MARCH/APRIL 2014 magazine THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AIR FORCE SERGEANTS AssOCIATION | www.hqafsa.org The home FronT AF families and deployment planning 2013 aFSa annual RepoRt president’s commentary SAluTe To An AFSA legend Daniel Yeomans, As many of our members are aware, our current CEO John CMSgt, USAF Retired “Doc” McCauslin will be stepping down and retiring on May AFSA International 24th of this year. Chief McCauslin will stay on as an advisor President through the end of August and help ensure our Jacksonville, FL, Professional Airmen’s Conference and Convention from 16–20 August will be second to none. We will select a new CEO in the next few months and introduce him or her in the 2014 Begins and next edition of AFSA Magazine! I want to take a moment to personally thank Doc for his long and dedicated service to our great Association. Doc the Battles loom spent time as the AFSA International President and excelled. As CEO, he has moved AFSA forward in many ways. We Hello, AFSA nation. We are now well into our third month of are more financially stable than at any time in our history. 2014, and AFSA stands ready to fight for each and every The prestige of AFSA among The Military Coalition and on one of our members to ensure our brave Airmen are treated Capitol Hill is second to none. Doc has worked long and fairly in recognition for their patriotism, service, and sacrifice. hard to move AFSA forward and his positive contributions The battle won’t be easy. However, I am confident we will and legacy will be long remembered. From a grateful Asso- win the day with each of you by our sides. ciation—THANK YOU, Chief! Our nation is now burdened with over a $17 Trillion debt. Our Congress is looking for ways to reduce the deficit, and SAying ThAnk you military options are on the table. AFSA will continue to push Some of our most outstanding members are those who go for fair and equitable pay. The COLA freeze that was passed the extra mile to recruit new members, and help us maintain was flat out wrong! We will resist this change until it is our current members. Thanks to the efforts of these AFSA righted. AFSA believes that radical changes and cuts to our heroes, we continue to sustain the numbers we need to be military retirement system pose high risks. We will fight to effective and a force on Capitol Hill! preserve what our active duty, Guard, and Reserve Airmen To say thank you, our recruiters and retainers will be are earning—and do our best to support our retirees who rewarded for their efforts! Each month, anyone who either depend on their retirement benefits. We will resist measures recruits or retains at least 10 members will receive a num- that would reduce medical benefits or increase costs for ber of cool thank-you gifts. We have AFSA “DOER” bottle our Airmen currently serving and retirees and Veterans who openers, legislative platform mouse pads, luggage tags, key have served. We will fight to ensure that deserving Airmen chains, four-pillar coins, DOER clocks, and more. In addi- receive the educational opportunities they earned for them- tion, we have the new “14 in 14” coin that is awarded to any selves—and for their families. We will work hard to ensure recruiter or retainer who recruits or retains at least 14 mem- the Commissary benefit is not reduced. bers in 2014. We salute our recruiters and retainers—you I often wonder what the value of our military benefits provide the thrust we need to achieve our critical legisla- and entitlements package will be in 10, 20, or 30 years from tive agenda! Special thanks to AFSA Trustee Dale Nelson, now. Will we be able to attract our nation’s finest? Will those Division President Cary Hatzinger, and International Vice who served look back and feel they made the right decision President Tim Litherland for designing and implementing an to stay the course? Will our nation realize that the sacrifices incentive program for 2014 that is second to none! made by those in uniform each and every day are worthy God bless all—and please never hesitate to share your of support? AFSA is dedicated to ensuring the Air Force of thoughts and ideas. You drive this Association—we are only tomorrow is as strong and great as the Air Force of today. as strong as our members allow us to be. My email: AFSA. However, WE NEED YOU. Your membership provides us [email protected]. with the strength in numbers we need to make a difference. Thank you, AFSA nation. aFSa magazine • March/April 2014 1 generAl oFFiceS by striving to report timely and accurate 5211 Auth Road information. The editors reserve the right Suitland, MD 20746 to edit all submissions but will never Telephone: (301) 899-3500 or materially alter the author’s viewpoint. (800) 638-0594 The opinions expressed in this publication CONTENTS Fax: (301) 899-8136 are not necessarily those of the Air Force mArch/APril 2014 vol. 53, no. 2 Web: www.hqafsa.org Sergeants Association or its editors. [email protected] email: AFSA does not necessarily endorse PubliSher products or services advertised in John R. “Doc” McCauslin, CMSgt (Ret.) AFSA Magazine. execuTive ediTor Produced in the United States of America. PreSidenT’S commenTARY David D. Mimms, CMSgt (Ret.) ADVERTiSing SAleS AFSA afsa AField Dean Mather Founded in 1961 by four Air Force M.J. Mrvica Associates, Inc. enlisted people, AFSA is a non-profit, Airmen’S Forum (856) 768-9360; [email protected] tax-exempted organization representing the professional and quality-of-life eye on washingTon key Staff concerns of the Total Air Force (active ceo: John R. McCauslin, CMSgt (Ret.)* duty and components) enlisted mem- cFo: Ernest Chriss bers in active, retired, and veteran Amm SPoTlighT 1 director, comm & Tech: David Mimms, status, and their families, on Capitol Hill CMSgt (Ret.) and in the Pentagon. Through its many FinAl Fly-by director, member & Field: Keith Reed, programs and worldwide chapters, 3 MSgt (Ret.) AFSA also reaches out to bases director, mil & govt: Morgan Brown, and communities to help those in 4 MSgt (Ret.)* need and to raise awareness of the Feature director, Supt ops: Melvin Boston, sacrifices, concerns, and contributions 6 MSgt (Ret.) of those who have worn or are wearing Problem or oPPorTuniTy? *Registered lobbyists enlisted chevrons. 23 AFSA, Post oFFice box 50 AMF Feature Temple Hills, MD 20757 An AFSA affiliate, the Airmen Memorial Fueled by The miSSion 26 Foundation (AMF) provides educational Publication Produced by: assistance to dependent children of the Total Air Force enlisted force. It is also Feature an annual participant in the Combined Acc WArrior Airmen 12 Federal Campaign (CFC #10517). COVER STORY www.glcdelivers.com AMM An AFSA affiliate, the Airmen Memorial There And Back AgAin AFSA magazine (formerly SERGEANTS) Museum (AMM), located in AFSA’s 14 (ISSN 0360-7364) is published bimonthly Airmen Memorial Building, features in January/February, March/April, May/ rotating exhibits and stands as a tribute June, July/August, September/October, to those who have served. It is also SPeciAl ediTion and November/December by the Air Force an annual participant in the Combined 15 Sergeants Association. Copyright Federal Campaign (CFC #10518). AFSA’S 2013 ©AFSA 2014, all rights reserved. AnnuAl rePorT Periodicals postage paid at Southern IMPORTANT AFSA NUMBERS Maryland Facility, MD 20790 and at AFSA Headquarters: 16 additional mailing offices. (301) 899-3500 or (800) 638-0594 Send address changes to: Capitol Hill Update Hotline: AFSA Magazine, P.O. Box 50, (301) 899-3509 or Temple Hills, MD 20757 (800) 638-0594; Ext. 400 memberShiP AFSA INTERNATIONAL One year/$25, two years/$44, three EXECUTIVE COUNCIL years/$64, life membership/call AFSA President CMSgt (Ret.) Dan Yeomans; Vice Headquarters for pricing. A subscription President CMSgt (Ret.) Timothy Litherland; to the AFSA Magazine is included in Senior Advisor CMSgt (Ret.) Jeffrey Ledoux; membership dues. Non-member U.S. Air Force Uniformed Service Trustee on the cover: Aiden Robillard smiles in the subscription rate is $27 per year. CMSgt Michael Warren; Trustee, Retired and arms of his father, Staff Sgt. Tim Robillard, Veterans Affairs MSgt (Ret.) Dale Nelson; Jan. 12, 2014, at Hurlburt Field, FL. Robillard, ediToriAl StatemenT Division Presidents: Div. 1, SMSgt (Ret.) a 801st Special Operations Aircraft Mainte- AFSA Magazine (formerly SERGEANTS) Frederick F. Dembinski; Div. 2, MSgt (Ret.) nance Squadron electric and environmental is the only magazine dedicated solely to Colin J. Gates, Jr.; Div. 3, SMSgt (Ret.) systems maintainer, was met by his wife and serving the Total Air Force enlisted corps Dale C. Lutzen; Div. 4, SMSgt (Ret.) James 27 and their families. We are obliged to serve Crissinger; Div. 5, CMSgt (Ret.) Cary son after returning home from deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. John Bainter) the interests and concerns of Air Force Hatzinger; Div. 6, CMSgt Jeffrey Foreman; enlisted personnel and our members Div. 7, SMSgt Daniel Guzman 2 www.hqafsa.org Dispatches from regional chapters an from regional chapters Dispatches afsa afield afsa Chapter 557 aFSA hQ Senior leAder JoinS AFSA hello, SpangdAhlem! AFSA Chapter 557 President SSgt Brandon Pettersen (left) and the During a recent visit to Spangdahlem AB, AFSA Inter- 45th Space Wing Command Chief CMSgt Herman Moyer (right) national Vice President Timothy Litherland got some look on as the 45th Space Wing Commander Brig Gen Nina Armagno live radio time to discuss AFSA during the German city’s officially becomes a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association.