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A publication of the 502nd Air Base Wing – Joint Base San Antonio
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH
No. 17 • MAY 1, 2015
PAGES 8&9
INSIDE ... CONQUERING FEAR, P2 ... JBSA MOTORCYCLE SAFETY COURSE, P7 ... VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION, P11
PAGE 2
COMMENTARY
Conquer fear, live your dream!
By Col. David Chiesa
71st Medical Group commander
Do you wake up with energy each
morning or do you need an energy drink
to get you going?
If you constantly hit your snooze
alarm, wake with no energy, low selfesteem, lots of coffee or energy drinks,
drag yourself to work, can't wait for
the clock to display quitting time, your
body may be telling you something.
Yes, it could be a medical condition,
or a busy day or week, but with no
underlying conditions and these symptoms are occurring, you may have an
ailment called – lacking purpose.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines purpose as the feeling of being
determined to do or achieve something
and the aim or goal of a person –
what a person is trying to do, become.
So I ask; do you have purpose?
Absolutely yes! We all do. It is innate
within us. Some of you may have found
it and some are still searching, but we all
have a purpose.
Here's a fact: If you nurture and feed
your purpose or dream, it will blossom.
If you neglect, ignore or suppress your
purpose, it will wither away. The good
news is it will never leave you.
Each of us is created uniquely. There
are no two of a kind. You are the only
one with your fingerprint. Our talents,
skills, personalities, etc., make us all
unique.
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
Once you realize this fact, you have
opened the door to purpose – your big
dream.
Many think their dream and purpose is to be rich, a professional
athlete, a movie-star or even a medical
group commander, but if that were the
case, society would fall apart.
The world revolves around each
person's unique gift to life. If you want to
be a professional singer and you cannot
carry a tune, then singing may not be
your purpose. However, you can train to
be a professional singer. Hard work and
perseverance can help you achieve your
dream. Evaluate yourself to ensure what
you are pursuing excites you.
How will I know I am following my
dream?
Here are a few tips: Did you have
thoughts as a child of what you wanted
to be? When performing in the area of
your dream did people compliment you?
Does excitement fill your body when
thinking of your dream? Has anyone
confirmed "you would be a great (fill in
the blank)?"
Supervisors, do you know the dreams
of those you supervise? If they are still on
their journey, are you molding and shaping them towards their dream?
Maybe what they are doing does not
fit their purpose, but it is a step and each
step is full of opportunities.
Each layer of leadership should
excite and inspire all Airmen toward
their big dream.
Perseverance is crucial to attaining
that dream.
Many who achieved their dreams have
a common theme of failures or difficulties
before their success.
Thomas Edison was at the point of
starvation and working a job to support
his moonlighting in his own lab. It took
one success to turn the tide.
Mr. Rogers waited 17 years to finally
get his first TV show that was a huge
success. He was successful because he
was living his purpose – his dream.
I am blessed to have lived my
dream for 26 years. I am ready to
begin another journey and dream
that's pounding in my heart.
Young or old, you are the captain of
your ship and you place the rudder each
day in the waters of life to steer the
course. It is never too late to start.
Where are you on the path to your big
dream? Do you have a plan? Have you
set goals? When you face your giants, do
you have a mentor to guide you?
Surprisingly, most Americans do not
make it to their big dream.
Life's circumstances, excuses and
failures make some steps too difficult
to climb or some giant too difficult to
conqueror so they settle for the easy path
– or a more comfortable life.
Don't let it be said of you! Begin your
path to your purpose, your big dream.
If you started and lost interest or life got
too hard, it's time to rekindle the spark
and ignite your dream.
Casting a vote through action or inaction
By Maj. Brenton Pickrell
14th Security Forces Squadron commander
We all joined the Air Force for different reasons and regardless of those reasons, we shared high hopes upon joining.
Upholding the values of our service and maintaining that
hope typically proves challenging and takes considerable
strength and courage.
Anyone is capable of overcoming this adversity but, much
like a muscle, you must strengthen your ability to uphold these
principles. I often liken this idea to voting.
In terms of politics, it is your choice to vote. Your action or
inaction is a vote for what kind of organization you want our
Air Force to be. If you witness someone failing to adhere to
these values and ignore that infringement upon our culture, you
are casting a vote on what kind of organization this is.
However, like a muscle, you can tone and strengthen your
ability to correct things over time, and it becomes easier each
time you do it. It takes significant personal strength and courage to approach someone who outranks you and tell them they
are not setting an appropriate example. But the first time you
do this takes more strength and courage than it ever will again.
We should reflect upon this from both points of view. If we
tell sexist or racially motivated jokes, we just cast a vote. If a
person junior to us in rank corrects us and we disregard or,
worse yet, admonish them when we know in reality they were
correct, we just cast a vote. If we step over garbage on the
way into a building, we just cast a vote. If we refuse to correct
someone because it is difficult or uncomfortable, we just cast a
vote. However, in each case the opposite is also true.
Are you willing to put forth the effort and employ the
strength and courage necessary to cast the vote that makes this
an Air Force of which you are proud? Would your loved ones
be proud of the Air Force you are helping to create? I urge
everyone to reflect upon the votes you cast and ensure you cast
the vote you intend.
ON THE COVER
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Erickson, U.S. Air
Force Band of the West Ceremonial
Band assistant drum major, leads fellow
band members in the Battle of Flowers
Parade April 24 during Fiesta in downtown San Antonio. For more photos of
Joint Base San Antonio's participation
in the iconic event, see pages 8-9.
Photo by Johnny Saldivar
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
Editorial Staff
Brig. Gen. Bob LaBrutta
502nd Air Base Wing/JBSA Commander
Todd G. White
502nd ABW/JBSA Public Affairs Director
Marilyn C. Holliday
JBSA-Randolph Public Affairs Chief
Airman 1st Class Alexandria Slade
Editor
Airman 1st Class Stormy Archer
Maricris Moore
Robert Goetz, David DeKunder
Staff Writers
Maggie Armstrong
Graphic Designer
Wingspread Office
1150 5th Street East
JBSA-Randolph, Texas 78150
Phone: (210) 652-4410
Wingspread email
randolphpublicaffairs@us.af.mil
Wingspread Advertisement Office
EN Communities
P.O. Box 2171
San Antonio, Texas 78297
(210) 250-2440
This newspaper is published by EN Communities, a
private firm 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 official 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, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the
Air Force or EN Communities, 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 affiliation, or any other nonmerit
factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the
Public Affairs Office 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 randolphpublicaffairs@us.af.mil.
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 3
JBSA safety office warns drivers: Always Expect a Train
The wreckage of a semi-truck was on
display Monday through Wednesday
for all motorists entering Joint Base
San Antonio-Randolph as part of a
JBSA-wide demonstration to promote safety among motorists when
crossing railroad tracks. The display
is a partnership between the 502nd
Air Base Wing, Union Pacific Railroad and Ainsworth Trucking, owner
of the semi-truck. The display will be
at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Thursday through Sunday and at JBSALackland May 17-23. The accident
involving the Union Pacific train and
the Ainsworth Trucking semi-truck
occurred May 11, 2012, when the
semi failed to properly stop at a
highway-rail grade crossing south of
Encinal, Texas. For the full story, visit
http://www.jbsa.af.mil/news/story.
asp?id=123446052.
Photo by Joel Martinez
PAGE 4
WINGSPREAD
MAY 1, 2015
NEWS
Volunteers needed to test gender-neutral physical standards
By Capt. Jennifer Richard
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
The Air Force is looking for Airmen
from the Joint Base San Antonio area to
voluntarily participate in one of the two
high-visibility physical-standards studies
required to potentially open the last six
Battlefield Airmen career fields to women
and to ensure gender-neutral standards
across all Air Force specialties.
The Physical Tests and Standards
Study runs from April 13 to July 18
and the Re-validation of Strength
Qualification Standards Study runs
from April 15 to Aug. 1.
The Physical Tests and Standards
Study will establish fitness standards for
training and operational levels for Battlefield Airmen career fields and will consist
of familiar physical tests like running, pull
ups, push ups, as well as combat-related
simulations like swimming, carrying lifesize dummies, rock climbing, and climbing walls. The Re-validation of Strength
Qualification Standards Study will ensure
scientifically based, operationally-tied fitness tests and standards for entry into all
career fields and will consist of familiar
entry physical tests, to include those that
measure strength.
Volunteers can come from a variety
of backgrounds – active duty, guard
or reserve, female and male. All participants must be between the ages of
18 years and 45 years old, must have
a current passing physical fitness test
(all four components), current preventive health assessment/medical clearance, willing to attempt physical tasks
and must complete a safety and medical screening questionnaire.
For Airmen interested in volunteering to participate in the Physical Tests
and Standards Study, Airmen must be
willing to commit for a consecutive
two-week period from April 13 to June
13 or for one week from June 22 to
July 18. Airmen should gain permission from their supervisors and then
contact the AF Fitness Testing and
Standards Unit by emailing T2@us.af.
mil or calling DSN 487-2043.
For Airmen interested in volunteering to participate in the Re-validation of
Strength Qualification Standards Study,
Airmen must be willing to commit for
four hours each day on May 28 and 29;
additional opportunities are available
from July 11 to Aug. 1. Airmen should
gain permission from their supervisors
and then contact Katie Linnenkohl at
kastville@humanperfsys.com.
The studies to develop and validate
physical and mental standards will provide data for the Air Force’s Women in
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Trevor Tiernan
Special Tactics Airmen participate in various physical challenges designed to assess the
physical demands associated with Battlefield Airman Air Force Specialty Codes at Joint
Base San Antonio-Lackland.
Service Review implementation plan.
Following the 2013 decision of thenSecretary of Defense Leon Panetta and
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.
Martin Dempsey to rescind the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, each service has been
studying physical and mental require-
ments to ensure they are career-specific,
operationally relevant and gender-neutral
by September 2015.
In the Air Force, currently 99 percent
of career fields are open to both men and
women. The remaining 1 percent of positions is in ground combat and/or special
operations career fields.
DOD regulations prohibit eating popular health bar with hemp seeds
By Rachael Tolliver
Fort Knox Public Affairs
For anyone who relies on protein bars as an afternoon or after
workout snack, be warned about
nonmilitary-friendly ingredients in
their all-natural selections.
“Strong & Kind” bars, which
include Hickory Smoked, Roasted
Jalapeno, Honey Mustard, Thai
Sweet Chili, and Honey Smoked
BBQ flavors, contain hemp seeds
in their ingredients. These seeds
may contain low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found
in marijuana, which the military
believes may be detectable in
drug screening tests.
This ingredient is not includ-
ed the Kind fruit and nut bars.
A complete list can be found at
http://www.kindsnacks.com.
The military’s position on the
consumption of hemp seeds, or
its derivatives, follows laws and
guidelines set forth by U.S. law
enforcement agencies.
Army Regulation 600-85, paragraph 4-2 (p) states that, “Soldiers
are prohibited from using Hemp
or products containing Hemp oil.”
And the “Violations of paragraph
4-2 (p) may subject offenders to
punishment under the Uniform
Code of Military Justice and/or
administrative action.”
Air Force Instruction 90-507,
Courtesy photo
paragraph 1.1.6 states “Studies have “Strong & Kind” bars, which include Hickory Smoked, Roasted Jalapeno, Honey Mustard, Thai
See HEMP SEEDS P13 Sweet Chili and Honey Smoked BBQ flavors, contain hemp seeds in their ingredients.
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
Week-long observance celebrates
contributions of nurses, technicians
By Robert Goetz
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
Public Affairs
A former Army nurse who
served in the Battle of Normandy during
World War II will present the keynote
speech at a dinner at 7:30 p.m. May 8
in the Parr Club as the 359th Medical
Group observes National Nurses Week
Wednesday through May 12.
Josephine Perscatore-Reeves, who
played a role in setting up the first field
hospital at the Battle of Normandy, will
join other nursing service veterans from
World War II to the present as guests at
the dinner.
Lt. Col. Cynthia Weidman, 359th MDG
chief nurse, said the national theme for National Nurses Week is “Ethical and Quality
Health Care,” but the 359th MDG selected
the theme “Embrace the Past, Envision the
Future and Engage the Present.”
“We took a spin on the national theme
to come up with our own theme to fit the
mission of the military setting,” she said.
National Nurses Week at Joint Base
San Antonio-Randolph will kick off on
National Nurses Day Wednesday with
clinic-specific special activities and will
conclude May 12 in the dental conference room with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the birthday of Florence
Nightingale, founder of the nursing profession and pioneer of modern nursing,
who was born May 12, 1820.
Weidman said National Nurses Week
celebrates the contributions of registered
nurses, licensed vocational nurses and
medical technicians – “the highly skilled
professionals who possess critical-thinking,
problem-solving and care-coordination
skills that ensure patient safety.”
Nurses and technicians “are at the
forefront of health care innovations every
day and everywhere,” Weidman said.
“In many different ways, nurses and
techs are working together to improve the
quality of nursing services and their work
environment,” she said.
At the 359th MDG, more than 80 RNs,
LVNs and technicians – active-duty members, Department of Defense civilians
and contractors – provide care in family
health, women’s health, pediatrics, flight
medicine and immunizations.
Nurses bring a wealth of experience to
the clinic, Weidman said.
“The majority of active-duty nurses
have advanced degrees in nursing or
healthcare-related degrees,” she said.
“All nurses have at least three years of
experience in nursing prior to being assigned to an outpatient clinic. The nurses
within the 359th MDG have an average of
16 years of nursing experience ranging
from inpatient medical, surgical, trauma
and emergency/intensive care to women’s
health, case management and disease
management.”
Weidman said civilian nurses, who
have worked in military facilities for several years or have prior military experience, “provide a stable foundation for the
patient-centered medical home teams.”
Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Harris,
359th Medical Operations Squadron superintendent, said enlisted medical technicians “enable the Air Force mission.”
“Without healthy pilots or maintenance personnel, we would not be able
to keep the planes in the air,” she said.
“Enlisted medics not only take care of
our active-duty population, but also
take care of families and retirees and,
by doing this, it lowers the stress levels
of our active-duty population so they
can get their mission done.”
Harris said medics introduce beneficiaries to the clinic.
“When you come into the clinic for an
appointment, it is a medic who will do
your initial intake and get your medical
history, vital signs and prepare you for the
visit with your provider,” she said.
Harris also said medics receive extensive training.
“All medics are nationally registered
emergency medical technicians,” she
said. “This allows us to work in emergency departments and respond to 911
calls. Although we do not have an emergency room on base, our medics are still
prepared to take care of our patients in
any emergency situation.”
The observance dates back to 1954,
when “National Nurse Week” marked
the 100th anniversary of Nightingale’s
mission to Crimea, but it wasn’t officially recognized by the United States until
President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation 20 years later.
In 1993, the American Nurses Association Board of Directors declared May 6-12
as permanent dates to observe National
Nurses Week.
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
Joint Base San Antonio
members tour
JBSA-Randolph
during half marathon
Joint Base San Antonio members
run down Harmon Drive Sunday
during the start of the JBSA Half
Marathon at JBSA-Randolph. In its
second year, the race not only provided an opportunity for members
from all JBSA locations to tour
the scenic route and rich history
of JBSA-Randolph, but to experience camaraderie and teamwork
between runners and volunteers
alike throughout the event.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Alexandria Slade
WINGSPREAD
MAY 1, 2015
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 7
Motorcycle riding begins with basic rider course
By David DeKunder
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs
For many service members, riding a
motorcycle gives them the freedom to
experience the open roads and travel
the country.
Unfortunately, being on a motorcycle
also exposes riders to several risks, which
could lead to injuries or death if proper
safety procedures aren’t followed.
Before getting on a motorcycle, safety
officials at Joint Base San Antonio locations have said that service members
need to be aware of several state laws
and military regulations, and practice
safety and common sense on the road.
Airmen are required to follow regulations on motorcycle safety in Air Force
Instruction 91-207 that is accessible
through the Air Force Portal, Vernon Vinson, 502nd Air Base Wing safety specialist at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, said.
The regulation requires that service
members take the Basic Rider Course,
a two-day motorcycle operating training
course offered weekly at Lackland Training Annex at JBSA-Lackland from Thursday to Friday.
The course covers the basics of motorcycle riding and safety that riders need to
know, from learning the controls of a motorcycle to braking to avoiding hazards
and dangerous situations on the road.
After taking the basic course, riders
are required to take an intermediate
training course within a year and take
a refresher course every five years. Riders who need to take any of the courses
should contact their unit’s motorcycle
safety representative.
Vinson said AFI 91-207 requires riders
to wear personal protective equipment
while operating a motorcycle, whether
they are on or off-duty. Personal protective equipment includes a helmet, longsleeved shirt or jacket, gloves, trousers,
eye protection and footwear.
Vinson stressed the importance of
wearing a helmet by pointing to statistics on motorcycle accidents provided by
the Texas Department of Transportation
in 2013. That year, 495 motorcycle riders
and passengers were killed on state roadways, with 53 percent of those fatalities
involving riders or passengers who did
not wear helmets.
He said motorcycle riders should to be
able to respond to road and traffic conditions on a moment’s notice.
“Be aware of your surroundings at all
times because a situation can change
in a second,” Vinson said.
He said that advice should also apply to motorists.
“For drivers, watch and look twice,”
Vinson said. “Be attentive to your surroundings. The only protection all
motorcycle riders have is what they
are wearing.”
Vinson said riders should operate a
motorcycle appropriate for their physical size and strength, which allows them
to easily reach and manipulate the controls. Also, he said, riders should regularly maintain their bikes.
Marvin Joyce, 502nd Air Base Wing
occupational health and safety specialist
at JBSA-Randolph, said there are several
reasons motorcycle accidents occur.
Those reasons, Joyce said, include
riders who are not familiar with their
motorcycle and equipment, riders who
do things on their motorcycles that are
beyond their skill levels and not wearing
personal protective equipment.
Before going on the road, Joyce said
riders should be familiar with their motorcycle and equipment and wear the required clothing to protect themselves.
“Personal protective equipment can
help (a rider) from getting a sunburn,
which can lead to heat-related symptoms like heat exhaustion and heat
stroke,” he said.
For long trips, Joyce said riders should
plan when to take breaks.
“Riders should take frequent breaks
to allow their body to recover from riding on a motorcycle for a long period
of time,” he said.
Joyce said riders should stay hydrated
when they are on the bike but warned
riders not to drink alcoholic beverages
while riding a motorcycle. According to
the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, riders
who consume alcohol are five times more
likely to be involved in an accident.
He said active-duty service members
who don’t follow the AFI 91-207 when
operating a motorcycle could face disciplinary action from their commander.
“I want them to enjoy riding as much
as I do, but do it in a safe and responsible way so they’re not injured or in a
hospital,” he said.
For questions on motorcycle safety
or to attend a course, call the JBSARandolph Safety Office at 652-1842, the
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Safety Office at
471-3841 or the JBSA-Lackland Safety
Office at 671-5028.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Marissa Garner
Michael Kyle, Basic Rider Course instructor, signals Howard Garcia to slow down during the Basic
Rider Course April 24 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Medina Annex. The course is required for all service members operating a motorcycle on JBSA locations.
PAGE 8
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 9
Photo by Johnny Saldivar
Gen. Robin Rand (left front), commander of Air Education and Training Command; Chief Master Sgt. Robert Boyer (carrying the wreath),
19th Air Force command chief master sergeant; and Brig. Gen. Bob LaBrutta (right front), 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San
Antonio commander, lead the military procession during the Pilgrimage to the Alamo. Pictured in the second row center is Col. Matthew
Isler, 12th Flying Training Wing commander at JBSA-Randolph.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Stormy Archer
Above: The Joint Base San Antonio 2015
Military Ambassadors participate in the
Battle of Flowers Parade April 24 in
downtown San Antonio.
Photo by Johnny Saldivar
Right: The Randolph High School marching band performs during the Battle of
Flowers Parade April 24 in downtown
San Antonio.
Photo by Johnny Saldivar
Photo by Airman 1st Class Stormy Archer
The U.S. Air Force Band of the West Concert Band performs Fiesta classics during the annual Fiesta in Blue concert April 21 at Trinity University’s Laurie Auditorium in San Antonio. The concert was held in conjunction with
Fiesta San Antonio. Fiesta San Antonio, the city's 11-day historical celebration, began as a one-time parade in
1891 to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Over the past century, Fiesta
has grown into a celebration of San Antonio's rich and diverse cultures. Military representatives from throughout
Joint Base San Antonio participate each year in receptions, parades, pilgrimages and memorials.
Far right: Col. Matthew Isler (left to right),
12th Flying Training Wing commander,
his wife, Mai Lan, Col. Michael Gimbrone,
502nd Security Forces and Logistics
Support Group commander, and his wife,
Jennifer, participate in laying a floral tribute
at the Monument for the Battle of Hill 881
South during the All Veterans Memorial ceremony April 26 during Fiesta San Antonio.
PAGE 10
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
C-17 Globemaster III begins journey to new home,
drivers advised of tow-away zones in area
The 502nd Trainer Development Squadron at
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph will be transporting a C-17 Globemaster III fuselage off base
in two oversized loads May 9-10. Individuals are
instructed not to park along the following streets
or around the Air Force Personnel Center between
6 a.m. May 9 to 11 p.m. May 10:
• B Street West by the thrift store
• 3rd Street West
• North West thruway • 5th Street West
Tow trucks will be on call to tow away
any vehicles parked along these streets
Hemp seed warning
“Strong & Kind” bars, which include:
Hickory Smoked, Roasted Jalapeno, Honey
Mustard, Thai Sweet Chili, and Honey
Smoked BBQ flavors, contain hemp seeds
in their ingredients. These seeds may
contain low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol,
a chemical found in marijuana, which the
military believes may be detectable in drug
screening tests. According to Air Force
Instruction 90-507, paragraph 1.1.6, and
Army Regulation 600-85, paragraph 4-2,
the ingestion of products containing or
products derived from hemp seed or hemp
seed oil is prohibited. This ingredient is not
included in the Kind fruit and nut bars. A
complete list can be found at http://www.
kindsnacks.com.
Airmen Heritage Museum event
The grand opening of the Enlisted
Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit takes place 10
a.m. Monday at the United States Air Force
Airman Heritage Museum and Enlisted
Character Development Center, building
5206, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
The festivities include a ribbon cutting, Air
Force Band of the West, refreshments and
the opportunity to meet with Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II.
Military members are required to be in the
uniform of the day and civilians should wear
business attire.
The normal hours of operation for the
center at JBSA-Lackland are:
• Monday-Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
or blocking movement during wide turns
around the AFPC headquarters building,
Hangar 76 and Building 241. The move
will be escorted by 902nd Security Forces
Squadron members until the fuselage has
cleared the West Gate.
Members of the 502nd TDS transformed
the fuselage into an aeromedical evacuation
trainer, which is being shipped to its final
destination. For the full story, visit http://www.
jbsa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123439410. For
more information, call 508-2870.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Spouse appreciation day
The Joint Base San Antonio Spouse Appreciation Day is 3-7 p.m. Thursday at the
JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Golf Course. The
event is a "thank you" to spouses for the
jobs they do every day supporting military
families and the community. There will
be door prizes, refreshments and complimentary mini-services such as massages
and pedicures. For more information, call
652-5763.
AETC commander opens
Facebook page for updates
Individuals interested in updates about
command and Air Force issues and highlights
on the men and women expertly performing the
Air Education and Training Command mission
to recruit, train and educate Airmen to deliver
airpower for America can now visit the "AETC
Commander" Facebook page at https://www.
facebook.com/AETCcommander.
iMatter site gives AETC Airmen voice
Air Education and Training Command
has launched the iMatter Website, giving
all command Total Force Airmen access to
an AETC-specific tool for sharing innovations and improvement ideas. With iMatter
now live, AETC leadership is looking to
Airmen at all levels to begin using the site
and submitting their ideas. Airmen provide
their inputs via a simple, online form,
which is available at https://app10-eis.
aetc.af.mil/imatter/SitePages/home.aspx.
Check us out on . . .
• Facebook: Joint Base San Antonio, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston,
Lackland JBSA and JBSA-Randolph
• Twitter: @JBSA_Official, @JBSAFSH, @JBSALackland and
@JBSARandolph • YouTube: Joint Base San Antonio
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 11
JBSA-Randolph honors volunteers for ‘spirit of service’
By Robert Goetz
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
Public Affairs
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph paid tribute to its volunteers for
their “spirit of service” during the Volunteer Appreciation Awards Ceremony
April 22 in Fleenor Auditorium.
Col. Michael Gimbrone, 502nd Security Forces and Logistics Support Group
commander, presented certificates of
appreciation to 36 volunteers and 34
organizations.
Gimbrone recognized volunteers for
donating “the one commodity that is
at the same time both priceless and
free – their time.”
“Thank you for giving your time and
talent so freely and without expectation of
anything in return,” he said. “I am overwhelmed by the outstanding accomplishments of so many of you, and your generosity and commitment to the community
speak volumes to your character.”
Kathleen Moree, JBSA-Randolph Military and Family Readiness Center chief
and emcee for the ceremony, said volunteers have created a “spirit of service that
makes Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph
and the surrounding community a better
place to live and work.”
“Every day our volunteers dedicate
time, talent and efforts that truly inspire
us all,” she said. “Our community, both on
JBSA-Randolph and in the local area, is
greatly enriched due to the contributions
of our volunteers.”
The ceremony also featured the recognition of JBSA-Randolph’s Volunteer
Excellence Award nominees and winners. Jasper Blake and David Harness of
Headquarters Air Education and Training Command and Stephanie Bock of
the 12th Operations Support Squadron
were winners of the lifelong achievement award, which is authorized by
the Air Force chief of staff to recognize
federal civilians, family members, and
military and federal retirees “who perform outstanding volunteer community
service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.” Other nominees were
Margaret Fite of the 359th Medical Support Squadron, Scott Murff of the 558th
Flying Training Squadron and Eleanor
Umphres of the 502nd SFLSG Office of
the Judge Advocate.
Volunteers represented numerous organizations at the ceremony, including
AETC, the 12th Flying Training Wing, the
502nd SFLSG, the 359th Medical Group,
the M&FRC, youth programs, the library,
the thrift shop, the chapel, the Yellow Ribbon Spouses and the officers’ and enlisted
spouses’ clubs.
Moree also noted the contributions of
the Key Spouse Program, a commander’s
program that offers the spouses of service
members a relationship with a volunteer
who gives them a direct line of communication with unit leadership and provides
them with support.
“A key spouse is a vital link that serves
as the bridge between the active-duty
community and the military spouse and
family,” she said. “Our key spouses put
in a countless number of hours, but their
hours of dedication are not unnoticed.”
Savannah
Lohn,
JBSA-Randolph
M&FRC community readiness consultant,
said volunteers contributed more than
115,000 hours in 2014, the equivalent of
more than $2,575,000 in services.
“Volunteers expend a lot of time and
energy giving back to our community,”
she said. “We should take the opportunity
to thank them.”
Volunteers are a diverse group, from
active-duty members and their family
members to civilian employees, military
spouses and retirees.
Volunteer Excellence Award winner
Bock, 12th OSS registrar, said she volunteers through the American Legion in
Converse, the 12th OSS Booster Club and
various animal rescue programs.
“I enjoy helping others in need,” she
said. “I do it from the heart and expect
nothing in return. There is no greater
satisfaction or joy in life than putting a
smile on someone’s face.”
Bock said she was “humbled” to receive the award.
“Without volunteers, many of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ events would not be successful,” she said. “I have been blessed to
work with many of the volunteers in the
local area, and we all do what we do for
one reason – to help others; we definitely
do not do it for the recognition. I am truly
blessed to be given the opportunity to do
what I do for the community.”
The volunteers honored were:
Kenneth Frollini
William Manning
Maj. Toni Whaley
Chaplain Col. Steve Shaick
Senior Master Sgt. Jeffery Oyer
Capt. James Pettibone
Robert Montes
Eric Davis
Master Sgt. Amara Childs
Edward Orner
Maj. Dorian Williams
Bill Watson
Liz Day
Amy Espinoza
Marilyn Weed
Mike Clayton
Douglas Opersteny
Milian Michalec
Col. Sharon Bannister
Senior Airman James Johnson
Vanessa Hollinger
Lou Foehrkolb
Staff Sgt. Ruby Rivera-Reyes
Master Sgt. Jessica Whittenberg
Robert Jacks
Lt. Tara Cotton
Juan Garza
Col. James Fisher
Roger Corbin
Bryan Hall
Maj. Gary Wells
Stephanie Bock
Lt. Col. Oliver Johnson
Lt. Col. Mark Schmidt
Katrina Scott
Lt. Col. Joel Deboer
Lt. Col. Robert Bryant
Kevin Haley
John Herman
Lt. Col. Justin Trumbo
Charles Hasberry
Henry Roper
Joe Harris
Karen Gleason
Lt. Col. Justin Joffrion
Tech. Sgt. Jason Arends
Tech. Sgt. Ronald Mathews Jr.
Debbie Aguirre
Stephen Pritchett
Antoinette Davis
Savannah Lohn
Bert Francois
Joe Jomes
Rhodeen Howell
Jennifer Fligg
Amanda Ozuna
Anna Gary
Maggie Allshouse
Virginia Serrano
Manuela Ellison
Yolanda Gutierrez
Jasper Blake
Margaret Fite
David Harness
Scott Murff
Eleanor Umphres
JBSA Sexual Assault
Prevention, Response
One of the best things about ICE is that people can let service providers
know when they do a great job, not just for poor service. It takes five minutes
or less to submit a comment at http://ice.disa.mil.
To report a sexual assault, call the 24/7 Joint
Base San Antonio Sexual Assault Prevention and
Response Hotline at 808-7272 or the Department of Defense Safe Helpline at 877-995-5247.
PAGE 12
WINGSPREAD
MAY 1, 2015
Air Force Ground Safety focuses on prevention of falls from heights
By Robert Goetz
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs
Death from falls remains the leading
cause of death in construction, affecting
more than 3,500 workers over the last 10 years,
according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
It’s a danger that also impacts the Air Force, which
had more than 7,600 injuries and three fatalities from
falls during a five-year period from fiscal years 20102014. Those injuries resulted in 44,000 lost work days
at a cost of more than $30 million.
To help prevent fall-related injury and death, Air
Force Ground Safety sponsors Fall Protection Focus
Weeks, a partnership with OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s National Safety
Stand-Down campaign. This year’s Fall Protection Focus
Weeks starts Monday and continues through May 15.
“Fall protection or prevention is not only for activities
related to heights that are encountered every day on the
job, but also includes, for example, falls that can happen
because of wet floors or obstacles on a walkway,” Bill
Parsons, Air Force Ground Safety chief, said. “We want
everyone to remember preventable falls are inexcusable and we must continue to do all we can to protect
ourselves and each other.”
Staff Sgt. Dominick Fugazzi, 502nd Air Base Wing
safety technician at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph,
said active-duty members and civilian employees can
experience falls no matter where they work, but workers on the flightlines, civil engineer squadron members,
communications squadron members and first responders – anyone who uses ladders or works on an elevated
platform – are especially at risk.
“Falls are preventable,” he said. “However, we must
carefully plan and prepare the necessary steps to protect our personnel, specifically those who are exposed
to hazards dealing with heights and to enable them to
have an accident-free workplace.”
Using fall protection equipment – required at four feet
or higher for general industry and six feet or higher for
construction – is imperative for workers, but they must
also be safety-conscious at all times, Fugazzi said.
“Do your job in a sensible time frame, but always
have a safety mindset,” he said.
Fugazzi said it’s also important for workers to communicate with one another, watch out for each other
and guard against complacency.
To observe Fall Protection Focus Weeks, the safety
office plans to visit the workplaces of those who already
have an established fall protection program and help
provide any updates, if necessary, to ensure compliance,
Fugazzi said.
“We will also ask unit safety representatives, who are
the safety focal point for the unit commanders, to do
in-house fall protection briefings,” he said.
Fugazzi also said the safety office conducts spot inspections and presents periodic safety briefings throughout the year.
Dr. John Howard, NIOSH director, emphasized the
Courtesy graphic
importance of the stand-down campaign and the Air
Force’s Fall Protection Focus Weeks, which draw attention to the dangers associated with falls from heights
and how falls can be prevented.
“No child should lose a parent, no wife should lose
a husband and no workers should lose their lives in a
preventable fall,” he said. “The standdown serves as an
opportunity for worksites to recognize the hazards that
cause them, and to train employees how to avoid them
so these senseless tragedies can be prevented.”
MAY 1, 2015
WINGSPREAD
PAGE 13
HEMP SEEDS from P4
shown that products made with hemp seed and hemp
seed oil may contain varying levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient of marijuana,
which is detectable under the Air Force Drug Testing Program. In order to ensure military readiness,
the ingestion of products containing or products derived from hemp seed or hemp seed oil is prohibited.
Failure to comply with the mandatory provisions of
this paragraph by military personnel is a violation of
Article 92, UCMJ. Violations may result in administrative disciplinary action without regard to otherwise
applicable criminal or civil sanctions for violations of
related laws.”
Department of Defense regulations are based on
several considerations, some of which are U.S. laws.
In this case, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency categorized hemp seeds, “if they contain THC...” as an
illegal product. (http://www.dea.gov/pubs/pressrel/
pr100901.html)
Additionally, the Department of Justice issued a
ruling on what products that contained THC were
exempt from being treated as an illegal drug under
the Controlled Substances Act.
In part, the ruling reads: “Specifically, the interim
rule exempted THC-containing industrial products,
processed plant materials used to make such products, and animal feed mixtures, provided they are not
used, or intended for use, for human consumption
and therefore cannot cause THC to enter the human
body.
(http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/
rules/2003/fr0321.htm)”
As such, the military services have written their
policies to adhere to and to enforce these laws. The
bottom line is military members may not consume
hemp seeds or hemp oil.
So how can a product designed for consumption
legally contain hemp seeds?
In 2004, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued
a unanimous decision, which DEA did not appeal to
the U.S. Supreme Court, protecting the sale of hempcontaining foods. Those foods generally contain natu-
rally occurring THC at less than the USDA guideline
of 1 percent. Industrial hemp remains legal for import
and sale in the U.S., but U.S. farmers still are not
permitted to grow it.
According to University of California at Berkeley,
most of the THC found in hemp seeds are located in
the seed hulls, which are removed during processing.
Today’s hemp seeds are processed to reduce levels of
THC to negligible quantities, but 15 years ago industrial hemp had higher THC levels and the seeds were
prepared differently for processing.
The school’s wellness site also said that companies
producing hemp today do so under a voluntary TestPledge program, indicating they follow quality control
practices to limit THC concentrations, so that consumers will not fail a drug test.
Dr. Christopher States, the associate dean for research in the department of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said a person would have to consume a large
amount of hemp seeds to test positive for noticeable
amounts of THC.
He explained that the cannabis plant developed as
marijuana is grown so the THC level is high but it has
a low level of cannabidiol. However, cannabis grown
as hemp is raised with lower THC but will have a
higher level of cannabidiol.
“There is a lot of data out there that says the
amounts of THC in hemp seeds is negligible unless
someone eats over 300 grams, which would be about
two-thirds pound of hemp seeds,” he noted. “And hemp
seeds are a healthy source of protein with negligible
traces of THC also hemp has cannabidiol oil which is
what researchers are now using for epilepsy.”
However, Capt. (Dr.) Christopher DiPiro at Ireland
Army Community Hospital, said while there are very
low amounts of THC in hemp seeds and although most
people will not test positive after consuming the seeds,
studies have shown 20 percent of those tested might
pop hot after eating them.
He added that consuming hemp seeds is not harm-
ful beyond the possibility of a failing a drug test.
Businesses dealing with DOD must be aware of
requirements like AR 600-85 paragraph 4-2, (p). Because of this regulation, AAFES does not carry “Strong
and Kind” bars, said Chris Ward, a public relations
specialist for AAFES, but they do carry the basic “Kind
Bars.” And DeCA public affairs specialist Rick Brink
added that while, commissaries carry Kind Bars, they
have also chosen not to carry Kind & Strong bars
because of the hemp seed content.
“We strive to ensure products do not conflict with
published DOD guidance,” Ward explained.
Joe Cohen, a spokesman for the Kind Company, said
in correspondence with the Fort Knox public affairs
office that the reasons the hemp seeds are included
in the those particular bars is for nutritional benefits.
In keeping with the company’s goal of including only
ingredients that someone could understand and that
were good for the body, when the company came out
with its Strong & Kind bars, it added hemp seeds.
“Hemp seeds contribute protein, fiber and other important nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus
to our Strong & KIND bars,” Cohen explained. “Hemp,
when combined with the protein from almonds, peas
and pumpkin seeds, provide all nine essential amino
acids.”
Even though the DEA and DOJ have published final
rules on the consumption of THC-containing hemp,
there is a small window provided by the USDA at less
than one percent for THC component. (http://www.
usda.gov)
“Our Strong & KIND bars adhere to USDA testing
and have a THC level of .001 percent. As referenced by
the Congressional Research Service, a level of about
1 percent THC is considered the threshold for cannabis to have a psychotropic effect or an intoxicating
potential,” Cohen said.
However, the bottom line is military guidance says
the consumption of hemp products is off limits and as
such, military personnel and DOD civilians are prohibited from eating such foods.