JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH No. 12 • MARCH 29, 2013

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

INSIDE ... HEROES DO EXIST, P2 ... AFAF SUPPORT, P4 ... IDOL FACTOR, P5 ... APRIL EVENTS, P9-12

Page 15

MARCH 29, 2013PAGE 2 WINGSPREAD

By Lt. Col. Russ Driggers560th Flying Training Squadron commander

(Editor's note: This is the fi nal article of the three-part se-ries highlighting heroes among the Freedom Flyers.)

How much do you invest in your team?In the last two articles, I’ve highlighted two true heroes –

Percy Purcell and Ken Fleenor. They showed us how heroes step up to extreme challenges and emerge victoriously with honor. In this fi nal article, I’d like to highlight another impor-tant aspect of their heroism, an aspect shared with the other prisoners of war who returned with honor. That aspect is team-work. Behind every successful hero, there is often a successful team. Teamwork is essential and requires effort by each and every teammate. The POWs certainly invested a great deal of effort toward their team; they had to.

This was the only way they could withstand the most brutal torture and living conditions imaginable. Smitty Harris provided tools of communication by introducing the tap code to the other prisoners. Robinson Risner, Bud Day and others provided lead-ership and a framework for resistance. Each POW provided critical capabilities to the team, so all could survive and fi ght.

Teams and relationships also take effort. Sometimes, we fi nd ourselves too busy to pay attention to the people on our team. Other times, we stay at the surface level and think, “I'm OK, you're OK.”

But that’s not necessarily true; we’re not always OK. I have problems and stressors sometimes, just like you. Fighting them in solitude is a sure way to fail and miss out on the amazing power of relationships.

“But I just don't have time for the bother,” some might say. I disagree. In fact, I believe we don’t have the time not to

“bother.” The time invested in building relationships, solid communication channels and team resilience pays off, because when tough times hit, you have access to many resources you never would have had on your own.

When Fleenor was dumped in his cell after two weeks of nearly continuous torture, his roommate took care of his every need. The POWs nursed and fed each other; they commiserated

with each other; and they learned to accept dependence on each other. In the end, they formed a bond the North Vietnam-ese could not break

For 40 years, the 560th Flying Training Squadron has had the honor of celebrating the POWs’ return to freedom. Sur-vivors have been given freedom fl ights, receptions, a voice to share their experiences and dining-ins where we showered them with praise. But in the end, they've given us so much more. They've taught us about heroes, the strength of the hu-man spirit, the promise of freedom and a love for our country.

Heroes do exist, and these amazing patriots prove that sometimes heroes aren’t individuals, but they are teams that come together and do extraordinary things. They can teach us about integrity, service and excellence. They can teach us about teamwork, honor and heroism. Imagine what we can do if we put that teaching to use in our daily lives.

The POW symposium, hosted annually at the JBSA-Randolph theater, is open April 12 for members to learn more about the POWs’ experiences, the escape from the Hanoi Hilton by Laurie Lengyel (Freedom Flyer #55) and the tap code from Harris (Freedom Flyer #105).

Joint Base San Antonio-RandolphEditorial Staff

Brig. Gen. Theresa C. CarterJBSA/502nd Air Base Wing Commander

Todd G. WhiteJBSA/502nd ABW Public Affairs Director

Marilyn C. HollidayJBSA-Randolph Public Affairs ChiefAirman 1st Class Lincoln Korver

EditorRobert GoetzAlex SalinasStaff Writers

Maggie ArmstrongGraphic Designer

COMMENTARYUltimate Fighting Championship fi ghter Shane Del Rosario teaches 1st Lt. Steve Arthur and Senior Airman Joshua Royer how to perform certain moves while sparring during a UFC demo event March 15 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. For the complete story, see page 15.Photo by Airman 1st Class Colville McFee

ON THE COVER

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 JBSA-Randolphpublicaffairs@us.af.mil.

Wingspread Offi ce1150 5th Street East

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

Wingspread emailrandolphpublicaffairs@us.af.mil

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Heroic teams breed heroic individuals

By Staff Sgt. Corey Hook59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

The Department of Defense has created a fast and easy way for patients to provide feedback on health care services they re-ceive at San Antonio Military Health Sys-tem facilities.

Military treatment facilities in San An-tonio are using the Interactive Customer Evaluation, or ICE, system to improve ser-vices provided to benefi ciaries.

In addition to ICE being available on any computer with internet access, there are fi ve kiosks conveniently

located at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Reid Clinic, North Central Federal Clinic and Randolph Clinic for ICE usage.

If the Internet is inaccessible, com-ment cards and drop boxes are lo-cated at all Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center clinics.

“The goal of ICE is to provide a centralized system where patients can provide feedback on their experience of care,” Master Sgt. Beatris Douglass, 59th Medical Wing patient advocate, said. “Patients also have the ability to view service providers’ satisfaction rat-

ings from previous surveys.”ICE aims to encourage communica-

tion across organizations by comparing best practices to increase performance results. It also gives leadership timely data on service quality.

“The feedback is benefi cial to our mission for improving the health of our Airmen and their family members,” Douglass said. “It identifi es areas of opportunity and ideas to improve upon them, as well as instilling a patient-centered culture.”

To access ICE, patrons are encour-aged to visit http://ice.disa.mil.

Patient feedback system debuts online

Newly freed American prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming.

Courtesy photo

WINGSPREADMARCH 29, 2013 PAGE 3

MARCH 29, 2013PAGE 4 WINGSPREAD

NEWS

By Alex SalinasJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

The Parr and Kendrick Clubs at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph were chosen for a top Air Force-wide distinction as the Best Food Operations Program of the Year in 2012.

With $4.9 million in revenue from sales and more than 1,800 events hosted in 2012, the Air Force’s No. 1 income-producing clubs “confirm the hard work and dedication of the hospitality operations team,” Terrye Heagerty, 902nd Force Support Squadron director, said. The clubs support a variety of events including weddings, conferences, farewells, community bingo nights and poker tournaments.

This is the fourth Air Force-level award for Randolph’s clubs, along with the Kendrick Club’s title of Best En-listed Club in 2003 and 2006, and the Best Club Program in 2009 when the clubs consolidated operations.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment because the

competition is getting tougher and tougher,” Merilyn Gove, 902nd FSS clubs general manager, said. “We owe it to our programs and thinking outside the box.”

The competition, which includes business outside of Randolph, is a driving force when it comes to creative club programming.

“It’s all about keeping up with the times and trends,” Gove said. “We look at what’s happening in the civilian world to help modernize the clubs.”

Be it serving cupcakes or sponsoring community events like “top chef” wars and the upcoming singing competition, Idol Factor, the clubs jump at opportuni-ties to “invest in the future,” Aaron Cox, 902nd FSS clubs assistant manager, said.

“The goal is to cater to everybody, but we’ve es-pecially done a great job of capturing the active-duty audience,” Cox said, citing the Kendrick Club’s popular Gil’s Pub and the recently renovated Air City Bar and Grill at the Parr Club.

The latter establishment, which was formerly two

rooms, was completely gutted and remodeled with fresh carpet, furniture, flat-screen TVs and a brighter color palette than before.

“Our lunch business is taking off,” Cox said, with Air City Bar and Grill’s sales doubling since reopening in July.

Currently, the Kendrick Club is in the process of re-ceiving its own refurbishment of “popular wall colors and new furniture,” Gove said.

The menus at both clubs also reflect a more “health-conscious and fit-to-fight Air Force,” Gove said.

Customers are responding with 98 percent sat-isfaction ratings in all club areas through the in-teractive customer evaluation.

“Sometimes, it’s frustrating to deal with so many different customers day in and day out, but it’s paid off,” Heagerty said.

To contact the Parr Club, Building 500, call 652-4864. To contact the Kendrick Club, Build-ing 1039, call 652-3056.

JBSA-Randolph clubs earn Air Force-level award

Photo by Joel Martinez (From left) Col. Gerald V. Goodfellow, 12th Flying Training Wing commander, Maj. Gen. A.J. Stewart, Air Force Personnel Center commander, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., Air Edu-cation and Training Command commander, and Brig. Gen. John P. Horner, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, sign their pledge form for the Air Force Assistance Fund Tuesday in Rice's office at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Top leaders pledge support

Photo by Mike OrearBrig. Gen. Theresa C. Carter (center), Joint Base San Antonio and 502nd Air Base Wing com-mander, signs her Air Force Assistance Fund pledge at the wing headquarters on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Tuesday. The general is joined by JBSA AFAF Campaign leads (from left) 2nd Lt. Yuri Innis, 2nd Lt. Alexander Babbs-Butler, Capt. Celestine Lukshis, 1st Lt. Ryan Nichols and Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Key. The AFAF raises funds for four charitable affiliates that provide support to Air Force family members in need: Air Force Villages, Inc.; Air Force Aid Society, Inc.; the Gen. and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation and Air Force Enlisted Village, Inc.

WINGSPREADMARCH 29, 2013 PAGE 5

By Alex SalinasJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

The singing competition, formerly called Randolph Idol, opened Thursday night at Joint Base San Antonio-Ran-dolph’s Parr Club with a new name – Idol Factor – and a new format.

In addition to the name change, Idol Factor now features younger contestants starting at age 13; a new category for groups; age subcategories for solo contes-tants; and weekly themes covering specific decades of music, including the ’50s and ’60s April 11, ’70s and ’80s April 18, and the ’90s through the present April 25.

What hasn’t changed is the event’s ability to discover gifted performers.

“We started this competition in 2009 and since then, I continue to be amazed at the level and quality of singing tal-ent in the JBSA area,” Steve Knechtel, 902nd Force Support Squadron com-munity programs manager and Idol Factor coordinator, said.

However, a founding guest judge on Idol Factor said there is more room for change.

“We (Bexar county) are behind the

times when it comes to show-casing our music,” Beverly Houston, an eight-time San Antonio Current Music Awards-winner said. Houston has

opened for well-known artists B.B. King, Bobby Bland and Etta James. “We’ve got some good talent, but all they need is a little bit of coaching, and Idol Factor is one more solution to offering that.”

Other than cash prizes of $1,000 for winning first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place, Idol Factor champions have earned local recognition in some form.

“Previous winners have been asked to sing the national anthem at Nelson Wolff Stadium before San Antonio Missions baseball games and for various ceremo-nies on- and off-base,” Knechtel said.

While winning the competition can boost a singer’s career, participants may get the piece of advice needed to improve their craft, Houston said.

“I don’t know if teaching the ‘it-factor’ is possible, but listening to music and studying it goes a long way,” she said.

Similar to competitive singing shows on TV, Idol Factor judges aim to give hon-

est evaluations to contestants. “I try not to be mean, but I also don’t

sugarcoat my critiques,” Jim Hale, Air Force Personnel Center Civilian Human Resource Production Division chief and founding guest judge, said.

According to Knechtel, Hale is “the Si-mon Cowell of Randolph.”

“I try to present my input in an en-tertaining way,” Hale added. “There are few who have big talent, some who are better served singing kara-oke and a few who should only sing in the shower.

“But it’s the diversity of the talent that makes the show. I am always waiting for those one or two perfor-mances when the performer captures

and owns the entire room, when their voice silences an audience.”

The scoring system relies 50 percent on the audience and 50 percent on the judges, whose combined votes determine which contestants advance.

Audience members ages 13 and older will be given voting chips, so people with a Department of Defense ID card are en-couraged to attend, Knechtel said.

Shows begin at 6 p.m. The April 11 performance will be at the Parr Club Sky Lounge. Shows on April 18, 25 and May 3, which is the finale, will be at the Parr Club International Ballroom.

There is no entrance fee, and food and drinks will be available through-out the evening.

'Idol Factor' debuts with new name, same thrills

MARCH 29, 2013PAGE 6 WINGSPREAD

• Drivers should be alert and expect delays April 15 to May 24.• Work to upgrade fi nal denial barriers will take place at that time. Courtesy photo

By Robert GoetzJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Harmon Drive is scheduled to be closed two lanes at a time starting April 15 to facilitate an upgrade of the fi nal denial barriers at Joint Base San Antonio-Ran-dolph’s main gate.

Plans call for Harmon Drive’s two inbound lanes to be closed for the fi rst part of the project to replace the pop-up barriers, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron offi cials said. The outbound lanes will ac-commodate outgoing traffi c only during this portion of the project, so motorists will have to use one of the other three gates to enter Randolph.

Once the barriers in the inbound lanes are upgraded, Harmon Drive’s outbound lanes will be closed for the duration of the project and the inbound lanes will be open again for incoming traffi c. Motorists will

be required to leave Randolph via one of the other gates.

Because of the lane closures, drivers can expect traffi c conges-

tion at the main gate, “especially during the morning and afternoon rush hours,” H.D. Eisenhauer, 902nd CES Programs Flight chief, said.

In addition to the lane closures, the main gate will only be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. To al-leviate traffi c during this time, the west gate will be open 24 hours, and the east gate will be open Monday through Friday to inbound traffi c only from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and to both inbound and outbound traffi c from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The south gate will continue to be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m.to noon Saturday.

The project’s estimated completion date is May 24.

Barrier upgrade to temporarily close half of Harmon Drive

WINGSPREADMARCH 29, 2013 PAGE 7

JBSA-Randolph Chapel

Easter ScheduleLibrary events for Month of the Military ChildThe Randolph Library has scheduled events in recognition of the military child, including a book giveaway 10 a.m. April 3 for all children who attend story time; a Wii Dance Night 3:30-5:30 p.m. April 11 for youth, ages 8-13; and a Game Night 4-6 p.m. April 18 for pre-teens and teens. Finally, a scavenger hunt takes place 3:30-5:30 p.m. April 25 for children of all ages. For more information, call 652-2617.

Flea marketThe next fl ea market takes place 8 a.m.-1 p.m. April 6 at the Randolph Clinic parking lot. Participants can visit Outdoor Recreation in the Community Services Mall, Building 895, and rent a space that comes with one six-foot long table for $15. Participants may not sell fi rearms, animals, arts and crafts, food items or beverages. For more information, call 652-5142 and select option two.

Summer camp registrationParents can register their children for summer camp 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 8-12 at Randolph Youth Programs. April 8 is reserved for single or dual active duty assigned to Randolph, and April 9 is reserved for active duty or DOD employees assigned to Randolph. Both parents must be employed full time, a full-time student or actively seeking employment. April 10-12 is reserved for Priorities 3-6, if any spaces are available. Registration packets will be available Monday at Building 585. For more information, call 652-2088.

Youth programs celebrate Month of the Military ChildIn celebration of Month of the Military Child, Randolph Youth Programs is hosting Famaganza, a free annual spring family festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 13. All families are invited to youth programs, Building 585, for face painting, infl atable attractions, games, arts and crafts, entertainment and lunch. There will also be information booths with giveaways, demonstrations and handouts. For more information, call 652-3298.

Equestrian event for Exceptional Family Member Program childrenA Special Olympics Equestrian Event takes place 9 a.m.-noon April 27 at the Fort Sam Houston Equestrian Center and is open to Exceptional Family Member Program-identifi ed children, ages 8 and older, who are physically able to ride on a horse and participate in equestrian activities. For more information, call 221-2962.

• CATHOLICGood Friday service

(Stations of the cross,veneration of the cross

and communion)5 p.m. Friday - Chapel

Easter mass5:30 p.m. Saturday

Chapel (no confessions)8:30 a.m. Sunday

Religious Activities Center11:30 a.m. Sunday

Chapel

• PROTESTANTGood Friday service

3:30 p.m. FridayReligious Activities CenterEaster Sunday services

Traditional8:15 a.m. Sunday - Chapel

Contemporary 11 a.m. Sunday

Religious Activities Center

MARCH 29, 2013PAGE 8 WINGSPREAD

By Maj. Daniel KatkaSexual Assault Prevention and Response Community Relations Program director

April has been designated as Sexual Assault Aware-ness Month by the Department of Defense and Joint Base San Antonio to raise awareness and promote the prevention of sexual violence.

The 2013 campaign theme is “We own it … We’ll solve it … Together.”

We own it: We own this problem and recognize the impact it has on our personnel and mission readiness.

We’ll solve it: Leaders spearhead efforts to estab-lish a culture where bystanders intervene, offend-ers are held accountable, victims are supported and every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine is treated with dignity and respect.

Together: Reinforces idea that to be successful, we must work together across DOD and in our local com-

munities to combat sexual assault. The SAAM proclamation ceremony takes place

at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Warfighter and Family Services, Building 2797, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Other JBSA SAAM activities include:• Free self-defense classes. Classes have a maxi-

mum of 60 students. No registration required, classes are first come first serve. Classes are held at JBSA-Lackland’s Warhawk Fitness Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 10, at JBSA-Fort Sam Hous-ton’s Jimmy Brought Fitness Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 17 and at JBSA-Randolph’s Rambler Fitness Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 24.

• “Choose Respect” teen dance. At the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Youth Center, Building 1630 on Watkins Road from 6 to 11 p.m. April 26. Teens between the ages of 13 to 18 are invited to the center for a dance and game night. Requires par-

ent permission slip. Call 221-3502 or 671-7374 for more information.

• Information tables. Sexual assault realities, victim services, and prevention tips will be dis-tributed across JBSA.

• Teal Ribbon campaign. As the color represent-ing SAAM, teal ribbons will be placed around the JBSA community to show support for victims re-covering from sexual assault.

• Social media blitz. Catch facts, stats, and pre-vention tips in the News Leader, Talespinner and Wingspread and also on the JBSA Facebook and Twitter pages.

The JBSA Sexual Assault hotline is 808-7272 and the JBSA Sexual Assault Response Coordinator can be reached at 808-0110 or 808-6316.

Soldiers can call the Sexual Harassment Assault Re-sponse and Prevention number at 221-0598, while Sail-ors and Marines can call the Navy SARC at 221-1496.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month: ‘We own it ... we’ll solve it ... together’

To advertise in the Wingspread,

call 210-534-8848.

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By Robert GoetzJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

The Randolph High School and Randolph Middle School choirs are heading for the home stretch of the 2012-13 school year, preparing for two concerts and two competitive events.

The choirs will showcase their vocal talents during their annual spring concert planned for 6 p.m. April 9 at the school’s fine arts center. They will also compete in the Sound Waves Music Festival May 18 in New Braun-fels and end the year with their pop concert at 6 p.m. May 21, also in the fine arts center. Middle school choir students will compete in the University Interscholastic League Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contest April 20 at Bush Middle School in San Antonio.

The choirs’ “Concert of Contest Music” April 9 will draw from their performances at UIL meets and the upcoming Sound Waves competition, Joyce Sullivan, Randolph choir director, said.

“This concert is for families and friends,” she said. “It will be the third of our four concerts during the year.”

The concert will feature the eighth-grade and high school choir singing “My Heart’s in the High-lands,” “Come Joyfully Sing” and “This Train,” while the sixth- and seventh-grade choir will per-form “Shake the Papaya Down,” “Yankee Doodle Song” and “On the Railroad.” Both choirs will end the concert with “God Bless America.”

Choir members come into the spring concert on the heels of a strong performance at the High School UIL Vocal Solo and Ensemble Contest Feb. 23 at Wagner High School in the Judson Independent School District. Freshmen Nicole Elefante and Sarah Mattison earned superior ratings in the solo competition and joined eighth-graders Chianne Floyd and Odyssa Alcantara in a quartet that also earned a superior rating.

“Eighth-graders are allowed to perform with high school students in an ensemble setting,” Sullivan said.

Middle school students are looking forward to their own UIL event, she said.

“I’ll be taking eight soloists from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and the sixth- and seventh-grade choir will perform in the ensemble category,” Sullivan said. “This competition is sponsored by the North East Independent School District, but it gives students a UIL experience in middle school. It gives them confidence.”

High school and middle school choirs will compete at the Sound Waves festival competition, a Schlitter-bahn-sponsored event for school orchestras, bands and choirs that will run for four successive Satur-days beginning April 27.

“We’ve gone every year I’ve been here,” Sullivan, who is in her eighth year as choir director, said. “The stan-dards are the same as UIL’s. Judges are looking for good dynamics; the blending of voices; clear, crisp consonants; and tall, rounded vowels.”

Randolph’s choir tradition goes back four decades,

with a string of UIL sweepstakes awards and superior ratings, Sullivan said.

“I try to foster a feeling of family, belonging and work-ing toward a common goal,” she said. “A choir is a team. You have to know the playbook, learn to read music, follow the director and work together.”

Concerts, competitions await Randolph school choirs

Photo by Benjamin FaskeJoyce Sullivan, Randolph Middle School choir director, re-hearses songs with her sixth grade choir class March 21 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

WINGSPREADMARCH 29, 2013 PAGE 15

SportsSportsSportsBRIEFSBRIEFSBRIEFSSportsSportsSports

SPORTS - HEALTH - FITNESS

By Robert GoetzJoint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

A quintet of Ultimate Fight-ing Championship competi-tors brought the excitement and intensity of mixed martial arts to Joint Base San Antonio this month.

The fi ve fi ghters – Shane Del Rosario, Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall, Francisco Rivera, Giva “The Arm Collector” Santana and Jer-emy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens – displayed the techniques that combine elements of boxing, wrestling, jujitsu, tae kwon do and other dis-ciplines during demonstrations at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Randolph and JBSA-Lackland March 14-16. Their visit concluded with an autograph session and the viewing of a televised UFC match at Lackland’s Skylark Community Center.

The demonstrations were as much an educational experience for the fi ghters as they were for the active-duty members who watched them and talked to them.

“We learn a lot from these guys, so we want to give back as much as possible,” Mc-Call, a UFC fl yweight, said. “It’s good motiva-tion for us.”

Santana, a middleweight who grew up in Brazil, said he enjoyed interacting with active-duty members.

“I’m learning a lot from them,” he said. “It gives purpose to what we’re doing.”

Rivera, who competes in the bantam-weight category, called the visit to JBSA “a great opportunity” for the fi ghters. He drew a parallel between basic military trainees and the fi ghters after witnessing a BMT gradua-tion March 15 at Lackland.

“It’s defi nitely a different experience, but in some ways it’s similar to our training, ex-cept they’re younger,” he said.

The fi ghters, who live and train in Orange County, Calif., have varied backgrounds that prepared them for UFC competition. For in-stance, McCall was a wrestler in college and Santana’s experience is in jujitsu.

“I started jujitsu in Brazil more than 20 years ago,” he said.

The fi ghters gave demonstrations at the Fitness Center on the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston, the Rambler Fitness Center at Randolph, the Combatives Lab at Lackland and the Skylark Center at Lackland. Active-duty members dominated the audiences at Fort

Sam Houston and Lackland, but families were a big presence at Randolph, according to Abbie Pollard, Skylark and Kisling Com-munity Centers manager.

“They had a real blast with the families,” she said. “The fi ghters showed participants fl oor work, blocking work and take-downs. They also talked about their careers in the UFC, their wins and losses and what it’s like to be in the octagon.” The octagon is the eight-sided mat and cage where UFC fi ghts take place.

The fi ghters’ visit to JBSA was hosted by the Single Airman Initiative, which is en-dorsed by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, administered by Headquarters Air Force Services Agency and operated by force support squadrons, Pollard said.

“This initiative provides programs, classes and equipment to our single military mem-bers at no cost to them,” she said.

The UFC demonstrations honor one of single Airmen’s most common requests, Pollard said.

“We went to single military members and asked them what they wanted,” she said. “One of the biggest things was a UFC pay-per-view event.”

UFC fi ghters fi rst came to Lackland in October 2011, followed by a visit in Novem-ber, Pollard said. Their demonstrations are gaining momentum.

“Other bases are hearing about what we’re doing,” she said. “They’re excited that UFC fi ghters are willing to come here and spend time with the troops.”

UFC fi ghters bring sport to JBSA service members, families

Photo by Airman 1st Class Colville McFeeProfessional Ultimate Fighting Championship fi ghters teach sparring techniques during the UFC Demo Event March 15 at Joint Base San Antonio- Randolph's Rambler Fitness Center.

T-ball registrationRegistration for Lil’ Ren-egades T-Ball takes place in April at Randolph Youth Programs. Children wishing to participate must be 3 years old by May 1. The cost is $35 per child. For more information, call 652-3298.

Customer appreciationThe Rambler Fitness Center is hosting a Customer Appre-ciation Day 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday. The event is being held to thank custom-ers for choosing the fi tness center for their workouts. The fi tness center staff will provide tours of the facility to familiarize patrons with the workout areas. For more information, call 652-7263.

Randolph Oaks hosts Masters Blind DrawRandolph Oaks Golf Course hosts the Masters Blind Draw tournament April 6. Tee times are 7-9 a.m. and the entry fee is $10, plus green fees and cart rental. For more information, call 652-4570.

Month of the Military Child bowling specialYouth, ages 12 and younger, bowl for free 1-4 p.m. any Sunday in April at the Ran-dolph Bowling Center when accompanied by an adult who also bowls. Shoe rental is not included. For more information, call 652-6271.

Colorama bowlingColorama bowling takes place 7 p.m. April 12 at the Randolph Bowling Center. Customers can win money if they strike on the posted combination of colored pins. The entry fee is $15 per person with optional side pots available. For more information, call 652-6271.