-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! 001781. Air Force's top leader visits Incirlik by Staff Sgt. Martie Capoeman 39th Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) -- Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters, who is touring air bases around the world, stopped here Nov. 30 to Dec 1, and talked to the people there about issues which affect the future of the Air Force, most notably the Expeditionary Aerospace Force. Peters said problems exist in the Air Force's newest concept of operations, but pointed out Air Expeditionary Force rotations are working better than they were early on. Some people are receiving only three or four days notice to deploy, which is particularly difficult for the expeditionary combat support team, Peters said. The EAF is designed to bring a more scheduled approach to deployments to eventually ease the burden, commonly called operations tempo. It gives predictability and stability to the deployment lives of Air Force people and units to allow them to better schedule schooling, training and family matters. "If you're part of a security forces team, you pretty much know when you're going to go because we track that," Peters said. "If you're part of a Prime Beef squadron, you probably don't know. We need to work some more on that." The other bump in the road with EAF is getting people to the mission on time, every time. "We're not, in fact, getting all the people over to the mission on time," he said. "We're getting about 85 percent of the people over in time, which means only 85 percent are going home on time, which means we need to work on that." Peters wants people to be able to get back to their college courses or families and friends and to be able to live a "regular" life after their EAF mission is complete. "One of the things I do know is if we are going to keep all of our NCOs and officers, we have to get operational tempo down to something that is compatible to having a life outside of the Air Force," he said. "People love the Air Force but they want to go home and they want to take college courses, they want to be with family, they want to coach a soccer team -- all those things are legitimate. "If we're not doing that, then we're not doing this right," he said. "What we need to do is improve the mobility so we can start making those changes over the next year." The secretary also emphasized the key to the mission is keeping well trained, professional people in uniform. This means pay increases and giving people adequate equipment. "If we don't do that we're going to start losing people again, so I think the real challenge is keeping recruiting and retention up, and to get more money to do faster modernization," he said. Throughout the secretary's visit, he never missed an opportunity to thank everyone at Incirlik for the job they are doing. "I want to say thank you to Incirlik folks for hosting the AEF here and for helping us make this rotational force structure a reality, because really without this kind of force structure, ops tempo would be crazy," he said. Incirlik plays host to Operation Northern Watch, a combined operation in which British, Turkish and U.S. air forces fly daily missions over northern Iraq to enforce no-fly zone restrictions and Iraqi compliance with appropriate United Nations Security Council resolutions. Units from around the Air Force come here on 3-month deployments. "What you do here at Incirlik is important, not only because it keeps Saddam in the box, but because without what you do we couldn't do EAF and that's really the future of the Air Force," Peters said. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service) 001784. Fire at missile alert facility extinguished; crew safe MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) -- The two-person Air Force missile crew that remained on alert in the underground launch control center during and after a fire destroyed the ground-level missile alert facility Nov. 30, has accomplished a normal crew change. The departing crew relinquished control of the missiles to the relief crew, Nov. 30, and is reported in excellent condition. Base medical officials here, as a precaution, examined the missileers. Fire fighters from the Plaza, N.D. fire department responded to the fire within minutes, but it was out of control when they arrived. Fire crews from Parshall, Stanley, Ryder-Makoti and Minot Air Force Base also responded to the scene. Thirteen active-duty members were in the topside facility when the fire began. All were safely evacuated. People at all missile alert facilities train continuously for situations like this and were able to follow well-established procedures to remain safe and secure, officials said. The missile crew, working approximately 65 feet below the MAF, became self-contained in the launch control center after they closed the blast doors due to the fire. The crewmembers continued to carry out their normal duties of monitoring the 10 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles under their direct control. If required, the missileers can remain underground for several days using their own air, water, food and power supply. Control of the missiles can be transferred to another LCC if necessary. Positive control of the ICBMs was maintained throughout the incident because launch control officers train daily to work in contingency conditions such as these. There has been no degradation to national security. "All weapons systems are safe and secure," said Col. Kim McKenzie, 91st Space Wing commander at Minot AFB. "Due to the tremendous support of our North Dakota communities this situation was resolved quickly. And the outstanding men and women serving in our Air Force today continue with operations as normal." No injuries occurred during the fire. Local fire officials have declared the area safe, and local and Air Force personnel will continue investigating the cause of the fire. 001779. Air Force kicks off AEF Cycle 2 LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Another milestone in the Air Force's Expeditionary Aerospace Force process was passed as the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Cycle 2 started Dec. 1. The first AEF cycle, which was implemented on Oct. 1, 1999, ended Nov. 30. The goal of this evolution is to improve the Air Force's ability to rapidly deploy light, lean and lethal elements of aerospace forces anywhere on the globe, officials said. To meet this challenge, the Air Force assigned people and equipment from active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units into 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces, two crisis-response Aerospace Expeditionary Wings and five lead mobility wings. During the 15-month cycle, forces assigned to an AEF are scheduled to deploy or be on call for one three-month period. In AEF Cycle 2, the AEWs assigned to Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, will rotate on-call status every 120 days, ensuring one AEW is always ready to respond to pop-up contingencies. In addition to AEFs and AEWs, the Air Force's five designated lead mobility wings are also ready to respond to humanitarian crises around the world. "Since the first AEF cycle began October 1, 1999, we have greatly improved deployment predictability and stability for our Air Force members," said Brig. Gen. Dennis Larsen, commander of the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Center here. "We do this by providing a three-month deployment-eligibility window in the 15-month AEF cycle. This allows our people to predict when they are eligible for deployment, and the stability to plan training, leave and other activities. "While the EAF/AEF concept has been a success story, we will continue to seek improvements to the process with each AEF rotation," Larsen said. Nearly 14,000 Air Force active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members are deployed in AEF operations around the world. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service) 001780. Strong dollar decreases COLA for U.S. military in Germany RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- U.S. military members based in Germany have seen a decrease in cost of living allowance rates throughout the year, due in large part to the strength of the U.S. dollar against the German deutschmark, said U.S. Air Forces in Europe finance officials here. "COLA is a variable allowance designed to keep purchasing power comparable to what's found in the continental United States," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Windsor, command pay and entitlements analyst for USAFE's Directorate of Financial Management. "We get slight increases in one month while the next month we may get a slight decrease as the COLA rate catches up with the exchange rates over the previous weeks," Windsor said. Over the past year, the purchasing power for the average military member increased 50 percent, based on items typically purchased on the local economy. Consequently, the current COLA rate is lower than the rate one year ago, he said. In addition to exchange rate fluctuations, COLA rates are also affected by other factors like service members' spending patterns and local prices. A new market-basket survey, a review of more than 120 goods and services and the corresponding costs on the local economy, was recently completed and submitted through U.S. Army Europe to the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee. The committee will use this information to determine if adjustments to the rates are necessary. Windsor said one common misconception about COLA rates is locations without on-site support facilities should receive a higher rate than those with facilities. Cost of living allowance rates are based on a comparison with U.S. buying power, not with another overseas location, Windsor said. "Even if local prices at the different locations are comparable, the living pattern surveys completed by military members assigned to each location may produce different results," he said For example, people at a geographically separated unit may decide to do their grocery shopping 50 miles away at the nearest commissary instead of using the local supermarket. "In doing so, their spending patterns (documented in the living pattern survey) would mirror those of personnel assigned to the location with the commissary," Windsor said. "Consequently, both groups of military members might receive the same COLA rate." The cost of driving the extra distance would not be factored into the COLA rate, he said. "Rather, it reflects a choice by military members at the GSU not to use the local supermarket. Using the local supermarket instead of driving the extra distance to use a commissary could result in a higher COLA rate for people at the GSU if higher prices were being paid for like items on the local economy," Windsor said. "In any case, members can rest assured that, under the COLA system, they will be adequately compensated so they remain on the same purchasing power level as their counterparts in the United States," he said. "COLA rates are adjusted as often as every two weeks." (Courtesy of USAFE News Service) 001785. Redesign makes personal property Web site easier to use by John Randt Command Affairs, Military Traffic Management Command ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AFPN) -- Every day, 300 to 500 users tap into the Military Traffic Management Command's personal property Web pages. This Internet audience includes service members, installation travel offices and household goods moving companies from around the world. Since its inception in 1996, the Web site has provided essential information on MTMC's personal property program. MTMC moves an average of 646,000 service members a year. A totally redesigned Web site was introduced Nov. 24. Users who go to the Web site, http://www.mtmc.army.mil, and click on "Transportation Services" will find an entirely different personal property section. "We had been putting changes on it for years," said Hank Spieler, chief of the domestic and international rates section. "We decided on a total redesign." Staying true to a reinvention design, transportation assistant Cliff Mechalske started with a blank screen. "I wanted it easier to use and more professional in its look," Mechalske said. "It is a new look, a new feel." One of the biggest changes was on the site's first page. A user on the old site had to scroll down through dozens of listings in a fact-finding effort. No longer. The new site has just nine listings. Related categories are then broken down under such categories as Latest Updates, Domestic Advisory, International Advisory and Carrier Approvals. "We are in an interactive mode," Spieler said. "All the information that (users) formerly had to research by paper, volumes of paper, is now on the Web." (Courtesy of Military Traffic Management Command News Service). 001782. Son's commitment inspires father to rejoin Air Force Airman 1st Class Vincent Tufariello 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- A public affairs reservist with the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., rejoined the Air Force Reserve just eight weeks ago, but he still outranks his son, an imagery analysis student here who has been in the service for three months. Senior Airman Tom Kimball came back in the Air Force Oct. 4, just five days after he witnessed his son, Airman Ben Kimball, graduate from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Though he's 44 years old and the president of a successful multimedia production company, Ben's commitment inspired him to give back to an organization that helped him many years ago. During the nine-month period Kimball's son was in the delayed enlistment program, Tom started to tell Ben all of his stories about boot camp and his experiences in Europe. "I hadn't realized, until I started conveying these stories to (Ben), how important those four years of my life were," Tom said. "So, I got to thinking 'I wonder if I can get back in?'" Tom initially enlisted in November 1979 when he was bored with college and didn't want to wait to get his degree. He wanted to travel but didn't want to pay for it, and he wanted to learn something that was going to be immediately useful to him. With the influence of a few family members who were already serving in the military, he opted to join the Air Force. The elder Kimball spent most of his enlistment at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. Ben was born there in 1982. After Tom's enlistment was up, he separated and started freelancing in fields similar to public affairs such as public speaking, theater, and on-camera activities like movies, commercials and more. Eventually, Tom began producing and writing commercials. This slowly evolved into Tom's current production company, the Light Group. Tom attributes much of his success to a foundation that was laid a long time ago. His motivation for joining the Air Force is a bit different today than it was in 1979. "I'm not in it for the money. I'm in it to serve," Tom said. "My business is successful because of my Air Force foundation. Generally speaking, people of my experience don't come back in. What I could do, perhaps, is set a trend and get people to return to the service and give back a little." And Tom is giving back in more ways than one. In a way, he's giving a human being. Ben was initially going to enlist in the Army until his father urged him to check out the Air Force to see what it had to offer. Ben noticed the two services' benefits were similar, but was drawn to the different career opportunities that were Air Force-specific. "The Air Force is definitely a big part of my life right now," Ben said. "I feel, in a way, that the Air Force is serving me because it's paying for me to go to school, and I love every minute of it." Just as Ben is enjoying the Air Force today, so did Tom almost two decades ago. Tom said he is filled with nostalgia to see his son growing into a man and sharing experiences he had in the past. "To see (Ben) make such a significant change since he left in a pair of blue jeans and T-shirt to standing tall and marching makes me very proud," Tom said. "When I saw him at basic training, I wept. It was the culmination of this 'That's my boy' feeling. I hadn't sworn in at that point, and it was though divine providence was sending me a message saying, 'This is the right thing to do.'" After swearing in, Tom remembered he suddenly had more than one family. Both father and son now shared two common bonds. "I know the Air Force family," Tom said. "I know that everyone takes care of each other. As a father, that's very comforting to me. I remember being in Ben's situation -- not knowing what I was doing. But, people made me feel comfortable. As a parent, you're always worried about your kids, no matter how old they are. But, I know for a fact, he's in good hands." 001783. AAFES continues holiday film festival tradition DALLAS (AFPN) -- The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Hollywood are once again joining forces to sponsor what has become a popular tradition among military forces deployed to remote sites around the world - the annual AAFES Holiday Film Festival. The festival will feature major motion pictures free of charge to U.S. service members stationed in the Balkans, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Thanks to the combined effort, military people stationed at Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia; Camp Doha, Kuwait, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia and Camps Bondsteel and Montieth in Kosovo will be able to enjoy such current blockbuster films as "Unbreakable," with Bruce Willis; "The Legend of Bagger Vance," with Will Smith and Matt Damon; "Little Nicky," with Adam Sandler; "Lucky Numbers," with John Travolta; "Men of Honor," with Cuba Gooding Jr; and "Red Planet," with Val Kilmer. "Through this gift of free movies, AAFES and Hollywood lead the way in acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice of those members of the Armed Forces serving so far from their loved ones during the holidays," said General Joseph W. Ralston, commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Command in Europe, NATO. "Bringing home a little closer through free movies is greatly appreciated. AAFES and Hollywood are to be commended for their commitment to those service members most in need." The popular event got its start a few years ago when Europe's then Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Wesley K. Clark, approached AAFES with the idea of showing a current major motion picture during the holiday season for the troops serving in Bosnia. Clark requested Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan." AAFES contacted Spielberg about donating "Ryan" to the cause, and he was quick to oblige. After a few phone calls from Jon Walters, AAFES' Theater Branch Program Manager, many other companies joined in the effort as well, bringing the total number of donated films to nine. Since that time, Walters said, major film studios have enthusiastically jumped at the opportunity to help AAFES bring a touch of home to U.S. service members deployed to remote sites around the world during the holiday season. 001786. December issue of Airman now available SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AFPN) -- Talk about a turnaround! Tuzla Air Base isn't what it used to be. And that's good for troops who pull a tour of duty at the small base in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Airmen still find there is a vital mission there. And the living conditions will surprise newcomers. Find out about the resurgence at this important duty station in the December edition of Airman magazine, now on the Web. Turn the pages and see airmen battling, running shoe-to-running shoe, with 3,000 athletes at the Air Force Marathon. Or revisit 1950, as an airmen rescued 1,000 helpless South Korean orphans from the wrath of their North Korean enemies. Also in the magazine: The road to becoming an Air Force special agent runs through the Air Force Special Investigations Academy in Maryland. Find out what it takes, and see why the Air Force has a top-notch investigation team. Visit the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, and finally, learn how airmen show the world Santa's most secret sleigh ride. 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