VOL. 45 NO.30 JULY 29, 2005 Inside COMMENTARY: Vice Supt rolls up sleeves, Pages 2, 3 NEWS: Cadet sentenced for theft, Page 4 Youth learn fire safety, Page 5 Scouts battle parasite, Page 6 Discovery crew’s local ties, Page 8 Cadets visit Pete, check flying options, Page 9 FEATURE: Academy medics save NCO’s life in Iraq, Page 11 March to Jacks Valley, BCT, Pages 12-13 Air Force Discovery experi- ments, Page 14 SPORTS: Hospital routs J&J, Page 15 Academy student athletes excel, Page 15 Athlete’s medicine perspective, Page 16 Long line, long march Briefly Basic cadets of the class of 2009 marched out to Jacks Valley Friday to begin their final phase of basic training.The basic cadets are living in tents for two weeks while they participate in a variety of military training exercises before returning Heat stress to begin the academic year. See story, Page 12. (Photo by Charley Starr) The base bioenviron- mental engineering office is monitoring the heat stress condition at the Academy. Academy primary site for national games The condition is deter- mined from the Wet Bulb By Wayne Amann organizations is to come here. The primary Items restricted from the Cadet Field Globe Thermometer index, Academy Spirit staff reason we do this is to further community House, Cadet Gymnasium and outdoor event which is based on air temper- relations and give us exposure to potential locations are: weapons, firearms, fireworks; ature, mean radiant tempera- While the Cadet Chapel will always be future cadets. They see what we have to backpacks (infant carrier packs are permitted ture, air speed and absolute the most definitive feature of the Academy offer here.” if infant is present); bags larger than 11 x humidity. skyline, the school’s athletic facilities take Visiting athletes will perform at the 11 x 8 inches; all hard-side briefcases (partic- The latest heat stress flag center stage this week. Academy Archery Range for archery (3-D), ipant equipment bags are permitted and are condition is on http://home- Some 9,000 athletes from around the the north baseball field for archery (target), subject to a search); (diaper bags are page/cadet. For more infor- country are here Thursday through Sunday the outdoor sport turf field for field hockey, permitted if infant is present); binoculars, mation, call 333-4825 during for the 2005 State Games of America, a the Cadet West Gym for gymnastics, the cameras and video cameras with appro- duty hours, and 440-6123 national multi-sport event, held biennially, Cadet Center Gym for martial arts, the priate bags are OK as are purses and fanny after duty hours. for all ages and skill levels. athletic fields for soccer, the Cadet Tennis packs. Academy Picnic Medal winners from 49 State Games Courts, the outdoor track stadium for track No hard-side coolers are allowed nor The Academy’s 2005 earn the right to compete against other & field and the Cadet East Gym for any sticks, poles including signs attached to Picnic will be at the Prep winners, pitting their skills and desire in a wrestling. sticks; nontransparent glass bottles, soda School Parade Ground 7:30 national setting. SGA events are today, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., cans and thermos bottles are restricted. a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 5. Nine of the event’s 24 Olympic and Pan Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 8 Only factory sealed, plastic, transparent Tickets are $1 per person American sports take place at Academy a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is charged to all containers, 20 ounces or less, will be and are available from first venues. The rest are divided among Fort Academy events except archery (3-D) and permitted; bota bags, wine skins, camel sergeants. Children 3 and Carson, the Phil Long Expo Center, tennis. packs, alcohol of any kind, artificial noise- under eat free. Food will be Cheyenne Mountain Resort plus other sites Academy visitors are asked to enter makers of any kind, pets (unless certified served at 11 a.m. in Colorado Springs, Denver, Monument throught the North Gate. While on the service dogs for patrons with disabilities), Attendees are urged to and Pueblo. Academy they must have a driver’s license, skateboards, roller blades, shoes with wheels carpool. A shuttle bus from “Our facilities are known nationwide vehicle registration and vehicle insurance. and laser pointers are prohibited. Falcon Stadium to the site and people want to use them,” Assistant All persons, and their personal belongings, “As a military installation and for the starts at 7:30 a.m. and runs Athletic Director for Events Management Joe entering the academy are subject to a search Cadet Wing’s protection we want visitors every 15 minutes. Novak emphasized. “A big selling point for if necessary. See GAMES, Page 4 Academy Spirit 2 COMMENTARY July 29, 2005 New Vice Superintendent rolls up his sleeves By Wayne Amman Academy Spirit Staff Spirit: How do you view patriotism in our country given current world Brig. Gen. Irving L. “Irv” Halter events? recently arrived to assume the Academy’s General Halter: When I came here new Vice Superintendent position. He in ’73 we could not go downtown by joins the Academy team following ourselves, in uniform or out, because concurrent tours as the Deputy Director your haircut made you stick out. for National Systems Operations, the I remember we were different in the Joint Staff, and Deputy Director for eyes of people who didn’t know us. They Military Support, National thought less of us because of what we Reconnaissance Office, Wash., D.C. were doing. We went to certain univer- The general is a command fighter sities for a football game and were told pilot with more than 3,100 flight hours not to go anywhere alone, stick together. who’s served as an operational Even though Vietnam had just finished, commander at the squadron, group and there was still a large anti-war movement. wing levels. General Halter is a veteran It’s a whole different ballgame now. of Operations Desert Storm, Provide Being a military member is held in such Comfort and Enduring Freedom. high esteem. The entire country knows The southern New Jersey native what we’re asking people to do. Although and ’77 Academy graduate shared his there are differing opinions about how views July 13 with the Academy Spirit. and what were involved in, it’s great to know no one is questioning the integrity, Spirit: How does it feel to return to the selflessness and character of the your alma mater? American military. It’s a wonderful thing General Halter: It’s not like the to have people behind you. It makes a good old days, even though there are a big difference. lot of similarities. I was anxious to see how much has changed. Graduating 28 Spirit: How do you perceive years ago and 32 years after basic America’s perception of the Academy? training, you get chills. General Halter: This year we’ve You watch what the young men and had well over 9,000 qualified folks apply women are going through and you go, for admission, a huge crop. The standards whew, I remember that. The concentra- have not changed. We’re still getting the tion on basic training and the compre- kind of people we want here. I see hensiveness of the training stand out. nothing but good there. You talk to fami- It’s much more deliberate and lies and there’s intense pride. thought through now. I really like that. I know this. My father passed away If anyone thinks the training has gotten last December. When we used to walk easier they need to watch what’s going Brig. Gen. Irving “Irv” Halter, Academy Vice Superintendent (Photos by Danny into an airport within 30 minutes there on. Talking to the basics and watching Meyer) weren’t 50 people who didn’t know I the cadre operate I see total profes- preparing you for the things to come, so went to the Air Force Academy. Even sionals. Graduates need to remember Spirit: What do you bring to the hang in there, it’s worth it. When I’m tired when I became a general, that’s the first it’s just as tough and in some ways table from your Air Force operational I may wonder why am I still doing this? thing he told them. To go to a service tougher because these kids come down background? Fact is, not I, my wife or family regret academy, especially for middle America, a lot further than we had to. I left three General Halter: When I arrived a moment of this. If I could do it all over is still a big deal. It’s not because the great TV channels at home on only one TV. I here right after Viet Nam we had a lot again, make 10-times the money, I education is free or the character devel- didn’t have my own phone, no computer, of folks who had been in the war as wouldn’t give it up for the world. This opment is great but because we develop most of us didn’t have cars, etc. We take pilots, navigators or support personnel. is a great way to make a living. Flying the whole person. A lot of colleges claim away a lot more things when they first They were my great motivators. They upside down is cool. Space operations to do that and a lot try, but very few can start here, so in many ways it’s a bigger would stop the English class and talk to is very cool.