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For special coverage and features on the Air Force's support of Operation Enduring Freedom, see the special section on Air Force Link at http://www.af.mil/news/efreedom/index.shtml. Here you can get the latest news, images, background, transcripts of key statements, and letters and commentaries. America's Air Force... No One Comes Close 0306. SECAF thanks AWACS crews at Tinker by Tech. Sgt. Orville Desjarlais 552nd Air Control Wing TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) -- When Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche came here Feb. 22 to thank Airborne Warning and Control System airmen for helping secure the homeland of the United States, he had a number written on a piece of paper in his pocket. The number was 14,000, which is the number of Operation Noble Eagle sorties flown since Sept. 11. It is a figure he wants to scale back in a plan that involves networking ground-based radar from the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Federal Aviation Administration. It is also reported that Roche would prefer an adjustment that would place some Air Force fighter jets on "strip alert" as opposed to flying continuous missions. However, Roche stressed that scaling back the mission is a decision for the president and the secretary of defense. If threat conditions continue to call for 24-hour, 7 day-a-week air patrols, then the Air Force will find a way to do them. AWACS aircrews from the 552nd Air Control Wing and NATO were on alert for the Winter Olympics that were held 1,200 miles away in Salt Lake City. "Effectively, the Air Force is fighting two major wars, only one of them is at home," Roche said. "We are trying to find a way to lighten the load on Noble Eagle operations." Currently, there is an AWACS aircraft patrolling the skies over the nation's capitol 24 hours a day. NATO deployed AWACS aircraft and crews Oct. 9 and they have been flying half of the more than 700 AWACS sorties flown for Operation Noble Eagle, the name of the homeland security mission. Within an hour of the attacks at the World Trade Center, an AWACS aircraft from the 552nd ACW was patrolling over Washington and New York City supporting combat air patrols. They have been flying nonstop ever since. "We are needed here," said Maj. Dominique, a Belgian air force AWACS aircrew member who wishes to use only his first name. "The world is a dangerous place. However, in the long term, it'll be more cost effective to have your ground radar built up. It would be better to just use an AWACS when it's needed, like on alert." NATO has deployed seven AWACS aircraft and more than 200 people here who share in flying the more than 12 to 14-hour missions over the U.S. capitol and various other locations. It is the first time in NATO's 52-year history that the alliance's assets are being used to help protect the United States. However, Operation Noble Eagle is not the only operation the 552nd ACW is involved with. The wing is also flying operations Southern Watch and Northern Watch missions in support of the no-fly zone over Iraq, as well as sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The total number of Air Force sorties flown for Operation Enduring Freedom is 15,000, and roughly 14,000 in Noble Eagle, Roche said. During the past 10 years, the Air Force has logged more then 200,000 sorties for Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch. Roche said he came to Tinker AFB specifically to thank the AWACS community and NATO for the long hours and hard work they have put in for homeland security. "I have been amazed at the performance of our (E-3) Sentry aircraft crews and NATO allies who have come to join us," Roche said. "It's extraordinary the way you've been able to perform your mission. My special compliments to the maintenance crews who keep these planes going." While here, Roche personally shook hands and thanked many of the NATO members. "It's a pleasure to know that when we were in great distress that our NATO allies came to our defense," Roche said. One of the men Roche thanked was NATO's deployed detachment commander, Col. Roy Olsen. "Ever since we've been here, people have been treating us like heroes," Olsen said. "We are not heroes. We are just people doing our jobs." 0305. Medical team evacuates sick soldiers from Uzbekistan by Master Sgt. Louis A. Arana-Barradas Air Force Print News INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- A team of Air Force medics flew to Uzbekistan Feb. 25 to evacuate two soldiers suffering from ailments their doctor describes as not life threatening. One soldier has a blood clot in his leg, Maj. (Dr.) John Marshall said. The other is suffering from an eye infection. He said both are in stable condition at the hospital at this base near Adana. The request for an evacuation flight for the soldiers came in late Feb. 24. A six-member aeromedical evacuation team took off aboard a C-17 Globemaster III to pick up the patients at Karshi Khanabad, Uzbekistan. The soldier with the blood clot came from Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan. He was serving with Army special forces in the northern part of the country. The other soldier was on duty at Karshi Khanabad. Marshall's specialty is emergency medicine. He is deployed to here from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once aboard the C-17, he examined both patients. "Neither soldier needed medication or acute treatment," Marshall said. "They were stable -- not in any kind of danger. But we monitored them during the whole flight." The special forces troop -- named Nick -- appreciated the quick response and personal care. "The medics took good care of me," Nick said. "But it sucked being strapped to a stretcher for so long." Because of his ailment, Nick will go home. "And I'm glad," he said. The mission lasted more than 10 hours and ended on a good note. It was a routine job for the medics of Incirlik's 43rd Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. But there have been times when these medics -- stationed both here and at Seeb North Air Base, Oman -- have had to deal with injured troops. So far during Operation Enduring Freedom, they have also provided critical en route care to soldiers injured by mines and a stray bomb and in helicopter and forklift accidents. Air Force doctors, nurses, medical technicians and administrators have been on the job here for about 140 days. Their job is to get the sick and wounded from the front lines of the war on terrorism to better care at rear area hospitals. Deploying medical teams close to the fight has been a long-standing military trait. With the advent of aeromedical evacuation, injured troops are that much closer to first-class medical care. The team that went to Uzbekistan had two three-member cells. One included a flight nurse and two aeromedical evacuation technicians. Their job is to ensure the aircraft is configured to accept patients and, if needed, to help the other team. The second cell was the critical care air transport team. It had a critical care physician, nurse and respiratory therapist. The team provides patients critical care in the air. Providing that critical care during an evacuation ensures a continuity of excellent medical care, said Lt. Col. (Dr.) James Henderson. A pulmonologist from Wilford Hall, he leads one of the three critical care air transport teams here. "It's the main reason we're here," he said. Historically, there were always "huge gaps in medical care during the transport stages," Henderson said." After getting good initial care, there were letdowns along the route from the front lines to the hospital. "Aeromedical evacuation teams didn't have the means to respond or take care of critically ill patients. But the Air Force wanted to sustain, or improve, the care patients received -- all the way to a rear echelon hospital," Henderson said. The critical care air transport team bridged that gap, he said. The line of care starts on the battlefield, said Col. (Dr.) Marshall Wong. An anesthesiologist from Wilford Hall, he is in charge of all the critical care air transport teams here. All of the teams are just one cog in the wheel of medical care available to forces taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom, Wong said. "Our troops are getting the best medical treatment available anywhere," Wong said. "They shouldn't expect any less." 0304. Secretary talks of OEF transformation evolution, breakthroughs WASHINGTON -- What began with an interservice brainstorming session sparked by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz on technological transformation became lethal reality in Afghanistan, as Taliban forces discovered last fall. Much of Operation Enduring Freedom's success was the result of an Air Force, Army and special operations discussion held at the Pentagon last July at the urging of Secretary Wolfowitz, said Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche. "Last summer, Secretary Wolfowitz prodded the Air Force and the Army to come up with new ways of leveraging our forces in combat," Roche said. "And thanks to the foresight of Gen. Tommy Franks (U.S. Central Command commander-in-chief), we've been able to test these concepts in real-world contingencies. "We had a sense last summer that we could have two goals for the Air Force," he said. "One was to have 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, 365-days-a-year, good weather/bad weather focus on a part of a country. We have demonstrated that's possible. "The second thing we learned is that you can have almost instantaneous attack -- someday. We're getting close to it," he said. "It's not a matter of, here's a target and seven hours later it gets (hit)." Ideas which first surfaced in that July conference quickly became reality after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "The war began, and in seven days we were buying the gear and getting it in," Roche said. "What we had were sergeants carrying four or five different things, getting off their horses, unpacking and setting up," he said. "These pieces (Global Positioning System, laser spotter, and others) were kludged together. "The sergeants on the ground were phenomenal," he said. Roche described one incident where a forward air controller used this patched-together technology to call in close air support. "Every time he'd set up he would enter (his coordinates) as a waypoint," Roche said. "He saw the Taliban overrunning his last position, so he just picked up his radio and called in his last set of coordinates. A B-52 (Stratofortress) happened to be in the area, and 'did in' the bad guys. "What's interesting," he said, "is we've demonstrated new tactics, (which) returns us to (one of) our traditions. Coming out of the post-Normandy invasion (in June 1944), Gen. 'Hap' Arnold's Army Air Corps and Lt. Gen. George Patton's ground forces combined together very closely. We can do that now. It's not perfect, but we've learned a lot. "I'd suggest that the people on the ground benefited from the fact that we were doing close air support with B-52s from 38,000 feet," he said. Another example of OEF transformation involved converting Air Force KC-135 (Stratotankers) to accommodate Navy aircraft, which use different hook-up systems. "We modified a bunch of KC-135s to fuel Navy planes, because 55 percent of our tanker sorties supported the Navy," Roche said. "Any tankers we build in the future will be able to (refuel) both. "But that's how it's supposed to be," he said. "General (John P.) Jumper (Air Force chief of staff), says it succinctly -- we'll never fight alone, ever again." These and other innovations are a direct result of the support received from officials at the very top of the Department of Defense, Roche said. Such inspiration leads to improvements in other areas, such as recruiting. "(Defense) Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld and Secretary Wolfowitz deserve a lot of credit for encouraging us and providing the inspiration to seek innovative ideas," he said. "Such creativity will go a long way toward linking kids and planes, and helping us reach our recruiting goals in the years to come." 0298. Officials identify airmen killed in helicopter crash WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials identified two airmen killed in the Feb. 22 Army helicopter crash in the Philippines. The airmen are Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel II, a special tactics pararescue flight superintendent, and Staff Sgt. Juan M. Ridout, a special tactics pararescueman, both from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The two airmen were on board an Army MH-47 Chinook helicopter along with eight Army soldiers. The helicopter crashed while en route from Basilan Island to Mactan, in the Philippines. The helicopter was supporting U.S. efforts to train and advise the Armed Forces of the Philippines in their efforts against global terrorism. Brig. Gen. Donald Wurster, commander of Joint Task Force 510 in the Philippines, announced the end of search and rescue operations in the crash of the helicopter and the start of search and recovery operations Feb 24. "Based on our best assessment and the extensive efforts by the Philippine and U.S. search and rescue teams, we have determined that there is no chance that we will find survivors," he said. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Funeral arrangements will be handled by the Air Force Mortuary Service. For more information, contact Air Force Special Operations Command public affairs at (850) 884-5515. 0307. Officials announce Air Force top lawyer WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Fiscus was named the U.S. Air Force judge advocate general during an investiture ceremony at the Pentagon on Feb. 25. As the Air Force's senior uniformed attorney, he provides legal advice, opinions and assistance to the chief of staff, Air Staff, and Air Force commanders and agencies worldwide. "It is my singular honor to serve as the Air Force judge advocate general during this time of monumental national challenges," Fiscus said. "I am extremely proud of the men and women of our department who are fully engaged in the Air Force's mission to provide America with global vigilance, strategic reach, and overwhelming air and space power." Fiscus is a native of Ohio and entered the Air Force in 1972. He is an Air Force Academy graduate, earned his degree of juris doctor with honors from Ohio State University, and has a Master of Science degree in national security strategy from the National War College. Before becoming the judge advocate general for the Air Force, Fiscus served as a staff judge advocate at the wing, numbered Air Force and major command levels. He has twice served at the Pentagon, including a tour of duty as the executive to the judge advocate general. In 1995, he deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he served as staff judge advocate and chief of staff to the commander of Joint Task Force -- Southwest Asia. 0303. Air Force announces E-8 promotions March 20 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Air Force officials plan to release the listing of the service's newest senior master sergeants March 20. The list of those promoted at each installation is releasable the first duty hour on the release date. The entire list will be posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/eprom/ by March 22. Those selected will be promoted to senior master sergeant from April 2002 to March 2003 in monthly increments. Promotion statistics will be released as soon as they become available. The Senior NCO Academy primary and alternate list will also be released with the promotion list. 0302. AAFES recalls 1.4 million dehumidifiers DALLAS (AFPN) -- The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is voluntarily recalling about 1.4 million dehumidifiers. The dehumidifiers can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Whirlpool Corp., of Benton Harbor, Mich., has received 13 reports of the dehumidifiers overheating and causing fires, three of which resulted in extensive property damage. No injuries have been reported. The recalled dehumidifiers were sold under the Whirlpool, Kenmore and ComfortAire brand names. The dehumidifiers are white plastic, about 2-feet high and have a front-mounted water bucket. They have serial numbers that begin with QG, QH, QJ, QK or QL. The serial number can be found on a label located on the wall behind the water bucket, or on the white tag on the box of the dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers with water buckets located in back are not involved in the recall. AAFES, along with department and appliance stores nationwide, sold the dehumidifiers from February 1997 through December 2001. "Customers who own one of these dehumidifiers should stop using them and unplug them immediately," said Pradip V. Mehta, chief of AAFES quality assurance. Customers living in the continental United States should contact Whirlpool at (866) 640-7139 anytime or visit the firm's Web site at www.repair.whirlpool.com to arrange for a free repair. Overseas customers should contact Whirlpool at their Web site at www.repair.whirlpool.com or they can contact a local Whirlpool service representative. Local exchanges can assist in locating the Whirlpool service representative. 0301. DOD provides school for teens at remote sites by Army Sgt. 1st Class Kathleen T. Rhem American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- High school students whose parents are stationed in remote locations are eligible to attend a resident school program at London Central High School. The program was started to provide an American high school experience for students whose parents are stationed in overseas locations in which a Defense Department school is not available, said Joseph Tafoya, the DOD education activity director. London Central High School is a DOD-run school on Daws Hill Royal Air Force Base, in the London suburbs. Students come from military families stationed in England and from around the world through the resident program. Many parents of resident-program students serve in U.S. embassies and in other special assignments. The two dormitories -- one for male students and a separate building for female students -- can house about 100 students each. They are currently at about half capacity, Tafoya said. "With people being assigned to locations where there are not a great number of other military folks, we have more and more DOD dependents who are not able to attend a regular high school," Tafoya said. "This is a quality-of-life issue, and we need to educate those students." To be eligible, students must be family members of military and DOD civilian personnel stationed in a location to which they are allowed to bring their families but in which there are no suitable American high schools. For students in these circumstances, the military pays all costs, including room and board. Tafoya said the military covers transportation costs for three round trips between home and school -- winter and spring breaks and summer vacation. Students have private dorm rooms. Dorms have day rooms, TV rooms and computer labs. Counselors in the dorms, 24 hours a day, provide constant supervision. "We're the parent while they're there," Tafoya said. "We need to know where they are and what they're doing and exercise the appropriate parental control." Dormitory staff set aside evening study time and take the students on weekend trips. "We do put some extra funds on that and some extra effort on the part of the dorm staff to give (the students) opportunities to be part of the London community, as they would if they were there with their parents," Tafoya said. He said he thinks the dorm setting provides a good balance between security and freedom for high school-age students. "They can individualize their room and make it home-like," Tafoya said. "If my child were there I'd feel very comfortable." There are some benefits to attending a high school away from home, he said. Having students on weekends allows for supplemental activities like cultural programs or SAT-prep courses. It also helps prepare students for college. The opportunity to "grow and mature is a very positive experience," he said. "Parents have indicated to us that they believe...their child is better prepared for college than the average kid who stays at home." For more information on the residence program go online to the London Central High School Web site at http://www.odedodea.edu/londondorms. 0300. Dover ruck march honors Korean War veterans by Airman 1st Class Andrew Svoboda 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFPN) During the Korean War's Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, nearly 20,000 Allied troops underwent a six-day journey, totaling 27 miles through North Korea's mountains. They battled freezing conditions while under enemy fire, without leaving anyone behind. To honor veterans who fought at that battle, more than 140 people from here and the Delaware National Guard, Navy Reserve, Air Force ROTC and Korean War veterans, competed in the 3rd Annual Security Forces Ruck March on base Feb 16. Following the march, six veterans from the Delaware Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 3, were honored with a standing ovation and cheers from troops as they were awarded the Republic of Korea Service Medal by Maj. Stanley Contrades, 436th Security Forces Squadron commander. "Korean War veterans are part of the greatest generation," said Col. Scott E. Wuesthoff, 436th Airlift Wing commander. "The lifestyle we enjoy today was made possible by the sacrifices of the men who came before us." During the competition, teams of four, consisting of officer and enlisted ranks, carried 30-pound rucksacks while walking or running six miles. This was done to commemorate the battle. Besides strengthening base-wide camaraderie, the event instilled a sense of teamwork, similar to that of the real battle, as all team members had to cross the finish line to qualify, officials said. "Major (Scott) Harbula's dad (the founder of the event) was a Marine who was at the Chosin Reservoir," said 2nd Lt. Robert Folks, who was on the winning team. "He came to the squadron and talked to us, which really pumped us up. In my mind, I kept thinking that what we're doing is nothing compared to the guys at the reservoir." A team of Korean War veterans, all between the ages of 67 and 71, also made the six-mile hike. "It made me feel good to see so many people supporting this event," said Alfred G. Lawler, a veteran from the Marines 7th Regiment, 3rd Division. "I thought I was at an Army base with all the yelling and cheering. Today's military is being put in a more positive light, and that is something to be proud of." The 436th Supply Squadron's Senior Master Sgt. Mark Brejcha's father, Mathias Brejcha, was the last man over the finish line. "I came in last, but I finished," he said. "I'm really proud and impressed with these troops. The United States is in good hands." (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service) 4013. Commentary: Preventing discrimination key to success by Lt. Col. Paul D. Goven 27th Medical Support Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- Successfully accomplishing an organization's mission is critical. It takes a team of dedicated and knowledgeable individuals who can focus all their energy on maximizing the goals that support our ability to do America's business any time and in any place. We all know this takes hard work to accomplish, even in the best of conditions. One of the quickest ways to destroy the morale of an organization and its ability to accomplish the mission is to tolerate discrimination in any form. Discrimination can have serious consequences on unit teamwork, which is the main ingredient we need to succeed as an Air Force. Discrimination will destroy the fabric that binds the common good of its members and deprive the organization of its ability to accomplish the goals it strives to achieve. Discrimination is ugly. Whether discrimination is based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or age, it should not be tolerated by anyone. The good news is it's within the control of each of us to put a stop to it just as soon as it raises its ugly head. If you believe discrimination is practiced within your work environment, in whatever form, do not tolerate the condition. Take immediate action, speak up and seek help. Here are a few helpful hints. Consider using an informal method of resolution if the behavior is minor. Speak with the individual in person, or you may want to write a letter. But, in either case, send a clear message that you want the behavior to stop. Warn the individual that if the behavior doesn't stop, you will take further action. You can also go to your supervisor or others in your chain of command and ask for their assistance in resolving the situation. Always maintain records of what happened that include dates, times and locations. In many instances, using an informal approach will resolve the problem. If you feel uncomfortable with the informal process or are not able to resolve the issue at that level, then seek the advice of the military equal opportunity office. The MEO staff can guide you through the process and assist you with filing a formal complaint if you believe one is needed. Remember, as an Air Force team, we have a national security strategy to execute. As we focus on the nation's objectives, there are many variables beyond our control, but discrimination is not one of them. One of the Air Force's greatest strengths is the diversity of its people, the Air Force's most precious resource. Let us continue to respect different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs and most of all take care of each other. *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. 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