alcohol — three 12-ounce ly in the mountains of West Virginia. beers, three glasses of wine or two Hosts and friends also play a very mixed drinks - in one hour registers a important role during holiday parties. .05 blood-alcohol content. The person’s You are responsible for ensuring your BAC will escalate to .10 percent if he or guests and friends get home safely. she continues to drink as little as 5.5 Don’t leave this important role to ounces of alcohol - five beers, five chance. Your friend may be injured or glasses of wine or four mixed drinks. killed. Would you be able to look at Most mixed drinks contain more yourself in the mirror if that happened? than one ounce of alcohol. The effect of What would you say to yourself at the alcohol varies from person to person. hospital or funeral? Would you say to This can be due to their individual tolerances, amount that person’s family, “I could have stopped them from of food in their stomach and any type of medication in driving, but I chose not to?” their system. We spend a lot of time on-duty practicing self-aid Is your life worth only $10? Is your family worth and buddy-care. Don’t we owe it to ourselves, friends only $10? Is your career worth only $10? Think about and family to use this off duty? Remember the old it. For as little as $10, you can drink 5.5 ounces of alco- adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of hol; wipe out your life, your family’s lives and your cure.” We don’t need the “cure” aspect of these pro- career. In addition, if you are lucky enough to be alive, grams, but we need the prevention. you may carry a felony record and the knowledge you Hosts, ensure you have plenty of food and non- may have killed or severely injured someone with you alcoholic beverages available from the beginning to the the rest of your life. end of the party. Suggest food and non-alcoholic bever- This scenario can change and not be pure gloom ages to your guests at least two hours before the end of Graphic courtesy of Department of Infrastructure, Energy Resources, and doom. If you plan on drinking, plan on your party. Stop serving alcohol at the two-hour point and Transportation Directorate of Public Affairs mission: The Academy Spirit is published by the products or services advertised. Everything Submissions Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, a To responsibly inform and educate the advertised in this publication shall be made private firm in no way connected with the U.S. available for purchase, use or patronage without Academy community and the public about the Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Send submissions to: HQ USAFA/PAI, 2304 regard to race, color, religion, sex, national ori- Air Force Academy the U.S.