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A PUBL ICAT ION OF THE 502nd A IR BASE W ING

INSIDE | Commentary 2 News 3 Community Briefs 13 What’s Happening 14 Sports 16 ONLINE | http://www.jbsa.af.mil

J O I N T B A S E S A N A N T O N I O - L A C K L A N D , T E X A S • V o l . 7 0 N o . 6 • F e b r u a r y 1 5 , 2 0 1 3

Photo by tech. Sgt. marc espositoTandem passenger Staff Sgt. Victoria Lopez smiles during her jump with Kirby Rodriguez, a tandem master jumper and personnel parachute program manager with the 342nd Training Squadron. Lopez is a military training leader with the 37th Training Group. Both are at JBSA-Lackland.

Dedicated to the mission:

airmen soaring high

Profi le:Soldier wins Army’s linguist competitionPG06

Milestone:Military medicine marks � rst for care transportPG03

commentaryClinics help military families understand child supportPG 02

Legislative DayTexas lawmakers get immersed in trainingPG13

TALESPINNER February 15, 2013commentary

This newspaper is published by Prime Time Military Newspapers, a private fi rm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Lackland AFB, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Talespinner are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Prime Time Military Newspapers, of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affi liation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Offi ce of the 502nd Air Base Wing. All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

Deadline for submissionsis noon Thursday the week prior

to publication.

Offi ce1701 Kenly Ave. Suite 102Lackland AFB, Texas78236-5103(210) 671-4111;(fax) 671-2022Email: [email protected]’s Action Line:[email protected] Talk: 671-6397 (NEWS)

For advertising information:Prime Time Military NewspapersAve E at Third StreetSan Antonio, Texas 78205(210) 250-2024

Joint Base San AntonioLackland

Editorial Staff

BRIG. GEN. THERESA C. CARTER,JBSA/502ND AIR BASE WING,

COMMANDER

TODD G. WHITE,JBSA/502ND AIR BASE WING

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

OSCAR BALLADARES,JBSA-LACKLAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEF

VACANT

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF

210-671-4111

L.A. SHIVELY, MANAGING EDITOR

MIKE JOSEPH, SENIOR WRITER

210-671-4357

JOSE T. GARZA, III, SPORTS/STAFF WRITER,210-671-0478

DOROTHY LONAS, DESIGN/LAYOUT

210-671-5049

Texas Attorney General offers assistance with parent-child ordersBy E. Stephanie HebertLegal Assistance Attorney, 802 MSG/JA

“Military families make sac-rifi ces every day in service to our country and some-

times military obligations can complicate child support and parenting time mat-ters,” said Noelita Lugo, HEROES project coordinator, Offi ce of the Texas Attorney General, Child Support Division.

“To address this need,” Lugo said, “we partner with Joint Base San An-tonio and hold Parenting Order Legal Clinics that help military families under-stand the child support system.”

If you are a military parent seeking to establish an initial court order, informa-tion will be presented at a clinic to be held on Joint Base San Antonio-Lack-land about paternity, standard visitation schedules, parental rights and duties, and statutory child support and medical support obligations.

If you are a military parent seeking to modify or enforce an existing court or-der, information will be presented at the clinic to address those particular con-cerns. To ensure all of your questions are answered, you should bring a list of specifi c questions you’d like to ask.

Attending the clinic will not obligate you to apply for services through the At-torney General. However, if you are a biological parent and are interested in seeking free services from the A/G, the A/G can assist you in obtaining an enforceable court order containing a standard visitation schedule and

statutory child support. Although many parents seek the as-

sistance of the A/G exactly because the services are free, you should know that the A/G cannot represent you; the A/G represents the interests of the state of Texas only. If you want or need an at-torney to advocate on your behalf, you should hire your own attorney.

All active duty service members and their dependents are invited to attend the clinic to obtain information and ask questions. Retirees and their dependents are also welcome. Children should not attend the clinic, as the subject matter of the discussions will be inappropriate for them. If you have already retained an attorney, you should obtain written consent from your attorney before

you attend the clinic. All speakers at the clinic will ad-

dress questions in a group setting, so if confi dentiality is a concern for you, you may want to make an appointment with a Lackland legal assistance attorney in a private offi ce setting instead of par-ticipating in the clinic. Group forums, however, can be extremely helpful to people who are experiencing similar life challenges because everyone present can benefi t from the questions asked as well as the answers provided.

The next Parenting Order Legal Clinic will be held at Lackland on Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Airman & Family Readiness Center, 2160 Kenly Avenue, Bldg. 1249, Room 106. Legal personnel from the 802nd Mission Sup-port Group/Judge Advocate offi ce will also be present and participate in the event.

For more information regarding this free clinic, or to schedule an appoint-ment with a Lackland legal assistance attorney, please call the 802nd LegalAssistance Offi ce at 210-671-3362.

new public health policy for fundraisers and food

Effective immediately, all organizations who want to hold fundraiser events involving food on JBSA-Lackland will need to have at least one representative (preferably two) certifi ed by Public Health in Food Handler Training. Organizations that do not have at least one person certifi ed will not be approved by Public Health during the fundraiser request process. There will be a 30-day period to im-plement this new requirement. Contact Public Health to schedule the two-hour class at 210-671-9621.

Traffi c will be disrupted on Kirknewton Street beginning Feb. 18 and continuing through Feb. 22 to accommodate electrical work being performed by City Public Service. CPS will provide fl ashers and signs directing traffi c to Kirknew-ton on the other side of the road closure. All parking areas will remain open.

Kirknewton St. Road Closure

February 15, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 3newsFeb. 22diamonds & denim reservation deadline

To attend the charity auction spon-sored by the Wilford Hall Auxiliary at the Fort Sam Houston golf club.

The benefit is open to civilians, and cost is $25 per person. For reservations or information, contact Pam Bobb at 210-900-2942, email [email protected] or visit http://wilfordhallauxiliary.com.

The March 2 event, from 6-10 p.m., supports wounded warriors and deployed military members’ families.

Feb. 28firearms registration deadline

Failure to comply with the Joint Base San Antonio policy by the deadline will result in violators being prosecuted by Security Forces. The JBSA Integrated Defense Plan mandates all personnel who live in base housing, a dormitory or stay in base lodging to register privately-owned firearms at Pass and Registration. Additional requirements apply for those personnel utilizing JBSA recreational vehicle campgrounds.

Newly-arrived personnel who live or stay in base government-owned facilities or privatized housing base must register their firearms within three duty days of arrival.

Firearms are registered on Air Force Form 1314, Firearms Registration. The form must be signed by the personnel’s unit commander. The commander must also verify a properly completed Depart-ment of Defense Form 2760, Qualification to Possess Firearms or Ammunition. The forms are available at http://www.e-publishing.af.mil.

For more information or questions, contact security forces on JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-9162, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis at 210-221-0213 or JBSA-Randolph at 210-652-4365.

March 8jbsa 2013 annual awards ceremony

Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will be held at the Marriott River-center Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

The guest speaker will be San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, contact Master Sgt. Carteralynn Ford at 210-671-3663 or Master Sgt. Marygail Harmon at 210-671-8130.

News iN Brief Joint medical team achieves cutting-edge patient transferBy Elaine SanchezBrooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs

Marking a first for military medical care in the United States, an Army and Air Force team successfully transported a critically ill woman using a special form of heart-lung by-pass from San Antonio Military Medical Center to New York City in January.

This mission marked the military’s first stateside transport of an adult patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, noted Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jeremy Cannon, the SAMMC chief of Trauma. ECMO is a heart-lung bypass system that offers a lifesaving capability for patients who aren’t doing well on a ventilator, he explained.

While the technology has been used to aid ill infants and pediatric patients for about 30 years, it’s only recently been shown to have lifesaving capabilities for adults, Cannon not-ed.

This case involved a woman in her early 30s with cystic fibrosis. She had developed viral and bacterial pneumonia that made her “incredibly ill to the point where she could no longer be safely managed on a ventilator,” the doctor recalled.

After stabilizing this young mother of two and wife of an active-duty Army recruiter on ECMO, the trauma chief called on the Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flight Team and the hospital’s ECMO team, as well as the 59th Medical Wing’s Critical Care Air Transport Team to evacuate her to a center with expertise in using ECMO as a bridge to a lung transplant. This mission brought together a group of Army and Air Force physicians, nurses and respiratory specialists for this critical patient, Cannon said.

Joined by a transplant surgeon and a perfusionist from Columbia University, the team transported the patient via am-bulance from the Burn Center to the Kelly Field flight line, where they boarded a C-17 Globemaster en route to the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Once in New York, an am-bulance transported the patient to the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

“Since her transport, now just over two weeks ago, she has made a remarkable recovery to the point where she may be able to come off of ECMO soon and is able to respond to her husband who is still at her bedside,” Cannon said.

Nearly two years of hard work and preparation paid off that night, the doctor said, noting the patient “definitely wouldn’t have made it without ECMO.”

This patient is the third adult to be placed on ECMO at SAMMC. The first patient, also a young mother, was on this therapy for 23 days while her lungs healed from an autoim-mune reaction. She’s now back home with her family and doing well, Cannon said.

Cannon said he has high hopes for BAMC’s ECMO program, particularly for wounded warriors critically injured in theater. He’d like to see ECMO patients transported directly from the battlefield to SAMMC where they can receive state-of-the-art

trauma and ECMO care. “The idea would be to rendezvous in Germany and bring patients back to SAMMC for ongoing care even while on ECMO,” he said.

The doctor’s vision is for BAMC, and San Antonio, to be-come the Department of Defense extracorporeal life support epicenter for beneficiaries and combat wounded.

“It’s an amazing capability, and we’re just tapping into the tip of the iceberg,” he added. “ECMO offers us untold poten-tial to intervene in situations that would have been deemed hopeless a few years ago.”

This most recent case is a perfect example, he said. “It’s just incredibly heartening when all the time and effort and energy and thought put into it pays off in huge ways.”

Speaking on behalf of the entire team that accomplished this mission, Cannon noted that the feeling of reward after a positive outcome is “hard to describe.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin IinumaMembers of the 59th Medical Wing Aeromedical Staging Facility transfer a patient being treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system into a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. ECMO is a heart-lung bypass system that circu-lates blood through an external artificial lung and sends it back into the patient’s bloodstream.

TALESPINNER February 15, 2013

Congratulations to these 70 Airmen selected as honor graduates among the 740 Air Force basic military train-ees who graduated Feb 8:

320th Training SquadronFlight 139Kyle Bouck Dylan Duggan Cody Payton Kyle Rosenkrance Kelly WilsonFlight 140Lainey Graham Lauren Hoff Kaitlyn Howerton Autumn Johnson Sarah Laperle Diana Lopez Shandra Weinkauf Nehia Williams

321st Training SquadronFlight 135Joshua Davis Alvin Hall Tyler Lee Charles Tedrick

Flight 136Penny CarlinAlixandrea GarciaErika JohnsonSarah MarcotteDiem NguyenKathy PeralezLaurel RichardsJuanita Richardson

322nd Training Squadron Flight 143Sawyer CarltonDavid RuescheFlight 144Brian Armitage, Jr.Carlo Del William Klein, Jr. Samuel Lewis Eric Melusky

324th Training Squadron Flight 145Luis Avendano Noah Bergan Chad Maze Khahyil Moore John Smith, Jr. Griffi n Whiting

Aron Wing Flight 146Cherie Clark Veronica Ray Sarah Thomie

326th Training Squadron Flight 141Christopher HarknessAddison WindsorFlight 142Stephen HughesJacob LoppnowDanny SargentJesse SilkworthBrendan VossmeyerFlight 149Devin Bartlett Christopher Michael Khalid Roper

331st Training SquadronFlight 137Joseph SwansonNathan WhiteFlight 138Nathan BinghamFlight 147Joseph Byrne

Jordan GatzTimothy McgrathNicholas MoreyGiovanni OddoKyle PottsMichael RiceKeith Schultz, Jr.Cameron SpringerFlight 148Mark DavisChristopher HortonDillon HutterCasey MelnichenkoJustin MendozaWilliam Wright, Jr.

Top BMT AirmanNoah Bergan, 324th TRS, Flight 145

Most Physically FitMale AirmenWilliam Allen II 324th TRS, Flight 145 Sean Schoonover 326th TRS, Flight 142Michael Rice 331st TRS, Flight 147Lorrell Winfi eld II

320th TRS, Flight 139 Female AirmenKathy Peralez 321st TRS, Flight 136Gabrielle Asalin 320th TRS, Flight 140Nichole Gustafson 324th TRS, Flight 146Baudelia De Santiago 324th TRS, Flight 146

Male Flights322nd TRS, Flight 144326th TRS, Flight 142322nd TRS, Flight 143324th TRS, Flight 145Female Flights326th TRS, Flight 150320th TRS, Flight 140324th TRS, Flight 146321st TRS, Flight 136

Top Academic Flights320th TRS, Flight 140 324th TRS, Flight 145 331st TRS, Flight 147 326th TRS, Flight 142331st TRS, Flight 148326th TRS, Flight 149

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February 15, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 5

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By Gregory Ripps470th MIB Public Affairs

For the second year in a row, the U.S. Army has recognized a soldier stationed at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Annex as “Language Professional of the Year.”

Sgt. Ruben Costea; like his predecessor, a mem-ber of the 717th Military Intelligence Battalion, won at battalion level, brigade level and Intelligence and Security Command level, before taking top honors at the Army competition. Now he competes with linguists of the other military services for the title at the Department of Defense level.

Costea looks forward to attending the Army’s recognition ceremony. He missed the INSCOM cer-emony because he was deployed overseas. Another battalion member initially accepted the INSCOM presentations on Costea’s behalf, until Costea per-sonally received them at the 717th MI Battalion’s monthly payday activities and award assembly.

“I was deployed to Afghanistan for six months as part of our Special Operations Command support team,” said Costea. “I had just completed the first step of the competition before deployment. I had to submit my other packages while downrange.”

The packages included essays on specified topics related to language training. The judges evaluated these essays in addition to scores on the Defense Language Proficiency Test – which tests speaking, listening and writing in the foreign languages – to determine competition winners.

Costea scored high in three languages: Spanish, Romanian and German. He credits his scores to an early exposure to the number of languages he encountered in his formative years.

“I was fortunate to grow up in regions with di-verse cultures and where many languages were spoken,” Costea said.

His story begins near the border of Transylvania – yes, Transylvania – a part of modern-day Roma-nia. While both his parents spoke Romanian, his mother’s family also spoke Hungarian, which is un-surprising because Hungary long ruled Transylva-nia. Many people also spoke Russian and Ukranian since Romania belonged to the Eastern Bloc until the Iron Curtain disintegrated in the early 1990s.

At age 6, Costea and his family moved to Austria, where they learned German, and while he attended a formal secondary school there, he studied Eng-lish and Latin. When he was 16, the Costea family moved again, this time to the United States. Eight years later, he joined the U.S. Army.

“I wanted to get into the military intelligence field,” said Costea. “I consider myself a technical problem-solver first, but speaking other languages fits well with being a cryptologic linguist.”

Language tests Costea took upon entering the Army earned him a coveted seat at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. There he pursued proficiency in Spanish, which is similar to Romanian.

Although Costea concedes nothing beats growing up speaking more than one language, adults who seek to learn another language have one potential advantage.

“Learning a language from scratch gives a person a different approach,” he said. “Non-native speakers have an opportunity to study the language funda-mentals at a higher or more sophisticated level.”

After graduating from DLI with honors, he under-went intelligence training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, where he again graduated with hon-ors. Ultimately, he gained assignment to the 717th MI Battalion, the 470th MI Brigade’s primary sig-nals intelligence component.

Costea described his battalion as “very linguist attentive.”

“They actively seek out unique training opportu-

nities that bolster our language maintenance abili-ties,” Costea said. “The fact that the battalion has won two years straight at both INSCOM and Army level shows the language program is obviously working. Our battalion even won the site language competition held annually at the cryptologic center, beating out all other services.”

The battalion command team has coined the phrase “Language is a weapon system.”

“The battalion program focuses on centralized planning with decentralized execution,” said Lt. Col. Joe Kushner, the battalion commander. “We (the command team) in conjunction with the Com-mand Language Program Manager plan, program and budget for language training six months in ad-vance; these plans are subsequently executed by the company commanders and their own CLPMs.

“We treat language the same way we treat our small arms ranges, combatives, combat lifesaver and leader development programs,” said Kushner. “Each is an integral part of being an intelligence professional.”

470th MI brigade soldier wins army’s linguist competition

Photo by Gregory RippsSgt. Ruben Costea won at the battalion, brigade and Intelligence and Security Command levels, before taking top honors at the Army competition. He will compete with linguists of the other military services for the title at the Department of Defense level.


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Be Responsible! Seat Belts Save Lives! Buckle Up And Wear Yours!


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FOSTER a PUPPYThe Department of Defense Dog Breeding Program needs families to foster puppies for three months. Potential foster families need: time and patience to raise a puppy age 12 weeks to six months, a

stimulating and safe home environment, and a desire to help raisea military working dog.

FOSTERFOSTERThe Department of Defense Dog Breeding Program needs families to foster puppies for three months. The Department of Defense Dog Breeding Program needs families to foster puppies for three months. The Department of Defense Dog Breeding Program

Potential foster families need: time and patience needs families to foster puppies for three months. Potential foster families need: time and patience needs families to foster puppies for three months.

to raise a puppy age 12 weeks to six months, a Potential foster families need: time and patience to raise a puppy age 12 weeks to six months, a Potential foster families need: time and patience

stimulating and safe home environment, and a desire to help raiseto raise a puppy age 12 weeks to six months, a

stimulating and safe home environment, and a desire to help raiseto raise a puppy age 12 weeks to six months, a

Call 210-671-3686

The Joint Base San Antonio mobile application, “JBSA,” available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, is due for an update. People are encouraged to download the application and submit any changes they think should be made regarding phone numbers and addresses, as well as unit information under the “My Job” tab. All correction requests should be sent to [email protected] by Feb. 25.


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The Air Force Surgeon General’s Medical Force Development Directorate announced the winners of the Air Force Medical Service Annual Award competi-tion Feb. 5. Fifteen individual and team awards went to Joint Base San Antonio.

The competition included individual and team awards, based on criteria out-lined in Air Force Instruction 36-2856, “Medical Service Awards.”

The winners are a broad cross-section of every Air Force major command and medical career field. Their accomplish-ments include patient care in Afghanistan and other forward-deployed locations, world-class research and teaching, im-provement of home station medical care, and outstanding oversight of the Medical Personnel Reliability Program.

The following are the winners for Joint Base San Antonio:

USAF Young Healthcare Administrator of the Year Award:

Capt. Joshua D. Peter 359th Medical Group

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph

Outstanding Civilian of the Year-MSC Civilian:Timothy Valladares

59th Medical Operations Group JBSA-Lackland

USAF Biomedical Specialist Category II Officer of the Year-Company Grade Category:

Capt. Kaelin J. Armstrong 559th Aerospace Medicine Squadron

JBSA-Lackland

Dental Educator of the Year: Maj. Scott F. Gruwell

59th Dental GroupJBSA-Lackland

Outstanding Biomedical Equipment Repair NCO of the Year:

Tech. Sgt. Christopher J. Gage 59th Medical Logistics and Readiness Squadron

JBSA-Lackland

Outstanding Mental Health Airman of the Year:Senior Airman Casey L. Anderson


Outstanding Diet Therapy NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Tiffany C. Patterson

59th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron JBSA-Lackland

USAF Surgical Service NCO of the Year Award: Tech. Sgt. Brianna L. Hunt 383rd Training SquadronJBSA-Fort Sam Houston

USAF Pharmacy Technician NCO of the Year Award:

Tech. Sgt. Karen F. Stegall 59th Pharmacy Squadron

JBSA-Lackland

Outstanding Air Force Diagnostic Imaging Technologist NCO of the Year:Tech. Sgt. Kris R. Robertson


USAF Ophthalmic Airman of the Year Award: Senior Airman Pricious M. Dongon


USAF Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award, Company Grade Office Category:

Capt Michael A. Pomager, Jr. 59th Medical Operations Group

JBSA-Lackland

USAF Outstanding Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award:

Lt. Col. Patricia I. John 359th Medical Group

JBSA-Randolph

Outstanding Medical Readiness Team Award:59th Medical Logistics and Readiness Squadron/SGSKX

JBSA-Lackland

USAF Outstanding Patient Centered Medical Home Award:

359th Medical Group Family Health Clinic JBSA-Randolph

r

Courtesy of the Air Force Surgeon General Office

air Force Medical Service announces annual award winners

TALESPINNER February 15, 2013 February 15, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 11

By Staff Sgt. Holly BrownMilitary Training Instructor, 321st Training Squadron

Jumping from an aircraft can be risky and what a jumper doesn’t know can cause death or serious

injury and scrub the mission. “The capability of the operator deter-

mines whether you’re a quick reaction force verses becoming a victim,” ex-plained Tech. Sgt. Marc Esposito, 342nd Training Squadron instructor, adding that constant practice, with safety as a top pri-ority, leads to mission success.

Several military parachutists from the 342nd Training Squadron jumped over the 37th Training Wing Parade Field Jan. 13 as a practice and training exercise, part of a comprehensive training program at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The program prepares Airmen for battlefi eld assignments such as Pararescue, combat control, tactical air control party and spe-cial operations weather technician.

The parade fi eld is a certifi ed drop zone the 342nd TRS uses twice a year. The squadron operates in several loca-tions around the country, maintaining 188 jumpers. Forty of the jumpers are here, at Lackland, and last year they jumped a combined total of 2,500 times.

“We vary our jump locations in order to combat parachutist complacency, vary landing patterns, and adjust to different wind speeds and directions,” said Capt. Nick Jeffers, director of operations for the 342nd TRS. “Altering the drop zone serves

as additional challenges for HALO opera-tions – to challenge ourselves and to keep our brains, skills, and reactions sharp.“

The squadron also trains in HALO, or high altitude – low opening, and HAHO, or high altitude – high opening techniques. In the HALO technique, the jumper opens his parachute at a low altitude after free-falling for a period of time. With HAHO, the jumper opens his parachute at a high altitude, just after exiting the aircraft. Opening the parachute at a high altitude allows jumpers to travel, undetected, for hundreds of miles.

Jumpers train with top-of-the-line equipment and each scenario is geared toward the operational environment in-cluding night, tandem and water capa-bilities.

“These capabilities allow us to bring any assets needed to the mission,” Esposito said, adding the operators support mis-sions with other agencies such as the FBI, CIA, or the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Stability is key to a successful jump Es-posito said.

“Leaving the plane at 14 to 15,000 feet and traveling at 150 miles per hour – the relative position of your body determines its stability – which is crucial in order for jumpers to stay together; say, during a night jump where only small glow sticks on the backs of our helmets are visible to each other.”

Esposito said putting a hand out of a car window going 60 to 70 miles per hour is a good example of how wind affects a

jumper’s body during a controlled fall.Staff Sgt. Tim Mertz, an instructor with

the squadron, explained why profi ciency in jumping is vital to the battlefi eld mis-sion.

“A lot of people think we’re just a bunch of cowboys, jumping for the fun of it,” he joked. “But practice is so important. Every small detail affects the jump. You have to know how to compensate with your body so you don’t lose control of your position-ing.”

Controlling body position during a free fall is a basic jump qualifi cation, but in the battlefi eld, these Airmen are strapped with an average of 60 to 80 extra pounds of equipment.

“If I have a weapon sticking up into my shoulder, keeping it from full mobility, I might have to compensate by bringing the other shoulder back,” said Mertz as he demonstrated a mock fall in a prone position.

Instructors are required to jump at least twice a quarter to maintain their qualifi ed status. Most of the instructors in the 342nd TRS have been qualifi ed jump-ers for several years. After the instructors complete their four-year tour, they return to the battlefi eld. The jump training pro-gram allows instructors to return to their missions as experts.

“Jumping is one of the safest ways to get into the mission,” Esposito said. “Once we get into the location – that’s when things get complicated. So the jump has to be second nature.”

Conditioned for courage:courage:courage:Airmen train to jump into battle� eld assignments

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Marc Esposito Staff Sgt. Victoria Lopez jumps in tandem with Kirby Rodriguez from a C-17 at 10,000 feet. Lopez is an executive assistant with the 37th Training Group and Rodriguez is a tandem master jumper and personnel parachute program manager with the 342nd Training Squadron. Still in the aircraft and waiting to jump is Senior Master Sgt. Jason Lydon with his tandem passenger Senior Airman Chris Lewis.


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AAH CEREMONY A FESTIVAL OF CULTURE

Photos by Staff Sgt. Corey HookClockwise from top left: Master Sgt. Simone Lewis-Livous, right, receives a personalized autograph from Tuskegee Airman Dr. Granville Coggs at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s African-American History Month opening ceremony at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center Feb. 2.

The Temple of Praise Dance Ministry group dances during Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s African-American His-tory Month opening ceremony at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center.

Tuskegee Airmen Dr. Eugene Derricotte, left, and Dr. Granville Coggs interact with 59th Medical Wing personnel at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s African-American History Month opening ceremony at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center. The ceremony featured speeches, dances and singing that highlighted African-American heritage.

February 15, 2013 TALESPINNER PAGE 13community

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jbsa-lacKland housing policy change

Single military members are now eligible for base family housing. For more information, email [email protected] or call 210-674-9366.

thrift shop seeKs part-time cashier

Strong people skills, cash register knowledge and basic math skills are required for the position. Applicants must also pass a local background check. Applications are available at http://www.lacklandosc.org.

To apply, submit an applica-tion, cover letter, resume and three references by mail to: LOSC, P.O. Box 27491, San Antonio, TX 78227.

Feb. 19family night out at uso

Sponsored by the Wilford Hall Auxiliary at the United Services Or-ganization, 203 West Market Street, downtown San Antonio, 6-8:30 p.m.

The USO will provide pizza and soft drinks for the event, limited to the fi rst 200 guests.

Email reservations to [email protected].

customer supply training classes

Conducted by the 802nd Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Equipment Accountability Element on the third Tuesday of each month, second fl oor conference room, Bldg. 5160.

The schedule is Block I General Supply Training at 8 a.m., Block II Bench Stock Training at 8:45 a.m., and Block III Equipment Custodian Supplemental/Refresher Training at 9:30 a.m.

For additonal information, call Ray Holland or Rain Virgino at 210-925-1140/2514.

Feb. 21jbsa-lacKland family housing meeting

Balfour Beatty Community Center, 2254 Brian McElroy, 6:15-7:15 p.m. For more information, email [email protected] or call 210-674-9366.

Feb. 228-step problem solving course

For the Observe, Orient, Decide, Act Loop, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Bldg. 1052, 8 a.m.

The problem solving model fi ts within the OODA Loop framework and matches the Air Force Smart Opera-tions for the 21st Century principal

for continuous improvement. For more information and registration, visit the JBSA AFSO21 Community of Practice page on Air Force Portal.

Feb. 27retired enlisted association meetings

REA Chapter 80 meets the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Gateway Club at 1 p.m.

For more information, call 210-658-2344.

March 1losc scholarship application deadline

Sponsored by the Lackland Of-fi cers’ Spouses’ Club, applications online at http://www.lacklandosc.org. High school students or spouses of military offi cers and enlisted personnel permanently assigned to JBSA-Lackland are eligible.

March 2housing community-wide yard sale

For Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and JBSA-Lackland Medina Training Annex, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sign up is not required, and housing residents may set up at their individual homes. For informa-tion, email [email protected] or call 210-674-9366.

couples’ relationship worKshop

The one-day workshop is spon-sored by the Wilford Hall Psychology Internship and the 502nd Air Base WIng Chaplain Corps at Freedom Chapel, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Couples learn new ways to communicate and improve their rela-tionships using research-based tech-niques and recommendations. The workshop is open to all active duty, retirees, dependents and partners.

For more information or to enroll, email [email protected].

March 8federal women’s nomination deadline

The award recognizes the sig-nifi cant contributions women have made to society, especially those who have helped advance women in the workplace and community.

Nominations are open to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland women base wide who are active duty, Department of Defense civilians or spouses.

The award period is from April 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013.

For more information, contact Master Sgt. Jamie Williams at 210-671-5929.

March 12speed mentoring

Sponsored by JBSA-Lackland 5/6, a staff and technical sergeants' organization, Basic Military Training Reception Center, 9-11 a.m.

Designed for airmen basic to senior airmen, the session features subject matter experts in areas of professional development. Topics include special duty, promotions, retraining, off-duty education, commissioning opportunities, and enlisted force structure. Breakfast is provided at no charge. For informa-tion or sign up, contact Staff Sgt. Melissa Evans at 210-488-5436.

speed mentoring volunteers needed

Approximately 25 staff or techni-cal sergeants are needed as mentors for the JBSA-Lackland 5/6 speed mentoring session. To volunteer, contact Staff Sgt. Jennifer Teets at 302-359-4422 or via email about topic coverage.

March 30new booK signing scheduled

Dr. Oliver L. Johnson Jr., author of “Jesus Christ and the Rapture,” main base exchange, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

LOCAL Briefs

CHAPEL SERVICES

Air Force Aid Society 671-3722Airman & Family Readiness Center 671-3722Airman’s Attic 671-1780American Red Cross 844-4225Base Post Offi ce 671-1058Bowling Center 671-2271DEERS 800-538-9552Exceptional Family Member Program 671-3722Family Child Care 671-3376Legal Offi ce 671-3362Library 671-3610Medical Appointment Line 916-9900MPF ID Cards 671-6006Outdoor Recreation 925-5532TRICARE Info 800-444-5445Thrift Shop 671-3608

Enlisted Spouses’ Club http://www.lacklandesc.orgForce Support Squadron http://www.lacklandfss.comLackland ISD http://www.lacklandisd.netOffi cers’ Spouses’ Club http://www.lacklandosc.orgJBSA Public website http://www.jbsa.af.milMy Air Force Life http://www.MyAirForceLife.com

KEY FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES

For more details, contact Freedom Chapel - 671-4208 • Gateway Chapel - 671-2911 • Hope Chapel - 671-2941

ChristianCatholicMonday-Friday:Freedom ChapelDaily Eucharist, 11:30 a.m.Saturday:Hope ChapelEucharist, 5:30 p.m.Reconciliation after EucharistSunday:Freedom ChapelReligious Ed., 9 a.m.Eucharist, 11 a.m.

OrthodoxReader's ServiceSunday:Airmen Memorial Chapel (Classroom)8 a.m.–10 a.m.

ProtestantSaturday:Gateway ChapelSeventh-Day AdventistService, 12:30–2:30 p.m.

Sunday:Airmen Memorial ChapelLiturgical Service, 8 a.m.Freedom ChapelContemporary Service,9:30 a.m.Gospel Service,12:30 p.m.Children’s Church providedReligious Ed., 11 a.m.Wednesday and Thursday:Bible Study, 6 p.m.Protestant family Sunday school, a one-hour youth and adult Christian Bible study, every Sunday at Freedom Chapel, 11 a.m. For details-contact Freedom Chapel at 671-4208. Sunday:Hope ChapelThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 8–10 a.m.

IslamicFriday:

Global Ministry Center, Bldg. 7452Jummah Prayer, 12:45–1:45 p.m.Sunday:Religious Ed., 9–11 a.m.

JewishFriday:Airmen Memorial ChapelSabbath Eve Service, 4 p.m.Sunday:Religious Ed., 12:30 p.m.

Wicca1st Tuesday of each month: Freedom Chapel Room 8, San Antonio Military Open Circle, 6 p.m.Sunday:Arnold Hall, Bldg. 550612:30–2:30 p.m.

BuddhistSunday:BMT Reception Center Bldg. 7246, 2nd Floor

10 a.m. to noon.

EckankarEvery fi rst, third, fi fth Saturday:Gateway Chapel12:30–1:30 p.m.

Baha'iEvery fi rst, third, fi fth Sunday:Gateway Chapel11 a.m.–noon

Church of ChristSunday:BMT Reception Center, Bldg. 7246, 2nd Floor7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.

Christian ScienceSunday:BMT Processing Center, Bldg. 5725, 1st Floor7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.

JBSA-LACKLAND


On the web http://www.

lacklandfss.com

haPPeNINGFamily Support Events

All ClASSeS, SemInARS, meetInGS And eventS ARe Held At tHe AIRmAn And FAmIly ReAdIneSS CenteR, BldG. 1249, unless noted below. CAll AFRC At 210-671-3722 FoR AddItIonAl InFoRmAtIon.

Feb. 15Air Force Basic Military Training X

spouse and parents’ seminar, BMT Reception Center, Bldg. 7246, noon. For additional information, call 800-973-7630 or 210-671-4057.

Teaching as a Second Career, pre- Xregistration required, 1-3 p.m.

Feb. 18Closed for federal holiday (Wash- X

ington’s Birthday)

Feb. 19American Veterans national service X

officer available, appointment only, 8 a.m. to noon. To make an appoint-ment, call 773-354-6131.

Pre-separation briefing, mandatory Xfor all members retiring, pre-registra-tion required, 9 a.m. to noon.

Disabled Transition Assistance XProgram, 11:30 a.m. to noon.

Feb. 20Interview With Confidence, JBSA- X

Lackland Library, 6-8 p.m.Newcomer’s Orientation, mandatory X

for personnel new to JBSA-Lackland, Gateway Club, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Awana Club meeting, Freedom XChapel, 6-8 p.m. Call 210-671-4208.

Feb. 21Pre-separation briefing, mandatory X

for all members separating voluntarily, pre-registration required, 9 a.m. to noon.

Key Spouse training, Randolph XAFRC, 9 a.m. to noon.

Disabled Transition Assistance XProgram, 11:30 a.m. to noon.

Air Force Basic Military Training Xspouse and parents’ seminar, BMT Reception Center, Bldg. 7246, 1 p.m. For details, call 800-973-7630 or 210-671-4057.

Feb. 22How to Apply for Federal Employ- X

ment, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Air Force Basic Military Training X

spouse and parents’ seminar, BMT Reception Center, Bldg. 7246, noon. For more details, call 800-973-7630 or 210-671-4057.

Military Saves: Campaign kickoff, X10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Feb. 25Family readiness briefing, manda- X

tory for personnel deploying longer than 30 days or going on remote assign-ments, 10:30-11 a.m.

Post deployment briefing, manda- Xtory for all Airmen returning from deployment, 2:30-3 p.m.

Feb. 26American Veterans national service X

officer available, appointment only, 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 773-354-6131.

Military Saves: Free FICO credit Xreport, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Feb. 27Newcomer’s Orientation, mandatory X

for personnel new to JBSA-Lackland, Gateway Club, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Military Saves: Credit manage- Xment, 10 a.m.; Saving and investing for retirement, 1 p.m.

Awana Club meeting, Freedom XChapel, 6-8 p.m. Call 210-671-4208.

SNCO Speed Mentoring at the XGateway Club, Ballrooms 4 & 5, 3-4:15 p.m. Call 210-977-5819, or email [email protected].

Feb. 28Air Force Basic Military Training X

spouse and parents’ seminar, BMT Reception Center, Bldg. 7246, 1 p.m. Call 800-973-7630 or 210-671-4057. Military Saves: Thrift Savings Plan, traditional and Roth IRAs, 1 p.m.

March 1Air Force Basic Military Training X

spouse and parents’ seminar, BMT Reception Center, Bldg. 7246, noon. For information, call 800-973-7630 or 210-671-4057.

Monthly Meetings

enlisted spouses’ club

The Lackland Enlisted Spouses’ Club meets every third Tuesday of the month at the Balfour Beatty

Community Center, 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.lacklandesc.org.

officers’ spouses’ club

The Lackland Officers’ Spouses’ Club meets monthly. For dates and

times, or more information, visit http://www.lacklandosc.org.

military council of catholic women

The Military Council of Catholic Women meets the first Friday of

the month, 9:30 a.m., at Freedom Chapel. For additional information,

call 210-671-4208.

WhaT'S

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By Marilyn C. Holliday502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Senior leaders from the 502nd Air Base Wing hosted the wing’s first Tex-as Legislative Day Feb. 8 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis. The event in-cluded a day-long immersion tour that included a JBSA mission briefing, and briefings and demonstrations at Com-bined Arms Collective Training Facili-ties, Combat Casualty Care Course, re-configurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer, HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer and the Small Arms Ranges.

“This event is an opportunity for us to show the capability that’s here at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis to the Texas legislators,” Brig. Gen. The-resa Carter, Joint Base San Antonio and 502nd Air Base Wing commander, said.

“This day allows us to feature the tremendous capability that’s out here with respect to training, be it medical

training, security forces training or the wide variety of training for personnel from all our military services. It is a phenomenal capability and one of the largest training areas in the Depart-ment of Defense.”

State senators and representatives attending were: Senators Leticia Van De Putte, Donna Campbell and Repre-sentatives Lyle Larson, Joe Deshotel, Nicole Collier, Ken King and Philip Cortez.

“I think it’s very important that elected officials in city, county and state all come to Camp Bullis and see what exactly they’re doing and how they’re training America’s heroes to go and fight for us and how much of the training actually starts here in Bexar County at Camp Bullis,” Rep. Philip Cortez, said.

“Ultimately they’re protecting our country and we need to make sure that they have the proper training facilities and we’re proud to have them here in

Bexar County.” Camp Bullis is about 28,000 acres

of land and was originally purchased and designated as Camp Bullis Sept. 17, 1917. Numerous units were orga-nized and stationed at Camp Bullis in support of World War I.

“Camp Bullis is part of what makes

Joint Base San Antonio a national asset,” Army Col. John Lamoureux, 502nd Mission Support Group, said.

“The training that we’re demonstrat-ing for our guests is the same training that provides realistic scenarios for our services’ men and women to prepare them for deployment.“

Texas lawmakers get immersed into military training

Photo by Benjamin FaskeMilitary personnel, part of the Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, deploy a stretcher to simulate a real-time medical evacuation at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Feb. 8. Texas state legislators took part in an immersion tour that included mount towns, simulated medical evacuations, and live fire demonstrations at JBSA-Camp Bullis.

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airmen soaring high - san antonio...

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