Friday, Sept. 25, 2009

What’sInside...

PAGE 2

New civilianhonoarycommanderswelcomed

PAGE 4

Making friends

PAGE 6

Notes & Events

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Another flu shot?

All enlisted air-men and their fami-lies are invited to afree luncheon held atthe FreedomCommunity Centeron the first Thursdayof each month. It issponsored by theArmed ServicesYMCA.

For more informa-tion call 481-6523.

Free luncheonheld eachmonth forenlistedAltus AFBfamilies

Freedom FlyerSupplement to the Altus Times, Altus, Oklahoma

The

U.S. Air Force photosby Senior Airman Cherice Bryant

Above, members from the AirEducation and TrainingCommand Headquarters andthe 19th Air Force InspectorGeneral teams exit a C-17Globemaster III upon theirarrival on base. At right, Col. TyThomas, 97th Air Mobility Wingcommander, briefs the AirEducation and TrainingCommand Inspector Generalteam just after their arrival onbase Sept. 13. The team con-sists of inspectors from AETCHeadquarters and the 19th AirForce who will conduct regula-tion compliance evaluationsthroughout the base.

Inspectors arrive on base

by Sean Bowlin 12thFlying Training Wing

Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR

FORCE BASE, Texas --Randolph AFB welcomed40 civilian HonoraryCommanders from sur-rounding areas with anannual hail and farewellreception, Sept. 10. This isthe twelfth consecutiveyear of the nearly 80 year-old program.

The HonoraryCommander program pairslocal leaders in medicine,business, law, religion andmunicipal governmentswith Air Force leaders. Theprogram allows Air Forceleaders to get a pulse on thecivilian community's con-cerns, while simultaneouslyhelping civic leaders gainfurther understanding ofmissions, policies, pro-grams and people of the

12th Flying Training Wing. Retired Chief Master

Sgt. J.R. Williams, localinsurance agent and six-year veteran of theHonorary Commander pro-gram, said it keeps him cur-rent with the state of the AirForce today.

"It's allowed me to stayin touch," he said. "I alsoenjoy the camaraderiewhen I join in the eventsheld by the 99th Flying

Training Squadron." At the reception, Team

Randolph welcomed 15new leaders while biddingfarewell to the 15 who com-pleted the program.

Col. Jacqueline VanOvost, 12th Flying TrainingWing commander, congrat-ulated new and former hon-orary commanders. Shesaid the relationshipbetween Randolph andcommunities around thebase has been a positive,mutually supportive one.

She also said the goal ofthe honorary commanderprogram is to strengthenties between both entitiesthrough mutual understand-ing of the military, its mis-sion and surrounding com-munities.

"Community supporthas always been important

to the Air Force, especiallynow with Army and AirForce support functionsmerging under Joint BaseSan Antonio," the colonelsaid.

During the next 12months, Air Force leadersat Randolph will invitetheir honorary commandercounterparts to attend unitfunctions, dinners, recep-tions and other events. Inreciprocation, civic leaderswill invite their militarycounterparts to companyoutings, chamber of com-merce get-togethers, civicassociation dinners andbusiness parties.

Lt. Col. Dave Cox, 99thFTS commander, is the mil-itary counterpart to Mr.Williams and MarvAbrams, San Antonio chap-ter of the Tuskegee Airmen,Inc., honorary commander.

The colonel said the pro-gram provides a criticallink between the militaryand civilian communities.

He said as a Tuskegeeheritage squadron, the 99thFTS is privileged to hostmany Tuskegee heritageevents.

"Our honorary com-manders have been an inte-gral part of the process,"Colonel Cox said.

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PAGE 2 FREEDOM FLYER FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009

The Freedom Flyer is a product of, and a supplement to, the Altus Times,218-220 W. Commerce, Altus, OK 73521. (580) 482-1221, Fax (580) 482-5709 or visit www.altustimes.com.

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The Freedom Flyer

New civilian honorarycommanders welcomed

Senior Airman David Evans, Gateway Band trumpet apprentice, performs a solofor Leslye Baumann, Randolph AFB Honorary Commander, as Lt. Col.Christopher Crane, 12th Comptroller Squadron, looks on. The HonoraryCommanders Program enhances the positive relationship between Randolph AirForce Base and the surrounding communities. The reception was held Sept. 10,at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Melissa Peterson)

618 North Main, Altus • 482-0523*Some restrictions apply

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009 FREEDOM FLYER PAGE 3

PAGE 4 FREEDOM FLYER FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009

Making friendsCol. Ty Thomas, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander, joins a community of servicemembers and civilians at Mike and Debbie McAskill'sbarn southwest of Hess, Okla., for the annual NBC Bank Dove Hunt Sept 10. The hunts are open to all active duty, Department ofDefense employees, retirees and dependants 18 years of age or older. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Marianne E. Lane)

Need to talk?

Call 649-9218

A Military & Family LifeConsultant is now

available to listen andhelp. Consultations arefree and anonymous. No records are kept.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009 FREEDOM FLYER PAGE 5

Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity term registrationEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, locat-ed on Altus AFB, will be registering for theWinter Term Sept 28 through Oct 16, whichruns from October 19 to December 20.Undergraduate and graduate registrationwill end October 16. For more information,please call 481-5991 or visitwww.erau.edu/altus.

ESOHCAMP AssessmentAltus AFB will have an ESOHCAMPAssessment, Oct. 19 to 23.Environmental Safety and OccupationalHealth Compliance Assessmentand Management Program is a manage-ment tool to ensure military basescomply with federal, state and Departmentof Defense rules and regulations.It assists base leadership in managing theirenvironmental, safety andoccupational health programs more effec-tively by helping to identify andcorrect deficiencies before they result in vio-lations. Through ESOHCAMPassessments, the Air Force ensures militaryactivities do not pollute basesor the surrounding communities and per-sonnel can go to work each dayin a safe environment.

EMS – What is it?--Is it an Environmental ManagementSystem?--Is it an Emergency Medical System?--Is it an Emergency Management System?The answer is yes. The acronym fits all ofthose systems. However, inour case we are looking at theEnvironmental Management System. TheEMS can be looked at as a specializedmanagement system that targetsenvironmental issues. The idea is quite sim-ple: An organization mustmanage its environmental issues in thesame manner as it manages itsmission in order for it to be successful.EMS is a check and balance process youwork with to ensure that theenvironmental impacts of your job areacknowledged and action taken tomitigate those impacts.

Lasting Intimacythrough NurturingKnowledge & Skills

The Lasting Intimacythrough NurturingKnowledge & Skillsclass (L.I.N.K.S.) is rela-tionship reinforcementfor married couples.L.I.N.K.S. help couplesto understand and learnmore about each other,themselves and theirrelationships. Please callFamily Advocacy at 481-5376 to registe for class.

Altus ArmedServices YMCA spous-es’ social

Spouses of all ranksare welcome to the AltusArmed Services YMCAspouses’ social 9:30 to10:30 a.m. everyThursday, at the FreedomCommunity Center,Bldg. 148. Join in scrap-booking, card making,recipe exchanges, andnetwork with otherswhile learning aboutchild development andage appropriate activitiesfor children. Donuts areprovided, and ASYMCAprovides a free Starbucksdrink for all junior enlist-ed spouses. So, pleasebring your preschoolchildren and join the fun.For more informationcall 481-6523.

New parent supportprogram

The New Parent

Support Program is forexpectant parents andthose with children underthree. If you have ques-tions or want to learnabout becoming a parent,pregnancy, infant care,breast-feeding, or toddlerissues, the New ParentSupport Nurse is avail-able to help you. Homevisits, office visits,phone consults are atyour convenience. Freebooks on pregnancy, par-enting and baby care areavailable from the nurse.Individuals must enrollat the Pediatric, FamilyPractice or MentalHealth Clinics. Pleasecall 481-5376 for addi-tional information.

Computers withinternet connectivity

Airman & FamilyReadiness ResourceCenter provides comput-ers with internet connec-tivity from 7:30 a.m. to4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday (exceptThursday from 1 to 3:30p.m.) at Building 52,room 1201. The comput-ers are available for useby military members,family members, TDYstudents and other DoDID cardholders.

Combat Arms FiringRange is off limits

The Combat ArmsFiring Range, located onFirst Street, Bldg. 399 is

off limits to unauthorizedpersonnel. The firingrange is restricted to mil-itary weapons trainingonly. Trespassing is ille-gal and dangerousbecause of gunfire. Foraccess during duty hours,call the Combat ArmsNCOIC, 481-7578. Foremergencies only or dur-ing non-duty hours, con-tact the Security ForcesControl Center at 481-7444.

Car Care because wecare

The Car Care BecauseWe Care Program isdesigned to keep the pri-mary family vehicle, ofdeployed or remoteactive duty Air Forcemembers, in top runningcondition by providingpreventive vehicle main-tenance. This mainte-nance includes oil/filterchange, lubrication, andvehicle safety checks ona grant basis. When per-forming this routinemaintenance, additional

repairs or services maybe identified by themechanic as urgent safe-ty issues. In these cases,if families are unablefinancially to pay forthose repairs, they areencouraged to return tothe Airman & FamilyReadiness Section to dis-cuss an interest free loanfrom the AFAS. Thegoals are to identify andrepair problems beforethey become serious andmore costly to repair.Eligibility criteria are:spouses of active duty

Air Force membersdeployed away from

their duty for more than30 days; Spouses ofactive duty Air Forcemembers assigned to aremote tour; and FirstTerm Airman who com-plete a PersonalFinancial Management.Referral.

Women’sConferenceThe Annual Women's

Conference presented bythe First Baptist Church,300 North Main willpresent a 3 part seminar,

Sept. 26 beginning at7:30 a.m. at the Church.The Theme of the semi-nar is "My AlabasterBox." Keynote Speakeris Dr. Jeff Moore andPraise and WorshipLeader is Angela Lind.There is a cost for regis-tration, includingContinental breakfast,lunch, materials, anddoor prizes. For moreinformation, call theFirst Baptist Church at482-0230 or Maureen J.Sutherland at 482-1248.

Notes & Events1900 The Hurt Locker (R)

1400 Aliens In The Attic (PG)

1900 Funny People (R)

1330 Aliens In The Attic (PG)

PAGE 6 FREEDOM FLYER FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009

Commentary by Lt. Col.(Dr.) Brad S. Winterton

1st Air ForceEpidemiologist

TYNDALL AIR FORCEBASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Twohundred years ago, the averagelife expectancy was about 40years. Today, it is nearly 80years. That doubling of lifeexpectancy can be attributedalmost entirely to just twothings: improved sanitationand immunizations. All othermedical advances combineddon't even begin to come closeto the effects of those two.

The success of vaccines hasbecome their biggest stum-

bling block. Only the very old-est Americans have seen fami-ly members die of diphtheria,measles, mumps, smallpox,tetanus or whooping cough. Iremember my father telling methat his greatest childhood fearwas contracting polio andspending the rest of his life inan iron lung; however, we nolonger see children or adultscrippled or dead from polio inour country.

Thanks to vaccines, we areinsulated from most of the ill-ness and death that were partof everyday life for almost theentire history of mankind (andstill are in many parts of theworld). Those who decry vac-

cines as dangerous or even asan evil conspiracy are able todo so precisely because of thesuccess of vaccines; withoutvaccines there is a very highprobability many of those indi-viduals would not have livedpast age 10 and, therefore,would not have had the oppor-tunity to complain about vac-cines.

The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention offi-cials strongly recommend theH1N1 vaccine for pregnantwomen, parents of infants lessthan 6 months old, childrenand young adults 6 months to24 years, and adults under 65with underlying illness thatplaces them at higher risk forcomplications from flu. TheseCDC recommendations arebased entirely on what hasbeen observed with this virusso far.

I believe in immunization.Vaccine-preventable illnesseshave caused unimaginable suf-

fering and death; now most ofthem seem like ancient history.I will be in line, with my fam-

ily in tow, to receive our shotsas they become available,including the H1N1 vaccine.Another flu shot?

Why it’s important

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2009 FREEDOM FLYER PAGE 7

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