Transcription
PATRIOT PAGE 1439thAirlift Wing Westover ARB, Mass. Volume 38 No. 12December 2011 Patriot Wing -- Leaders in Excellencewestover.afrc.af.milphoto illustration by MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
PATRIOT NEWSVolume 38No. 12December 2011UTA SNAPSHOT This funded, Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services.Contents of the PATRIOT 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 content is edited, prepared andprovided by the 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office, Westover Air Reserve Base. All photographs areAir Force photographs unless otherwise indicated.439aw.pa@westover.af.mil439th Airlift Wing commanderCol. Steven Vautrain(413) 557-2063Patriot on the web:westover.afrc.af.milChief of Public AffairsLt. Col. James BishopWing Public Affairs Officer2nd Lt. Andre BowserAir Reserve Technician/EditorMSgt. Andrew Biscoegraphics /videoW.C. PopeStaffTSgt. Brian BoyntonTSgt. Troy ThibeaultTSgt. Stephen WinnTSgt. Timothy HuffmanSSgt. George CloutierSSgt. Katie KileySrA. Kelly GallowaySrA. Alexander BrownSrA. Charles Hutchinson IVBriefsBriefs pg. 3Storm havoc pg. 4Second in command Be prepared pg. 4Yellow Ribbon scenery Economic engine pg. 9Black History Month pg. 11Patriot PraisesWhat did you forget? Night visionPatriot Praises pg. 12RETREAT SrA. Dianna Bolton and TSgt. David Owens, 439th Airlift Wing Airman and NCOof the Year for 2010, begin an about-face asthe 2011 Patriot Wing retreat ceremony concludes Nov. 6. For more photos on this annualmilitary tradition, turn to page 7.FESTIVE FEAST Col. John Healy, 439th Airlift Wing vice commander, serves a Thanksgiving meal to TSgt. JohnVescovi, 439th Maintenance Squadron, Nov. 6 at the Westover Club. Also pictured is Capt. Shelly Martin, 439thMaintenance Operations Squadron. The holiday meal serving is an annual tradition for the men and womenof the Patriot Wing. (photo by TSgt. Brian Boynton)
EDITORIAL Wellness, resilience fortify us for 2012This has been achallenging year forthe Patriot Wing.Deployments,ORI preparation,the ORI itself, thetornado in June,the earthqua keand hurricane inAug ust, a nd t hedestructive snowstorm in October haveadded to the stress of our already stressful lives. During times like these we mustremain resilient. I encourage you to applythe Comprehensive Airman Fitness planto survive life’s challenges. Resilience is atool that empowers us to create balancein our lives and allows us to thrive in ourprofessional and personal endeavors.The four pillars of the ComprehensiveAirman Fitness plan are: physical, social, mental and spiritual wellness. Thisholistic approach to wellness focuses ondeveloping positive behaviors that equipand enable Airmen to make smarter,safer choices. They help promote bothindividual and organizational resilienceand create a sense of belonging amongAirmen, spouses, children, civilians andthe community as a whole. Tending to theneeds of others, as well as your own needs,creates a network of encouragement. Theprimary goal of the resiliency trainingaspect of CAF is to prepare individuals foran adverse event before it happens.Performing and excelling through exercise, nutrition, and training is essentialto surviving adversity. A person who isout of shape and unhealthy will quicklybecome ill when challenged physicallyand mentally. Eating a healthy diet andfollowing a good exercise plan are greatways to get ready for adversity.You can reinforce the social pillar ofwellness by developing and maintainingtrusted, valued friendships. No one cansurvive life alone; we all need the company of others. Relish and nurture yourfriendships with people you can trust.Experience has shown that the support ofothers is essential to overcoming adversity.Having friends you can trust and rely onin a pinch is a crucial safety net that willallow you to function under stress.Practicing self-control and buildingcharacter will enable you to mentallywithstand exceptional challenges. Performing your duties during MOPP-4and leading your family during a poweroutage both require self-control andcharacter. Undisciplined, selfish peopledo not do well when faced with adversity.PATRIOT PAGE 3Be that person everyone looks to duringan emergency. Practicing the tenet ofservice before self is an excellent way tobuild character.Whatever your beliefs may be, spiritualstrength is required to persevere duringa crisis. Strengthening beliefs and valueswill enable you to look beyond yourselfand those around you to maintain confidence and overcome adversity. Manyformer POWs have commented that whenphysically and mentally abused, isolatedfrom others, and given no hope of release,they were able to survive through theirspiritual beliefs. Spiritual wellness willgive you that reserve strength to drawupon when all seems lost.I’m confident that the Patriot Wingwill begin 2012 prepared to conquer whatever challenges are thrown our way. We’llstrive to be prepared for our expectedchallenges, but we will also be preparedfor unexpected challenges, both on andoff duty. I expect all of you to be preparedfor adversity both at work and at home.Resiliency will give us the strength weneed in order to face whatever 2012 hasin store for us.by Col. Steven Vautrain439th Airlift Wing commanderBRIEFS CC callAngel Tree assists needy familiesCommander’s Call will The Airman and Family Readiness Center’s annual Angel Treebe held at 8 a.m. Dec. 3 in program assists Westover military families who face financialthe Base Hangar. This is a strain or hardship.mandatory formation for all Angels are placed on the tree with a wish list for holiday gifts.reservists.Angels and sponsors are both anonymous. Those people whowould like to sponsor an angel should visit the center. GiftsRange off-limitsshould be limited to 25 or less and are due no later than Dec. 3.The Westover small arms For more information, call 557-3024range on Training Avenueis off-limits to unauthor- Wing honors fourth quarter winnersized personnel. Trespassing Westover’s quarterly awards board has selected the following winon t he sma l l a r m s ra nge ners for their outstanding contributions to the 439th Airlift Wingi s i l le g a l a nd d a nge rou s mission for the fourth quarter of 2011:because of frequent live firAirman: SrA. Stephanie McKenna, 439th Maintenance Operaing. People with requests to tions Squadron; NCO: TSgt. Lori Rysedorph, 58th Aerial Portenter the range should call Squadron; Senior NCO: SMSgt. Keith Bodley, 439thMOS; ComMaster Sgt. Jeffrey Otis at pany Grade Officer: Capt. Susan McSpadden, 337th Airlift Squad557-2061 or the law enforce- ron; Civilian: Melanie Thorpe, 439th Communications Squadron;ment desk at 557-3557.Civilian Supervisor: James Bishop, 439th AW Public Affairs.Get One NowThe Get One Now Programoffers interesting incentives forAir Force Reserve memberswho want to refer a friend tojoin.New awards have been addedand range from portable DVDplayers to laptop computers.Those interested should checkout the web site at get1now.usor call 877-786-2372 or (413)557-2125.Base snowlineIn the event of inclementweather, Westover employeescan call the base commandpost’s snowline at 557-3444.
PATRIOT NEWSNEWS Surprise October Nor’easter hammers New Englandby SSgt. Katie KileyMore than 700,000 residents were left inthe dark when a rare October Nor’easterbombarded Massachusetts the nightbefore Halloween. Despite depositingan unusual winter wonderland scene,the storm’s aftermath was anything butpretty.According to the weather squadronnearly a foot of heavy, wet snow upsettrees, downed power lines and createdhazardous driving conditions statewide.Without power many were unable toturn to the news or internet for updates.Chicopee Mayor Michael Bissonnettetook advantage of social media to keepthe city informed.Understanding the popularity of smartphones, he continued to update his Facebook page as a way to disseminate thelatest news. In return, Chicopee residentsposted information about downed trees,power lines and other potential hazardswhich helped the city prioritize cleanupand power restoration. Westover’s ownFacebook page was also updated as newinformation came in.With classes canceled and trick-ortreating postponed, the communitycame together to ease the storm’s burden.Schools were turned into shelters, theYMCA opened its doors to offer hotshowers, and a local pizzeria donateddinner to those who were forced out oftheir homes.Westover’s lodging office housed morethan 500 displaced active duty, reservists,civilians, retirees and their families duringthe week-long recovery process. Thoughthe phone lines were often busy, theyworked hard to ensure that every call wastaken and each message returned.Reservists demonstrated great f lexibility during the November UTA.Understanding that both on- and off-baseaccommodations were tight, many werefaced with either rescheduling or stayingin a double occupancy room. According tothe lodging office, nearly everyone optedmake the best of the situation and sharetheir room.After a June tornado, July microburst andAugust tropical storm and earthquake,Westover and western Massachusettsresidents came head to head with MotherNature yet again when the worst Octoberstorm in Massachusetts history blew in.More than 3 million on the east coast wereaffected by the storm.“Open lines of communication, teamwork and f lexibility all played a roleputting people back in their homes andmaking the most out of the interim,” saidSNOW KIDDING The KC-135A modelnear the James Street Gate formspart of this unusual winter-like sceneryat Westover Oct. 31. Eleven inches ofheavy wet snow fell Oct. 29. Its weightbrought down trees with leaves thathadn’t fallen. Power outages affectedthousands of people across New England. (photo by W.C.Pope)Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th Airlift Wingcommander.EDITOR’S NOTE: Turn to page 6 formore photos of the storm’s damage to treesat the base.Must-have items for wintering in New Englandby TSgt. Brian BoyntonBeing prepared for winter in NewEngland is actually a year-round task.There is an old Vermonter joke: “Whytake off the snow chains in July whenyou just have to put them back on inAugust?” The joke has its merit.The following items are just a few suggestions and not meant to be the onlyitems carried in your car or stocked athome.Auto:Baby wipes: (comfort item year-round)Folding shovelSnow-ice scraper/brushA can of dry gas (stored in the trunkduring colder months only)Sleeping bag, or blanket, hand crankflashlight and radio, matches or lighterFirst aid kitWaterFood to include MRE’s, trail mix, protein barsRoadside flares or reflectors, tire chainsa flat tire repair kit, and or a portable aircompressorNever have less than 1/2 tank of gasat any time.Small tool kitSmall bucket of sandOld black combat bootsPower inverter: Used for charging laptops, phones using standardhome cords; usually mounted insidevehicle under the front passengerseat. This is especially nice to have ifyour home power is down for reasonsMUST HAVE continued on page 8
PATRIOT PAGE 5Westover pilot recalls AMC C-5 surgeby SrA. Charles Hutchinson IVSix C-5s from Westover 439th Airlift Wing participated in an AirForce-wide surge in October.Westover’s contribution to the surge, which took place Oct. 17-21, was14 percent of the total force.The surge brought together 43 total force C-5s to fly cargo in supportof combatant commanders across the globe.Captain Dave Motyka, aircraft commander from Westover’s 337thAirlift Squadron recalls what his role was during the highest C-5 surgeto date.“My mission was to move any and all types of cargo that was requiredfrom air mobility command. The specific mission I was on was takingcargo from Ft. Hood to Kuwait. From there we picked up cargo and72 passengers out of Iraq and brought them home to Seymour Johnson(Air Force Base, N.C.)” Capt. Motyka said.“Everything went great; we were actually ahead of schedule for prettymuch the entire mission” he said. “We had a couple of minor maintenance issues that we kind of just work through to make sure all thecargo was dropped off on time. We picked up the personnel on timeand we got them home. It was a mission success!”As one of the largest aircraft in the world and the largest airlifter inthe Air Force’s inventory, the C-5 is able to carry fully equipped military units. The Galaxy can carry up to 270,000 pounds of cargo, canfly more than 6,000 miles without refueling, and can take off or landin relatively short distances.“Westover is a valuable partner within the airlift fleet,” said Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th AW commander. “Our crews and jets regularly flymissions alongside active-duty crews. These surge missions will takeour crews overseas to provide our warfighters the resources they need-- quickly.”SURGE SEND-OFF A Patriot Wing maintainer marshals aC-5 aircrew outbound from the Westover light line, Oct.18. Westover’s 439th Airlift Wing was part of the Air Forcewide surge of C-5s that took place throughout the weekof Oct. 17-21. The C-5 is the U.S. military’s largest aircraft.(photo by SrA. Kelly Galloway)Air Force officials announce cuts in civilian jobsby Lt. Col. Cynthia AndersonSecretary ofthe Air Force Public AffairsWASHINGTON (AFNS) -- AirForce officials announced several adjustments to the civilian workforce. Inresponse to direction from the Secretary of Defense for DoD to stop civiliangrowth above fiscal year 2010 levels andthe need to add 5,900 positions againstthe Air Force’s top priorities, the AirForce eliminated approximately 9000positions. These adjustments reflectseveral initiatives designed to alignlimited resources based on Air Forces priorities. This process is an ongoing effortto increase efficiencies, reduce overheadand eliminate redundancy.“We can’t be successful without ourtalented and experienced civilian workforce,” said Michael B. Donley, Secretaryof the Air Force. “We are making difficult choices about how to deliberatelyrestructure and posture the force and willcontinue to look for new ways of accomplishing the mission,” said Donley. “Wecan’t afford business as usual.” Upon re-ceiving the Secretary of Defense’s 2010memo directing that civilian manpowercosts stay within fiscal year 2010 levels,the Air Force began a comprehensivestrategic review of the entire AF civilianworkforce to determine whether or notcivilian authorizations were in the rightplaces to meet mission priorities.EDITOR’ S NOTE: Read this storyin its entirety on the base’s web site atwestover.afrc.af.milLocal civilian personnel questions shouldbe directed to 413-557-3193. Thc civilianpersonnel office is located in Bldg. 1850.
PATRIOT NEWSWinter bears down earlyDREAMING OF A WHITE HALLOWEEN Westover got hit again withanother odd weather treat Oct. 29, as nearly a foot of heavy snowlanded on the base bringing down trees and electrical lines.(photos by 439th AW Public Affairs staff)
Wing honorsveterans with retreatPATRIOT PAGE 7photo by MSgt. Andrew BiscoeFALL FORMATION The PatriotWing’s annual retreat ceremony, held in honor of thenation’s veterans, took placeat the Base Ellipse Nov. 6.(photo by 439th AW Public Affairs staff)
PATRIOTNEWS NEWSMUST HAVE continued from page 4listed below.An old coat: Your old Gortex works nice.Stuff the following items in the sleeves:socks, hat (full pullover) and glovesTips: Whenever you replace your wipersstash an old pair in the trunk. Carry a pairof goggles and a small tarp. The tarp is agreat item if you have to get on the groundto work on your vehicle. I usually carry apiece of cardboard instead of the tarp andwill even put it over my windshield behindthe wipers at night so I have less scrapingin the morning. When it gets beat up Itoss it and replace it. I suggest you carryat least 2-3 days worth of any medicationsyou need with you at all times regardlessof the season.This list is large but all these items canfit throughout most small vehicles without your car looking like you are livingout of it.Remember, even your NASCAR leveldriving skills, MENSA IQ, four wheeldrive, GPS, On Star emergency responsemembership and killer common sensewill not protect you from the rest of thedrivers on the road. During a storm youmay slide or get forced off the road andhave your tracks covered quickly by thefalling snow. You may even get trappedin your car.The most recent snow event shut downcell phone service in many areas, so calling for help may be out of the picture aswell. The above suggestions are meant tohelp you survive an extreme weather eventas well as make your stay at the “MotelBMW” a little more comfortable.Home:-- Baby wipes: This is a comfort andhygiene item, especially if you have a wellpump that stops working when the powergoes out.-- Candles, matches, rechargeable lanterns, cheap outdoor solar lights workgreat indoors and are safe.-- Hand crank flashlight and radio-- Non-perishable foods, meals-readyto-eat, comfort food, bottled water: Theheater bags in the MRE’s make for a nicehot and safely cooked meal when thepower is down, and the kids love them. Itdefinitely passes the time a little and givesthem something fun to do. Just do not letthem do the cooking. Teach them how totrade items back and forth.Portable power box: They are cheap andeasier to store than a generator and theydo not use fuel so they can be stored andused indoors.You can charge them in your car if youhave a power inverter and cannot get to apower source during the day. These powerboxes can even run small heaters as wellas your laptops, phones, DVD players,lights and hair dryers as well as a smallcoffee maker.Cooking tips: If you run water througha low-wattage coffee maker twice you canmake a cup of soup. An old toaster run offa power box can cook hash brown patties,sausage patties, chicken patties and otherfood items if you toast them a few times.Other tips: Any time you have a forecastfor an extreme weather event fill yourtub and sinks with water ahead of time.Remember to conserve your water: “If it’syellow let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush itdown.”TROOP TALK How did the storm affect you?“I lost power for seven days but we were ableto get a generator to keep the furnace running.”-- SrA. Eric Quagliaroli439th Aircraft Maintenance SquadronWorks at the sheriff’s department“I lost power for five days.”--Spc. Brian Lowe747th Military Police Company“I have a generator and had two tanks ofgas to refill so we were able to keep warm.After two days though our food in the refrigerator had to be thrown out. Knowing what Iknow now, I would definitely keep more nonperishable items and a few water jugs in thecellar -- just in case.”--SSgt. Paul Norman439th Aerospace Medicine Squadronphotos by SrA. Kelly Galloway and SrA. Alexander Brown
PATRIOT PAGE 9Westover adds 238 million to localeconomyThe 439th Airlift Wing poured nearly 238 million into the community, droppingcloser to 2009 numbers after a one-yearspike.This number represents a 29 milliondecrease over 2010 figures.Last year, fiscal year 2010, Westover’sfinancial impact stood at 267 million. In2009 the tally was 231 million, and in 2008,the impact was 195 million.Officials here attribute a large portion ofthis year’s decrease to dips in payroll spending, construction, and a slight drop in theestimated value of indirect jobs created byWestover’s presence.Air Force funding for constructiondropped 21.6 million since last year. Andthere was a net decrease of 4.2 million intotal payroll for military, civilian, and contract workers, according to Dan McCarthy,Westover cost and management analyst.The figures also included a net decrease of 3.3 million in the value of “ jobs created,”which is an estimate of the number of indirect jobs created by the base.Last year’s spike was primarily due toconstruction and to military payroll tosupport the base’s activation in April 2010to support the Afghan surge, according tothe 2010 Economic Impact Analysis.The wing impacted communities within a50-mile radius with 237,568,913 from Oct. 1,2010 to Sept. 30, 2011. During the previousyear, the base’s impact was 266,631,634.The 439th AW employs about 3,931people, including 2,487 Air Force reservists. There are 719 federal employees and110 non-appropriated fund employees whowork in areas such as the Base Exchange,bowling alley, shoppette-gas station, outdoor recreation, lodging, and the WestoverClub. In addition, there are 174 contractcivilians working on base.The total annual payroll for the base during the period was 140,154,269. Militarysalaries totaled 68,410,384, while civil service personnel accounted for 67,531,000 andnon-appropriated fund civilians and privatebusinesses made 4,212,885.Construction expenses totaled 16,830,397(down from 42,076,203 in fiscal 2010). Service contracts contributed 9,125,429 - thisfigure includes only contracts “in the localeconomic area or contracts requiring theuse of locally-supplied goods and services,”according to the 2011 Economic ImpactAnalysis.Another 13,511,430 went to other expenditures including temporary duty for militarypersonnel, education, and equipment andsupplies. Using a federal government formula, McCarthy estimated that Westoverindirectly created 1057 jobs in the area, downfrom 1,136 in 2010. Calculating an averageannual salary in the local community of 44,918, those jobs resulted in an estimateddollar value of 47,478,326. The 2010 salaryestimate was 50,747,392.“As one of the top employers in WesternMassachusetts, Westover works hard to be agood neighbor. The jobs that make this baserunw e l lalso help local economies torun well,” said Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th AirliftWing Commander.Westover’s 2,500 acres make it the largestAir Force Reserve base in the country byland mass. It is also the closest reserve baseto Europe.In addition to housing the 439th AirliftWing, the base is also home to severaltenant units including Marine Air Support Squadron Six; Marine Machine GunPlatoon; 4th Marine Aircraft Wing ReserveTraining Center; the United States ArmyCorps of Engineers; the United StatesArmed Forces Reserve Training Center;Army Air Force Exchange Service; a Reserve Readiness and Mobility Squadron,Marines Machine Gun/Anti-TerrorismPlatoon; the 226th Transportation Company (U.S. Army Reserve); the SpringfieldMilitary Entrance Processing Station(MEPS); a Defense Contract ManagementAdministration office and Naval Construction Battalion 27, U.S. Navy Reserve.The economic impact report does notinclude any of the 12 Army, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserve tenant units on base,which together employ approximately 2,160people.(EDITOR’S NOTE: Daniel McCarthy,439th Airlift Wing finance office, compiledthis information.)
PATRIOT NEWSWESTOVER PATRIOTS Patriot Wing donations edge past 23,000by SrA. Charles Hutchinson IVThe 439th Airlift Wing is on the finalstretch of the 2011 Combined FederalCampaign. The campaign began Sept. 1and ends Dec. 15.Last year’s goal for the wing was 45,000,and members donated 49,056. This yearthe base has set a goal of 50,000, andas of mid-November raised 23,300,according to Robert Perreault, CFCcoordinator.The CFC promotes philanthropythrough a program that is employeefocused, cost-efficient, and effective inproviding all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of lifefor all.CFC is the world’s largest and mostsuccessful annual workplace charitycampaign, with more than 200 campaignsthroughout the country and internationally to help raise millions of dollars eachyear. Pledges made by federal, civilian,postal and military donors during thecampaign season support eligible nonprofit organizations that provide healthand human service benefits throughoutthe world.If interested in making a contribution, individuals can visit their orderlyrooms or contact Mr. Perreault at (413)557-2128.Yellow Ribbon helps Airmen re-adjust to life back homeby Lt. Col. James BishopThe Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program is part of a DoDwide effort to help the 1.2 million National Guard and Reservemembers and their families connect with the best resources available before, during, and after deployments. The National DefenseAuthorization Act of 2008 established the program.Reservists returning from or preparing to go on a deployment,along with their families attend regional events at Resorts wherethey will hear presenters talk about the benefits they’ve earned,have an opportunity to visit the vendors tables and to share somequality family time.How much does it cost participants?- The Air Force Reserve Command funds 100 percent of theprogram. The Reserve puts military members on orders, so airline and hotel are covered. They’re also given per-diem. Familymembers or a “designated representative” for single members areput on invitational travel orders and are reimbursed for mealsthat are not provided. AFRC also covers the cost of the family’sor designated representative’s airline tickets.How many events are there?- In fiscal year 2010, the Air Force hosted 82 events, with 8,100attendees. Past event locations in the Northeast Region haveincluded Virginia Beach, Stowe, Vt., St. Louis, Philadelphia,Cleveland and Cincinnati.Who is eligible?- Anyone who will be, or has been deployed away from familyfor more than 90 days. “Away from home” could mean you wereactivated in place at Westover and separated from your familyoutside the commuting area.The Wing Yellow Ribbon Representative, MSgt. MichelleDunfield, decides who is eligible within established guidelines,but the wing commander ultimately determines eligibility.Where are the upcoming events?- Future possible venues include South Carolina, Florida, Texasand many others. Although the October and November 2011events are on hold due to the budget shortfall, organizers planto continue the program once funding becomes available.How many events can I attend?-Every deployer and their family or designated representativeis eligible to attend three Yellow Ribbon Events - one beforethe deployment and two afterwards.Where do I get more information?- Contact the Yellow Ribbon Office co-located with theAirman and Family ReadinessCenter (and base chapel) inBldg. 1100 for information andMSgt. Dunfieldeligibility requirements at (413)557-3862.I heard about another Yellow Ribbon program connected withtuition assistance? What’s that about?- There is another “Yellow Ribbon Program” connected withthe Post 9-11 GI Bill. Same name. Different benefit.The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, akathe Yellow Ribbon Program, is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allowsdegree-granting institutions in the United States to voluntarilyenter into an agreement with the Veterans Administration tofund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-stateundergraduate tuition rate.The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.For more information on the VA Post 9-11 Bill, visit gibill.va.govor call the Base Education Office at (413) 557-3440.
PATRIOT PAGE 11PATRIOT PRAISES SrA. Roberto Figueroa439th Security Forces SquadronPromotionsSenior Master Sgt.Lloyd ElliottMaster SergeantDavid DeskisAnthony FalcianoDaniel HowardEllen MooreMichael PasternakNikolau SchmitterCharles ThompsonRonnie WingTechnical SergeantChristopherCormierStephen HayesGary LatourJorge MongeJames RowlettStaff SergeantSteven FrostMichael LombardCarla UchuyaFACES OF WESTOVER In 2008, SrA. Figueroa, of Stamford, Conn., enlisted with the Connecticut Air National Guard. He switched to the Air Force Reserve andarrived at Westover in March 2011. “I’ve just always had an interest in themilitary. We’re the good guys against the bad. So it was an obvious choiceto enlist with security forces. Even when I was a young kid I always wantedto be a cop because I admired them for doing what they do. I’ve seen a lotof evil in my life and I want to do my part to stop it. We’re the ones peopledepend on.”In September, SrA. Figueroa was selected for Special Reaction Teamtraining where he underwent an intensive two-week course at U.S. ArmyMilitary Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. A Special ReactionTeam is an elite military security unit that responds to high risk situationswithin a military base or compound. The teams are military equivalentsof civilian police department SWAT teams. “There was a lot of shootingfor accuracy. We were told ‘You are accountable for every bullet and eachtime you miss - it’s like the stray bullet is going into a baby’s crib.’”On top of accuracy shooting, the training also covers proper room-clearingand structure-breaching techniques. “The scenarios we were put throughthroughout the entirety of the training tested how well you can performand complete the mission successfully while under intense pressure.”-- by SrA. Kelly GallowaySrA. Roberto FigueroaSenior AirmanMichael BarronKristiana BartonBrendan FilburnJozlyn GoossensAnton HanleySarah KaebleNathan LadleeRaymond LeiferPatrick MahoneyEric MaillouxKaitlynn MeyerJonathan WellsJonathan VegaAirman First ClassSteven AlbrechtColin ShepleyAirmanJonathan BouffardChristopher CrosbyShane JobinSERVICES CALENDER CLUB CHRISTMAS: Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 10, 810 a.m,. free to club members with participating child, 6.95 non-members, kids 4-12 3.95, kids 3 and under, free; holiday meal withcarving station, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m.BOWL: Holiday Bowl Dec. 16-17 . dress in the holiday spirit and receive free shoe rentals.ODR: The staff has ski and snowboard rentals, and snow blowers. Information: 557-2192.FITNESS: Insanity Workout Club, Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Zumba Classes Monday,Wednesday, Thursday 4:30-5:30 p.m. and Friday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The fitness staff encourages everyone to maintain their weight through the holidays by weighing in the week
ment desk at 557-3557. The Get One Now Program offers interesting incentives for Air Force Reserve members who want to refer a friend to join. New awards have been added and range from portable DVD players to laptop computers. Those interested should check out the web site at get1now.us or call 877-786-2372 or (413) 557-2125. CC call Get One Now
