A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING – JOINT BASE SAN ...

A PUBLICATION OF THE 502nd AIR BASE WING ? JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS ? lackland.af.mil ? Vol. 68 No. 48 ? DECEMBER 2, 2011

Active shooter

A Lackland Thanksgiving

JBSA Exercise

Personnel from the 502nd Air Base Wing, the 802nd Mission Support Group, and the 59th Medical Wing's Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Clinic will participate in a simulated Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Exercise at the WHASC Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Designed to test base incident response and recovery elements, the exercise will involve use of the installation mass notification and warning systems, including Giant Voice.

All Giant Voice, computer and telephone communications for this exercise will be preceded with clear text or notifications stating, "Exercise, Exercise, Exercise."

Photo by Alan Boedeker

INSIDE | Commentary 2

News 3

BMT Honors 6

Base events inspire festive spirit in personnel this holiday season

Operation Homecooking, P12-13

Community 17

What's Happening 18

Sports 19-20

commentary PAGE 2

TALESPINNER

DECEMBER 2, 2011

Leadership

Professionalism, commitment key to success

By Lt. Col. Roy Jones Commander, 802nd Communications Squadron

There are many definitions of leadership. You've probably heard several yourselves.

President Truman said that a leader "Can persuade people to do what they don't want to do ... and like it." According to Warren Bennis, a leader is the one "... to define a vision for the organization."

Finally, leadership has also been defined as motivating a group of people to act to achieve a common goal. While each of these definitions is useful, they all share one common shortcoming. Sticking to these definitions, it's easy to think of leadership as someone else's job.

Here's the thing: the strongest units I've ever been in share a common trait. They have leaders at all levels. Because they had leaders throughout the organization, they were able to achieve amazing results ? outstanding ratings in Operational Readiness Inspections, Department of Defenselevel awards, and challenging combat operations. These organizations have a slightly different definition of leadership. They define it as "making something happen that would not otherwise happen by itself." Making something happen requires action. Training a basic trainee, defend-

"We understand our roles as Airmen, noncommissioned officers, and as officers. It's within these roles that we, as Airmen, exercise leadership. It's how we perform our duties."

? Lt. Col. Roy Jones 802nd Communications Squadron Commander

ing a network, analyzing intelligence and generating aircraft sorties happen because an individual took an action.

This happens on our installation on a daily basis. Because these things happen every day, it can be easy to take them for granted, but they don't happen by themselves. An aircraft doesn't fix itself; someone has to make it happen.

By definition, the Airman who made it happen is a leader. That Airman knew what needed to be done, took the initiative, and produced a result. That's leadership. When we begin to see leadership in this way, we begin to see that every Airman is a leader. Someone might ask, "If everyone is a leader, who is in charge?" I'd respond by asserting what we as professional military members already know.

While we are all leaders, we also know and accept that everyone also has a role.

We understand our roles as Airmen, noncommissioned officers, and as officers. It's within these roles that we, as Airmen, exercise leadership. It's how we perform our duties, how we demonstrate professional qualities, and how we display our commitment to the core values that makes us leaders.

With leadership comes responsibility ? responsibility for ourselves, for our teammates, and for our unit. Whether you've been in the Air Force 20 months or 20 years, you share responsibility for what happens in your shop, flight, squadron or wing. Leadership isn't someone else's job, it's your job. You're a leader; go make something happen.

Air Force core values offer words to live by

By Master Sgt. Brandon English 59th Medical Support Group

"Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do." For most of us, these words ? the Air Force Core Values ? were the first meaningful phrases of wisdom we received upon entering the service. No matter the length of your military career, these words haven't lost their relevance or value. Regardless of the initial accession route you chose to enter the Air Force, these core values remain the basic foundation for your future development, growth and success.

"Integrity First" has taught us always to do the right thing even when no one is watching. This applies to supervisors who over inflate performance reports in

order not to ruin a subordinate's career. It applies to Airmen who are aware of peers or co-workers who may have substance abuse problems, but refuse to get them the appropriate help for fear of ruining their career. Think of the Airmen who fail to report fraud, waste and abuse which leads to the loss of critical resources needed to support the mission. "Integrity First" has yet to ruin the career of a single Air Force member. Careers are ruined when individuals, peers and supervisors fail to do the right thing.

"Service Before Self" in its simplest form means placing the needs of the organization ahead of your personal desires. Have you ever noticed the supervisor who runs for the door at 4:30 p.m. while critical tasks were not completed? How about

the Airmen who never schedule their fitness assessment test because no one told them to? Have you ever been a customer waiting for service and, when you finally reached the front of the line, you noticed the person helping you was updating their Facebook status? Each of us can undoubtedly point out examples of others not living up to "Service Before Self," but how many of us can say no one is pointing at us?

"Excellence In All We Do" is doing your absolute best in leading, managing and accomplishing everything you're charged with. Every day we lead professionals in the execution of vital organizational objectives, albeit in different ways. Excellence

See VALUES P10

Editorial staff

BRIG. GEN. THERESA C. CARTER, 502ND AIR BASE WING COMMANDER

OSCAR BALLADARES, DIRECTOR, 502ND ABW OL-A PUBLIC AFFAIRS

JOE BELA, CHIEF OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, 671-4111

MANAGING EDITOR, VACANT

MIKE JOSEPH, SENIOR WRITER, 671-4357

JOSE GARZA, SPORTS EDITOR/STAFF WRITER, 671-0478

PATRICK DESMOND, DESIGN/LAYOUT, 671-5049

Office: 1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102 Lackland AFB, Texas 78236-5103 (210) 671-1786; (fax) 671-2022 Email: talespinner@lackland.af.mil Commander's Action Line: actionline@lackland.af.mil. Straight Talk: 671-6397 (NEWS) For advertising information: Prime Time Military Newspapers 2203 S. Hackberry San Antonio, Texas 78210 (210) 534-8848 (fax) 534-7134

This newspaper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Lackland AFB, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Talespinner are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Prime Time Military Newspapers, of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 502nd Air Base Wing. All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday the week prior

to publication.

DECEMBER 2, 2011

NEWS IN BRIEF

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY PARTY The Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland

children's holiday party is Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., in Kelly Field hangar 1610, 303 S. Frank Luke Dr.

All military and Department of Defense children are invited to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. The first 300 children will receive a toy. Activities include door prizes, face painting, a caricature artist, games, crafts, food and music. For details, call Tech. Sgt. De'Lisa Harris at 210-395-7948.

HEAVY TRAVEL DAYS EXPECTED

The 37th Training Group expects about 2,700 Airmen to be traveling for the Christmas and New Year's holidays between Dec. 21 and Jan. 3, 2012.

Technical training students will be dismissed at the close of business on Dec. 20, and must report back to base no later than 11:59 p.m. Jan. 2, 2012. The group anticipates Dec. 21 and Jan. 2, 2012 to be the most heavily traveled days by the students at San Antonio International Airport, and that Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland permanent party should plan accordingly for holiday travel.

HOLIDAY IN BLUE CONCERT TICKETS

Free tickets are available for the U.S. Air Force Band of the West's annual Holiday in Blue concerts.

The concerts, Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, will feature the Joint Base Holiday Chorus, made up of Joint Base San Antonio active duty, Guard, reservists, retirees and dependents. The concerts are at 3 p.m. each day in the Edgewood Theatre of Performing Arts. Tickets are available at the JBSALackland and JBSA-Randolph Information, Tickets and Travel offices, and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston MWR.

FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

Federal benefits open season for Air Force civilian employees continues through Dec. 12. For details, call 210-671-0005.

GOSPEL CHOIR NEEDS SINGERS

The 2012 Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland African American Heritage Committee needs singers of all ages for its annual gospel choir. The choir will perform Feb. 4, 2012 at the Gateway Chapel. Active duty or retired military members from any branch, civilians and dependents are eligible. Rehearsals begin Jan. 6, 2012.

For details, call 210-671-1750.

TALESPINNER

news

PAGE 3

AF rolls out rifle qualification course

By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Sanchez 37th Training Support Squadron

Airmen taking the new Air Force Rifle Qualification Course are finding themselves learning more than just basic marksmanship skills.

Long-awaited changes requiring more intensive weapons training officially took effect Thursday.

Published in September by the Air Force Security Center, changes to the course were not mandatory until this month, but the 37th TRSS Combat Weapons Section opted to teach the new course of fire for all personnel sooner, rather than wait for the Dec. 1 implementation date.

"As with any change for both instructors and students, we are learning more with each new class," said Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Thieken, the 37th TRSS superintendent.

Although there are numerous differences between the new and the old courses, the most significant change is the emphasis on combat engagement and developing shooter survivability skills.

"This is a major departure from the previous course most of us are familiar with. The "just-in-time" training prior to a deployment or permanent change of station ensured everyone had the general skills of weapons familiarization," said Thieken. "Our Airmen had an understanding of what parts went where, how the weapon functions, or cycle of operation, and the basic shooter fundamentals ? sight picture, breath control and trigger squeeze.

"Those skills are still the building block of any weapons qualification course," he said. "However, as we continue to support contingency operations with more and more Air Force personnel performing missions outside the wire, it was imperative that our training evolve to meet the changing environment."

The new course incorporates target acquisition, threat discrimination, multiple threat engagement and surviving weapon malfunction and stoppages.

As a result, the number of rounds fired and the additional qualification stages increase the length of classroom training, as well as time on the range. Currently, the new course of fire is con-

Photo by Alan Boedeker Air Force basic trainee Zachary Browning, 324th Training Squadron, Flight 044, reloads between shooting practice rounds at the firing range Nov. 22. Airmen are now required to take an intensive Air Force Rifle Qualification Course.

suming the better part of a 12-hour day.

Thieken said that with the exception of the length of time required to complete the course, the feedback is generally very positive. He recommended the following helpful tips to make the firing day more comfortable.

Bring Food Since it is a long day in the classroom and on the range, some snacks, a sandwich, and something to drink will help improve the experience. Since the firing range is located on the remote side of the Lackland Training (Medina) Annex, commuting for a meal is not possible. Vending machines are available at the facility but selections are limited and they run out frequently. "It's a lengthy day, so bring enough for two meals. You have a 30-minute break between the classroom training and the firing range to eat," said Thieken. "You will not have time to leave the complex, so plan accordingly."

Bring Water Although the first part of the day is indoors, the second part is outside on the firing range.

Water fountains are available at the facility and coolers of ice water are located on the range.

"With the unpredictable weather here in San Antonio, it's best to stay hydrated throughout the day to avoid any heat-related injuries. Camelback and other hydration containers are highly encouraged," he said.

"Keep an eye on the weather forecast for the day of your training. As we move into winter, the weather can change rapidly and having the appropriate clothing will ensure you are comfortable and focused on training," he added.

Preparation for the course is essential and Thieken recommends Airmen brush up on weapons training by reading their Airman's Manual.

"Instructors will teach you everything you need to know about the weapon system, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared," said Thieken.

"Preparation makes for a smoother day on the firing range," he continued. "The men and women of the Combat Weapons Section are here to make every Airman the best shooter possible, as we support each other while in harm's way."

PAGE 4

TALESPINNER

CE WINGMAN DAY

DECEMBER 2, 2011

From left to right, Dorinda Matthey, fire station No. 1 secretary, Yolanda Enriquez,

environmental systems specialist, and Andrea Riojas, realty specialist, watch as

Richard Campos, Fire Station No. 1 fire inspector, attempts to remove a Jenga piece during the 802nd Civil Engineer

Squadron's Wingman Day team-building events Nov. 21 at Fire Station No. 2.

Members at all three Joint Base San Antonio installations broke away from daily operations on Wingman Day to participate

in activities that help reinforce safety, human relations and team-building skills

in the workplace.

Photo by Alan Boedeker

PAGE 6

BMT HONORS

Congratulations to the following 59 Airmen for being selected as honor graduates among 591 Air Force basic military trainees graduating today:

320th Training Squadron Flight 019 Matthew Chopek Dennis Ferguson III Taka Gainous Gary Norris Flight 020 Sheldon Martin Austin Meadows Andrew Rettig

321st Training Squadron Flight 015 Matthew Begany Samuel Grounds Nathaniel Hermanson Michael Magobet Jared Sousa

Eric Villalobos Flight 016 Montana Crowder Brittanie Loggins Bethany Martin Stephanie Meade 323rd Training Squadron Flight 017 Austin Edington Andy Guerra Dylan Hodges Shawn Ledbetter Patrick O'Rourke Joshua Riddle Flight 018 Travis Anderson David Bivins David Chavez Glenn Dredden Jr. Patrick McGuffin Jr. Randall Seymour

324th Training Squadron Flight 025 Jake Aragona

TALESPINNER

John Havey Kyle Huff Shaun Kawakami Jared Keeler Michael LaClaire Johny Londono Ryan Massingham Andrew Mayer Jason Miller Austin Peterson Nickolas Rollins Cody Vaughn Clyde Zoltek Flight 026 Alysha Hancock

326th Training Squadron Flight 021 Cody Bettac Garrett Craig Steven Gavin Tyler King Richard Lathrop III Zachariah Reed Jason Soler

Carl Wheaton Flight 022 Donald Hammond Zachery Harold Andrew Keesee Skyler McCloyn Matthew Spencer

331st Training Squadron Flight 024 Neil Mooney Raymond Urbanski

Top BMT Airman Patrick O'Rourke, 323rd TRS, Flight 017

Most Physically Fit Male Airmen Daniel Ehrenberg, 323rd TRS, Flight 018 Patrick O'Rourke, 323rd TRS, Flight 017 Tyler Dean, 321st TRS, Flight 015

DECEMBER 2, 2011

Bradley Pence, 320th TRS, Flight 019 Female Airmen Kendall Nielsen, 324th TRS, Flight 026 Lauren Workman, 324th TRS, Flight 026 Robyn Crowley, 321st TRS, Flight 016 Myra Schulenburg, 324th TRS, Flight 026

Male Flights 320th TRS, Flight 019 323rd TRS, Flight 018 324th TRS, Flight 025 Female Flights 323rd TRS, Flight 014 320th TRS, Flight 002 331st TRS, Flight 012

Top Academic Flights 331st TRS, Flight 024 321st TRS, Flight 015 320th TRS, Flight 019

METC Instructor

awarded second Bronze Star

By Lisa Braun Medical Education and Training Campus PA

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas ? An Air Force medical logistics instructor at the Medical Education & Training Campus was awarded his second Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.

Maj. Christopher Gonzales, joined by his wife, Beth, and son, Evan, was presented the award by Col. Annata Sullivan, 937th Training Group commander during a ceremony Oct. 28. The 937th TRG is the Air Force component supporting METC.

"Major Gonzales is a great instructor. We are very proud of him and his willingness to deploy and serve his country," Sullivan said.

While a captain deployed with the 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Gonzales oversaw 21 medical evacuation missions, attaining a 100-percent survival rate.

Gonzales planned medical support for Joint Forces/Joint Nation Operation Brest Thunder, and managed 52 medical personnel across Afghani-

stan's central region. He also planned and implement-

ed three Afghan medical outreach missions resulting in 400 local citizens receiving treatment during his deployment.

Despite his accomplishments, Gonzales remains humble.

"I didn't go above and beyond. I did what was expected of me; I accomplished the mission," he said.

His leadership thought otherwise.

"Captain Gonzales' personal courage and commitment to mission accomplishment in a combat zone, under the most extreme of circumstances, greatly contributed to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom," read his citation.

The Gonzales' family should be praised, as well as his coworkers who stayed behind to continue the mission, said Sullivan.

"We always appreciate the family's service and are proud that our Air Force family is willing to share the burden when their loved one deploys. Families," she said, "are what make our Armed Forces so resilient."

Photo courtesy METC Col. Annata Sullivan, 937th Training Group commander, presents Maj. Christopher Gonzales the citation for his second Bronze Star.

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