JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH 66th Year • No. 24 • JUNE 15, 2012

INSIDE ... JBSA QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS, P4 ... TORNADO SAFETY, P5 ... 12TH TFW ASSOCIATION REUNION, P8

A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio

PAGE 6

JUNE 15, 2012PAGE 2 WINGSPREAD

By Staff Sgt. Stephen Dimando561st Network Operations Squadron

Just when I felt like I had been on top of the world and accomplished so much, Nov. 14, 2011, happened and it completely took my breath away.

On that day, my princess, Adalynn Marie Dimando was born and stole my heart from her very fi rst breath.

I’ve been in the Air Force for eight years now, been stationed at four differ-ent assignments, deployed twice to the Middle East, and have been a part of the base honor guard at every duty location I’ve been as-signed to. I’m a third generation Air Force member and from the start of my career I’ve always taken much pride in what I do.

Now that I’ve added fatherhood to my list of responsibilities, being a parent in the Air Force has taken on a whole new meaning for me. In addition to serving my country, it’s my responsibility to do what-

ever I need to do to ensure my daughter has a safe and comfort-able upbringing.

My goal is to raise her with a

very humble, structured and disci-plined life, teaching her the values that were instilled in me by all of my family.

I raised the bar in my family by be-ing the fi rst one to obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and I’m going to set expectations for my little girl to reach for the very same thing.

I feel like if I’m open with her and teach her the right way at a young age, though she may not agree with every-thing I have to say, she’ll thank me one day down the road.

I’m very blessed and humbled that God has chosen me to be a father to this beautiful creation. I just pray that I can continue to do what I’ve done, get better every day, teach her what’s right and wrong, and teach her to treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Overall, being a father in the Air Force has been one of the most rewarding jobs I could have ever asked for.

AF dad shares thoughts on fatherhood"My goal is to raise her with

a very humble, structured and disciplined life, teaching her the values that were instilled

in me by all of my family."

COMMENTARY

This newspaper is published by Prime Time Military News-papers, a private fi rm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Wingspread 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, includ-ing 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 nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Offi ce of JBSA-Randolph. All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are U.S. Air Force photos.

The deadline for submissions is noon Wednesday the week prior to publication. All submissions can be emailed to 502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil.

Wingspread Offi ce1150 5th Street East

Randolph AFB, Texas 78150Phone: (210) 652-4410

Wingspread email502ABW.pa.wingspread@us.af.mil

Wingspread Advertisement Offi cePrime Time Military Newspapers

Avenue E at Third StreetSan Antonio, Texas 78205

(210) 250-2519 • Fax 250-2570

Joint Base San Antonio-RandolphEditorial Staff

Brig. Gen. Theresa CarterCommander

Marilyn HollidayChief of Public Affairs

Senior Airman Precious YettEditor

Airman 1st Class Lincoln KorverRobert GoetzAlex SalinasStaff Writers

Maggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer

Airman 1st Class Carl Martin, 902nd Security Forces Squadron installation police offi cer, points his pistol at a target during Shoot, Move and Com-municate training June 7 at Camp Talon on Joint Base San Antonio- Randolph. For complete coverage of the 902nd SFS training, see page 6.Photo by Don Lindsey

ON THE COVER

Scan with Smartphone app to access the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph website.

Scan with Smartphone app to access the Joint Base

San Antonio-Randolph Facebook page.

WINGSPREADJUNE 15, 2012 PAGE 3

Base BRIEFSBlood drive takes place today

The Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Blood Donor Center will hold a blood collection drive today, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Kendrick Club.

AETC command chief to hold enlisted callAir Education Training and Command Command Chief

Master Sgt. James Cody will hold an Enlisted Call 3 p.m. June 20 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph base theater.

Cody can also be followed on Twitter at #AETCChief <http://twitter.com/#!/AETCChief> or on Facebook at AETC Command Chief Master Sergeant <http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/AETC-Command-Chief-Master-Sergeant/192462994103> for live updates from the call.

Base chapel hosts Vacation Bible School The Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Chapel hosts its Vaca-tion Bible School Monday through June 22, 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the JBSA-Randolph Elementary School cafeteria. This event is open to children entering kindergarten through middle school. For more information and to register a child, call the base chapel at 652-6121 or email laura.griffi th.ctr@us.af.mil.

JBSA-Randolph clinic offers youth physicalsThe JBSA-Randolph clinic is now taking appointments for

sports physicals for youth ages 6-18, who are enrolled in TRICARE prime at the base clinic.Parents can call 916-9900 to schedule an appointment. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the youth to the appointment and a completed school sports physical form must be presented.

Retirement planning seminars plannedThe Alamo Federal Executive Board is offering Civil

Service Retirement Act and Federal Employees Retirement System retirement planning seminars July 13 and 23.

Sign up at http://sanantoniofeb.org/?p=494. Seminars will be held at Region 20 near Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. For more information, contact Bruce Bebow at afpc.afeb.workfl ow@us.af.mil or call 565-1860.

To submit a news or sports brief for publication in the Wingspread,email all information to 502ABW.pa.wingspread @us.af.mil.

NOW SHOWING atthe Randolph Theater

"Dark Shadows" (PG-13)Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer

Today at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m.

$4.50 for adults – $2.25 for children 0-11

"Think Like a Man" (PG-13)Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Chris Brown

Sunday at 3 p.m.

Arrive alive.Arrive alive.Arrive alive.Arrive alive.Arrive alive.Arrive alive.Don't drink Don't drink Don't drink Don't drink Don't drink Don't drink and drive.and drive.and drive.

JUNE 15, 2012PAGE 4 WINGSPREAD

Congratulations tothe Joint Base San Antonio

First Quarter Award Winners

Junior Enlisted MemberSenior Airman Jason SmithAir Force Intelligence, Surveillance and ReconnaissanceJBSA-Lackland

Noncommissioned Offi cerTech. Sgt. Kimberly Wolfe93rd Intelligence SquadronJBSA-Lackland

Senior Enlisted MemberMaster Sgt. James Rogers802nd Force Support SquadronJBSA-Lackland

Company Grade Offi cerCapt. Erika ChuteAir Force Personnel CenterJBSA-Randolph

Honor GuardJunior Enlisted MemberSenior Airman Leobardo Leija III59th Surgical CenterJBSA-Lackland

Honor GuardNoncommissioned Offi cerTech. Sgt. Terri Taylor-Trapp433rd Training SquadronJBSA-Lackland

CivilianWage GradeJohn Adams802nd Civil Engineer SquadronJBSA-Lackland

CivilianNonsupervisory Category IDebra Sevening559th Medical Operations GroupJBSA-Lackland

CivilianNonsupervisory Category IIBarry Park688th Information Operations WingJBSA-Lackland

CivilianNonsupervisory Category IIIThomas Flores688th Information Operations WingJBSA-Lackland

CivilianSupervisor Category IMichael Howell12th Flying Training WingJBSA-Randolph

CivilianSupervisory Category IIStephen Ninotta3rd Combat Camera SquadronJBSA-Lackland

WINGSPREADJUNE 15, 2012 PAGE 5

By Staff Sgt. Micky M. Bazaldua59th Medical Wing Pulbic Affairs

A member of the 59th Medical Wing is the recipient of the 2011 Air Force Medi-cal Service Senior Non-Commissioned Of-fi cer Leadership Award.

Master Sgt. Lorraine A. Hieskill, 59th Surgical Inpatient Squadron superinten-dent, was recognized May 29 at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, by top AFMS leadership for her outstanding contributions.

Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Sur-geon General of the Air Force and Chief Master Sgt. Charles R. Cole, Medical Enlisted Force chief, presented the fi rst award of its kind to Hieskill. Other key leaders attending were Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Byron Hepburn, 59th Medical Wing com-mander, and Maj. Gen. Ted Wong, Brooke Army Medical Center commander.

“I couldn’t be prouder that it happened down here at SAMMC, the place where we’re integrating and bringing people to-gether,” Green stated.

The prestigious honor is awarded to

only one senior NCO in the medical ser-vice. In the past, the awards program cited a winner in each of the 17 medical specialty career codes.

Cole described the award as something “given to those who develop and care for Airmen and their teams.”

“We have over 2,000 senior enlisted members in the U.S. medical service, and to be the number one of those is pretty telling,” Cole said. “It’s what you do ev-ery day, the integrity with which you lead, that led to you being recognized at this level.”

Hieskill was also previously recognized by Hepburn as the 2011 Senior NCO of the 59th Medical Wing.

“It’s not about the uniform that we wear but who we bring to the fi ght and how we bring each other up,” Hieskill said. “I couldn’t be happier than in the section I work with.”

“The soldiers taught me everything I needed to know to take care of the other soldiers and allowed me to teach them so they could take care of our Airmen. It has been an awesome ex-perience and I wouldn’t change it for

the world,” she added.“I’m proud to be here and I’m proud

to be in the Air Force.”Hieskill will continue her service as she

prepares to take her leadership skills to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Ba-gram Airfi eld, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Local Airman receives senior leadership award

Photo by Staff Sgt. Micky BazalduaLt. Gen. Charles B. Green, Surgeon General of the Air Force, presents the fi rst Air Force Medical Service Senior NCO Leadership Award to Master Sgt. Lorraine A. Hieskill, 59th Surgical Inpatient Squadron superintendent, May 29 at the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Tornado awareness incorporates severe weather safety plansTornado awareness incorporates severe weather safety plansBy Alex SalinasJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

There have been 61 tornadoes in San Antonio since 1950, resulting in three deaths, Steve Clark, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management chief, said. But compared to North Texas and states that make up “Tornado Alley,” South Texas’ tornadoes are nowhere close to those states’ degree of costliness, frequency and deadliness.

This doesn’t mean Bexar County residents shouldn’t be equipped with what Clark called the best defense against tornadoes or any type of severe weather: “pre-paredness and awareness.”

“The biggest mistake is when people don’t take warnings seriously and react too late,” he said. “Be-ing informed and prepared can also be the hardest piece of advice to get across because it’s really a personal choice.”

Part of being prepared for tornadoes is practicing sheltering plans.

“Families must make sure everybody, including children, know the drills and take into account their pets too,” Clark said.

All should seek shelter in a basement or in the center of a sturdy building during a twister.

“Closets or underneath a stairwell are good places to hide,” Clark said, emphasizing that peo-

ple should avoid sheltering near windows, but use blankets or mattresses to protect them-selves from fl ying debris.

Clark recommended the purchase of a battery-operated AM/FM radio for severe weather updates, as well as a fi rst aid kit for emergencies.

During a tornado strike, the best kind of vehicle safety is to not be in one.

Being inside a vehicle can be a fa-tal mistake, especially for drivers who don’t know if they are heading away from or toward a tornado.

“You do not want to be in the path of a tornado while inside your car,” Clark said. “Find the nearest cover or the lowest-lying area like a ditch and avoid seeking shelter under a bridge.”

Bernoulli’s principle states air moving through a constriction or over a curved surface will undergo a pressure drop and increase wind speed, potentially hurling debris at higher speeds.

Debris such as tree branches and poles that can be tossed at drivers – as well as trees falling on them – is the second-leading cause of death during Texas tornadoes, Clark said.

See TORNADO P8

JUNE 15, 2012PAGE 6 WINGSPREAD WINGSPREADJUNE 15, 2012 PAGE 7

By Alex SalinasJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

The Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph 902nd Security Forces Squadron hosted two exercises June 7 from two of its separate operations. One demonstration honed members’ fi rearms and com-munication skills while the other put military working dogs to the test.

Shoot, Move and CommunicateTwo security forces members par-

ticipated in a training course called Shoot, Move and Communicate, which paced them through various barriers to respond to a high-threat target.

According to Senior Airman Celina Reyes, 902nd SFS police services, the training is an annual requirement by the military that helps keeps everyone on the squadron profi cient in fi rearms usage.

The course, once inactive, was brought back by the Air Force in 2010, Tech. Sgt. Keith Hartman, 902nd NCO in charge of training, said.

During a session, SFS members defensively move throughout a “sustain-ment course of fi re,” crouch at marked

barriers and communicate every move with each other, Hartman said.

“The course hones their reaction to the perceived target and their ability to react to various situations, such as weapon malfunctions,” he said.

To recreate a weapon malfunc-tion during the training, the instructor shouted commands to members while they fi red their M4 – an assault rifl e – at their targets and quickly shifted to fi ring their M9 – a pistol.

Paint-tipped rounds were fi red during Shoot, Move and Communicate.

Reyes, who has participated in the training, said the amount of interaction on training grounds greatly benefi ts members once they are on the job.

“It’s intense,” she said. “[The instruc-tors] are yelling at you, but once you go through it, you get over the jitterbugs and you’re OK. Practice makes perfect.”

The most crucial lesson instructors hope to teach members is how to suc-cessfully communicate with each other during a high-threat situation.

The two participating members who fi red rounds in different bursts were in-structed to inform each other when one of them was out of ammunition so the other could respond with covering fi re.

“We teach our members how to talk to each other, which is really important because it’s the difference between covering your partner and getting him shot,” Staff Sgt. David Shea, 902nd SFS training instructor, said.

Pertinent to the mission is keeping security forces hydrated and in shape because they have to carry extra equip-ment like fi rearms, body armor and helmets, Hartman said.

Practicing at Randolph means having to deal with extended summer heat waves, but Hartman reminded that security forces are prepared to operate in multiple climate conditions.

“Making everything come together and helping everyone reach their mark is the hardest part,” Harman said. “But it’s satisfying to know that we help everyone learn their limitations here on the training fi elds so we can modify and improve them to become better during their duty.”

Military working dog bite-work demonstration

On another training fi eld at Randolph not necessarily designed for creatures

walking on two legs, the 902nd SFS MWD section is busy perfecting the skills of dogs assigned for police work.

The military working dogs the base receives – typically German shepherds and Belgian Malinois – are selected from the 341st Training Squadron’s MWD Program at Lackland. The program at Lackland dictates whether a dog will specialize in patrol, narcotics or detec-tion work.

Regardless of what kind of work each dog will perform, they are exercised at least fi ve times a week at the kennels in the obedience yard, which resembles an obstacle course.

There, 902nd SFS handlers are able to build rapport with their assigned dog by pacing them through the fi eld, teaching them commands and, as many handlers attest to, playing with them to have some fun.

“Building a relationship with the dog is the most important thing a handler must do,” Tech. Sgt. Santiago Bernal, 902nd SFS MWD section NCO in charge, said. “If the dog doesn’t listen to them in the obedience yard, they won’t listen to them outside of it.”

A few of the military working dogs showcased their ability to perform bite work with specifying commands from handlers. All of the dogs in the kennels are taught how to bite a target pointed out by their handler.

This meant that a few of the handlers had to gear up for a bite in a modifi ed garment that helps protect them from the dogs’ teeth during demonstrations.

At the breath of a verbal command or at the signal of a physical command from their handler – and there are several of them – the dogs are ready to pounce on their target.

“Dogs are opportunists,” Staff Sgt. Darrell Williams, 902nd SFS MWD trainer, said. “They’ll bite whatever is presented to them. If someone were to run from them, whatever limb is out-stretched is what they will bite.”

Not every body part is always pro-tected in the modifi ed suits at the ken-nels, including the hands and head, but handlers are prepared and trained to outstretch certain parts like their arms or chest for the dogs’ practice.

“It’s an adrenaline rush (to take a bite),” Senior Airman Clinton Patton, 902nd SFS MWD handler, said. “Work-

ing with these dogs, though, is what makes this career fi eld so much fun.”

Dogs are paired with their handlers based on personality matches.

Some dogs respond well to strict instruction, while others are more laid back, Bernal said.

“We have to feel out the dog to see what works for them,” he said.

“The longer a team is put together, the better suited they will be to work together for the mission,” Williams said.

Military working dogs do not need to be alphas to be top-notch at their job.

“We actually get great results with betas,” Bernal said. “More submissive dogs tend to be some of the best attack dogs because they work hard for their handlers.”

However, certain personality traits of alphas are ideal.

“We like alpha personalities because they are more aggressive and confi dent dogs,” Williams said. “It will take more work on our end to build rapport with them to let them know the handler is ‘the boss,’ but all of our dogs will get the job done.”

By Alex Salinas barriers and communicate every move walking on two legs, the 902nd SFS ing with these dogs, though, is what ing with these dogs, though, is what

Tech. Sgt. Keith Hartman, 902nd Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of training, looks on as Airman 1st Class Carl Martin and Offi cer Agapito Delarosa, 902nd Security Forces Squadron installation police offi cers, take a position during Shoot, Move and Communicate training June 7 at Camp Talon on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Photo by Don Lindsey

Photo by Rich McFaddenSenior Airman Clinton Patton, 902nd Se-curity Forces Squadron military working dog handler, runs his military working dog, Charles, through the obstacle course June 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Photo by Melissa PetersonTech. Sgt. Santiago Bernal, 902nd Security Forces Squadron working dog section NCO in charge, keeps a tight leash on Military Work-ing Dog Goro as he tries to attack Staff Sgt. Darrell Williams, 902nd military working dog trainer, during a training exercise June 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

JUNE 15, 2012PAGE 8 WINGSPREAD

The only danger that has killed more people than debris strikes is downed pow-er lines, which can be buried in rubble and electrocute people upon touch.

It is best for people to stay well away from downed power lines and not touch any objects near them, Clark said.

Most South Texas twisters are classi-fied as F0s and F1s (with the strongest one in San Antonio being an F4 in 1953), which peak in April and May, and then peak again later in the year in October and November.

The dangers they present are strong winds and flying debris, which typically do not cause major structural damage to buildings, Clark said. However, the last tornado to touch down in the city Oct. 9 – classified as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale – was enough to tear the roof off a house, damage several other homes and “[toss] 19

postal trucks around like toys” near Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, ac-cording to the San Antonio Express-News.

A National Weather Service rep-resentative said the Oct. 9 tornado produced winds that reached 90-100 miles per hour.

Airman 1st Class James Johnson, 359th Aerospace Medical Squadron medical technician, experienced a tornado with similar strength in July 2008.

An EF0 touched down on the south-ern edge of downtown near the Interstate 10-Interstate 37 interchange.

“I was in a shopping center near Fort Sam Houston when I got word that a tor-nado was about to strike,” Johnson said, where he immediately sought shelter.

He described loud noises that came from the rattling winds as the tornado crossed through in close proximity.

Johnson didn’t get to see the torna-do, but said “the parking lot was pretty messed up with shopping carts thrown everywhere and the sign for a nearby Target was torn up.”

His tornado experience prompted him to discuss and prepare shelter-ing plans with his family for future severe weather.

Alvin Hill, 12th Operations Support Squadron chief of weather flight opera-tions, said relatively weak and short-lived tornadoes like EF0s are sometimes pro-duced by tropical storms and hurricanes, but tend to be ignored because flash flooding presents a larger problem for the San Antonio region.

“High winds, torrential rainfall and inland flooding are primary components of tropical storms and hurricanes due to warm waters (in the Gulf of Mexico), but localized areas of a storm can produce

tornadic activity,” he said. Hill noted that tornadoes most often

occur in thunderstorms embedded in the rain bands well away from the center of a storm; depending on the size of the tropical storm, they can spawn 150-200 miles away from the center. However, tor-nadoes can generate near the “eyewall,” generally in the right-front quadrant of the storm center.

The dangers tornados bring are only a piece of severe weather that may be forthcoming.

“We are in hurricane season, which runs until November 30,” Hill said. “Tornado awareness should help us see the bigger picture in preparing for hurricanes.”

Contact your building manager for information on weather safety plans. To reach the 902nd CES Emergency Man-agement Flight, call 652-2222.

TORNADO from P5

By Robert GoetzJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s 12th Flying Train-ing Wing has served as one of the Air Force’s primary pipelines for instructor pilots for 40 years, but its his-tory also includes a major mission during the Vietnam War that resulted in six Outstanding Unit Awards and a Presidential Unit Citation.

Some of the officers, enlisted personnel and civilians who were part of that mission will soon get together to swap their war stories and rekindle the camaraderie forged by living and working together through difficult circumstances.

They will meet in Seattle Sept. 27-30 as members of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing Association for their 10th biennial reunion, an event that includes business meetings, a display of photos and military memorabilia, an auction, tours and a banquet.

“The 12th Flying Training Wing was known as the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing from 1962 to 1971; from November 1965 to October 1971 it was engaged in aerial combat in Southeast Asia,” Ashley Armes, 12th FTW historian, said. “The 12th TFW Association includes members of the 12th wing who came before us. They are our veterans and helped build the heritage we are adding to today. The group also has ties to the 12th Bombardment Group from World War II.”

Following missions as a fighter-escort wing, strategic fighter wing and fighter-day wing, the unit was redes-ignated the 12th TFW in April 1962 and activated at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Three years later, it began a permanent deployment at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in South Vietnam, flying air-to-air missions against the North Vietnamese and attacking ground targets in F-4C

Phantom IIs. Flight operations were relocated to Phu Cat AB in March 1970 and the 12th TFW was in-activated in November 1971. Just six months later, redesignated the 12th FTW, the unit launched its training mission at Randolph.

According to a 12th TFW history compiled by Norman Malayney and Everett J. Sherwood, who now handles member communica-tions for the 12th TFW Asso-ciation, the wing’s primary mission in the Vietnam War was to “attack and destroy enemy military forces, sup-plies, equipment, communi-cation systems and installations with conventional weapons.”

Bob Lee, an association member who served as an inhalation therapist at the Cam Ranh Bay AB hospital from 1968 to 1969, recalled the experience as a harrowing one.

“It was the third part of the Tet Offensive,” he said, referring to the campaign launched by North Vietnam in 1968. “We were firing cannons every night to keep the Vietcong out. It was scary with all the shelling go-ing on.”

Lee, a former San Antonio resident who now lives in Port Lavaca, Texas, said the hospital was “busy all the time,” taking care of the injured from all services as well as the South Vietnamese.

“I even put one Vietcong prisoner on a respirator in a ward full of Marines,” he said. “That was pretty interesting.”

Lee, who attained the rank of mas-ter sergeant in the Texas Air Na-

tional Guard after his active-duty career ended, said he joined the 12th TFW Association shortly

before the Fort Worth, Texas, re-union in 2010.

“I started enjoying the emails and stories about all the things

that happened in Vietnam,” he said. “When you’re there, you don’t realize there’s all

this other stuff going on. You learn about all those things once it’s all over.”Lee said he is again look-

ing forward to the reunion, where he said he’ll have an

opportunity to “talk to the guys who were by you and listen to them

tell their stories.”Sherwood said the association now has about

210 members, but the roster continues to grow. He said the nonprofit organization includes officers, enlisted personnel and civilians who were assigned to the 12th TFW, as well as family members, but other supporters can join as associate members. The association has its own website, www.12tfw.org.

Armes, who is an associate member, said the associa-tion plays a key role in preserving the unit’s history.

“The 12th TFW Association does an amazing job of preserving our unit’s history by sharing memories, articles and photos,” she said. “They also keep a robust and active network of former 12th wing members.”

TFW veterans preserve part of 12th FTW’s history

WINGSPREADJUNE 15, 2012 PAGE 9

SportsBRIEFS

Training run offeredThe Rambler Fitness Center

will host a 10-mile run June 23, 7 a.m. at Eberle Park. This is the first of three marathon training runs.

Randolph Oaks Golf Course events

• The Randolph Oaks Golf Course is conducting a Junior Golf Camp for youth Monday through June 15, 8 a.m.-noon. The cost for the clinic is $50 for youth with clubs or $125 for youth who need to purchase clubs. For more information, call 652-4653.

• The Randolph Oaks Golf Course holds a Father and Son or Daughter Tournament Sunday. Tee times are noon- 1 p.m. and the entry fee is $20. For more information, call 652-4653.

Bowling center offers special

Bowling and shoe rental are free for dads at the Ran-dolph Bowling Center Sunday, 1-6 p.m. Additionally, family members can bowl at the reduced rate of $1.50 per game, per person and $1.50 shoe rental.

Randolph pools openThe Randolph Center Pool

is open for recreational swim-ming weekdays, 1-8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays, 1-6 p.m. The daily entry fee for those without a season pass is $2 for ages 2 and older. Lap swimming starts June 4 at the South Pool and is open weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. There is no cost for lap swimming.

The South Pool is also open Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. for private parties. For more information, call 652-3702/3698.

SPORTS - HEALTH - FITNESS

By Debbie GildeaAir Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

Contrary to common belief, a medical as-signment limitation code, commonly known as the “C-code,” does not disqualify an Air-man from deployment, and it does not identify an Airman for medical discharge.

A “C-code” applied to a member’s pro-file for medical reasons is one of the vari-ous tools Air Force Personnel Center offi-cials use to put the right person in the right place at the right time, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Keryl Green, AFPC Medical Retention Standards branch chief, said.

“Our branch belongs to the assignments di-rectorate,” she said. “We don’t actually make assignments, but we are integral to the suc-cess of assignment processes.

“We’re part of the medical evaluation process, so we work closely with the 76 Air Force medical treatment facilities, the physi-cal evaluation board and AFPC enlisted and officer assignment experts.”

Ultimately, the branch’s goal is to make sure Airmen are able to support the mis-sion, Green said.

“We do that by first evaluating referred cases and identifying if a member’s medi-cal condition is compatible with continued service,” Green said. “If it is, we will assign the most appropriate code, if any, to make sure those who can serve, do so in a loca-tion where appropriate medical facilities are available.”

The process begins when a base medi-cal practitioner refers a case for evaluation. Treatment facilities follow Air Force policy to decide whether to send referrals for medical-evaluation- board processing.

There are three critical components of a referral, Green said.

The first is the narrative, a subjective and objective medical summary submitted by the medical professionals responsible for an Airman’s care. It provides medical background, treatment information and is foundational in referral decisions, she explained.

The second is the commander’s letter, which describes, from a nonmedical per-spective, how the illness or injury has af-fected an Airman’s ability to perform his or her duties or deploy, and how the illness or injury may hinder the unit mission.

The third component is the member’s AF

form 469, which is commonly known as a “profile.” This document gives a clear picture of the official physical restrictions that are re-lated to the medical condition, Green said.

“To improve the referral process, we’re implementing a procedure change whereby all medical evaluation board referrals will come through this office,” he said. “AFPC providers will screen each case and deter-mine whether or not a service member can remain on active duty with his or her medi-cal condition.”

“If we determine that a member’s condi-tion does not interfere with their continued military service, we will make an adjudica-tion that the member can be returned to duty, and, when it is warranted, apply the appropriate C-code to the member’s per-sonnel file.”

Airmen identified for an assignment limitation will be coded as a C-1, C-2 or C-3, Green explained, but even the most restrictive code doesn’t automatically dis-qualify you from deployment or perma-nent change of station.

The C-codes give Airmen an idea of their status and eligibility, but options vary depending on individual conditions.

C-1 is the least restrictive code. C-1 cod-ed Airmen can move to any continental United States assignment, including Alaska and Hawaii, without a waiver. A C-1 coded Airman may also move to most overseas bases without a waiver, as long as those

bases have a fixed medical treatment facil-ity, Green said. A waiver is required for a move to locations with limited care, such as South Korea; Lajes Field, Azores; Eiel-son AFB, Alaska; Moron Air Base, Spain, and to deployed locations.

C-2 is more restrictive, but permanent change of station and deployment options remain numerous, Green said.

“C-2s can go anywhere in the conti-nental United States, Hawaii and Elmen-dorf without a waiver, but assignments to Eielson AFB, Alaska, overseas assign-ments and deployments require a waiver approved by the gaining major command surgeon general,” Green said. “Waiver ap-proval for C-2 Airmen is relatively com-mon, though.”

Just more than 3 percent of the ac-tive-duty Air Force population has an assignment limitation code, and less than a half of a percent of the 10,000 C-coded Airmen carry a C-3 designa-tion, Green said.

“The application of a C-code is a tool we use to ensure members have access to the medical care they need, thus protect-ing both the member and the mission,” Green said. “But first, we need to ensure they are able to continue to contribute to the Air Force mission.”

For more information about assign-ments and other personnel issues, visit the myPers website.

Medical ‘C-code’ not a deployment disqualifier