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0201. CSAF: Take a step back in interest of safety by Gen. John P. Jumper Air Force chief of staff WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- As I'm certain you are well aware, the Air Force has witnessed an increase in our mishap rate. It's time to pause and focus on what we can do to reverse this trend. All of us are fully engaged in the war against terrorism, and this isn't the first time we've seen our flight and ground mishaps go up as our tempo increases. We're at a point where it's appropriate to step back, assess our processes from a safety perspective, and then carry on with the work our nation is counting on us to complete. In an effort to focus our personnel and return to the Air Force's traditional solid safety program, I've directed all units take a safety down day no later than Feb. 15. Air Reserve Command will do so within 30 days. Safety should be a primary consideration in any aspect of operations, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Risk management continues to be central to our success, both on and off duty. Everyone needs to keep safety in the forefront of our lives. We need to remind each other not to let our tempo cause us to over reach and do something unsafe. I appreciate your assistance in this vital matter, and thank each of you for your service to our great nation. 0202. Air Force will observe safety down day WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Pentagon officials issued an order for units around the Air Force to observe a "down day" before Feb. 15, to take a close look at safety procedures, and to further review guidelines for risk management. "We're at a point where it's appropriate to step back, assess our processes from a safety perspective, and then carry on with the work our nation is counting on us to complete," said Gen. John Jumper, Air Force chief of staff. Active-duty units have until Feb. 15 to conduct the safety day, while Air Force Reserve Command units have 30 days to do so. 0198. Recruiters tapped to find 833 more airmen RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Air Force officials accelerated efforts to fill the ranks this week when they gave recruiters the order to find 833 additional airmen before the end of the fiscal year. In October, the original goal of 36,000 was increased by 450. With this week's announcement, recruiters will now need a total of 37,283 before declaring victory in this year's race to meet their enlisted goal, officials said. "We know our recruiting force will rise to the challenge," said Brig. Gen. Duane Deal, commander of Air Force Recruiting Service. "Our recruiters are energized to do our part in the fight by providing quality young men and women the same opportunity they've experienced." The addition of 833 new airmen, all headed to join the security forces career field, is part of an effort to close the gap between the number of airmen on active duty and the end strength authorized by Congress. The war in Afghanistan and the new homeland defense mission underscore the need for a sustained flow of America's best and brightest, officials said. For the next 27 weeks, recruiters will send between 24 and 41 additional recruits to basic military training. The last security forces airmen will ship Aug. 3, time enough to graduate basic training and enter training prior to the close of the fiscal year. This year was already shaping up to be the best on record, officials said. At the end of January, recruiters had signed enough new contracts and shipped enough recruits to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to meet 78 percent of its annual goal. All 28 recruiting squadrons worldwide met their contract goals last month, the best shipping record for January in 25 years. Recruiters also brought 205 prior servicemembers back to active duty -- returning valuable experience to the force. Officials are quick to point out that the service is still hiring, will award more than $60 million in Air Force ROTC scholarships this year, and seeks to send nearly a thousand people to its service academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Finding more health care professionals, engineers and scientists continues to be the biggest challenge for Air Force recruiters. They have stepped up their efforts to find doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists who are ready to serve. "Competition in the recruiting marketplace for health care professionals remains fierce," Deal said. "The success we have in attracting doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists into the Air Force will depend on us connecting with their motivation to enter medicine, then to show them the opportunities we offer as a part of a worldwide medical team with cutting edge equipment and procedures -- plus the opportunity to be something greater than themselves and to help others." (Courtesy of AFRS News Service) 0197. Officials announce Stop-Loss categories, options RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- More than 5,000 people whose career fields have been released from Stop-Loss are being contacted by their military personnel flights with explanations on the options they now have. Air Force officials announced Jan. 29 that 24 officer and 40 enlisted career fields are being released from Stop-Loss restrictions after a 90-day review. Stop-Loss continues for all other career fields. Another review of Stop-Loss is expected in 60 days. Waiver applications continue to be accepted. The released airmen are being presented with options that could lead to their retirement or separation as early as March 2. People also have the option to stay in the service for a while longer, an option personnel officials hope they will consider. "We would prefer that a lot of them choose to stay with us," said Lt. Col. Rich Binger, Air Force Personnel Center chief of separations here. "The decision-makers decided that these are people who indicated that they have a desire to go and we feel that we can accommodate them at this point. But release from Stop-Loss is not to say we don't need these people." Since meeting mission requirements is the purpose of Stop-Loss, commanders may retain people who are critical to the mission even if their career field is released. Those people cannot be held past July 31. People who have been released from Stop-Loss fall into one of the following four categories: (Note for all categories: The suspended retirement or separation date is the original date of separation before dates were extended by Stop-Loss.) Category 1 -- People with a previously approved or suspended separation date between Oct. 2, 2001, and Feb. 28; or an approved or suspended retirement date between Oct. 31, 2001, and Feb. 28 with a retirement-effective date of March 1. People in this category must select a retirement or separation date under Option 2 below, or request withdrawal under Option 3. Category 2 -- People with an approved or suspended separation date between March 1 and July 31; or an approved or suspended retirement date between March 31 (with an effective date of April 1) to July 31 (with an effective date of Aug. 1.). People in this category must select a retirement or separation date under Option 1 or 2 below; or request withdrawal under Option 3. Category 3 -- People with an approved or suspended separation date of Aug. 1 or later, or an approved suspended-retirement date of Aug. 31 or later (with an effective date of Sept. 1). People in this category will be able to retire or separate as scheduled. People may request extension or withdrawal of their retirement or separation date in accordance with governing directives if otherwise eligible. Category 4 -- Deployed people in released Air Force Specialty Codes will be required to serve the full deployment. They will be allowed to leave the Air Force sometime soon after returning. They will be contacted by personnel officials at their deployed locations to make their election to either retain or extend their retirement or separation date or withdraw their paperwork altogether. There are special provisions for deployed people that take length of deployment and return dates into consideration. The options are: Option 1 -- People may elect to retain their current or suspended retirement date. Option 2 -- People may request to voluntarily extend their retirement or separation date up to Aug. 31 (with a Sept. 1 retirement) to include those people approved under a seven-day option or restricted by high-year of tenure rules. Option 3 -- People may request to withdraw an approved retirement or separation. Enlisted people must be eligible for voluntary extension and must otherwise be eligible for re-enlistment or extension. Enlisted people who are HYT restricted, and desire to remain on active duty must submit a HYT extension request. Option 4 -- Commanders may, in limited circumstances, retain someone with a voluntary retirement or separation date until July 31 when an earlier release would severely impact the mission. In this circumstance, July 31 is the latest date the person could be held to perform duties. Use of this deferment should be the extreme exception rather than the rule, officials said. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service) 0193. Battlelab brings data recorders into digital age by Maj. Bob Thompson 366th Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) -- Saving time, money and space, the Air Force is starting to scrap its old 8 mm videotape recorders in favor of new digital systems thanks to the Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab here. The new digital system will give pilots in the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, and possibly other aircraft, a new tool for recording and debriefing their missions. "Our initiative showed that a new solid-state digital system can be added to the F-15 and F-16 weapon systems with minimal aircraft hardware and software modifications," said Maj. Scott Lamb, director of AEF special operations at the battlelab. "The system demonstrated that over the course of the system's life, the Air Force can expect a savings of nearly $64 million between the F-15 and F-16 fleets because of reduced maintenance costs." Called the Common AEF Solid State Video Record/Review System, or CASS-VR, the system was first suggested to Air Force officials by Smiths Industries, located in Germantown, Md. "We communicate the Air Force's need to commercial industry," said Col. Stephen Duresky, AEF battlelab commander. "We welcome their ideas and work to come up with new solutions using existing government and commercial off-the-shelf technology." Duresky's unit is one of seven battle labs across the Air Force that prove the worth of innovative ideas to improve Air Force capabilities. "Air Combat Command authorized flight demonstrations of the digital recorders by the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis (Air Force Base), Nev.," said Lamb. "Flights aboard F-16 Block 40, F-15C and F-15E [Strike Eagle] aircraft proved a common solid-state digital recorder can give us better quality and capability than videotape and is easier for our folks to work with. "The 8 mm videotape recorders are cumbersome and have a history of poor reliability and maintainability," he said. "Some of these 8 mm recorders aren't even manufactured any more, and none of them can be repaired by squadron maintenance shops beyond simple head cleanings." Battlelab officials estimate that by using a new solid-state digital system, the Air Force will save more than 610 man-hours of maintenance during a typical 90-day deployment. Also, the support equipment and supplies required for the digital recorder is half-a-pallet less than the space needed by the 8 mm videotape systems. "This is a great success story for the Air Force," Duresky said. "Chief Master Sergeant Chuck Kochel of Air Combat Command's resources directorate first identified the Air Force's need for a common digital system. Now, thanks to the battlelab process, the Air Force is not only going to use this system for several fighter aircraft, but is also studying how these systems could be used aboard cargo, refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft as well." ACC officials are planning to fund modifications for F-16 aircraft in fiscal 2003 and the F-15s in fiscal 2005. (Courtesy of ACC News Service) 0200. Services airmen bring comforts of home to Kyrgyzstan by Capt. Kristi Beckman 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- About 25 services people from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., deployed recently to Manas International Airport near here to help set up an air base in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. But, it takes more than great people to make it possible, said Lt. Col. Rich Houston, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing services commander. "You need to have a robust package of the right equipment to build a base from scratch. "We get our equipment from the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Center. (It) tasks certain locations and puts together equipment kits for the field," Houston said. "We also received force-provider kits from the Army, which is an overall support kit and contains many assets for a bare base, not just for services, but for (civil engineers) and other organizations as well." Services airmen take the services-specific equipment and some of the overall equipment from the larger packages, then put it together to create a place to eat, sleep, relax, and exercise. Proud of his services team, Houston said, "They are young, but they are motivated, very creative and have an outstanding attitude. They have connected well with the folks they are supporting." Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Toepke, a food service specialist, said her job is important because she keeps all the airmen fed. But besides preparing the food, Toepke said, another important aspect of her job is "to make sure the food is safe." Success is based on teamwork and in a deployed environment, work is not always based on day-to-day job skills, Houston said. "(Services people) all built these dining tents," he said. "They helped build tents for others, and have performed several other less glamorous duties, like cleaning up after meals. They are a special group of people." While most people associate services with food, especially at their home bases, there is more to the job at a deployed location. "We're here to provide food service, recreation and morale," said Master Sgt. Dave Walker, the superintendent of services. The work includes supporting "the fitness, recreation and learning resource centers, as well as the library," Walker said. "Anything that has to do with your off time is done through us." "Morale is a force multiplier," he said. "It's really important to keep people's attitudes positive, keep that can-do attitude going." Houston said despite the long working hours, there seems to be a prevailing opinion about this deployment. "Being in Kyrgyzstan is an honor as well as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said. "After what happened on Sept. 11, it's an honor to support this," Toepke said. "This is what I joined the military for, and I'm getting a chance to do it." (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service) 0196. Pacemaker gives working dog new 'leash' on life by 1st Lt. Angela Arredondo 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- For Lord, a 10-year-old police dog here, staying in shape is part of the job. After all, he is expected to chase down suspects, detect explosives and leap over obstacles in the line of duty. So when Lord had problems breathing and performing last summer, his trainers knew something was wrong. "His heart rate was too slow," said Maj. Abbie Whitehead, chief of Travis Branch Veterinary Services here. "Even after work his heart rate did not increase and he became more out of breath. Sometimes he got weak during work and had to rest." Tests showed that Lord had bradycardia (slow heart beat) because of second- and third-degree heart blockage. The electrical signal traveling through Lord's heart from the atria to the ventricles, causing the heart to contract, was not working properly. When the signal does not reach the ventricles, it is called a heart block and is measured as a first, second or third degree. "Third is the most severe because the electrical signal only gets to the ventricles every third heartbeat or so," Whitehead said. "Since the left ventricle pumps blood into the body, this causes lack of circulation to the whole body. This is not compatible with the athletic demands on these dogs." The 90-pound Belgian malinois needed a pacemaker. Putting a pacemaker into a dog may sound far-fetched, but it is really not that uncommon. Hundreds of pacemakers are implanted into animals like dogs, cats and horses each year in the United States. Lord's case was the first time a Department of Defense dog was implanted with a pacemaker. "This is a very special event, not only for the 60th Security Forces Squadron, but the entire DOD," said Tech. Sgt Michael Casares, kennel master for the 60th SFS. "Hopefully, some valuable information can be learned if this procedure is needed in the future." Special consideration was made for Lord's job requirements and funding. For example, research had to be done to see if the pacemaker would interfere with the detonation devices of the explosives he is trained to detect. Eventually, Pacific Region Veterinary Command agreed to pay. The procedure cost about $1,000; however, Lord's worth as a patrol/detection dog is valued between $40,000 to $60,000. The manufacturer of the pacemaker, Medtronics, donated the device. Lord underwent the two-hour surgery Jan. 25 at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He is expected to make a full recovery. "Right now he is on rest," Whitehead said. "In a few weeks we will be able to increase his exercise and hopefully slowly return him to detection work." 0195. Bringing God to airmen is a family business by Erin Zagursky Air Combat Command Public Affairs LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- When Steven Richardson decided to be a minister, his father, Cecil, tried to talk him out of it. It's not that Cecil did not approve of the job choice; after all, he had made the same choice many years ago. He just wanted to make sure that Steven was doing it because it was God's will, not because his son wanted to follow in his footsteps. But Steven could not be talked out of it, and today, the father and son share a love of God, a desire to help airmen, and an occasional sermon idea as Air Force chaplains. "My son has been in a chapel his whole life," said Cecil, now a colonel and Air Combat Command's command chaplain here. "In some ways he's always been a chaplain." The same was not true for Cecil. He had never been to a church until he decided to attend one to meet girls. While in training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, after being drafted for the Vietnam War in 1966, he snuck through the side door of a church. "I thought I'd have to pay" to get in through the main door, Cecil said. During church, he heard the Christian gospel and asked to be saved. Cecil was transferred to Turkey where he continued to attend church. "An old black minister took me under his wing and said, 'I'm going to teach you how to be a preacher,'" he said. Although Cecil served as a Russian interpreter, he began preaching on the side. After his tour of duty ended in 1970, he attended seminary and returned to the Air Force in 1977 as a chaplain when Steven was 4 years old. Steven, now a captain and a Protestant chaplain at Eglin AFB, Fla., admired his father's job when he was young. "I thought it was pretty interesting," Steven said. "He got to wear a uniform and preach at the same time. People always liked him." Cecil said that when Steven and his two brothers were young, he could count on them to give him "the most honest feedback." He always knew God has his hand on Steven, but never pushed him into any particular career field. "I always cheered him on, but I decided to be a hands-off cheerleader," he said. Steven did not plan on being a chaplain. While in college, he was interested in math, engineering, and science. But four majors in two years caused him to wonder about the path he should take. One night, Steven went "walking and praising God" in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. By the end of the night, he knew he had to preach, and the military seemed the logical place to do it. "I've always pictured God in uniform," Steven said. He became a Reserve chaplain in 1999 and went on active duty in 2000. Having the same career has been a good experience for Cecil and Steven. They swap sermon ideas, illustrations and encouragement. "He's given me fun as a senior manager," said Cecil, adding that Steven keeps him "fresh" by calling or e-mailing with questions. Although the father and son share a similar passion for reaching young airmen, they differ in their preaching styles. "He's more reserved and I'm more active and energetic," said Steven. "I like to use things like movie clips and props, he stands behind the pulpit -- but he's still better." Cecil said that Steven is especially good with youth groups and singles and his services are always full. "He's like a Pied Piper for airmen," Cecil said. Cecil does not have a goal of rank or recognition for his son. "I just yearn for him to live and minister in the middle of God's will -- that's the absolute best place to be, and I hope he'll always be there," he said. Steven has a similar goal for himself: "I want to hear God say, 'well done.'" Long days and emotional work can be tiring for the chaplains, "but I never wish I got talked out of it," Steven said. (Courtesy of ACC News Service) 4009. Commentary: AEF rotation policy remains unchanged by Gen. John P. Jumper Air Force chief of staff WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force policy for aerospace expeditionary force rotations remains unchanged. Most airmen will be vulnerable for a three-month rotation followed by a 12-month period before the next rotation. However, the combination of multiple crisis operations and our ongoing steady state commitments has placed extraordinary stress on the expeditionary air force and our resources. Taking into account everything we know about current and future requirements to support our nation's fight against terrorism, I have determined the best option is to rotate the majority of AEF 9 and 10 units as scheduled. It appears that our current operations will continue for a long period of time; therefore, we need to rotate our expeditionary forces when and where feasible. We will rotate forces deployed for operations Enduring Freedom, Northern Watch and Southern Watch so those deployed the longest will be allowed to rotate home first to the maximum extent possible. In some stressed functional areas, requirements exceed the available AEF 1 and 2 forces. We are committed to finding solutions, which will relieve the stress on these career fields. We have the full support of the office of the secretary of defense in this effort. However, at this time, we cannot rotate all of our people in these stressed career fields and fill all current requirements. We are forced to extend the rotation to 135 days, or in some cases, to 179 days, for this small number of individuals. The number of people affected appears to be less than 10 percent of our deployed forces. This is an extraordinary time for the Air Force and our country. The nation is grateful for the sacrifices our airmen continue to make in meeting our commitments to fight the war on terrorism and defend the American homeland. The secretary and I are proud of the job you are doing and we are personally committed to maintaining the AEF rotation schedule to the greatest extent possible. *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. 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