VOL. 46 NO.1 JANUARY 6, 2006 Academy Airmen gear up for deployment By Butch Wehry Academy Spirit staff More than 130 Academy Airmen, most of them 10th Medical Group personnel, are departing on deployments this month. The medical group has been plan- ning for months to ease the impact of departing medical providers with contracted providers and Reservists, said Col. Christian Benjamin (Dr.), family practice and aerospace medicine commander. “The goal is to avoid any decrease in access to care,” said the Academy doctor who claims Novato, Calif., as home. “If all goes well, our beneficia- ries will not notice a big change, but we do ask [them] to be patient as we go through this.” The work will be a mixture of surgical and resucitative care for those who sustain traumatic injury in their proximity, and primary care for personnel stationed in their area, he said. “The approach to surgery is Photo by John Van Winkle different,” said Colonel Benjamin. “At some deployed locations the emphasis I’ll be baaack! will be on saving life and limb with emergency procedures, while more definitive procedures are often done DeBerry stays, fine tunes staff later at Landstuhl, Wilford Hall or Walter Reed [medical facilities]. Though the By Wayne Amann Tuesday in the Orange Bowl, won by Singleton, a 1999 Academy grad and expeditionary medicine is well supplied Academy Spirit staff Penn State, 26-23, in triple-overtime. a three-year Air Force staff member, was to meet these types of cases, it certainly DeBerry, 67, has led Air Force to 12 elevated from junior varsity head coach. lacks the full spectrum of equipment On the day the two longest tenured bowl appearances, most recently the Singleton began coaching at the Air we have in garrison.” Division I college football head coaches 2002 San Francisco Bowl. The Falcons Force Prep School in 2000 as assistant Many of those going have previous squared off in a bowl game, the man in are 6-6 in those games. head coach and offensive coordinator. deployment experience. Not all of the third place confirmed he’s staying put. Since taking over in 1984 as the After a two-year assignment as a public Academy deployees are going to the Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry Falcons’ fifth head coach, DeBerry’s affairs officer at Little Rock Air Force same place. announced Tuesday he’ll return for the teams have posted 17 winning seasons Base, Ark., he returned to the Academy “These medical professionals have 2006 season, his 23rd patrolling the and three conference championships. in 2003 and became the junior varsity been training for some time in prepa- Falcon sideline. The announcement ended His 165-101-1 mark makes him the defensive coordinator and a varsity ration to go out and do these missions,” conjecture concerning his status at the winningest coach in service academy coach. Colonel Benjamin said. “Most are quite Academy following 5-6 and 4-7 history. DeBerry’s 34-10 record against The former all-state running back excited at the prospect of making a campaigns the last two seasons. Army and Navy has produced 14 of Air from Taft High School in San Antonio significant contribution to the welfare “I want to quiet any speculation Force’s 16 Commander-In-Chief’s trophy helped lead the Falcons to 10-3 and 12- of the troops committed to these loca- about my future and let everyone know titles. He’s earned three Western Athletic 1 records his junior and senior years. It tions.” I’m remaining as head coach of the Conference Coach of the Year awards, was the first time Air Force posted back- Security forces, accounting experts Fighting Falcons,” DeBerry said in a plus was named National Coach of the to-back double-digit win seasons. The and managers have also deployed. media release. “We’re having an excel- Year in 1985. latter featured the Academy’s first The possible consequences of the lent recruiting year. We’ve been disap- “It’s a new year and it’ll be chal- outright WAC title. Singleton was a co- See DEPLOY, Page 6 pointed with the outcome of the last two lenging, but we’re excited to meet it with captain of the 1998 squad and was an years, and we want to commit all our great enthusiasm,” DeBerry added. “We honorable mention all-WAC selection Inside energies to help the program get back on have a good nucleus of returning players that season. track and enjoy the success it’s been and one of the best coaching staffs in the “Jemal was one of the best leaders Commentary . Page 2 accustomed to in recent years.” country.” and toughest players this program has News . Pages 3-8 DeBerry trails only Joe Paterno’s 40 To that end, DeBerry named Capt. ever produced,” DeBerry pointed out. Community . Page 9 years at Penn State and Bobby Bowden’s Jemal Singleton as the new running “He’ll be a great role model for our Feature . Pages 10-11 30 years at Florida State, as far as backs coach. He replaces Tim Horton players while coaching a position he Sports . Pages 12-13 longevity at their respective institutions. who left after seven seasons here to played on our nationally ranked ’98 team. Paterno and Bowden opposed each other accept a similar position at Kansas State. See DEBERRY Page 4 Academy Spirit 2 COMMENTARY January 6, 2006 Little things help Airmen Force shaping: one keep perspective lieutenant’s morale By Lt. Col. Kevin Simmons learn who I was leading. By 1st Lt. Kristen D. Duncan 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron The “what” in this mission analysis 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs commander turned out to be a little more difficult. Once I read what the standing mission EGLIN AFB, Fla. — Balance the officer and enlisted corps. That DAVIS-MONTHAN Air Force Base, statement was and reviewed what we were is the current need of the Air Force. As an officer and a second genera- Ariz — “Excuse me, sir, excuse me.” currently tasked with, I found myself tion Airman, I’ve been told from day one, the “needs of the Air Force” At first I did not hear her. She was tiny, delving into Air Force Instructions and come first. about 7 years old and was speaking very policy letters to understand the guidance I What happens when those needs mean the loss of my job — and softly in a very loud and crowded family was being held accountable for, while not just my job, but a career of integrity, service and excellence? pizza and entertainment place where I had signing Air Force forms I did not even know I vowed to protect the Constitution. To continue what my father brought my sons after work. existed to make sure we were doing what and the greatest generation did in World War II. I am truly a patriot. Only her slight tugging on the sleeve of was expected of us in other areas. I am an Airman. my flight suit made me realize she was even Most importantly, I trusted squadron With force shaping, Air Force leadership is undertaking the very there. I also had a lot on my mind. people to complete tasks they had been difficult task of reducing its forces. Brig. Gen. Kathleen Close, the Air Seven weeks earlier I had moved my entrusted with. Together, we had not lost Force Material Command director of installations and mission support, family (again). sight of what was our main effort — said the leadership knows they could be losing a future commander or A week after that, I assumed command support combat operations. a future general. of one of the Air Force’s “low-density/high- I realized that you never know “when” But the Air Force can no longer support the imbalance of officers demand” units, the mighty 43rd Electronic you are going to be called upon to serve in a to enlisted troops. Combat Squadron. leadership situation. I had about four To support the mission, the service has to reduce its 2002 and Known as the “Bats,” 43rd ECS months from the time I was told until I was 2003 lieutenants through volunteer or forced separations. aircrews fly the EC-130H Compass Call. on a stage 1,700 miles from my last duty That equals more than 4,000 young, promising lieutenants. One The EC-130H is an airborne electronic station taking the guidon from the group thing is certain; the caliber of our lieutenants is unparalleled. warfare aircraft that prevents successful commander. The question is what does this do to our morale? enemy command and control communica- During that time, I spent a lot of time Working on various projects, I have to wonder, will any of this tions and limits adversary coordination reading and talking to others. I also spent mean anything if I’m force-shaped? essential for enemy force management. time running and reflecting. Will I still be able to lead my troops? Is my morale going to take a The 43rd ECS has been deployed My mission analysis reaffirmed you nose dive? supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom contin- have to be prepared mentally, physically and What if I work harder than I’ve ever worked to impress the heck uously for 16 months. Every day for the emotionally for the rigors of leadership out of every commander I’ve ever met? How do I keep focused on my past six weeks I found myself running a because you never know “when” your time job and my mission? mental marathon to make sure I was making is coming, only that it will.