One Team, One Fight! See pages 14 and 15 for stories and photos about the 310th Space Group, an integral part of Schriever’s total-force space mission. VOL. 8, NO. 36 SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 Colorado Springs, Colo. www.schriever.af.mil DSP shutdown marks end of era for Schriever Staff Sgt. Don Branum 50th Space Wing Public Affairs “They (1st SOPS) provided tremendous support for 18 years ... but all good things come to an end.” The 1st and 7th Space Operations Squadrons here said farewell to their total-force Defense Support Program — Lt. Col. Anthony Cruciani mission at about noon Aug. 29 when Deputy DSP program manager, Space and Missile Systems Center 1st SOPS Airmen powered off DSP Flight 15. Schriever has controlled the DSP technical advisers currently assigned Meyer, 1st SOPS director of opera- constellation since February 1988; to 1st SOPS will provide support to tions. that mission will now move to the 2nd 2nd SWS as it assumes the DSP mis- The end of the DSP mission at Space Warning Squadron at Buckley sion, said Capt. Carman Henry, 2nd Schriever will allow 1st SOPS to Air Force Base, Colo. SWS. move toward its goal of becoming a “Maintaining access to the DSP Those technical advisers worked multi-mission satellite operations experts here has been instrumental in with Airmen on 1st SOPS’ operations center, or MMSOC, Colonel Meyer making the transfer go smoothly,” floor Aug. 29 to tell Airmen what said. said Lt. Col. Anthony Cruciani, telemetry they might see at certain Flight 15 launched Nov. 13, 1990, deputy DSP program manager at the points along the shutdown process. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Once Airmen sent the command to Station, Fla. Though its design life Los Angeles AFB, Calif. Colonel shut down the transmitters, they was five years, Flight 15 and many Cruciani and others from both Los would not receive any further teleme- other satellites in the DSP constella- Angeles and Buckley AFBs joined 1st try. tion have far outlived that expectancy. SOPS to observe the Flight 15 shut- They would still send the shut- DSP proved its effectiveness at down. down command to Flight 15 but strategic and tactical missile warning Although Flight 15 had been would have no way to know whether during Operation Desert Storm, when super-synched, or moved out of and the satellite actually complied. DSP detected Iraqi scud launches and above geosynchronous orbit, the Air The transition brought some mixed warned civilian populations and Force and Northrop-Grumman feelings with it. coalition forces in Israel and Saudi Corporation kept the satellite online. “I’m sad to see it end,” Colonel Arabia. Cruciani said. “They (1st SOPS) pro- Col. Clinton Crosier, 50th “Flight 15 helped us understand photo by Alex Groves our operational (DSP) assets without vided tremendous support to DSP for Operations Group commander, credit- Satellite system operators with the 1st Space Operations having to experiment on operational 18 years ... but all good things come ed DSP with the United States’ victo- Squadron powered down Defense Support Program's Flight satellites,” Colonel Cruciani said. “It to an end.” ry in the Cold War as well. 15 satellite Aug. 29. The shutdown marks the end of 1st helps us understand the aspects of “We just ended a long era of DSP “You are a large part of the reason SOPS' DSP mission, which the 2nd Space Warning aging operational satellites.” for 1st SOPS—but this is not the end why the world remained peaceful,” Squadron at Buckley AFB, Colo., will assume. Some of Northrop-Grumman’s of 1st SOPS,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Colonel Crosier said. Hahn Road and Voyager Street will be 4th SOPS flight chief closed to traffic Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. for a 50th Space Wing Fun Run. earns Bronze Star medal Schriever track meet Capt. Heidi Dietterle The Schriever Fitness Center is 4th Space Operations Squadron scheduled to hold a track meet Friday Remember Sept. 11, 2001 at the running track here. The 50th Space Wing Chaplain The Milstar Communications Flight The events will include a 100-meter Service will sponsor a memorial in chief with the 4th Space Operations dash, a 200-meter dash, a 400-meter observance of fifth anniversary of the Squadron here received a Bronze Star dash and a 4x400-meter relay. For more Sept. 11, 2001, attack. medal Aug. 21 for his work with the Joint information or to sign up, call the Main The service will be from 10 to 10:45 Communications Unit. Fitness Center at 567-6658. a.m. Monday in the Building 300 Master Sgt. Todd Farlee served as a spe- Auditorium. cial operations radio operator on a quick Race for the Cure 2006 reaction team with the JCU, a highly The keynote speaker will be Ed Miller, a 27-year veteran of the Race for the Cure 2006 needs volun- trained, hand selected unit with the reputa- teers Saturday and Sunday for the tion as finest communicators in the Colorado Springs Fire Department who event, which will be held at Fort Department of Defense. was on site as a part of the Heavy Carson. While there, Sergeant Farlee deployed Rescue Team. Saturday morning and evening setup four times in support of operations As our armed forces continue the will require six people. Sunday trash Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He Global War on Terrorism, the chapel and parking details will require eight provided flawless tactical communications staff invites you to take a moment to for five command and control nodes, mul- remember why we fight. people. Master Sgt. Todd Farlee tiple liaison communications sites and For more information, contact Staff To volunteer, contact Tech. Sgt. numerous combat operations. His team’s team of five people who set up an entire Sgt. Lance Tressler, 50th SW Chaplain Donnie Bryant, 50th Space actions led to the accomplishment of sever- technical control facility, providing connec- office, at 567-3705. Communications Squadron, at 567- al national objectives. tivity in an austere environment to approxi- 7948. Navy Lt. John Gary, the deputy com- mately 700 users including the command- Roads closed for Fun Run To participate in Race for the Cure, mander of the unit, presented the decora- ing general, the battle staff, government Falcon Parkway, Hubble Avenue, register at www.komencs.org. tion. He described the deployment as a agencies and coalition forces. Weekend Friday Saturday Sunday INSIDE Commentary . .2 Sports . .12 Outlook High 68 High 69 High 76 News . .3-10 Features . .14-15 Low 53 Low 53 Low 54 SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 2 SATELLITE FLYER COMMENTARY www.schriever.af.mil NSPS: get on board! Jeffery Hunt 50th Space Wing “Let us know your Director of Staff concerns or questions Hello Schriever! I’ve wanted to over the course of the provide you some information with next several months. regards to the National Security We need to know Personnel System for the last cou- ple of weeks but it seems like time what’s on your mind.” just flies. So, I decided to ignore What do you my phone and email for a few min- utes and provide you an update on you informed of what’s going on enjoy about your where we are in regards to imple- through the base paper, the base menting NSPS here at Schriever. bulletin, town hall meetings and everyday job? On July 12, 2006, the deputy other avenues. We are developing a secretary of defense approved the checklist for you to keep that will Air Force’s NSPS human resources help you keep abreast of what you system spiral implementation strate- need to do between now and Jan. Jeffery Hunt gy July 17 impacting more than 21. We are in touch with other 66,000 federal civil service Air installations daily that have convert- ty at the above Web site where you Force employees. ed or will convert before us so we can ask questions and we’ll provide Ronnelle Allen What does that mean to you and can gain insight on the dos and the answers. We’ll let you know when 50th Services Division me? At Schriever, this means non- don’ts, gaining valuable data points it’s activated. “I just enjoy working bargaining unit covered employees that will assist us in this important Third, look for NSPS articles in with people.” will convert to NSPS Jan 21, 2007, transition. the base newspaper and base bul- with Spiral 1.2. What can you do? letin. We will make every effort to So, why am I talking to you? First and foremost I ask that keep you fully informed about our I’ve been asked to lead the effort in everyone, civilian employees and NSPS actions here at Schriever. implementing NSPS here at supervisors, get online and take the What are some of the near term Schriever. This will be a large NSPS 101 course. This is critical! issues you need to know about right undertaking, but together we can We need everyone to complete now? Training is one of main make this a seamless transition. this training. It will help you have a things. Besides NSPS 101, we will So, what’s happened since July basic understanding and may keep you apprised of upcoming Staff Sgt. 12 and what will be happening over answer many of your questions. Go training with lists of who needs to Corin Pijanowski the course of the next several to the 50 MSS Civilian Personnel attend. 50th Space WIng Staff months? First, we‘ve established an Flight Web page on the base The second thing is that we will Judge Advocate executive steering group led by our intranet by clicking on close out the legacy federal civilian “Working in military wing commander and wing vice Organizations, then Mission employee rating system Nov.