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0062. Servicemembers see change in BAS by Staff Sgt. Amy Parr Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- Enlisted people are seeing a change in the way basic allowance for subsistence is added to their leave and earning statements. Effective Jan. 1, 2002, BAS became a $241.60 monthly entitlement, like officer BAS, for all enlisted people who have graduated from basic military training. For those who graduate after Jan. 1, BAS starts the day of graduation. Because this is a monthly rate, it will not fluctuate from month to month. BAS will increase each January based on the annual percentage increase of U.S. Department of Agriculture food costs. Enlisted people E-1 through E-6 permanently assigned to single-type government quarters are entitled to BAS and may also be assigned to essential station messing, said Master Sgt. Tamra Miller, travel and contingency policy chief. This means they receive the BAS entitlement, but may be charged the discount meal rate for all meals made available by the government dining facility. "Charges, at the discount meal rate, will be directly deducted from the member's pay account," she said. "Members directed to use the dining facility will have three meals a day deducted from their pay whether meals are eaten or not." Meal rates deducted beginning Jan. 1, 2002, are: $1.35 for breakfast and $2.70 each for lunch and dinner. This will leave people on ESM an average residual amount of $40 per month, which is slightly higher than partial-rate BAS, Miller said. However, not everyone living in a dormitory will be on ESM, Miller said. "Exceptions may be made only when assigned duties prevent a member from being provided at least 80 percent of their government meals on a regular basis," she said. "If a member consistently misses more than 18 meals per month, the commander should consider removing them from ESM and allow BAS without deduction." Commanders are required to demonstrate that meals are missed because of assigned duties. Some examples include the location of the person's residence; specialized duties such as band, honor guard or chauffeur; duty hours; and distance to a dining facility. Before removing a person from ESM, commanders must show that the person missed more than 20 percent of his or her meals for at least seven months in a 12-month period. However, commanders may forecast the 12-month period if historical data is not available, Miller said. This is appropriate when people under similar circumstances miss more than 20 percent of their meals on a consistent basis. People assigned to ESM who miss meals because of assigned duties may still claim missed meals. Missed meals will be reimbursed on a per-meal basis at the rations-in-kind-not-available rate. For ESM people, meal rates will also not be deducted during periods of regular and permissive temporary duty, leave or while a member is hospitalized in a uniform service medical treatment facility. People automatically authorized to mess separately are E-7 to E-9; enlisted people residing with their command-sponsored family members; and military couples assigned to the same installation or adjacent installations who maintain common family quarters. Other changes to BAS include the payment of the RIKNA rate. The Fiscal 1998 National Defense Authorization Act eliminated this payment upon the completion of reform. This year's act includes a provision to grandfather the rate. "The RIKNA rate will not be subject to annual increases, but provisions to receive the rate are grandfathered until the regular BAS rate equals or exceeds the RIKNA rate," Miller said. "It's estimated to be eliminated by 2005." This rate is $262.50 per month. Officers are also seeing a change in their BAS. Effective Jan. 1, the 1 percent growth cap for officer BAS is lifted. Officer BAS now increases annually by the same percentage as enlisted BAS. This rate is $166.37 for 2002. For more information, contact local commander support staffs or finance offices. 0054. Thunderbirds release 2002 show schedule NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, announced its 2002 air show schedule. The team is scheduled to perform more than 60 shows in 27 states. The 2002 schedule is: March 23-24 Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. April 6-7 MacDill AFB, Fla. 13-14 Punta Gorda, Fla. 20 Fresno, Calif. 27-28 Eglin AFB, Fla. May 4-5 Millville, N.J. 11 Dyess AFB, Texas 12 Laughlin AFB, Texas 18-19 Chattanooga, Tenn. 25-26 Dover AFB, Del. 29 USAF Academy, Colo. 31 West Point, N.Y. (Flyover only) June 1-2 Hanscom AFB, Mass. 8 Davenport, Iowa 9 Whiteman AFB, Mo. 15-16 TBD 17 Hoover Dam, Nev. (Flyover only) 22 Langley AFB, Va. 23 Charleston AFB, S.C. 29-30 N. Kingstown, R.I. July 4 Battle Creek, Mich. 6-7 Syracuse, N.Y. 13 Terre Haute, Ind. 14 Fort Wayne, Ind. 20-21 Dayton, Ohio 24 Cheyenne, Wyo. 27 Malmstrom AFB, Mont. 28 Fairchild AFB, Wash. August 10-11 Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. 17 Portland, Ore. 18 Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. 31 Cleveland September 1-2 Cleveland 7-8 Lubbock, Texas 14-15 NAS Willow Grove, Pa. 21 Grand Junction, Colo. 22 Holloman AFB, N.M. 28-29 NAS Patuxent River, Md. October 5-6 Nellis AFB, Nev. 12-13 Fort Worth, Texas 19 Shaw AFB, S.C. 20 Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. 26-27 Houston November 2 Lackland AFB, Texas 3 Cannon AFB, N.M. 9-10 Lake City, Fla. The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and about 120 enlisted people performing in more than 25 Air Force specialties. A Thunderbirds aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform about 30 maneuvers during a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about one hour and 15 minutes. The air show season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new people. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service) 0053. Deployment kits help physical, mental health by Staff Sgt. Bryan Bouchard 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) -- Airmen deploying from here have a new tool to help them maintain their physical and mental health. The "deployment stress kit" includes exercise bands, a stress-reduction squeeze ball and "stress cards." The kit was developed by Lt. Col. Pat Sargeant, the commander of the health and wellness center here, with the help of an integrated delivery system committee. While stationed at Patrick AFB, Fla., nearly four years ago, Sargeant found a way to take a "gym in a bag" on temporary duty assignments. Sargeant put together a small bag containing elastic strength-training bands called Thera-bands. Thera-band products were originally designed for physical-therapy patients. But Sargeant, a licensed physical therapist, said they are excellent for moderate strength training as well. The idea to create the stress deployment kits came from the base's IDS committee, a group of representatives from base agencies charged with improving life for base people, Sargeant said. They wanted to give deployed airmen a better way to reduce stress than smoking, drinking alcohol or overeating. The HAWC supplied the Thera-band products, a guide for the bands complete with diagrams, an exercise log and a stress-reduction squeeze ball. The family advocacy added stress cards, which use different colors to display a person's stress level after a press of a thumb against the card. The on-the-go convenience is especially important to airmen who are deployed to a bare base. "People can use the kits on an airplane, in their billets -- wherever they happen to be," Sargeant said. "In a bare-base situation, they can work on their fitness before (the services unit) is able to set up a deployed fitness center." People who deployed recently from here were offered the kits at the personnel deployment facility before leaving. Tech. Sgt. Lee Wright from the family support center here was there when the airmen processed through the PDF on their way to support Operation Enduring Freedom. "After we explained to the airmen what the bags were all about, they were very well received," Wright said. With a combination of the Thera-bands, aerobic activity and the Air Force-mandated push-ups and crunches, deployed airmen can maintain or even improve their physical fitness -- one of the best stress-relievers around, Sargeant said. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service) 0057. Program office supports military operations by Ralph Osofsky Electronic Systems Command Defense Information Infrastructure Air Force System Program Office HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFPN) -- The repercussions emanating from the events of Sept. 11 will not soon be quieted. The Electronic Systems Center's Global Command and Control System - Air Force Program Office here has seen an incredible influx of fielding and support requirements as a result of the tragic events. GCCS-AF is one of many programs housed within the command and control software infrastructure product area directorate, which provides command and control hardware and software to all Air Force major commands as well as several joint commanders-in-chief and agencies. The GCCS-AF mission is to enhance, field and sustain the Joint Global Command and Control System for the warfighter. In the month following Sept. 11, the field generated 30 new GCCS-AF requirements. This was a record pace; up from an average of about five per month. To deal with this hectic pace, the program office established a quick response cell in its classified Air Force Certification and Test Facility. A team of engineers, acquisition experts and program managers worked 12-hour shifts to respond to these in-garrison and deployment requirements in near real time. By the end of November, the GCCS-AF team was able to specify, acquire and deliver more than $1.2 million of command and control hardware and software for about 24 sites located throughout the world. GCCS-AF engineers traveled as far away as Qatar to provide on-site installation and technical support. Configuration management specialists worked weekends to ensure current software and documentation was available to all customers. Scheduling staff helped resolve conflicts between these emergent requirements and the concurrent fielding of a joint-mandated GCCS upgrade. Despite the long hours, crazy travel schedules and high tempo, GCCS-AF morale runs high. "This is what we live for -- direct field support, making an impact," said Maj. John Casebolt, GCCS-AF program manager. "Because supporting the warrior has been our top priority throughout the years, we can rely on strong relationships with our customers and an understanding of their needs to throttle up without coming apart at the seams," he said. "Nothing motivates this team like knowing that they are helping their friends at the pointy end of the spear," Casebolt said. 0056. Air Force acquires enhanced air traffic control system by Rhonda Siciliano Electronic Systems Center Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFPN) -- The Electronic Systems Center here is acquiring a new air traffic control system that will greatly enhance mobile air traffic capabilities for the Air Force and Air National Guard. The Mobile Approach Control System is a rapidly deployable, highly mobile air traffic control system that will provide service to military and civil aircraft in all operational weather conditions, day or night. MACS will replace two radar approach control systems, the AN/TPN-19 System currently being used by the U.S. Air Force and the AN/MPN-14K System used by the Air National Guard. "We are very excited to get (Air Combat Command) and the Air National Guard a new 'go-to-war' mobile RAPCON," said Col. Bud Vazquez, Global Air Traffic Operations/Mobility Command and Control System Program Office director. "At a time when the military has to deploy globally at a moment's notice, this system is direly needed to replace the capable but old and tired TPN-19 and MPN-14K systems," he said. "Both of these systems are at or beyond their life expectancy and are becoming economically and technically unsustainable," said Capt. Jean-Paul Chaussé, MACS deputy program manager. MACS has three separate subsystems, the airport surveillance radar, operations subsystem and precision approach radar. Improved capabilities provided by the MACS include a system operational availability of at least 99 percent. The precision approach radar has a detection and tracking capability of at least 99 percent. "Under the older systems we are able to operate for eight hours and then need eight hours of down time for maintenance," said 1st Lt. Patrick Widhelm, program manager for the precision approach radar program office. "With MACS, for every 100 days of operation only one day is needed for maintenance. This is a big improvement." Unlike the older analog systems, MACS is completely digital, which will allow it to meet future Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control requirements. MACS can be easily deployed, and requires a maximum of three C-130 Hercules aircraft for complete system deployment, including crew and spares. The TPN-19 System that is currently in use requires seven C-130s for deployment. Operators will be able to use MACS for aircraft sequencing and separation, navigation assistance, airspace control, and for providing voice communications with aircraft, adjacent facilities and subsystems. MACS can also be mobilized to respond to military or civilian needs. The system is built with a design that allows it to stand up to a variety of conditions that could be encountered while deployed. "This is a rugged system that offers much greater mobility," Widhelm said. The Global Air Traffic Operations Mobility Command and Control Program Office here awarded a $9.5 million contract to ITT-Gilfillan of Van Nuys, Calif., on Jan. 2. The contract is for the development of the precision approach radar subsystem. The entire precision approach radar contract is estimated at $45.5 million. ITT is also the prime contractor for MACS' other two subsystems. ITT is scheduled to deliver 18 MACS with the precision approach radars by June 2006. The first precision approach radar is scheduled to finish testing in November 2004. ACC will receive eight of the completed systems and 10 of the systems will be delivered to the Air National Guard. 0059. Two Air Force civilians receive highest DOD honors WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Two senior Air Force civilian career employees -- a research physicist and an analyst -- are the recipients of the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest award that can be given to Department of Defense civilians. Dr. R. Russell Butts and Dr. Jacqueline R. Henningsen received their awards recently at the Pentagon. Butts, from the Air Force Research Laboratory's directed energy directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., was praised for "leading a research team that developed essential technologies that will enhance America's missile defense capabilities," the award citation read. "This experiment was designed to measure horizontal turbulence at the airborne laser's operational flying altitude," Butts said. The airborne laser program will place a laser in a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft to shoot down ballistic missiles during their boost phase. Henningsen is the associate director of the Air Force's modeling simulation and analysis office at the Pentagon. She distinguished herself by "inspiring collaborative solutions to challenging problems that reach beyond Air Force lines and ensures the full power of Air Force modeling and simulation supports Air Force readiness," the award said. "It was truly an honor being selected for the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award," Henningsen said. "I'm the recipient, but it is really a recognition of the dedicated efforts of talented people across the DOD and particularly the Air Force modeling and simulation communities." The future outcome of these efforts will be warfighting and training architectures that feature seamless integration of interoperable, persistent, and reusable systems and components, she said. The DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award is presented by the secretary of defense to employees whose careers reflect exceptional devotion to duty and extremely significant contributions of broad scope to the efficiency, economy or other improvement in DOD operations. In the 46-year history of this award, fewer than 50 Air Force civilians have been presented this award. 0055. Langley airshow receives top honor by Capt. David Small 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- The International Council of Air Shows picked the airshow here to receive the Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award for the 2001 air show season. The award, presented in December at the annual ICAS conference in Orlando, Fla., recognized the AirPower Over Hampton Roads air show held in May. This is the first time in 12 years that an active-duty Air Force base has received the award. "This is the most prestigious award a military air show can receive," said Dale Drumright, AirPower Over Hampton Roads coordinator. "The teamwork at Langley is incredible. Each and everyone from the 1st Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] and community volunteers should feel a personal pride for their accomplishment." The Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award recognizes the air show that best represents community spirit, a trait Cmdr. Dick Schram stood for throughout his naval career, Drumright said. Schram was a former Blue Angel who was serving as the Department of Defense's aviation-support liaison officer when he died in 1987. The award is presented annually to a military base which "sets new standards of excellence in community relations by including its civilian neighbors in the planning, execution and rewards of the event," ICAS officials said. Setting the Langley show apart from its competition was the creation of the Langley Civic Leaders' Association by Brig. Gen. Stephen Goldfein, 1st Fighter Wing commander, Drumright said. "General Goldfein believes that the community and base should have close ties and a support system for each other," Drumright said. "Although Langley has always been community-oriented, General Goldfein has taken this to a whole new level with the creation of the Langley Civic Leaders Association." The amount of involvement by community partners also helped the base win this recognition. For example, instead of using a national concessionaire, airshow officials contracted dozens of local companies to create revenue for the community, Drumright said. The selection panel for the award was co-chaired by both Defense Department and Canadian military representatives. The award will be showcased in the 1st Fighter Wing headquarters here along with another award the show won: a first-place marketing award in the large-show category for a radio commercial produced and aired by a local radio station that sponsored the show. AirPower over Hampton Roads will be held again June 21 to 23. The featured act will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service) 4003. Commentary: A goodbye to Nate by 2nd Lt. Virgil Magee Air Force Space Command Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) -- The last time I saw Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Chapman he was getting his airborne wings from the commandant of the Army's Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. He and I were going through the same school. He was looking forward to a career with Special Forces. The way he explained it to me was that if we weren't willing to go to the undesirable places and do the dirty jobs that no one else wants to do, then the bad guy wins. I remember thinking at the time that it was strange that someone still believed in the simple "good guy, bad guy" concept. In a time of rapidly changing geopolitical policy, was there still such a thing as a black-hatted villain? The events of Sept. 11 showed me how right Nate was. Nate was killed Jan. 4, when enemy fighters ambushed him near the Pakistan border -- right in the middle of the action, where he longed to be. Fighting wars from miles away has its advantages. But for Nate and other special operators, the sense of excitement is part of who they are. It's in their blood. They know the risk associated with the job and they accept it. Nate's job as a Special Forces soldier, wearing the Army green beret, took him all over the world and into war zones. He parachuted into Panama during Operation Just Cause in 1989. He served in the Gulf War and was deployed to Haiti. And finally to Afghanistan. He and the others from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) left Fort Lewis and headed to the mountainous landscape of Afghanistan to do the dirty job of hunting down terrorists and restoring order to that country. For those who choose to belong to Special Forces, when the war starts they feel an urge to be in the middle of the action, usually at a spot that many people can't find on a map. They do it, not for glory, medals or reward, but simply because it needs to be done. Theirs is a close-knit group that many people will never understand. They look to each other as family. It's not uncommon for fellow team members to know more about each other than their own families. Nate is now back home in Fort Lewis where his family of brothers in arms is stationed. There's nothing left to do except say goodbye Nate. Thanks for going where no one wanted to go and taking on the bad guy. *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! Write to same address to be off 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! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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