Vol. 66, No. 34Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006Keesler Air Force BaseBiloxi, Mississippi

Develop America’s Airmen today ... for tomorr

NSIDE

OMMENTARY

Spirit never fails us,

INING AND

CATION

Exercising mobility,

“Perfect” student,

EWS A

EATURES

Corps says thanks,

Salute to military,

“Financial” aid,

Hispanic events,

Club giveaway,

PORTS A

ECREATION

Marina on move,

Getting fit,

ECTIONS

Commentary.....................

Training and education.

4-7

News and features.....

8-16

Sports and recreation...

17-18

Digest.....................

19-21

Classifieds......................

Dragons deployed —83

Keesler News on Web:http://www.keesler.af.mil

This week in the Triangle

Student numbers

Total students — 3,384Non-prior service — 2,165Temporary duty — 1,199Combat controllers — 20Non-prior service arrivals — 117Guard, Reserve — 753International — 52Fiscal 2006 graduates — 23,819Total since 1942 — 2,231,880

Aerospace control and warning systems operator, 9:30 a.m. today, Bryan Hall.Airfield management, 10 a.m. today, Cody Hall.Communications-computersystems planning and implementation, 10 a.m.today, Thomson Hall.Computernetworking cryptographic system, 10 a.m. today, Bryan Hall.Airtraffic control radar, 9:30 Tuesday, Cody Hall.Personnel, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wolfe Hall.Communications-computersystems control, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Thomson Hall.Ground radio communication, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jones Hall.Airtraffic control tower, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Cody Hall.Information management, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Thomson Hall.

Expansionof servicesfor patientscontinues

By Steve Pivnick

81st Medical Group Public Affairs

“You’ve come a long way, baby” maybest describe the ongoing expansion of patient services at Keesler MedicalCenter.Nurses and medical techniciansworked tirelessly for more than a monthto prepare intensive care, post anesthesiacare and ambulatory surgery on Ward 2Aand multi-service on Ward 4Ato acceptpatients by Aug. 15.The resumption of inpatient serviceswas officially marked by a special cere-mony Aug. 29 featuring remarks and aribbon-cutting by Lt. Gen. James Roude-bush, Air Force surgeon general.Still more services resumed this week with the opening of the family practice,pediatrics and women’s health clinics.What made the effort to restore inpa-tient care more significant is it wouldn’thave been possible without the contribu-tions of medics sent to Keesler to provideassistance. They came from other mili-tary medical facilities, as well as from theAir Force Reserve Individual Mobili-

Please see

Services,

Page 9

Photo by Steve Pivnick

Denise Nichols receives medication from Maj. Beth Dion, 81st MedicalOperations Squadron, Aug. 31 in the inpatient multi-service unit. Mrs. Nicholsis one of 30 patients admitted to the medical center since inpatient servicesresumed. She and her husband, retired Sailor Thomas Nichols, live in Biloxi.Major Dion, who’s assigned to the 314th Medical Group at Little Rock AirForce Base, Ark., is providing manning assistance here until November.

OMMENTARY

CTION

INE

...

377-4357

By Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso

81st Training Wing commander

First, try to work concerns through the proper chain of com-mand. When you’ve exhausted this recourse, turn to the com-mander’s action line for assistance.We welcome any suggestions to help make this a more valu-able and useful tool. You may call the commander’s action line at377-4357, write to Commander’s Action Line, 81 TRW/PA, KeeslerAFB, MS 39534-2603, e-mail 81 TRWCommander’s Action Line(on-base) or commanders.line@keesler.af.mil (off-base). For a per-sonal response, include your name, address and phone number.Items of general interest may appear in this column.For your convenience, below is a list of key customer servicephone numbers at Keesler:

Through conflicts, disasters— American spirit never fails

By Col. Deborah Van De Ven

81st Training Group commander

What is it that made a world-famous racecar champion who had no legal or moral obli-gation, leave the race course and join theArmy Air Service in 1917, then shoot down26 enemy aircraft to become the leadingAmerican ace of World War I?What is it that enabled a World War II gun-ner to pick up a flaming magnesium flare andcarry it to the copilot’s open window, with theflames blinding him and searing the fleshfrom his hands, arms and face, and toss theflare overboard to save the aircraft and crew?What is it that allowed our mechanics towork hour after hour in subzero temperaturesin Korea to keep our fighters and bombers inthe air, and our radios and radars operating onthe ground?What is it that made the pararescue manrefuse to be lifted from the jungle in Vietnamto stay with an injured pilot, risking almostcertain death?What is it that kept the troops working inthe debilitating heat of the Middle East duringOperation Desert Storm and again duringOperation Iraqi Freedom?What is it that keeps that security police-man on patrol ready to put his life on the linefor any one of us here at home?What continues to drive our men andwomen worldwide to do their jobs, to accom-plish the mission, to protect their friends, evenat great personal risk?I can see this potential in every new classthat comes to the 81st Training Group. Eachstudent is full of promise and eager to get tothe field to make their mark on the Air Forceand the world. I see it in action from our starperformers leading the classes in academics,and stepping up to provide leadership withintheir own squadrons.It may be even more evident in that border-line combat controller candidate strugglingwith every class and barely completing hisrequired physical training, but never giving upthe pursuit of his dream of being part of thefinest military in the history of the world.Could there be any better example of itthan the single mother tearfully handing her3-year-old daughter to her grandmother andturning to walk to the deployment line, whilethe child pleads with her not to go.So, what is “it?” It’s the metal that hasbeen used to forge our military since 1775when the American Revolution began. Thatmetal has been soaked in the blood of count-less of our predecessors. It’s been tested inhot wars and cold wars. It’s withstood naturaldisasters and terrorism. It never fails.It’s courage, fortitude, professionalism,dedication to duty and determination — it’sthe American spirit.

Base locator—

377-2890

Base operator—

377-1110

Base taxi (official use) —

377-2430

Careerassistance adviser—

377-3697

Central medical appointments—

1-800-700-8603

Child development center—

377-2211

Civil engineering —

377-5561

Civilian personnel —

377-2268

Military personnel flight —

377-2276

KeeslerFederal Credit Union —

385-5500

Emergencies —

911

Family campground —

594-0543

Airmen and family readiness cen-ter—

377-2179

Finance —

377-4212

81st Communications Squadronhelp desk —

377-0066

Housing —

377-9741

Identification cards —

377-3203

Inspectorgeneral —

377-3010

Legal assistance —

377-3510

Library —

377-2181

Lodging (reservations) —

377-9986

Medical centerinformation —

377-6550

Military pay —

377-7272

Pass and registration —

377-3893

Pharmacy (refill call-in) —

377-6360

Satellite pharmacy —

377-9791

Public affairs —

377-2783

Red Cross —

377-3030

Sexual assault prevention and res-ponse team —

377-8635

Law enforcement desk —

377-3040

Shoppette, Class Six —

432-2367

Telephone trouble —

377-2130

Traffic management (outbound)—

377-2446

Traffic management (inbound) —

377-7813

Visitorcenter—

377-2595

Youth center—

377-4116

By Capt. Rick Alford

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWESTASIA— Voting isone of the most important things amember of a democratic republic cando.The United States has a long histo-ry of voting, starting on Sept. 17,1787, when the Constitution wasadopted and the founding fathers setin place the process we now use toelect our country’s presidents.The first presidential election washeld in 1789 when the ElectoralCollege unanimously elected GeorgeWashington. During the 1820s and1830s, a number of states joined theunion, each with its own constitutionand most with limitations that pre-vented women and men of any raceother than white from voting.Women such as Lucretia Mott andElizabeth Stanton formed groups thatargued for women’s rights in 1840.These groups took root and grew. In1848, the Women’s RightsConvention was held in Seneca Falls,N.Y., where the attendees agreed thatwomen should have opportunities togo to college, become doctors andlawyers, own land and vote.As immigrants continued to floodto America, a new political groupcalled the Know-Nothings wasformed in 1850. This group at itsheart was anti-immigrant. In an effortto prevent immigrants from voting,this group pushed for literacy tests,because at the time, most immigrantsand African-Americans were illiterate.Congress passed its next big pieceof legislation in 1866 known as the14th Amendment in an attempt to pro-tect U.S. male residents who were atleast 21 years of age from votingobstacles. Susan B. Anthony, whowas already in the public eye by thistime, also founded the AmericanEqual Rights Association in 1866with Elizabeth Cady Stanton.In 1869, Congress passed the 15thAmendment granting the right to voteto all men regardless of race, color orprevious servitude. However, whileadvancing the right to vote forminorities, this amendment specifical-ly prohibited women from voting. In1872, Ms. Stanton attempted to votein direct violation of the 15thAmendment and was arrested.In 1878, a constitutional amend-ment, later known as the 19thAmendment, introduced to Congressto grant women the right to vote. Itfinally passed in 1920. The 24thAmendment, passed in 1964, prevent-ed the use of poll taxes to keepminorities from voting.In 1965, the Voting Rights Act wassigned by President Lyndon Johnson,which prohibited the use of literacytests and complicated ballot boxes.Finally in 1971, the 26th Amendmentwas signed which lowered the mini-mum voting age from 21 to 18.You may be asking yourself why Itook the time to let you in on a littlehistory behind your right to vote. Theanswer is simple. Your right to votewas procured through a long historyof war, civil war and civil atrocities.Men and women of every race,nationality and ethnic origin stood onthe firm belief that every person has aright to have their voice heard. As acitizen of the United States, you notonly have a right to vote, you have aresponsibility to vote, to have youropinions heard, and to set this countryon its next course. Your voice willonly be heard if you vote. So, get outand vote.

Vote — it’s not only your right, it’s your responsibility

EESLER

EWS

No. 1 in Air Force,2004, 1997.No. 1 in AETC,2004, 1998, 1996;No. 2, 2003, 2001,1999, 1997, 1991;No. 3, 2005, 2002,1995.

81st Training Wingcommander

Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso

Public affairs director

Lt. Col. Claudia Foss

Editor

Perry Jenifer

Staff writers

Susan GriggsSenior AirmanJake Gard

Staff photographer

Kemberly Groue

The Keesler News office isin Room 113, Taylor LogisticsCenter, Building 4002. Themailing address: 81TRW/PAIN, Keesler AFB, MS 39534-2120. Phone:377-4130, 3163,3837, 7340. Publication date:Thursday. News deadline: noonMonday.Classified advertisingdeadline: see Classified sec-tion. Editorial content is edit-ed, prepared, and provided bythe 81st TRW Public AffairsOffice in compliance with AirForce journalistic standards.All photographs are Air Forcephotographs unless otherwiseindicated.The Keesler News is pub-lished by Gulf Publishing Co.,a private firm in no way con-nected with the Air Force,under an exclusive writtencontract with the 81st TRWand as an authorized publica-tion for U.S. military servicemembers. Contents aren’tnecessarily the official viewsof, or endorsed by the U.S.government, Department of Defense or Air Force. Theappearance of advertisingdoes not constitute endorse-ment by the U.S. government,DOD, Air Force or Gulf Publishing of products orservices advertised. Every-thing advertised shall bemade available without re-gard to race, color, religion,sex, national origin, age, mar-ital status, physical handicap,political affiliation or anyother non-merit factor.

Keesler’s2006 safety goals

Make safety ...

a core value,a best business practice,a competitive and asymmetricadvantage.

Make every employee ...

feel safe at work and home.

If you’ve had too much to drink,call Airmen Against Drunk Driving,377-7283,10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursdaysbefore down Fridays,working Fridays and Saturdays.

Phone numbers and Web sitesfor information and accountabilityfor Keesler members:

Keesler Accountability Team

1-800-673-9356

Air Force Personnel Center

1-800-435-9941http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/ndw

81st Civil Engineer Squadron readiness

377-3811 or DSN 597-3811

Mississippi Emergency ManagementAgency

http://www.msema.org

National Weather Service

http://www.nws.noaa.gov

Keesler Public Web site