Greetings Crusaders!
15 SEP 2003
First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their efforts during the two-week exercise at the beginning of summer. We accomplished most of our assigned missions well within the time we were given and without any accidents. Our safety record and everyone's attention to detail were really outstanding!
Congratulations to the new Scanners and Observers. You guys worked hard - especially on the night sorties - and you deserve it. I was happy to pin those wings on you.
We're bidding goodby to Maj Tom, who's leaving the area due to his civilian job. Good luck, Tom and thanks for everything.
We're also losing Capt Mike, who's also moving due to work. Luckily, his work is taking him to VAWG and he'll be joining our sister unit, the 416th. They're very luck to get him!
Also, Chief Whipple is retiring after twenty years in the Air Force and another twenty with Civil Air Patrol. The maints shop won't be the same without him.
Please help me in welcoming Sergeants Sue and Carl and Lt Mike aboard. Sue is an electronics tech and will be working with the radio stacks as well as the PV system. Carl will be joining the maints shop as a powerplant technician. Once he comes up to speed, Dan's wive might get a chance to see what her husband looks like again! Lt Mike is a navigator by trade; he'll be working on his observer rating and joining an aircrew as soon as possible. Mike and Sue are AFRES and Carl comes to us from the Coasties (their loss!).
We'll be having a 'hail and farewell' real soon. Keep an eye on the unit bulletin board for more information on where and when.
Just a note: there will be some training opportunites with the boys from Kirtland in the near future. First Responder, survival and victim extraction. The terrain up there is a lot like what we have here, so I'd like everyone to consider it. It's a two-week course. I know this will be a strain, with the optempo we've had this year; but well worth it.
To sweeten the pot, there may, I repeat may, be an opportunity for some jumps while you're there. Nobody is making any promises, but good things have happened in the past out there.
Finally, our unit Christmas Party is scheduled for 12 December. The cost will be per person, per couple. It should be a lot of fun again and I encourage everyone to attend.
It's been a good year so far. We've been busy but safe. The optempo isn't going to decrease! The HS missions are only going to increase. I'm pushing hard for another bird and it's looking good, but we'll need crews to man it! This is a volunteer organization, so start looking for volunteers! Many hands make light work, my mom always said.
I'm going to sign off with a sincere thank you to everyone in the unit and most especially to your families and employers. For every hour we're in the air, our families spend four hours worrying about us while we're gone. We simply couldn't do it without them!
Fly safe!
Lt Col Ron
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Squadron Zippos!
There are still a few Zippo lighters left from the most recent batch. Even if you don't smoke, they're good to have in case you're in a survival situation!
Set Lt Phil in Ops if you're interested.
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