WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! 000647. Repatriation mission brings six heroes home by Master Sgt. Rick Burnham 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office HANOI, VIETNAM (AFPN) -- Following a special ceremony on the Hanoi International Airport tarmac, an aircrew from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., lifted off in their C-17 Globemaster III with the remains of six aviators to be returned to the United States. And, six families from across the United States will soon be able to put the memories of the Vietnam Conflict to rest, 25 years after the fall of Saigon and the end of the war. During the repatriation ceremony, the remains -- confirmed to be those of military aviators -- were loaded aboard the C-17 after being transferred from Vietnamese control to representatives from Joint Task Force Full Accounting. After a brief stop in Guam, where Maj. Gen. Dan Dick, 13th Air Force commander, laid a wreath on the coffins, the remains, were delivered by the crew to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. They were then transferred to the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory for extensive forensic tests. Among those in attendance at the ceremony were U.S. Senator John McCain, who as a Navy pilot spent more than 5 years in captivity after being shot down over Vietnam. The senator watched as a joint service honor guard conducted a ceremony in which the flag-draped coffins were loaded aboard the C-17. Lt. Col. Timothy Zadalis, 7th Airlift Squadron commander and a pilot on the mission, said the ceremony was simply an extension of Operation Homecoming, in which U.S. prisoners of war were returned home by Air Force aircraft, including those from the 7th AS, soon after the end of the war. "These men made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and we feel privileged to be able to bring them back home," the colonel said. "It's a tremendous honor for this team to be able to participate in this important mission, and I'm happy to say that our people performed their duties in typical 7th AS style - flawless." Those sentiments were echoed by Capt. Kevin "Flip" Wilson, aircraft commander, who said teamwork made the mission a success. "This was a very important mission for a lot of reasons, and our people worked hard to make it a success," the captain said. "From the time we left McChord until the time we returned back home, everyone worked together, and that was the key. Everyone from the crew chief and the loadmasters to the Ravens (security forces) and our finance officer pitched in to take care of business. My hat's off to these guys for a job well done." The special mission required a wide range of duties to be performed, from guarding the C-17 on the Communist-controlled flightline, to loading and maintaining the jet, to paying Vietnamese officials for the use of the airstrip for the ceremony. In addition, the job required more than 20 hours of flying time to reach the Republic of Vietnam. Zadalis and Wilson were joined on the mission by Maj. Rick Mercado, pilot; 1st Lt. Derek Stuart, pilot; Staff Sgts. Pete Moss and Robert Suenaga, loadmasters; Staff Sgt. Timonty Parker, crew chief; Tech. Sgt. Anthony Smith and Senior Airman Virgil Reynolds, Raven security specialists; and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Rhoades, financial disbursing specialist. According to officials from JTF-FA, there are approximately 1,500 Americans unaccounted for in Vietnam. More than 500 remain missing in Laos, and nearly 80 in Cambodia. Another 425 were lost over the water off the Vietnamese coast. The six sets of remains brings the number of accounted for servicemen from the war to 561. Image cutlines 000647a.gif and 000647a.jpg A multi-service honor guard stands at attention at the casket of one of six military aviators being returned home to the United States following a repatriation ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo by Master Sgt. Rick Burnham) 000647b.gif and 000647.jpg Following a special ceremony on the Hanoi International Airport tarmac, the remains of six military aviators were carried on to a C-17 Globemaster III for the return flight to the United States. (Photo by Master Sgt. Rick Burnham) 000648. Repatriation mission held special meaning for crew by Master Sgt. Rick Burnham 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office HANOI, VIETNAM (AFPN) -- It was a mission that needed no extra incentive, one that required no additional inspiration or encouragement. But for several members of the McChord aircrew who participated in Tuesday's repatriation ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam, the job of bringing home the remains of six U.S. servicemen took on a special meaning. For Lt. Col. Tim Zadalis, Maj. Rick Mercado, Capt. Kevin "Flip" Wilson, and Staff Sgt. Pete Moss, whose fathers served in Vietnam during the conflict, it was an emotion-filled experience they will not soon forget. Wearing the MIA bracelet he received from his father as a 10-year-old boy in 1969, Zadalis joined the rest of the McChord crew in a formation near the tail of the C-17 Globemaster III as the flag-draped coffins were loaded aboard the aircraft. Later, he spoke of the special significance the mission had for members of the crew. "This was a mission that touched home for several of us," said the colonel, a native of Fairbanks, Alaska. "I can vividly remember my father coming home from the war, and the feelings and emotions that were associated with that time. It was a very difficult time for our country, and for those who went to Vietnam and fought in the war. That's why it's such an honor to be a part of the mission to bring them back home." Mercado, whose father and stepfather both served in the war, agreed. "These men are heroes -- they made the ultimate sacrifice for their country," he said. "To bring them home, back to American soil and among their fellow servicemembers, is one of the highlights of my career. It is a mission that I will always remember." Moss, a loadmaster on the flight, said it was exciting to be able to go to a place he had heard so much about. "It was almost like putting a face with a name," said the sergeant, who father Jessie served in Vietnam as an Air Force supply troop. "It was a very exciting mission, and an honor to be a part of." Wilson, who landed the C-17 in Hanoi, spoke of the families of the six servicemen. "It's an honor to bring these heroes home," the captain said. "Hopefully this will provide a little closure to their families, knowing they are back home where they should be -- on American soil." Image cutline 000648a.gif and 000648a.jpg Following a special ceremony on the Hanoi International Airport tarmac, the remains of six military aviators were carried on to a C-17 Globemaster III for the return flight to the United States. (Photo by Master Sgt. Rick Burnham) 000646. Air Force fugitive apprehended ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (AFPN) -- Airman First Class Daniel F. Scull was captured April 26, following his failure to appear at a general court-martial at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., six days earlier. Scull, a 96th Security Forces Squadron member, was placed on the Air Force's Top 10 Fugitive List by Air Force Office of Special Investigations officials. He was charged with sodomy and indecent acts with a child. Investigators from Eglin's AFOSI detachment gathered information and forwarded specific leads on the subject's potential whereabouts to law enforcement officials in several states. Based on the leads, the airman was taken into custody by local police in Mt. Carmel, Pa. Working with Air Force Personnel Center and law enforcement agencies, AFOSI began a concerted effort to locate Air Force fugitives in August 1995. Since then, more than 30 fugitives have been apprehended for crimes ranging from indecent assault of a child to attempted murder, as well as narcotics manufacturing and distribution. AFPC maintains an up-to-date list of Air Force deserters, including some from as far back as the 1980s. From that list, AFOSI identifies those who deserted to avoid prosecution or punishment for criminal acts, or who disappeared after having access to sensitive national security information. It then prioritizes the list of missing airmen based on the crimes they have allegedly committed. A list of the Air Force's top 10 fugitives can be found on the AFOSI Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/afosi/fugitive/toplist.html/. . To report the possible whereabouts of an Air Force fugitive, call the AFOSI operations center at 1-888-745-1639, or contact your local law enforcement agency. 000642. Raptor avionics testing stays on schedule Image Cutline - Stand-along Image 000642a.gif and 000642a.jpg SEATTLE (AFPN) -- Boeing has been flight testing the avionics for the F-22 Raptor aboard the company's 757 Flying Test Bed here, keeping the program on track for a November software delivery. F-22 avionics software has undergone more than 15,000 hours of testing in the Avionics Integration Lab and more than 400 hours on the 757 Flying Test Bed. (Photo courtesy of Boeing) 000643. USAFE to migrate to automated civilian job referral system RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- Civilian employees in U.S. Air Forces in Europe will have more control over their careers when they apply for jobs or promotions using an automated job referral system. Called Resumix, the system is designed to streamline staffing procedures for Air Force civilian employees who must submit resumes to apply for a job or a promotion within the civil service system. The job referral system is expected to be on-line in Europe sometime before Dec. 31. All civilian applicants and employees must have a resume registered in the system if they want to apply for a job or be considered for promotion. "Resumix empowers employees by allowing them to write resume describing their work experiences and giving them the freedom to choose the jobs they wish to be considered for," said Blaine Jackson, personnel management specialist at headquarters USAFE. "The process is intended to be more responsive to employees, empowering them to make the decisions on advancement." Civilian personnel officials will advertise all vacancies, unlike the current practice of preparing a list of candidates without advertising the jobs. Once a resume is on file, employees must nominate themselves for the jobs. The Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, has several automated tools to assist employees with the new procedures, such as a Resume Writer, an on-line system that provides step-by-step instructions on creating a resume. In addition, civilian personnel offices throughout USAFE will team up with family support centers to provide resume writing and preparation skills training. "It will be easy to use once employees have prepared and submitted a resume," Jackson said. AFPC has been using this system to hire from outside the Air Force since August 1996. Resumix is a commercial, off-the-shelf software program used throughout the Department of Defense. It replaces the current automatic referral method in which the civilian personnel office determines the jobs employees are considered for. The new process makes applying for jobs easier for potential employees seeking employment with the Air Force. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service) 000644. Air Force to analyze seized cyber tools ROME, N.Y.(AFPN) -- Air Force researchers are looking into the dark alleys of cyberspace to determine the technical sophistication of criminals threatening ambushes along the information superhighway. The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate has awarded a $99,908 contract to Wetstone Technologies Inc. of Freeville, N.Y., to analyze cyber weapons currently in use. The one-year agreement, "Seized Cyber-Weapon Analysis & Prediction," will be basic research funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. "Wetstone scientists and engineers will study equipment and software that have been used in criminal or other unlawful cyber activities," said Dr. Leonard Popyack, a scientist in the directorate's Information Grid Division. "The key aspect of the program is to study seized equipment and analyze it." The U.S. Secret Service will provide seized equipment. Wetstone researchers will also collaborate with the newly established Computer Forensics Research and Development Center at Utica College (N.Y.). "We will be seeking to answer several questions based on the analysis of the equipment," said Popyack. "Researchers will attempt to determine the level of sophistication of the technology used in the illegal activities, as well as the threat it poses to the Air Force, the Department of Defense, private industry and businesses, and the national infrastructure." Additional questions to be answered include: who developed the technology and when was it originally designed, developed and manufactured; what was the sophistication of developers, designers and manufacturers; what countermeasures are currently being used by cybercriminals; and are hidden capabilities present in the seized equipment and software. 000645. From software to SCUBA -- all in a day's work by Staff Sgt. Beverly Isik Standard Systems Group Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE - GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. (AFPN) -- During the day, Tech. Sgt. Brian Smeltzer works on a software development team. He's a functional systems analyst for Standard Systems Group. But after work, he often changes from his Air Force blues into SCUBA gear. The 16-year enlisted veteran becomes Maj. Brian Smeltzer -- deputy commander for the Montgomery County Search and Rescue Squad. The 35-person MCSAR is an all volunteer team that often helps local law enforcement agencies and the FBI recover evidence, boats, vehicles and bodies from area lakes, rivers and ponds. The squad also has one of the only civilian K-9 teams in the state capable of air scent and cadaver search; and is the rapid response unit for all Army Corps of Engineers parks in Central Alabama. "He's definitely a go-getter," said MCSAR Commander Col. Mike Pettit. "He's a valuable part of the squad and has been very instrumental in everything we do. I'd say he's been on at least 75 percent of our operations." Even though Smeltzer has dived repeatedly into murky Alabama waters looking for everything from weapons to missing people, there are parts of the job that he really doesn't care for. "Body recovery is very difficult," he said. "I'll never get used it." So what keeps him coming back? The old adage of the Air Force taking care of its own? The sense of giving back to the community that's instilled in service members early in their career? "Most people can't afford to bring in an expensive, specialized search and rescue unit to help find a missing family member," he explained. "We don't do it for money. We're just glad to help out families who need help." Camaraderie and meeting people outside the military circle are also key to his dedication to MCSAR. "The people with the squad are more than just team members. Most of us are good friends." Being in the military and volunteering with the squad often compliment each other. "The biggest thing I take from the military that comes over into search and rescue is discipline and leadership," he said. "The military discipline bleeds over into the squad." Pettit agrees. "Being retired from the Air Force myself, I like the military discipline. It makes things go a lot smoother," said the retired captain. "We may be volunteers, but we're a very professional unit." Military volunteers also make a big impact on how the community views those who wear the uniform. "We had a meeting a couple of months ago with the new Montgomery mayor," Smeltzer said. "When he went around the room asking each of us what we do for a living, I could see he was really proud to find that military people don't just sit behind their fences; that we're out helping the community and providing a service." On the other side of the coin, serving on the squad is an opportunity for military members to execute military skills during real world situations. "It's really helped me grow in my military career," he said. "I think it came to me about a year ago that what we do on the squad is what the military has been teaching me for the past 13-14 years." **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 ] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! 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