July 12, 2013

15 Pages·2013·7.77 MB·English

2 The Warrior Commentary
July 12, 2013
USAFA Cadets Experience Whiteman AFB
The Warrior
Editorial Staff
Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere
509th Bomb Wing Commander
Capt. John Severns
Chief, Public Affairs
1st Lt. John M. Cooper
Deputy Chief, Public Affairs
Airman 1st Class Shelby R. Orozco
Editor
Photojournalists
Staff Sgt. Alexandra Boutte
Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
Staff Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley
Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry
U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston The Sedalia Democrat
Cadets from the United States Air Force Academy tour a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the “Spirit of Florida,” during a visit to White- Layout and Design
man Air Force Base, Mo., June 28, 2013. The cadets were at Whiteman for their three week summer immersion program into the
Active Duty Air Force. Published by the Sedalia Demo-
crat, a private firm in no way connected
By Lt. Col. (Retired) Frank Cavuoti tunity to speak with Airmen throughout differ- Thanks to 2nd Lt. Andrew Glover, 509th
with the U.S. Air Force, under exclu-
ent career fields and gain a better perspective Maintenance Group executive officer and
sive written contract with Whiteman Air
Whiteman Air Force Base is currently of the Air Force they will enter. Operation Air Force point of contact, and all
Force Base.
hosting ten Cadets from the United States Air The Cadets also experienced the sights, who participated in the Cadets’ experiences This civilian enterprise Air Force newspa-
Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, sounds and cuisines of our local surrounding with us. If you see these up and coming offi- per is an authorized publication for members
Co. These Juniors (Cadets Second Class) will communities and were hosted by some very cers around the base (or the follow-on group), of the U.S. military services. Contents of The
spend a total of three weeks experiencing the generous families to help them experience off- please take a moment to chat with themand Warrior are not necessarily the official views
many diverse career fields available to them the-base family life, both in our supportive lo- share your perspective. You can recognize of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the
when they graduate from USAFA in 2015. cal communities and down at the Lake of the them by their distinctive patches and “Prop Department of Defense or the Department of the
Air Force.
During their visit, the Cadets got to experience Ozarks. As the time closes out for our first and Wings” insignias on their flight caps.
The appearance of advertising in this pub-
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber operations as well visitors, a second group of Cadets will arrive Welcome them to Team Whiteman – they can
lication, including inserts or supplements, does
as tour many of the different squadrons on to spend their own three weeks here at White- never “B-2” excited – and you can help them
not constitute endorsement of the products or
base. The tours allowed the Cadets the oppor- man. catch the Spirit!
services advertised by the Department of De-
fense, the Department of the Air Force or the
Safety in the sun!
Sedalia Democrat.
Everything advertised in this publication
shall be made available for purchase, use or
patronage without regard to race, color, reli-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
gion, sex, national origin, age, marital status,
physical handicap, political affiliation or any
Hang in the Shade
other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user
Get out and work your body — there are a million things to do!
or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared
But hang out in the shade whenever you can. The sun is the stron-
and provided by the Public Affairs office of
gest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so during those times, play hard
509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base.
in the shade, chill out under an umbrella, have lunch inside, or try All photographs are Air Force photographs un-
some indoor activities for a change of pace. less otherwise indicated.
Whether you are in the water, walking on the beach, or conquer- The deadline for article submissions to the
ing the slopes, beware of the extra sun you get from rays bouncing Warrior is noon Friday. If a holiday falls on Fri-
off the surfaces around you. Remember: The sun can affect your day, the deadline then becomes 4 p.m. Thurs-
skin any time — not just in the summer, in warm places or on sunny day. Articles will be published on a space-avail-
able basis. Submissions does not guarantee
days. Use your head and get the right gear to protect yourself from
publication.
the rays.
For more information, call the Warrior of-
good coverage.) Put it on 30 minutes before you go out in the sun
fice at 660-687-6123, email: Whiteman.War-
Cover up and remember to cover your face, lips, hands, forearms, shoulders,
[email protected], fax us: 660-687-7948, or write
Obviously, when you put clothes between you and the sun’s rays, ears, back of your neck, under your chin and the top of your head.
to us at: 509th Bomb Wing, 1081 Arnold Ave.,
they can’t touch you! It’s best to cover up as much as you can, but Watch your eyes — it could sting! If you’re worried about breaking Bldg. 59, Whiteman AFB, Mo., 65305.
if it’s too hot outside for long sleeves and pants, a beach cover-up out, try a gel sunscreen. If your skin reacts badly to one brand, try
or T-shirt and long shorts will do. Wearing a hat with a wide brim is another. Not all sunscreens have the same ingredients. To advertise in The Warrior, call the Seda-
great, but if you wear a baseball cap, just make sure you slap some lia Democrat at: 1-800-892-7856.
sunscreen on your face, neck, and ears. Lightweight, see-through, or Apply, reapply and then do it again!
mesh clothing provides less protection. Even if the bottle says it’s waterproof, sweat proof or any other On the cover
“proof,” you should reapply. Put more sunscreen on every couple of
Rub it on hours or right after swimming, working up a sweat or rubbing your
U.S. Air Force photo/
Sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, that is. You’ve gotta have the skin with a towel or clothes. Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry
right stuff! And one more thing, wearing sunscreen protects you but it Airman 1st Class Lawerence Bowman,
SPF stands for “sun protection factor, "how well a sunscreen doesn’t make it okay to stay in the sun longer. Try to stay out of the Detachment 303 Aircraft Maintenance
works at keeping the sun’s burning rays from roasting your skin. sun when you can. Squadron structural maintenance ap-
For your information, SPF 45 and higher protects only a bit more prentice, replaces nut plates on an A-10
than SPF 30 does. Make sure your sunscreen blocks both UVA and Slip on Sunglasses Thunderbolt II at Whiteman Air Force
UVB rays (types of light). Gotta shield your eyes from the sun, too, right? Slip on some Base, Mo. July 1, 2013. Nut plates are
installed with rivets and ensure the
You’ll need to get a bottle, shake it, fill up a handful and slather it shades because the sun’s rays can hurt your eyes. Choose some cool
leading wing does not tear off.
all over your body. (Yes, we said “handful.” You need that much for wraparound sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB.
Commentary The Warrior 3
July 12, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS B-2 pilot lives dream
2013 Community
Assessment Survey
The 2013 Community Assessment
Survey is your opportunity to contrib-
ute to community action plans at your
base, MAJCOM and the Air Force!
Starting 5 April 2013, you may
be one of those chosen to receive an
email invitation to participate in a
survey concerning your experiences
as a member serving in the Air Force.
Sharing your experiences and opin-
ions in this survey is voluntary and
will help us improve life for families
in the Air Force Active Duty, Reserve
components and DoD Civilian work-
force.
The survey’s subject line will be
‘2013 Community Assessment Sur- U.S. Air Force photo/
vey (Survey Control Number AF13- Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston
141SGHW)’ and it will be from afca- Maj. Jasen Hunter, 394th Combat Train-
ing Squadron B-2 pilot, gets ready for
[email protected].
his first ever B-2 Spirit stealth bomber
If you have questions about this
U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston flight at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.,
survey, you may contact this survey’s
Maj. Ben Kaminski, 394th Combat Training Squadron commander, poses with Maj. Jasen on July 10, 2013. Hunter first saw the
POC, Lt Col Wendy Travis at afmoa.
Hunter before instructing him on his first ever B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flight at White- B-2 in flight during high school and
[email protected]. man Air Force Base, Mo., July 10, 2013. Hunter was chosen to train as one of four new then made it his mission to one day fly
mil. pilots in the 69th B-2 Initial Qualification Training class. the B-2.
By Lt Col (retired) Frank Cavouti of Florida during the naming ceremony that sparked Hunter’s life-
Whiteman Warrior Story Ideas
long dream.
The Public Affairs Office accepts
On a sunny Florida day at MacDill Air Force Base on October Once the selection process was complete, Hunter was chosen to
story ideas for news and feature ar-
26, 1996, a young man saw a B-2 Stealth Bomber in flight for the train as one of four new pilots in the 69th B-2 Initial Qualification
ticles on people and organizations
first time. Jasen Hunter, just graduated from high school, witnessed Training class.
to help provide recognition of excel-
the Naming Ceremony fly-by for the Air Force’s newest B-2, the Now with his wife, Angela, and two daughters, Savannah and
lence in performance and set forth
Spirit of Florida. Something caught his spirit, and the rest is history. Charlotte, he took the final step on a journey that began in 1996,
norms for mission accomplishment.
Two weeks later, Hunter enlisted in the Air Force and spent two and on July 10, now-Major Hunter became the community’s new-
To submit an idea, call 660-687-
years as an Airman before being accepted into the U.S. Air Force est B-2 pilot with assistance from his instructor pilot, Maj. Ben
6123, or email whiteman.warrior@
Academy Prep School. After receiving his commission, he spent Kaminski.
us.af.mil
three tours as an instructor pilot and a KC-10 Extender pilot. In a tribute to the inspiration that first set Hunter on the path to
Throughout his tours flying trainers and tankers, Hunter never Whiteman, Team Stealth was able to work the schedule so Hunter
AF Housing
gave up his dream to someday be involved with the B-2. flew his first B-2 ride ever in the exact same aircraft that he initially
Visit www.Housing.af.mil to find
Last year, Hunter applied for and interviewed in the highly saw fly during the ceremony back in 1996.
your new home with the Air Force.
competitive selection process to become a future B-2 pilot. Dur- In his own confident but unassuming manner, Hunter said, “I am
This website serves as a one-stop shop
ing his interview with the previous 509th Bomb Wing commander, not quite sure how this become a reality, but I do know for sure that
for airmen and their families to obtain
Brig. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, they were both surprised to find many, many good people helped me get here and made it happen…
information about the housing options
a common point: Vander Hamm was the pilot who flew the Spirit thanks.”
and support services available to them
at Air Force bases world-wide.
Around Air Force Global Strike Command
Air Force Accepting Prior
Service Applicants
Have you previously served as an
enlisted member in the Air Force or
other branch of the U.S. military?
If so, and you were honorably dis-
charged and have been out of the ser-
vice less than six years, you may be
eligible to serve in the U.S. Air Force.
The Air Force is currently seeking in-
dividuals to serve in their previous job
or to possibly retrain. To learn more,
contact your local Air Force recruiter,
call 1-800-423-USAF or visit airforce.
com and speak live with an Air Force
adviser.
For more news briefs, visit http://
www.whiteman.af.mil/news/an-
nouncements/index.asp
Weather
Today Saturday
Sunny Sunny
Hi 89 Hi 89
Lo 63 Lo 64
Sunday Monday U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Marianique Santos
Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny A B-52 Stratofortress from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., launches July 2, 2013, from
Hi 87 Hi 89 Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The deployment to Guam is for an ongoing military effort to provide a continuous bomber
Lo 66 Lo 69 presence in the Western Pacific.
4 The Warrior News
July 12, 2013
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U.S.AirForcephoto/Staff Sgt. Alexandra Boutte 26,429 2012 23,504 2013
MasterSgt.DonaldGray,509thComptrollerSquadronFirstSergeant,presents MILES CHEVY MILES FORD
the Diamond Sharp Award to Airman 1st Class Gwendolyn Benedict, 509th EDGE
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menwhohavestoodoutwhile performing the mission. Benedict dedicated 15 $2(cid:23)6(cid:16)(cid:21)(cid:3),(cid:8)8(cid:14)(cid:4)(cid:10)2(cid:13)(cid:9)1 LOADED $25,711
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Wed., Fri.,
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www.warrensburgchrysler.com 8:30am-6pm
U.S.AirForcephoto/Airman1stClassKeenanBerry
Col.ChaseMcCownassumescommandofthe509thMaintenanceGroupata
ceremonypresidedoverbyCol.KristinGoodwin,509thBombWingvicecom-
mander,atWhitemanAirForceBase,July9,2013.The509thMXGhasahistory
ofprovidingwell-maintainedaircraftinsupportofthenation’s best pilots.
Feature The Warrior 5
July 12, 2013
Team Whiteman attends 4th of July celebration
Fireworks are showcased during a 4th of July celebra-
tion at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 3, 2013. In
addition to the fireworks display, the event included a
number of activities including pony rides, live music
and games for adults and young children.
Staff Sgt. Kira Otero, 509th Force Support Squadron, plays with her son during a 4th of July celebration at Whiteman
Air Force Base, Mo., July 3, 2013. The day included a number of activities including karaoke with a live disk jockey,
free games, rides, contests with prizes and a fireworks display.
John Miller, lead
singer of the Mojo
Doggs, a local Rock
band, sings to an
audience during a
4th of July celebra-
tion at Whiteman
Air Force Base, Mo.,
July 3, 2013. In addi-
tion to the free mu-
sic, the afternoon’s
events also included
Aleiram Castro, 509th Force Support Squadron, Vehicles are showcased during a car show for mem-
a fireworks display
sings during a 4th of July celebration at White- bers of Team Whiteman to view during a 4th of July
and free games for
man Air Force Base, Mo., July 3, 2013. The event celebration at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 3,
people of all ages.
included a number of activities such as pony 2013. Base members and their families took part in
rides, a fireworks display, karaoke, face painting the celebration, which was hosted by the 509th Force
and games for adults and young children. Support Squadron.
Katelyn Paul, wife of Senior Airman Kevin Paul, 509th Aircraft Mainte-
nance Squadron, gets her face painted during a 4th of July celebration at
Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., July 3, 2013. In addition to face painting,
the event also included a car show, a fireworks display, a petting zoo and
bouncy castles for children to play on.
Children play games on a bouncy castle during a 4th of July celebration at Whiteman Air Force
Base, Mo., July 3, 2013. People of all ages were treated to free games, music and a fireworks dis- U.S. Air Force photos/Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
play as part of the celebration hosted by the 509th Force Support Squadron.
6 The Warrior News
July 12, 2013
From Jennies to jets to stealth bombers:
90 years of the 131st Bomb Wing Say hello to our board-certified
and 110th Bomb Squadron family health physicians.
U.S.Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Michael Ammons
Eagles&Sparrows-ThisformationofF-15Eaglesassignedtothe131stFighterWing,
110FighterSquadron,MissouriAirNationalGuard,simultaneouslyfire AIM-7Sparrow
radar-guided air-to-air missiles at a MQM-107 “Streaker” sub-scale aerial target drone
overtheGulfofMexicoduringaweaponsevaluationmission. TheEaglepilotswhofired
these missiles are, from near to far, Colonel John “JB” Kelk, 131st Operations Group
Commander,MajorChris“Scratch”Young,MajorMike“Father”Flanagan,andLieutenant
ColonelSteve“Daihatsu”Dasuta.TheunitparticipatedintheAir-to-AirWeaponsSystem
EvaluationProgram(WSEP)commonlyreferredtoasCombatArcherthatishostedby
the83rdFighterWeaponsSquadronlocatedatTyndallAirForceBase,Fla.
SeniorMasterSgt.Mary-DaleAmison overtheaircraft,Missouri’sGuardsmenwould
131stBombWingPublicAffairs maintainandflytheB-2Spiritstealthbombers
alongsidetheiractivedutycounterparts.
(Editor'snote:Thisispartfourofafive-part During the summer of 2006, severe storms
series.) swept through Missouri, resulting in massive
poweroutages.MissouricalledonitsNational
ThedramaticeventsofSept.11,2001,ledthe Guard to provide equipment and manpower
wingtostanduptofullalertwithineighthoursof to support the community. TheAirmen of the
theinitialterroristattack,withseveralunitsmo- 131stFWrespondedtothecrises.Effortswere
bilized within days. Throughout the following repeatedafteranicestormstrucktheregionin
months,wingmembersmobilizedordeployed December2006.
insupportofoperationsNobleEagle,Enduring InSeptember2006,theB-2“SpiritofPenn-
Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. De- sylvania”becamethefirstB-2tolandatLam-
spitethedemandsofhightempoglobalopera- bertInternationalAirportwhenitmadeavisitto No, seriously, say hello.
tionsandresponsetonaturaldisasters,the131st the131stFWtofamiliarizewingmemberswith
continuedtofulfillitsdailytrainingmissionsand theirupcomingmission. Whether you live in Knob Noster, Holden
excel in higher headquarters-directed inspec- 2007and2008sawplanningandpreparation
tions. tofullyimplementthenewB-2missionandthe or the surrounding areas, family health
Duringthewinterof2001to2002,the131st startofthedepartureofF-15Caircraftfortheir
physicians like Sarah Hasek, MD, and
FWcompleteda90-dayairexpeditionaryforce newhomesatotherbases.Thefirstfouraircraft
rotation in Keflavik, Iceland, allowing other leftLambertFieldmissionreadytoassumetheir Richard Hester, MD, practice right in your
unitstosupportotherglobaloperations. newdutiesinMontanainAugust,2008.
Infall2004,theunitbeganitstransitionfrom FloodingagainstrucktheMissouriregionin area. Western Missouri Medical Center
theF-15A/BtotheF-15C/Dmodelaircraft,be- summerof2008andCitizenAirmenanswered
provides specialized family care so you and
comingthefirstcombat-codedF-15unitinthe the call around the metro region in support of
Air National Guard to have the C-models. In thenaturaldisaster.Whilenotasdevastatingand your loved ones can receive the attention you
August2005,the131stFWbecamethefirstop- farreachingasthefloodof1993,the131stFW
erationalANGunittofullyflytheF-15Cmodel. provedyetagaintheirwillingnesstohelpintheir deserve. Close to home.
Inthelatesummerof2005,131stFWmem- communities.
bers were among those to deploy to the Gulf During2008,membersbegantotransferto
Coasttoassistwithhurricanereliefeffortsinthe WhitemanAFB,Mo.,insupportofanewmis-
wake of Hurricane Katrina. In St. Louis, wing sion to maintain and fly the B-2 Spirit stealth
personnelworkedinconcertwithlocalofficials bomber. The Missouri ANG would operate
toestablishashelterforevacueesexpectedtoar- alongside the 509th Bomb Wing of the active
riveinSt.Louis.Althoughitwasprepared,the dutyAirForceinclassicassociaterolebecoming
shelterwasneverused. thefirstANGunitintheB-2mission.
TheDefenseBaseClosureandRealignment OnJune18,2008,Col.GregoryChampagne,
(BRAC)in2005usheredinyetanotherchange 131st FW vice commander, and Maj. David
forthe131stFWand110thFighterSquadron, Thompson, 131st FW, achieved a major mile-
provingtobebothdramaticandhistoric.Asare- stoneinthetransitiontotheB-2missionbycom-
sultofBRAClaw,theF-15Eaglesweresched- pleting the first B-2 sortie flown and launched
uledforwithdrawfromtheMissouriANG,but byMissouriANGpersonnel.Fall2008sawthe
100percentmanningremainedinplace,ready- ribbon-cutting ceremony atWhitemanAFB of
ingthewingtoacceptanewmission. Bldg.3006,theheadquartersto“Detachment2”
InMarch2006,theDepartmentofDefense ofthe131stFW.
announced that the 131st would become an Additionalcontentforthisstorywasprovided [phone] | WMMC.com
ANGassociateunitatWhiteman AFB.While by Charles Machon (Missouri State National
theactivedutywouldhaveprimaryownership GuardMuseumcurator).
News The Warrior 7
July 12, 2013
CELEBRATE YOUR
How victim advocates
INDEPENDENCE
help the healing
From High Pressure & High Prices at
All StaffSgt.BrigitteN.Brantley especially in theAir Force. The individu-
2012&2013
509thBombWingPublicAffairs al may also fear the impact a report may
Vehiclespriced
$100Under have on interpersonal relationships with
invoice Guilt. Shame. Disbelief that anything co-workersandcolleagues.
likethiscouldeverhappen. “It’s important that victims know what
2013BUICKLACROSSE 2013GMCSIERRA15004WDEXTCABZ71SLE Forvictimsofsexualassault,thecrime happened to them may shape them, but it
#124467 #407247 committed against them is a violation of surely doesn’t define them,” said Master
SAVE theirbodiesthatcanneverbeundone. Sgt. Anthony Axton, a victim advocate
OVER
$5,286 Though it is something they will car- and 442nd Maintenance Squadron acces-
ry with them for the rest of their lives, sory flight chief. “Nobody at any time
SAVE
C32IT65Y $1O1V,8E3R0 they don’t need to bear the burden alone. should ever be subjected to something
HIWAY Across the Air Force, victim advocates like this; men and women don’t ask to be
After$3000Rebate,$1000
WMKS’RSPM$3IL2I,5TA35RY$27,249 After(cid:1)$$17,55000USRAeAbate, MSRPW$K41’S,830 $29,999 CgTorraanmdsue,m-$In2er0A0Cla0losIhwncaarnnedcme$eP1nr5toa0-l0 offer an understanding heart and a steady assaulted. But if they are, and decide to
PRICE MemberRebate MILITARYPRICE GMTruckLoyaltyT shouldertocryon. come forward, a victim advocate will be
2013GMCYUKONXL4WDSLT 2013CHEVYCAMARO2LT The moment a victim decides to report waitingtohelpthem.”
the crime is the moment the victim advo- Asamaleadvocate,Axtonhasyettobe
#369296 #152664
catestepsin,readytobeasteadyingforce calledupontohelpasexualassaultvictim,
SAVE
OVER duringtheemotionallytryingtimeahead. soinsteadhehasplayedanotherimportant
$6,946
w/RSPackage From medical appointments to legal role in the healing process: working with
Interior
PAacckcaegnet,,THriigmh consultations,these“VAs”gothroughthe thevictim’smalesignificantother.
WingSpoiler,
RemoteStart reporting process with the victim. They “Sexual assault is a crime that really
MSRP$53,195 $46,249 After$2,000Rebate, MSRP$33,880 $30,198 After$1,500Rebate offer far more than just a sympathetic ear affects everyone around the violated per-
WK’SMILITARY (cid:1)$750USAA WK’SMILITARY (cid:1)$750USAAMember
PRICE MemberRebate PRICE Rebate – in reality, they devote a part of them- son,”hesaid."Amale'sinstinctsaretobe
selves in providing a calming presence in the protector and it’s easy to feel helpless
2013CHEVYSPARK1LSAUTOMATIC 2013CHEVYEQUINOXFWDILT
anunexpectedandviolentstorm. whensomeonehurtthewomanwelovein
#619846 28 #106328 “Sitting next to a victim, it’s easy to that way. But if you as a husband or boy-
CITY
37 feel helpless,” said Senior Airman Staci friend are so mad or upset that you take
HIWAY
Cooper, a victim advocate and 509th Op- matters into your own hands and seek re-
erations Support Squadron wing sched- venge,youwon’tbetheretosupportyour
22
CITY
32 uler. “You wonder, ‘How can I make this lovedonewhentheyneedyou.”
HIWAY
WMKS’RSPPMR$II1CL3IE,T9A20RY $12,743 M(cid:1)e$m7b5e0rURSeAbAate WKM’SSRPMPR$II2CL6EI,3T0A0RY$22,926 (cid:1)A$ft7e5r0$UR1Se,5Ab0aA0teMReembabteer bbeetttteerr?…’ Baulltwtheecreanredaolliysbisenthoerme.a”king it spoAuxsetoonradsidgendifithcaanttitoitshaelrsotohaarcdcefpotr tthhee
Cooper herself is a survivor of child- drastic changes a tragedy like sexual as-
2013CADILLACATS2.0TURBO 2013CHEVYSILVERADO15002WDW/T
hood sexual abuse. Throughout her life saultcanhaveonarelationship.
#168193 #240223 she thought it was the norm until she “PartofmyroleasaVAisalsotohelp
21
CI3T1Y joined the Air Force and was stationed them answer questions like, ‘Why won’t
HIWAY
at Whiteman. Once she got here and was she let me touch or hug her anymore?’”
assaulted again, she went straight to the saidAxton. “I help them understand what
SAVE
ALMOST Sexual Assault Response Coordinator’s theirpieceinthepuzzlewillbeasthevic-
$9,000
office. tim puts her life back together, and I help
WMKS’SRPM$I3L5I,T7A9R5Y $32,648 After$2,000Rebate $M25S,R96P5 $16,999 TraAdftee-rIn$3A0ll0o0wRaenbcaetaen,$d1$510500G0MGM “Before then, I never got a chance for themunderstandtheyneedtonotactout.”
PRICE TruckLoyaltyT my voice to be heard,” she said. “The VA As victim advocates guide the victims
ALL NEW ALLNEW 2014 who was paired up with me was just awe- and their families down the path of heal-
CHEVYSILVERADO 4WD some.Whenyou’reassaulted,youloseall ing, they strive to be approachable and
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regain some of that power. I was finally “When you’re with a victim advocate,
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WK’S $39,499 abletohealfromthethingsthathappened nobody knows it,” said Cooper. “Nobody
MILITARY (cid:1)$750GMTruck inmypast.” knowswhoweare–youcouldjustbehav-
#106433 PRICE LoyaltyT
JUSTARRIVED•NEWBODYSTYLE•2014 Seeing the effect a VA could have on inglunchwithafriendorheadingtolegal
avictim’shealingprocessspurredCooper for another reason. We put the victim’s
View These And The Rest Of Our
to become an advocate herself. Now, she privacy in the forefront of everything we
Pre-Owned Selection At wkchevy.com andotherVAsdedicatethemselvestohelp do,andit’simportanttheyknowthat.”
others who decide to come forward take Cooper added it is also important for
animportantstepinthatprocess. victimstoseeactionbeingtaken.
“When that person walks into our of- “Some people might not make an un-
fice, they are coming to us as a victim,” restrictedreportbecausetheythink,‘Hey,
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vention and Response program assistant. cess and not see anything get done about
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“The role of victim advocates is price- levelofpriorityforsexualassaultpreven-
less,” she added. “They are people who tion in the Department of Defense, action
genuinely care about what happened and is being taken and that encourages more
U27077 U10799 U13028 U85690 U09945 arereadytoguideanyonethroughthepro- victimstocomeforward.”
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cess. When a victim knows what’s ahead For questions regarding victim advo-
of them, the task of reporting the assault cates or any other sexual assault preven-
canbelessdaunting.” tion or response issues, please call the
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• • • ready to report is always varied, but it 7272.
wkchevy.com wkchevy.com wkchevy.com wkchevy.com
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YourStandardsForExcellenceDealer
• • • a sexual assault might affect one’s career, vocates.
CHEVROLET BUICK CADILLAC GMC
8 The Warrior The Warrior 9
July 12, 2013 July 12, 2013
A galaxy far, far away…
By Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte they were too expensive.” ed high school and will take over some administrative things for me.”
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Hampton started building his own light saber, ‘Transparency,’ in Allie got her first light saber, ‘Crucible’ when she was 17 years old.
February 2013. “I name most of the light sabers I make,” he said. “I chose the name,
Even the littlest things we encounter as a child can have an effect on “I started with ‘Transparency,’” he said. “I sat down at my comput- ‘Crucible,’ for my daughter’s because she is leaving childhood and go-
our lives as we grow older. er and sketched out ideas. I only knew a few things for sure; I wanted ing through adulthood. It seemed to fit.”
Master Sgt. Kenneth Hampton, 509th Medical Group NCO-in- a very particular shape and a crystal chamber similar to one I had seen Allie and her dad are interested in the same things; there was no
charge of education and training, crafts custom light sabers in his spare in the movies, but I had no real idea how I was going to pull it off.” surprise when she accepted the challenge to help her.
time. Hampton researched online and started formulating his plan. He “I am a nerd, just like my dad,” Allie said. “I love “Star Wars” just
“I saw “Star Wars” for the first time in theaters in the summer of didn’t want it to look like an existing light saber; he wanted it to be a as much and when I heard he was thinking about making this into a
1977, when I was 7 years old,” Hampton said. “I have seen every the- one-of-a-kind. business I knew I wanted in.”
atrical release since to include going to a movie theater in Turkey to “I have adopted that philosophy for all of my builds as well,” Hamp- Hampton also shares his knowledge with a few apprentices who
see Episode III.” ton said. “I will never duplicate a design or replicate an existing light want to learn what he does.
Covered in “Star Wars” merchandise, his desk symbolizes his ad- saber. I might re-imagine a design, but at the end of the day, every cus- Although Hampton does this in his spare time, he hopes one day he
miration for the movie and the craft behind it. tomer gets a light saber like no one else in the world will ever have.” can make a good living doing what he loves most.
“I have always wanted to have a realistic lightsaber of my own,” he Hampton doesn’t do it for the money, but for the love of the craft. “In a couple of years I will retire from the Air Force and if I can
said. “I looked around and found that the affordable sabers looked too “I pour my heart, soul and passion into each design,” he said. “I make a decent living building light sabers full-time, I will be a very
simple and the beautifully handcrafted sabers either weren’t for sale or have enlisted some help, though. My daughter, Allie, recently graduat- happy man,” he said.
Airman 1st Class Shelby Orozco, 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs photojournalist, and Master Sgt.
Kenneth Hampton, 509th Medical Group NCO-in-charge of education and training, test the durabil-
ity of Hampton’s light sabers, May 7, 2013. Hampton wanted a particular shape and a crystal cham-
ber for his light sabers similar to one he had seen in the “Star Wars” movies.
The light sabers’ hilt is made of 1/8 inch thick aluminum tubing and the blade is made of 1/8 thick
polycarbonate tubing.
U.S. Air Force
photos and illustration/
Inspired by “Star Wars,” Hampton started building his own light saber, ‘Transparency,’ in February 2013.
Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte
Master Sgt. Kenneth Hampton, 509th Medical Group NCO-in-charge of education and training,
Hampton never duplicates a design or replicates an exist- crafts custom light sabers in his spare time. He was inspired to create lightsabers after watching
ing light saber. “Star Wars” for the first time when he was 7 years old.
10 The Warrior Advertisements
July 12, 2013
33 33 == $$66655
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Feature The Warrior 11
July 12, 2013
‘When it gets
broken, MXS
gets fixin’
Story and photos by
Airman 1st Class Keenan Berry
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is an aircraft designed
for battle, equipped with a wide variety of conven-
tional munitions and a highly accurate and surviv-
able weapons-delivery platform. The aircraft can
loiter near battle areas for extended periods of
time and operate in low ceiling and poor visibility
conditions to support ground troops.
Despite its mechanical prowess, the A-10 jet
requires a 1-2 phase inspection every 500 hours to
ensure the aircraft is functioning properly.
The 442nd Maintenance Squadron structural
maintenance shop works behind the scenes fixing
and repairing aircraft parts that have been dam-
aged.
While in flight, the A-10 jets are faced with the
dangers of bird strikes, inclement weather and the Airman 1st Class Cody Knott and Senior Airman Paul Goodrow, both Detachment 303 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron struc-
recoil from armament usage. While undergoing tural maintenance apprentices, replace an A-10 Thunderbolt II’s door hinge at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. July 1, 2013.
repair in the shop, they are threatened by human The old hinge is removed from the door and is used as a template to align the holes in the new hinge. If the hinge is old and
worn out, the A-10’s door will not open.
error.
When flying at more than 300 miles per hour,
birds the size of hawks could cause damage to the
A-10’s windshield, body or wing. Extreme weath-
er, such as hail, can cause dents to the body of the
aircraft. Each time a weapon is used, it vibrates
the air frame, which could result in cracks. Lastly,
human error involves the possibility of stands and
tools being dropped while in use, according to
Master Sgt. Gary Rose, 442nd MXS flight chief.
To combat these issues, the 442nd MXS A-10
phase hanger crew members are constantly in-
specting the A-10 jets by de-paneling and break-
ing them down to find any internal discrepancies.
Once the damaged parts are identified, they are
sent to the structural maintenance shop for repair,
according to Staff Sgt. Aaron Williams, 442nd
MXS structural maintenance apprentice.
“The 442nd A-10 phase hanger crew members
handle the inspection side while we work on the
skin and skeleton of the aircraft,” he said. “We
fabricate new parts to replace damaged parts and Airman 1st Class Lawerence Bowman, De-
use rivet plates, which are attached to the air- tachment 303 Aircraft Maintenance Squad- Airman 1st Class Lawerence Bowman, left, Detachment 303 Aircraft Mainte-
craft’s wings and hold the screws in place, to the ron structural maintenance apprentice, re- nance Squadron structural maintenance apprentice, and Staff Sgt. Aaron Wil-
aircraft’s body.” moves nut plates on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at liams, 442nd Maintenance Squadron structural maintenance apprentice, clean
Like their crew member counterpart, the struc- Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. July 1, 2013. foreign object debris off the A-10 Thunderbolt II’s wing at Whiteman Air Force
Rivets are installed to hold the nut plates and Base, Mo. July 1, 2013. This is a requirement for each operational procedure
tural maintenance shop uses an array of tools to
keep the leading wing from tearing off. done on the A-10 jet to prevent damage from FOD.
fix or repair the aircraft parts, according to Wil-
liams. Airman 1st Class Lawer-
“We use tools such as hand drills, tubing equip- ence Bowman, Detach-
ment 303 Aircraft Mainte-
ment and bending machines,” he said. “We use the
nance Squadron structural
hand drills to drill rivets into panels, tubing equip-
maintenance apprentice,
ment for hydraulic lines and bending machines,
and Staff Sgt. Aaron Wil-
such as the concise, and the box and pan power
liams, 442nd Maintenance
brakes to fabricate flat metal to different angles
Squadron structural main-
for the A-10 jets or local manufacturers.” tenance apprentice, review
Williams added that they paint and repair any technical orders at White-
aerospace ground equipment dealing with the air- man Air Force Base, Mo.
craft such as the hydraulic mule. Anytime the air- July 1, 2013. The structural
craft’s hydraulic systems are ground-operated, a maintenance shop must
hydraulic mule takes the place of the pumps on adhere to set procedures
for repairs made to the
the engine to work the aircraft’s flight controls,
A-10 Thunderbolt II for
weapons and flaps.
safety precaution, low ma-
Despite the rigorous task of ensuring the A-10
terial cost and proper us-
jet remains in top fighting condition, the passion,
age.
hard work and dedication to get the job done is
displayed daily by the 442nd MXS.
“I’ve been doing this since 1989,” said Rose. “I
love the people I work with and every day is new.”