c s m chriever entinel · wanda winstead at 567-5048. a&frc offering resume class the airman...

Base BriefsVice commander bids farewell

A retirement dinner honoring 50th Space Wing vice commander Col. Cal Hutto and his wife, will be held Aug. 2 at the U.S. Air Force Academy Officer’s Club.

Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and is $22 for club members and $24 for non-members.

Colonel Hutto’s retirement ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 3 at the DeKok Building here.

For more information, contact Wanda Winstead at 567-5048.

A&FRC offering resume classThe Airman and Family Readiness

Center will hold a resume writing class July 27 from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The class will cover the basics of re-sume writing.

For more information or to sign up, contact Nancy Seckman at 567-3920.

SAFB Clinic closes for trainingThe SAFB Clinic will be closed from

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26 for readiness training.

Members who need to return to flight status may report to the clinic at 1 p.m.

For more information, contact the SAFB Clinic at 567-3232.

Career class for spousesA two day career planning course for

military spouses will be held Aug. 21-22 at the Air Force Academy’s Airman and Family Readiness Center.

The class is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and those wishing to attend must be registered by Aug. 17.

For more information, contact Nancy Seckman at 567-3920. To register, con-tact Jeannie Lopez at 333-3168/3444.

A&FRC has job openingThe Airman and Family Readiness

Center has a full-time Resource Coordinator contract position avail-able to begin Aug. 14.

Duties include overseeing and main-taining the customer resource center in addition to customer service.

A more detailed job description is available at the A&FRC.

For more information, contact Tricia Czepiel at 567-3920.

New SARC numberA new phone number for the Sexual

Assault Response Coordinator has been set up for general information.

Anyone with general questions and concerns is asked to call 567-7634. The victim hotline is 567-7272.

Iraqi School Donation ProgramA box has been set up near the in-

side main entrance of Building 210 to accept donations for the Iraqi School Donation Program.

For more information, contact 1st Lt. Standifer at 567-5378.

InsideNews.................................. .3-7Base Picnic ............................ 10Sports................................... .11

Schriever SentinelThursday July 26, 2007 www.csmng.com Vol. 1 No. 4

Colorado SpringS Military newSpaper group

By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez50th Space Wing Public Affairs

A groundbreaking ceremony took place July 12 for the future home of the Space Innovation and Development Center, scheduled to finish construction in March 2010.

Col. Larry Chodzko, commander of the SIDC, and Col. Terry Djuric, commander of the 50th Space Wing, were joined by Maj. Gen. Richard Webber, director of Installations and Mission Support at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, as well as city and state of-ficials in a ceremony here marking Schriever’s expanding role in AFSPC.

Colonel Chodzko emphasized the impor-tance of the new facility and the people who keep the SIDC’s unique mission going.

“As we get ready to break ground for this building, it’s in great tribute to your efforts,” Colonel Chodzko said. “It’s the men and women who came before us in the Space

Warfare Center and now the SIDC whom we get to honor.”

Colonel Djuric said in her closing remarks that the 50th SW is ready, and confident they will support a safe construction project.

“We look forward to the SIDC’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in just a few years,” she said.

The 50th Civil Engineer Squadron here took environmental concerns into consider-ation to ensure that burrowing owls, a pro-tected species that inhabits the base, will not be disturbed during construction.

“The preparation for this construction project is a perfect example of the teamwork and foresight required by a tenant and instal-lation,” Colonel Djuric said.

The construction of the building will take place in two phases. Phase one has an esti-mated construction start date of September 2007 with an approximate completion date of April 2009. The estimated cost is $21 million

and will include a 48,000-square-foot section of the building to be completed. Nearly 200 people from the 25th Space Control Tactics Squadron; 595th Space Group Staff; SIDC Command Section; Plans, Programs and Requirements Division; and Safety and Security are slated to occupy the new build-ing during this phase, said Joel Stolzman, the SIDC’s facility manager.

Phase two is slated to start in March 2008 with an approximate completion date of March 2010. Estimated cost during this phase is $24 million and will include the remaining 71,000-square-feet of the build-ing to be completed. Nearly 400 people will move in during this phase from the Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Systems, Warfighting Integration Division, the 17th and 14th Test Squadrons, 595th Operations Support Squadron, the Visualization Lab and 527th and 526th Space Aggressor Squadrons.

Construction starts on $45 million facility

The first shovels of dirt christen the construction site for the new Space Test and Evaluation Facility, which will be the future home for the Space Innovation and Development Center. Col. Terry Djuric, 50th Space Wing commander, and Col. Larry Chodzko, SIDC commander, were joined by military leaders and their civilian counterparts who will oversee the project.

Photo by Alex Groves

By Staff Sgt. Don Branum50th Space Wing Public Affairs

It’s hard to imagine Jesse Sellars as a combat veteran. Dressed in casual office clothing, the Technical Management Services employee smiles and laughs easily as he converses with members of a Schriever audience.

His demeanor belies his experience – he spent two years in Iraq as a captain in the U.S. Army Cavalry, with one year in Ramadi Province and another in Tal Afar, about half-way between Mosul and the Syrian border.

He spoke to the Schriever audience about his experiences in Tal Afar and about what he believes it will take to win the peace in Iraq during a recent visit to the base. Schriever’s Airmen continue to support the Global War on Terrorism, with more than 70 personnel currently deployed and nearly 100 sched-uled to deploy during the next Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation.

During his second deployment, Mr. Sellars was responsible for as many as 660 Soldiers. When they first arrived in Tal Afar in April 2005, the city was an al-Qaida stronghold.

“We were attacked at least seven times a

day,” he said. “Only one district had water. The electricity and gas were cut off.”

By the time Mr. Sellars’ unit left a year later, the schools, gas stations and markets had reopened. A new city council was established. An Iraqi army had evolved from a ragtag group that required American oversight in a ratio of about 10 Americans to 1 Iraqi, to a fighting force that could operate indepen-dently in 800-man formations conducting night operations.

“(Operation) Restoring Rights really turned the tide in Tal Afar,” Mr. Sellars said.

In that operation, which began in September 2005, Mr. Sellars led the capture of more than 400 fighters linked to al-Qaida. He cited space-based combat effects such as GPS as critical to the fight – close-quarters urban combat in a labyrinthine city more than 600 years old.

Before the Army arrived, Tal Afar “was like a ghost town – you couldn’t leave your house without fear of being killed,” Mr. Sellars said. He showed pictures his unit had taken upon their arrival: streets lay empty, and the city showed no signs of its population of roughly 200,000. In contrast, photos taken a year later show streets filled with people who seemed comfortable in public and grateful to the troops who had made it happen.

The operation began with the hospital in Tal Afar, which al-Qaida had filled with cor-rupt doctors.

“There was one hospital, and al-Qaida owned it,” he said. “It was a position of power

Iraq veteran speaks to Schriever audienceCombat veteran says to fight and win, Airmen must learn the culture

See Veteran page �

“Another man had his wife and family kidnapped and threatened with death unless he blew himself up. (Al-Qaida fighters) don’t view their enemies as human.”

Captain (Ret.) Jesse Sellars,U.S. Army Cavalry

� Schriever SentinelJuly 26, 2007

�July 26, 2007Schriever Sentinel

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By Lorna GutierrezSchriever Sentinel

The benefits of hiking and being in the great outdoors are many. Whether going by your-self or participating in a group hike, such as the monthly hike by the Health and Wellness Center here, it’s best to be prepared.

From www.hikerscorner.com, follow these general tips for a safe hiking experience:

- Wear hiking boots instead of shoes to help prevent twisted ankles or knees. Make sure to break in boots before hitting the trailn Carry along plenty of watern Be sure to have ample food suppliesn Check weather report before traveling into

backcountryn Have a detailed map of area you’re

visiting

n Check with local ranger office for special regulationsn Carry a first aid kit with youn Let someone know where you’re going and

when you’ll be returningWith over 12,000 acres of parks, trails and

open space in the area, there’s plenty of exercise to be had and scenery to be viewed. Happy hiking!

Get Out and Go: Take a hike!

Highway 24 can be seen while beginning the hike at Waldo Canyon, located near Cascade.

Photo by Lorna Gutierrez


By Corey DahlCSMNG

Drivers accustomed to using Peterson’s West Gate will have to find an alternate route in the coming weeks.

Starting July 30, the West Gate will be closed for construction until early November. Drivers will be re-routed to Peterson’s North and East gates, which will both extend their service hours to help ac-commodate the extra traffic.

The closure is the last step in a massive $12.7 million renovation project the gate has been undergoing for several months. With traffic halted, workers will be able to complete a new bridge and visitor’s center and add better force protection measures at the West Gate, which is slated to become the base’s main gate when it reopens.

“Total closure, although there’s some inconvenience in the beginning, is going to be much better in the long term,” said Dave Clapp, deputy base engineer with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron. “There’s go-ing to be much better access, much better flow and in a lot less time.”

The base had originally scheduled a par-tial closure for the project, Mr. Clapp said, leaving open one lane each way throughout the project. But after speaking with con-

struction crews, officials decided to go with a total closure, which will allow the work to finish before winter weather sets in.

“With partial closure, we would have had paving work going on through November, and, if cold temperatures came earlier, the closure would have lasted until spring,” Mr. Clapp said. “We didn’t want to take that risk.”

The 13,500 drivers who use the West Gate daily are being asked to use the East Gate, off Marksheffel Road, if possible. Traffic at the North Gate is already heavy, said Master Sgt. Shaun Guilfoil with Security Forces, while the East Gate has the capacity to handle extra cars.

“A lot of people already use the North Gate,” he said. “At the East Gate, we’ve got a lot more room for traffic to stack up.”

Guards from the West Gate will be moved to the North and East gates during the closure to help with traffic flow, Sergeant Guilfoil said. Both Colorado Springs and El Paso County police are also ready to help with traffic backups on city and county streets, if needed.

“We’re hoping it doesn’t get that bad,” Sergeant Guilfoil said. “But in case it does, we should be ready for it.”

Peterson AFB West Gate closes for construction

Master Sgt. Jennifer ThibaultAir Force Space Command Public Affairs

The organization charged with develop-ing new techniques and procedures to ap-ply space-based capabilities to warfighters gained new leadership today.

Col. Robert Wright Jr. became the commander of the Space Innovation and Development Center during a change-of-command ceremony held at the Consolidated Club on Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, vice commander of Air Force Space Command, was the presid-ing officer for the ceremony and said Colonel Wright had the “right stuff” to command the center.

“Command is a duty that holds special significance,” he said. “A commander must lead and inspire and balance the needs of mission and people. Bob is absolutely the right man for the job.”

The general also spoke highly of the people of the SIDC.

“What can I say about the SIDC?” asked the general rhetorically. “These are the folks that set the standard for innovation … they ‘unlock the potential’ at a pace unmatched anywhere. These professionals exploit space systems to apply combat effects for the Joint fight.”

Following suit, Colonel Wright spoke about his enthusiasm in joining the center and about the organization’s charter. He said senior leaders refer to the “I” in SIDC as the “Big I” – standing for innovation. But it also stands for integration – as in integrating space effects for the warfighter.

The new SIDC commander intends to fo-cus on further integrating space effects into current and future operations.

“We’re a small family, and we will continue to work to meet the needs of our customers

and industry partners,” said the colonel. Before departing, Col. Larry Chodzko,

former SIDC commander, thanked the men and women of the center.

“You make the SIDC the greatest organi-zation in the U.S. Air Force today. You have incredible talent,” he said.

Colonel Chodzko is heading to an assign-ment in Ramstein, Germany.

Prior to taking command, Colonel Wright was the 14th Air Force vice com-mander where he provided leadership and guidance for the 14th Air Force staff, five space wings and the Joint Space Operations Center.

New SIDC commander “has the ‘Wright’ stuff”

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Col. Robert Wright Jr. speaks to the Airmen of the Space Innovation and Development Center as their new commander July 18 at the change-of-command ceremony.

The West Gate closes July 30 and is scheduled to re-open

Nov. 4. While the West Gate is closed, the North Gate will

remain open 24 hours daily. The East Gate will be open from 5

a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

on weekends.


Commentary by Staff Sgt. Don Branum50th Space Wing Public Affairs

For me, the wake-up call that I needed to fix my driving was a citation for driving 11 miles per hour faster than the speed limit during my commute one morning. It forced me to ask myself the question: Why am I in such a hurry to get to work?

I love my job ... but my job will still be waiting for me, whether I get here at 7:25 a.m. or 7:32. And yet, I was a habitual speeder. I’d received citations for speeding before but had never bothered to change my behavior. The only dif-ference this time was that I wanted to change a bad habit so that in the future I wouldn’t lose money to traffic tickets.

Unfortunately, some drivers haven’t gotten that thump on the head that wakes them up to what they’re doing. They can justify illegally passing others on the downhill slope of Corral Bluffs Hill on State Highway 94. They can justify ignoring the road markings on Enoch Road as it curves be-tween the gate and the Visitor Center. They can justify using the emergency lane of a roadway to get to their destination three or four minutes sooner – maybe – than they would otherwise. They can justify driving five feet behind the car in front of them and pushing through an intersection after a yellow light turns red.

They’re the drivers who put themselves and others at risk and create the wrong impression about Schriever commut-ers in the minds of the community with which we share Highway 94.

The Colorado Springs Police Department hosts a Web site, www.drivesmartcoloradosprings.com, with information on how to identify and avoid aggressive drivers. Warning signs that someone is an aggressive driver include:n Taking out frustrations on fellow motorists.n Tailgating.n Making frequent lane changes.n Running red lights.n Speeding.Some of their suggestions to avoid becoming an aggressive

driver yourself include:Concentrate. Don’t become distracted by eating, talking

on a cellular phone, reading or applying makeup.Plan ahead. Leave a few minutes earlier or find an alter-

nate route. The Defense Access Road is a lightly traveled alternative to Highway 94. Alternately, drivers who live in

northern areas can take Woodmen Road to U.S. Highway 24, then turn right onto Judge Orr Highway. Curtis Road, about a mile east, is a straight shot to Irwin Road.

Relax. Tune the radio to your favorite relaxing music.Drive the posted speed limit. Fewer accidents occur when

vehicles are moving at or near the same speed.Use public transportation to give yourself some relief from

life behind the wheel. Servicemembers and government civilians can ride the bus for free by getting tickets from the 50th Logistics Readiness Flight.

Just be late. Your destination will still be there when you

arrive.If you witness someone driving aggressively on your com-

mute to or from Schriever, stay out of his or her way and contact the Colorado State Patrol’s aggressive driving hotline by dialing *CSP.

We haven’t had any recent fatalities on Highway 94. In that respect, we’ve been lucky – but luck runs out. In the mean-time, our neighbors in the local community are watching and quietly keeping track of how many aggressive drivers have Schriever decals on their vehicles.

What will be our collective wake-up call?

Safety 101: Stay cool while behind the wheel

Driving too fast for conditions and following too closely are behind many of the accidents that occur on State Highway 94 en route to Schriever Air Force Base. Accidents on this stretch of road claim about one life per year. Here, firefighters with the Schriever Fire Department respond to a three-vehicle accident at the crest of Corral Bluffs Hill Jan. 22, 2007.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Don Branum


for them.”Securing the hospital was a hard fight. Al-Qaida attacked

every 15 to 20 minutes with mortars, rocket-propelled gre-nades and small-arms fire, Mr. Sellars said.

After two months of intermittent shelling, the attacks stopped. It took another four months, however, to root out the corrupt doctors. Mr. Sellars showed a photo of a child, apparently malnourished, who was being treated at the hospital.

“He had been injured by a car bomb,” Mr. Sellars said. “The corrupt doctors had sewn his intestines shut.” Four of the six doctors are now in prison, one had been killed, and one had disappeared.

It’s not the worst of the offenses al-Qaida had committed against the mixed Sunni, Shia and Kurdish population of Tal Afar, Mr. Sellars said.

“Al-Qaida is not religious,” he said. “They use religion as a means to reach an end, at both the tactical and political levels. They’ll stage an attack, and afterward, they’ll claim that it wouldn’t have happened if Americans weren’t there.”

Al-Qaida’s treatment of Iraqi citizens in Tal Afar tells a different story.

“We’ve seen people chained to cars that were going to blow up,” Mr. Sellars said. “Another man had his wife and family kidnapped and threatened with death unless he blew himself up. (Al-Qaida fighters) don’t view their enemies as human.”

Not long after the battle at the Tal Afar hospital, a battle broke out in the south of the city. Both the battle and the American response would prove to be the most crucial point in the operation.

“A tribal sheik had stood up and said, ‘I’m tired of this environment,’” Mr. Sellars said. “He said, ‘If you attack the Americans or the Iraqi police forces or military, I will con-sider you a terrorist, and I will kill you.’”

Al-Qaida responded with an assault on the sheik’s 5,000-member tribe. When American forces responded, Mr. Sellars said they encountered a street lined with armed fighters.

“The sheik began weeping,” Mr. Sellars recalled. “He was covered in dirt and emotionally exhausted. He told me, ‘I have made this statement for my people, and I have killed them.’”

“If someone takes a stand for freedom, you have to stand with them,” Mr. Sellars said. “I asked the sheik to give me three days so that we could set up checkpoints in the area, and I comforted him by placing one of our sniper teams in the neighborhood.”

Public perception is the key to winning in Iraq, Mr. Sellars said.

“The perception that we were standing with them had a profound effect – we went from having one tribe of 5,000 people to a coalition of 41 tribes with more than 90,000 people, all taking a stand for freedom,” he added.

The Army also faced the daunting task of protecting Tal Afar’s residents from al-Qaida predation. Mr. Sellars re-lated tales of terrorists who lived among Sunni families,

forcing Shia families from their homes and keeping the Sunni families in their homes as hostages. The formerly Shia neighborhoods became deathtraps, filled with improvised explosive devices, snipers and a makeshift network of pas-sageways and tunnels between abandoned houses. Dropping bombs on the terrorists’ hideouts, however, wouldn’t solve the problem.

“If we bomb a house with an insurgent, then we’ve just killed the insurgent, but we’ve also killed a family,” Mr. Sellars said. “How many good people would we have killed or turned into insurgents?”

Instead, Mr. Sellars’ unit crafted a bold – but risky – plan.

“How can we protect you when the enemy’s living among you, and we’re not? The answer was for us to move in and live with the Iraqis,” he said.

It wasn’t popular with the Soldiers at first. It was even less popular with al-Qaida, which at one point attacked an outpost with a car bomb less than 15 minutes after the outpost had been established.

The move became popular with the Iraqi people, however, as Mr. Sellars’ unit spread the word about why they had moved in. In each case, they would visit every house in the neighborhood to help ease residents’ concerns.

The Army’s successes in Tal Afar have changed the culture among those responsible for security in Iraq, Mr. Sellars said. Sunni, Shia and Kurdish tribal leaders met to correct misperceptions of the Iraqi police force; as a result, the leaders started working with police to deter al-Qaida activity and set up youth programs for people who might otherwise be recruited for terrorism.

Locals came to refer to the period of Operation Restoring Rights as the liberation, Mr. Sellars said. So great was the ef-fect of the Army’s operations in Tal Afar that the city’s mayor came to Fort Carson to thank families and talking about the differences they had made, weeping as he did so.

President George W. Bush also touted the Tal Afar efforts during several speeches in spring 2006.

“The story of Tal Afar gives me confidence in our strat-egy,” President Bush said. “In that city, we see the outlines of the Iraq we’ve been fighting for: a free and secure people who are getting back on their feet, who are participating in government and civic life, and are becoming allies in the fight against the terrorists.”

Schriever Airmen who are looking at upcoming deploy-ments asked Mr. Sellars for advice.

“Learn the culture,” Mr. Sellars said. “Apply the culture to survive and make operational gains.” He cited several examples where knowing that something that didn’t fit in with Iraqi culture led to the capture of al-Qaida fighters or leaders.

As he closed the presentation, Mr. Sellars expressed faith in Army Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of Multi-National Force-Iraq.

“We have to get to the point where the Iraqi government can handle internal conflicts,” Mr. Sellars said. “We’re get-ting close. If there’s one person who can pull it off, General Petraeus is the one.”

From page 1

Veteran: Sees the difference


Kids and ice cream – both a perfect and dangerous combination.

The two met July 18 for the annual ice cream social held here at the Child Development Center. Parents also came to visit their children and partake in the festivities.

The social, a tradition since the CDC opened, is held to encourage parent, teacher and administration interaction, said CDC director Maricon Wales.

Ms. Wales said the monthly events held at the CDC, such as the social, “are critical to the children’s lives ... it gives the parents time to spend with their children.”

And the children were excited. The preschoolers had a hard time napping, knowing that their parents and a sugary treat would be waiting for them afterward, Ms. Wales said.

Though strawberry was the only flavor of ice cream on the menu, popsicles were also provided for the 6-month-old crowd.

“The kids really enjoyed it,” said Tiffany Sturm, a CDC Program Assistant. “They were talking about it all day.”

The CDC’s next big event will be Water Fun Day, which will take place Aug. 10.

Tasty treats highlight CDC ice cream social

Related story page 9

Tricare, SAIC respond to risk of data theftStaff Report

Air Force Print News

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) – A limited amount of Tricare beneficiary data may have been placed at risk through a violation of internal computer security practices at Science Applications International Corporation.

Analysis shows the chance any data was compromised is low, but action is being taken to ensure that affected Tricare beneficiaries are kept informed.

The incident occurred when patient data was stored in a manner that did not meet security specifications for the Department of Defense or SAIC. The information was held on a single, SAIC-owned server at an SAIC location in Florida. The server, which was not behind a firewall and did not contain adequate password protections, is no longer in use.

The data, which was processed by SAIC under several military health care contracts, may have included per-sonal information such as beneficiary names, addresses, Social Security numbers, birth dates and limited health information.

“We deeply regret this lapse,” SAIC board chairman and CEO Ken Dahlberg wrote in a letter to the Air Force Sergeants Association. “I offer my personal apology to those service-members and their family who may be affected by this, and to the customers who did not receive from SAIC the high level of performance they have learned to expect and deserve.”

SAIC is mailing letters from Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity, and from retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, SAIC executive vice president, to approximately 580,000 households informing beneficiaries of the potential

risk. Letters will arrive the week of July 23 and also contain consumer identity protection information.

“We take this potential data compromise very seriously,” General Granger said. “The risk has been identified as low, but the Department of Defense is ensuring that steps are taken to keep affected beneficiaries informed.”

SAIC is making a call center available to handle ques-tions and concerns and the toll-free number for the United States and a collect-call number for overseas residents is included with the letters. The center will be staffed with identity-theft specialists who will answer concerns about the incident as well as provide callers with general infor-mation on credit fraud and identity theft matters. Affected beneficiaries are being offered a free, one-year subscription to an identity restoration service.

Additional steps SAIC is taking in response include detailed forensic analysis, internal investigations and steps to assess and enhance data security, Mr. Dahlberg said.

(Information compiled from Air Force Print News and the Air Force Sergeants Association.)

“The risk has been identified as low, but the Department of Defense is ensuring that steps are taken to keep affected beneficiaries informed.”

Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity


Pikes Peak CouncilBoy Scoutsof America

Contact 634-1584 orwww.pikespeakbsa.orgFor more information

Cub Scouts – 1st thru 5th grade BoysBoy Scouts – 11 – 18 year old Boys

Venture Scouts – 14 -20 year old Boys and Girls

InvItes your son to joIn Cub sCouts!

Street Talk From the CDC Ice Cream Social:

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

“Green ice cream”

Dylan McDougle, age 3

“Strawberry ice cream”

Aimee Hughes, age 3

“Chocolate ice cream”

Katie Strane, age 4


Grace Kelly, age 3


Shelby Soltysik, age 5

“Vanilla ice cream with Sprinkles”

Rooke McKnight, age 3

10 Schriever SentinelJuly 26, 2007


To a picnic chairman, 2,100 plates is a success.That’s how many plates of food were served at

this year’s base picnic.

John Brunfeldt, who chaired this year’s picnic, held July 20, is worn out but pleased with the an-nual event.

“I think it was a great success,” said Mr. Brunfeldt, Combat Support Flight chief for the 50th Services Division. “It seemed that everybody stayed for a while, instead of just coming for the food. It was busy the whole time.”

Mr. Brunfeldt estimates about 3,200 attended the event.

Planning for the event began in the first part of April. With temperatures prior to the big day up around 100 degrees, low 80s and partly cloudy skies were a welcome relief.

“The weather was actually excellent,” Mr. Brunfeldt said. “It wasn’t too hot; it was pretty nice.”

As it was, Mr. Brunfeldt and a team of base picnic representatives made sure the Wings of Blue para-chute team, the Blue Steel Academy band, vendors and the tents and inflatable play areas were all in place. Thankfully, about 130 volunteers worked three-hour shifts the day of the event to ensure the picnic’s success.

Airman 1st Class Jennifer Wesphoff, who vol-unteered with the gyroscope – and took a ride in it herself – said she thought this year’s picnic was even better than last year.

“There was a lot for people to do. There was a good variety and a good turnout,” Airman Wesphoff said. “I could see how people enjoyed it. It’s nice to take a break from work and come over – it’s a stress relief.”

But what goes up must come down, and the morn-ing of July 23 was spent tearing down what had taken three days to put up.

Mr. Brunfeldt said the feedback from the pic-nic has been positive and was particularly pleased with the eating contests. Next year, however, he’s thinking about having only two eating contests, compared to this year’s three – possibly ice cream and hot wings.

“It was a great time. There was lots to do,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to the next base picnic, which will take place July 18, 2007.

Base picnic unites Schriever community, families

Tech. Sgt. Diana Vinson and her daughter, 12-month-old Cassidy, watch jumpers from the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Wings of Blue parachute team descend onto the base softball field during the Base Picnic July 20. The jumpers’ parachutes are shaped like airfoils and are capable of airspeeds reach-ing 30 mph. Sergeant Vinson is assigned to the 50th Space Communications Squadron.

Yasmeen, age 8, somersaults on a salto trampoline at the Base Picnic here July 20. Yasmeen’s father, Bing Hack, works at the Main Fitness Center.

Deb Perry and Curtis Letson show tech-niques for breaking holds during a kung fu demonstration as part of the Base Picnic here July 20. Ms. Perry and Mr. Letson are students with the Chinese Shao-Lin Center of Colorado Springs.

Chief Master Sgt. Clarence Moore proudly displays the keepsake softball from the command-ers-superintendents game at the Base Picnic here July 20. The enlisted corps won 21-1.

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11July 26, 2007Schriever Sentinel


The weather wasn’t the only thing that was hot on July 17. SIDC was hot too, defeating the haven’t-been-defeated-in-years NOPS squad 9-8 in intramural softball action.

Though NOPS was missing some key players, they came out ready to play.

A close contest throughout, Mark Obert hit a triple in the first inning to help squeeze out his team’s 4-3 lead over SIDC in the first inning. However, consistent hitting by SIDC kept it close and despite a homer by Obert in the seventh, the squad was able to pull out the victory.

Joel Stolzman and Matt Lusson both crossed home plate twice for the winning squad.

“This gave us a lot of confidence,” said SIDC captain Danny Flores. “Knowing that we can defeat the best team, we can defeat any team.”

The second game of the day wasn’t as close as 3rd SOPS faced SBIRS and prevailed 16-6. 3rd SOPS consistently got on base, which was key to the win. Coach Mark Masterson hit a triple in the second to aid in the victory. Kevin Balcom had a triple for the losing squad.

“We’re doing better,” said 3rd SOPS coach Masterson. “We’re on the road to success.”

With the heat refusing to cool, MDIOC and 2nd SOPS faced off in the third contest with MDIOC getting the 13-6 victory.

2nd SOPS got the stronger start, up 3-2 after the first inning. Patrick Gaynor had a double in the first inning for 2nd SOPS. That was the last lead for 2nd SOPS as MDIOC then went on a roll. Andy Bork, Eston Nelson, Jeremy Lammon, Tom Reeves and Nick Busick each scored twice for the victors.

“We played really well as a team,” said Reeves, “a lot better than the previous game.”

In the final game of the day, 1st SOPS and 50th SFS faced off. 1st SOPS played strong throughout, winning the contest 21-5.

Robert Zajac had a triple in the first inning for the vic-tors, scoring himself and David Moulder to start things off and giving his squad a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

50th SFS answered back in the second, scoring four runs. It was the biggest run for the squad as 1st SOPS scored six runs in the third and stayed strong throughout to take the contest.

“We were smart and mentally sound running the bases

today,” said 1st SOPS’ Garrett Donnally. He added that the squad played well despite the number of people who were new to the team and to the game of softball.

Regular season action continues throughout July and the first part of August.

Defending softball champions lose close contest

3rd SOPS’ Lamar Boyd connects with the ball during intramural softball action July 17. 3rd SOPS won the contest versus SBIRS 16-6.

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Mandatory doesn’t have to mean boring, and for the 50th Contracting Squadron, who attend mandatory spinning classes on Mondays at 6:30 a.m. at the main fitness center, fun and a good workout is what they.

About 17 students show up for the 45-minute classes, which are part of the War

Fit program taught by instructor Brenda Lewis. Lewis likes to mix up the exercise with a variety of music, playing everything from Top 40 hits to RB to rock to dance country.

The class has been in session since February and is catching on throughout the base. Spinning is known for providing a good cardiovascular workout.

“It’s certainly not boring because you’re constantly doing things and changing things

up,” Lewis said. “It’s a form of exercise so in a way it’s relaxing. It gets you in better shape, increases your energy and improves your fitness which results in an improved metabolism.”

“I think it’s great,” said Tech Sgt. Roberto Saenz. “It works different muscles and is an overall workout. It’s a great thing that we’ve implemented and it’s a lot tougher than it looks.” Saenz said he’s noticed a change in his physical fitness, taking less breaks during

the class than when he first started.Spinning is a worldwide phenomenon that

is taught by over 130,000 certified instructors in over 80 countries worldwide. Compared to running, the spinner can’t fall behind – they spin at their own pace.

“What you put in, you get out of it,” Lewis said.

The Main Fitness Center is in the process of beginning a class that would be open to everyone here on the base.

Schriever Airmen catch the spinning bug, get fit to fight

�0 Schriever SentinelJuly 26, 2007

c s m chriever entinel · wanda winstead at 567-5048. a&frc offering resume class the airman...

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