-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! 0576. President intends to nominate Roche as next SECAF WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- President George W. Bush has announced his intention to nominate James G. Roche to serve as the next secretary of the Air Force. Roche is currently corporate vice president and president of the Electric Sensors and Systems Sector of the Northrop Grumman Corporation. He has served with Northrop Grumman Corporation since 1984 in a variety of posts. Before joining the private sector, Roche served as democratic staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services from 1983 to 1984, and served at the State Department as principal deputy director of the policy planning staff. He was a senior professional staff member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1979 to 1981, and served as assistant director of the office of net assessment in the office of the secretary of defense from 1975 to 1979. Roche is a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, received an undergraduate degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a master's degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a doctorate from Harvard Gradate School of Business. 0571. Air Force announces selections to captain RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The calendar 2001A captain judge advocate general, medical service corps, biomedical sciences corps and nurse corps boards selected 263 lieutenants for promotion to captain April 26. The entire list is posted on the Air Force Personnel Center World Wide Web home page at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil. Click on "Officer" and then "Promotions" to reach the list. The captain's board convened here March 5 to 9 and considered 265 officers for promotion. The results of the 2001 boards are as follows: JAG -- 21 selected from 21 considered; NC -- 133 selected from 134 considered for a 99.3-percent select rate; MSC -- 48 selected from 48 considered; and BSC -- 61 selected from 61 considered. No promotion selections were made below- or above-the-promotion zone. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 0577. Air Force weather forecasters help with South Pole rescue by Tech. Sgt. Miles Brown Air Force Weather Agency Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFPN) -- People at the Air Force Weather Agency helped rescuers evacuate Dr. Ronald Shemenski from Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica on April 26 by providing weather forecasts for the ice-covered continent. Shemenski had to be evacuated after suffering a bout of gall stones and pancreatitis. The short-notice rescue effort, combined with the extreme winter conditions and pitch-black skies, required highly accurate weather forecasts to ensure the safety of the aircrew and passengers. This was the first attempted aircraft landing at the South Pole so late in the polar winter. The meteorological models branch of the weather agency here supplies computer-generated forecasts of Antarctica to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Center in Charleston, S.C. It has been supporting the U.S. Antarctic Program since 1998. Deployed forecasters stationed in New Zealand and Antarctica use special equipment -- Fifth Generation Mesoscale Models -- that helps measure the area they are forecasting. The MM5 fills a gap between the observed atmospheric conditions and the future state of the atmosphere. Officials from Charleston and the National Science Foundation contacted the Air Force Weather Agency seeking support for the mission because the agency is able to meet time-sensitive requirements, said Dr. Jerry Wegiel, fine scale models team chief for the agency. The team generates a 45-kilometer forecast model covering the entire continent on a regular basis; however, for planning and execution of this mission, it generated a 15-kilometer model twice daily over McMurdo Station on the coast of Antarctica. "AFWA is known as the worldwide leader in operational mesoscale modeling," said Wegiel. "We have the expertise and infrastructure to integrate our customers needs into our production stream within minutes and disseminate those products in a timely manner." 0575. Open season brings Thrift Savings Plan changes RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Federal civilian employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System will find some changes in the Thrift Savings Plan designation process and a number of new options during the next TSP open season, May 15 to July 31. "One of the most significant changes is a revision to the TSP election process," said Christine Watkins, employee relations specialist for the Benefits And Entitlements Service Team here. "It's important for employees to understand that designating the TSP contribution amount and designating the TSP contribution allocation are now two separate processes." Previously, employees used the BEST telephone automated system or the Web to select the contribution amount (the dollar amount or percentage employees choose to invest) and their contribution allocation (the various funds in which employees invest their money). Beginning with this open season, employees will use the BEST automated system only to contribute, change their contribution amount or to terminate their TSP contributions. Access the BEST Web site at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/BEST/menu.htm. To use the telephone automated system, dial (800) 997-2378, or 527-2378 if calling within the San Antonio area. Employees wishing to change their contribution allocation must contact the TSP service office directly at http://www.tsp.gov, or by calling the Thriftline at (504) 255-8777. "The good news is contribution allocations are no longer tied to TSP open seasons," Watkins said. "Employees can change their contribution allocations as often as they like beginning May 1." Beginning May 1, employees will also have two new funds in which to invest their TSP contributions or current TSP accounts. People can invest in one or more of the five TSP funds: the Common Stock Index Investment (C) Fund; the Fixed Income Index Investment (F) Fund; the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund; and the new Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment (S) Fund; and International Stock Index Investment (I) Fund. When the next open season begins, employees will also see additional benefits to TSP eligibility and the amount of money they can contribute, said officials. Newly hired and rehired civilian employees will be eligible to participate during this open season. There will no longer be a waiting period to start contributions. Although FERS employees will not be eligible to receive the agency's 1 percent or matching contributions until they have satisfied the normal waiting period -- typically six to 12 months -- their own contributions start working for them immediately. Employees can also invest an additional 1 percent. The 5 percent (CSRS) and 10 percent (FERS) limits on contributions will increase to 6 percent and 11 percent of the employee's annual salary, not to exceed the Internal Revenue Service elective deferral limit. Open season elections completed in the BEST automated system will be effective on or after July 1, depending upon the date the transaction is completed. "A TSP personal identification number and a BEST PIN are required to access the TSP and BEST systems and the PINs are different," said Watkins. "Employees who have forgotten their TSP PIN can obtain a new one within 10 business days by accessing the TSP home page or Thriftline. The BEST telephone and Web systems provide a menu option to select a new PIN for employees who have forgotten their BEST PIN." More information on accessing the BEST Web or telephone automated system can be found in the BEST article titled, "How to Access the BEST Automated System," at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/BEST/automated.htm. Employees with questions regarding the TSP open season can contact a BEST benefits counselor by calling the telephone automated system. Overseas employees will call toll-free by dialing the AT&T direct access number for the location in which they reside. Benefit counselors are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT. Additional information on the TSP program can be found in the upcoming BEST Newsletter, and the newly revised "Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees" booklet at http://www.tsp.gov/forms/ibooklets.html. TSP is not available to uniformed services members at this time and a specific Air Force office has not been identified to manage the military TSP program. In the interim, military members can obtain information on enrollment and participation in TSP at http://www.tsp.gov under "uniformed services." 0572. Construction begins on C-130J training facility by Senior Airman Jess Harvey 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Construction on a C-130J Hercules simulator training facility began here recently. The project, scheduled to be complete in April 2002, will cost about $8.5 million for the building and $28 million for the weapon system trainer. "The C-130J is 70-percent different than previous C-130 variants and requires its own, totally new training for aircrews," said Maj. Mike Lewis, Air Education and Training Command C-130J program manager and formal training unit evaluator pilot. "Currently, aircrews from Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing (here) and the Maryland Air National Guard are flying the [J-model] with only in-unit conversion training." The building is designed to house two C-103J simulators, but only one of the new simulators is scheduled for the facility at this time. It will also house a cockpit procedures trainer, an avionics systems management trainer, advanced electronic classrooms and electronic briefing rooms for both computer-based training and instructor-led presentations. "[The weapons system trainer] is almost an exact duplication of the real C-130J cockpit," Lewis said. "It actually moves as a real aircraft and displays advanced computer-generated visual images in the windows with sound as well." The advanced combat mission training capabilities will include night-vision goggle training in the simulator, and distributed mission training that will link this simulator to other simulators in other locations. The trainer will offer full defensive systems training that will include simulated threats as well as simulated countermeasures, all in a very advanced visual and motion simulation. This weapons system trainer, the most advanced Air Force mobility aircraft, according to Lewis, will be built to Federal Aviation Administration standards, allowing aircraft evaluations and currency training to be conducted in the simulator. The new facility will be used to train all Air Force J-model crews until a formal training unit is operational at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Once Little Rock AFB's C-130J training is operational, the Keesler AFB, Miss., facility will be used for C-130J continuation training by aircrews throughout the Air Force. 0569. Nurse donates bone marrow to save child by Sue Campbell 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- First Lt. Stephen Winnett, a staff emergency room nurse at Wilford Hall Medical Center, traveled to Virginia earlier this month to give a special donation. He donated bone marrow to save a young boy's life. It all started years ago when Winnett was in the Army. He donated blood while stationed in California and volunteered for the bone marrow registry at that time. All it required was giving two small extra tubes of blood. This January, about nine years later, he got a call from the National Marrow Donor Registry. "It was hard for them to find me," Winnett said. "I'd obtained my nursing degree and joined the Air Force, but they finally tracked me down. They told me I was a match for a 13-year-old boy who had acute lymphocytic leukemia." The C. W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Center, one of more than 100 donor centers in the United States under the National Marrow Donor Program, specifically targets military members. The military is the nation's largest source of whole blood donations and most military people meet the program's strict health and age requirements. When they contacted Winnett in January, the center asked him to send several blood samples. In March, they contacted him again, requesting he fly to Virginia for a complete physical and to draw more blood. In April, he traveled to Virginia again for the actual bone marrow collection. The center covered all traveling expenses during each phase. The collection was performed at the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va. Winnett had a choice between an epidural or general anesthesia -- he chose general anesthesia. The bone marrow collection procedure involved puncturing his hipbone 15 times, taking 1,200 cc of bone marrow. Under general anesthesia, he felt nothing. "During recovery, I had to sit on sandbags for six hours to cut down on swelling and bruising," said Winnett. "It wasn't the most comfortable thing, but very beneficial in the long run." The Department of Defense directs that military donors stay overnight for observation after marrow collection, and Winnett was able to come home the next day. "The hospital staff was great," said Winnett. "I had a private room with a VCR." While he was there, Winnett had the opportunity to tour the hospital, a Level I trauma center, and visit their emergency room. "One thing that really touched me was meeting some of the leukemia patients on the ward," he said. "I talked with two ladies who hung on my every word. They were desperate for transplants." Recovery was not difficult. "I had a dull, achy pain in my back for about a week," Winnett said. "They gave me Percocet and Tylenol which made me a lot more comfortable." He also took iron supplements for two weeks. Bone marrow transplants are the preferred treatment for more than 50 fatal blood disorders and it is estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 Americans are in need of a transplant each year. "What I like about this most is it is something that I can do directly that nobody else can," said Winnett. "Even if it doesn't work, it gives the family hope and I think that is very important." For more information, call the C.W. Bill Young Marrow Donor Center at (800) MARROW-3, or 627-7693 0573. Portable hydration devices may be harmful to your health by Tech. Sgt. Carl Norman Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- Portable hydration devices may do more harm than good when used in industrial areas where chemicals or hazardous materials are present. When working in hot or stuffy climates, a time-tested method of having an ample supply of water is "to take it with you." Many people today often use portable, backpack-type devices. Some workers, however, are using these portable hydrating devices in industrial areas to keep a ready supply of water at hand, but they could unknowingly be exposing themselves to health hazards, said Lt. Col. Robert Gargiulo, Air Force Materiel Command's chief occupational health engineer, following an April 20 assessment of potential dangers to people using these portable devices in areas where food and drink are prohibited. While the popular devices, such as the "Camelbak," are useful in hot, arid climates or on flightlines and in the field, Gargiulo said portable hydrating devices can cause problems for those working in areas where painting, sanding, metal grinding, and mixing chemicals and pesticides occur. He also said it applies to areas where particles or vapors can be ingested. "Many industrial areas use chemicals or materials which present a health hazard if swallowed or ingested," Gargiulo said. "Since hydration devices have a rubber-end mouthpiece that has to be chewed or bit open, there is a significant chance for transferring the chemicals to the mouth. "Additionally, dusts can collect on the wet mouthpiece and chemical vapors can absorb into the rubber. You don't want to swallow these materials or you could get sick -- either now or over time." Current Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Air Force regulations prohibit food and drink in areas where potential ingestion hazards exist, Gargiulo said. Also, workers should wash their hands before eating, drinking or smoking after working in an area with ingestion hazards. "These regulations ... are geared toward protecting our people," he said. "Compliance is mandatory with these federal standards. "That's why people need to coordinate with their base safety and bioenvironmental engineering offices before using [portable hydrating devices], so the experts can look at your area and let you know whether or not [the devices] are suitable for your work area," said Gargiulo. Another concern with these and any other portable devices is that loose straps or ties could become a safety hazard if they get caught in equipment or on obstructions. Being pulled into a piece of equipment could cause severe injuries or even death. Bill Fannin, of the AFMC safety office, said that although there are few reports of injuries resulting from loose clothing or personal equipment, the potential for injury exists. "It's not that we want to prohibit these devices, our users just need to observe some basic safety and health precautions," he said. Everyone working in hot or arid climates should drink a lot of fluids when exerting themselves, said Master Sgt. Rick Johnson, non-commissioned officer in charge of AFMC's bioenvironmental engineering section. The proper amount of fluids can help prevent heat cramps, heat sickness or heat stroke. Workers should also take breaks every couple of hours to make sure they do not overheat. "Portable hydration devices are convenient for the worker in that they don't have to lose productivity by leaving their work station, going to the water fountain, getting a drink and coming back," he said. "But the potential for getting sick down the road outweighs that convenience." For more information on these portable hydration devices, contact your base safety or bioenvironmental engineering office. (Courtesy of AFMC News Service) 0574. World War II Pilot receives Silver Star by Tech Sgt. Donovan K. Potter 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFPN) -- An 83-year-old Pine Bluff, Ark., native received a Silver Star from his cousin here April 24 in front of more than 200 friends and family members. Wilbur C. West, a World War II pilot, earned the Silver Star 59 years ago, but received it nearly six decades later when his cousin, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Lewis E. Lyle, pinned it to his suit jacket. According to the citation, West received the medal for gallantry in action June 12, 1942, when he was the co-pilot in a B-24 Liberator as part of the first heavy-bomber attacks on enemy targets in Europe. Those attacks slowed oil production for the German war effort. West, a lieutenant at the time, ran into trouble on his very first bombing mission in the European theater after becoming a member of the 1st Provisional Bomb Group just three days earlier. If it was not for some fortunate turns of events, he may have spent the rest of the war in captivity. His mission was to raid German oil reserves in Ploesti, Romania. "It was decided we should bomb Hitler's oil supply," he said. "It was 1,300 miles one way and most of it was inside Nazi territory." The 10 planes in his group took off from Egypt and flew across the Mediterranean Sea, Greece and Bulgaria to get to Ploesti. The group achieved a complete surprise attack as the planes dropped more than 4,000 pounds of ordnance through the clouds at 10,000 feet. "We had the element of surprise," West said. "Hitler thought the oil fields were far enough inland and were secure. Hitting at dawn, we surprised them, and we were able to escape." The mission was a success, but the crew burned too much fuel waiting for daylight so they could see the targets, and the B-24 was forced to land in Ankara, Turkey. Since Turkey was a neutral country, Turkish officials immediately interned the Americans. West said he and his crew immediately began to plan their escape. After more than six months under Turkish guard, he convinced his guards the plane's fuel tank seals, being made of rubber, would deteriorate if they remained empty. The guards filled the tanks because the Americans said they would teach some of the Turkish pilots to fly the B-24. After some time and creative salesmanship, West convinced the airport officers that the aircraft's engines needed to be tuned up in order to do the proper training. The Turkish officials agreed. The American crews were working on the plane with motors running, when the lunch call came, leaving just one guard to watch the aviators. The crews continued to busy themselves about the plane. West was at the controls, with an enlisted man hammering convincingly inside the cabin. One of the American officers yelled above the roar of the motors to the guard and asked him to go to the hangar for a wrench. To their amazement, the guard obliged. As West gunned the motors, men piled into the plane, and they were off. Nine crewmembers waved goodbye to Turkey and were on their way to Cyprus. After his escape, West flew 23 more combat missions. June Spakes, West's daughter, said her father did not think much about not getting the Silver Star he deserved. She worked for nearly three years doing research and paperwork to get the award approved. "Most of the people flying his mission returned to the United States and got their award, but daddy went back to Africa and flew more combat missions," said Spakes. "Because of this, and because all the records before 1945 stored in St. Louis, Mo., had been burned (during a fire in the 70s), we had to find someone who was actually on this raid with him." West said it felt great to be remembered because "there aren't many more World War II people left." He said he never put much emphasis on medals; he just wanted to get the job done. "I don't know anyone who was flying missions for medals," he said. "We were flying for the country. We were trying to do a job." (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service) 0570. Family lives with autism, asks for understanding by Senior Airman Melanie Streeter 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, SC (AFPN) -- Through a normal pregnancy, and for the first 15 months, he was a typical little boy. Then, Alexander stopped eating and talking and withdrew from his parents. They knew something was wrong. For Tech Sgt. Cy Rousseau, 437th Aerial Port Squadron, and his wife, Adrienne, life with their son, Alexander, was about to change. Following "an episode," Xander, as his family calls him, was paralyzed on his left side for a few days. His parents took him to a doctor, who performed a magnetic resonance imaging of his brain. The MRI showed a lesion or possible tumor in his brain. This was the beginning of the Rousseaus' experience with autism. Xander is the youngest of three children. He was seen by an occupational therapist regularly, starting when he was 4 months old, for low muscle tone. After the lesion was detected, a pediatric neurologist also treated him. Working with the occupational therapist and the neurologist, Adrienne took her observations, and theirs, and started to research Xander's condition. "I started doing research and realized he was on the autism spectrum," Adrienne said. Autism is a developmental disability typically appearing in the first three years, according to the Autism Society of America Web site. Autism and its associated behaviors affect thousands of individuals. It is more prevalent in boys than girls and affects people from every background. The disorder impacts the development of social interaction and communication skills, according to the site. Autism often heightens sensitivity in the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. For individuals with autism, an intense awareness of the world makes concentrating extremely difficult. "Imagine trying to play outside with your friends while trying to compensate for all of the beautiful sights, smells and sounds outside; only to our children, they are not beautiful, they are scary and overwhelming," Adrienne said. The Rousseaus have readjusted their lifestyle to better suit Xander's needs, Adrienne said. "Our house used to be more cluttered than it is now," she said. "There were toys in every room. Now, the only room where toys are allowed is the bedroom. Xander copes much better with an organized, uncluttered environment." Because there are no outward signs of autism, people often do not understand Xander's behavior, said Adrienne. "We were in the commissary and I was almost done shopping," she explained. "He had been screaming the whole way, and I was practically in tears. This woman I had been bumping up against through all the aisles said to me, 'What that child needs is a good slap!' I lost it, all of the pain we'd been going through just broke through and I really cried, I just broke down." This was not the first careless remark the Rousseaus heard, and it would not be the last. To combat rude comments, Adrienne printed business cards explaining her son's condition. She hands them out when people are rude or careless in their reactions. "I once left one for a waitress as a tip," Adrienne said. Another part of Xander's disorder is his dependence on routines. This dependence can make a simple process, like getting Xander into his car seat, into an ordeal, Adrienne said. When he gets in the seat, the harness has to be put on the same way every time. This is followed by a series of hugs, kisses, and "bye-bye's." "If it doesn't go the same way every time, Xander will scream for the entire trip," Adrienne explained. This need for rituals and routines is a big part of autism spectrum disorders. Congress, in response to requests from families affected by autism, recently named April National Autism Awareness Month. What the Rousseaus, and hundreds of families like them, want is for people to understand and be aware of this disorder. "I'd like for everybody to be more educated about this illness," Adrienne said. Besides understanding, the Rousseaus want the support of the military family. "Parents need support," said Adrienne. "Maybe if people are aware, a stranger at the commissary would show some understanding instead of saying, 'He needs a spanking!'" Another thing Cy and Adrienne would like to see is increased medical coverage for autism. Currently, the disease is classified as a behavioral disorder by TRICARE and is not covered. Much of the therapeutic equipment Xander needs was purchased using a grant from the Air Force Aid Society. "These children need help at the legislative level for research funding," Adrienne said. "Though autism doesn't change life expectancy, it horrifies the quality of life for these individuals." Adrienne did not hear her son say "mama" until he more than 2 years old. She did not hear "I love you" until he was 3. "One out of every 500 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism," Adrienne said. "That's more than Down's syndrome, childhood cancers and childhood diabetes combined. People need to be aware that this debilitating disease exists and what it can do to their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. "When I was a child, autism was some freakish, horrible illness," Adrienne said. "It had this stigma attached to it. Now I don't know many families that aren't touched by it. Everyone either knows someone whose child has autism, is related to someone with autism or just met someone dealing with autism." Autism currently has no cure. It is a fact of life the Rousseau's will have to face for the rest of their lives. Only the support and awareness of those around them will make life a little easier. *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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