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Happy 67th birthday, U.S. Air Force Reserve!

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ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — For many Airmen, April 14 will be just another Tuesday. But to members of the Air Force Reserve, it will be a day to reflect on how each and every one contributes to the Air Force mission.

On April 14, 1948, the Army Air Corps Reserve transferred to the Air Force, officially becoming the Air Force Reserve. However, since 1916 Reserve members have played a unique and integral role in the military.

“The Air Force Reserve provides integrated and flexible operational capability to combatant commanders worldwide,” said Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, Air Force Reserve Command commander. “We are part of every Air Force core mission function and perform the same missions as our active-duty partners.”

Since the Reserve’s establishment as a separate part of the Air Force, Reservists have played vital roles in many U.S. operations to include the Korean War, Vietnam, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

At just 2 years old, the Reserve mobilized nearly 147,000 Reservists for the Korean War. In 1962, approximately 20,000 Reserve personnel and five Air Force Reserve C-124 aircraft units supported the Cuban Missile Crisis. In support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 15,000 Reserve Airmen volunteered for service.

“[The Reserve] has had a presence in everything. There’s not one [conflict] that they haven’t been involved with,” said Paul Larson, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command staff historian. “Reservists have had a massive presence in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Grenada, Panama in ‘89, Operations Northern and Southern Watch, the Gulf War, 9/11, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. We’ve been everywhere, doing everything.”

Throughout the Reserve’s history, there have been some Airmen who have stood out from the rest; Airmen who were brave enough to stand up to adversity and make changes for the better.

In 1948 Lt. Gen. George Stratemeyer became the first commander of the Continental Air Command, which took responsibility over Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel. Stratemeyer is known for establishing 130 air reserve training detachments so that Reservists had facilities to keep their skills sharp and maintain readiness at all times. In addition, he developed an “understudy program” in which individual reservists trained with their active-duty counterparts. This allowed for maximum mobilization. The program is still in use today and is known as the individual mobilization augmentee program, which comprises more than 9,000 people.

In the early 1920s, Grover and Albert Loening made history when they designed the Loening OA-1A, a unique observation amphibian aircraft. The Army ordered 45 OA-1As that were used in the Pacific theater of operations, and a total of 169 aircraft were built for other military uses, to include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Around the 1960s, the Loening brothers requested more recognition programs for certain units and personnel. Soon after, the request was approved, and the first Grover Loening trophy was presented in September 1963. The award was given to a troop carrier wing that achieved the most outstanding tactical excellence that year. Albert Loening also established an award, which recognized operational excellence amongst Reserve rescue and recovery units.

Jackie Cochran, another Air Force Reserve giant, was a pioneer for women in Air Force aviation. After much success in the civilian flying world, she turned her attention to military aviation. In 1942, Cochran founded and directed the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots program. WASP pilots were the first females in America’s history to fly American military aircraft.

In a short amount of time, WASP pilots flew approximately 60 million miles in every type of aircraft in the Army Air Force arsenal. During World War II, they flew any type of mission their male counterparts did, except combat missions. Cochran and her WASP pilots paved the way for women aviators in today’s Air Force.

Today’s AFRC Airmen continue to be an integral part of the Air Force’s mission to fly, fight and win.

According to Jackson, last year Citizen Airmen completed almost 500,000 man-days in support of Department of Defense requirements and filled more than 4,000 deployed air expeditionary force taskings. On any given day, there are approximately 5,000 Reservists mobilized and serving globally.

“The evolution of our Total Force over the years is a great success story, but much of that story has yet to be written,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. “Those Airmen, who’ve been fighting side by side for years, don’t see the difference between an active component member, a Guardsman or a Reservist. And those who benefit from American airpower really don’t care. They just know that without it … you lose.”

On April 14, 2015, try and take time to remember where the Air Force Reserve has been, where it is now and where it is going. Great men and women have sacrificed to give all Americans a better tomorrow. Honor their legacy by doing your part today.

Sexual assault prevention: moving beyond awareness

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Every April since 2001, the nation has focused its attention on sexual assault awareness and the impact this crime has on those who have experienced it. This year, the Department of Defense deliberately renamed the annual effort Sexual Assault Awareness and PREVENTION Month. I want to take this opportunity to share with you how the Air Force is focusing on prevention of this crime – stopping it before it takes place.

This year, we kicked off the new year with a weeklong prevention summit that brought together experts in the sexual assault prevention field with Airmen from across the force — active, Guard, Reserve, civilian, officer and enlisted. Our goals were to better understand sexual assault and determine how to put prevention into action in the Air Force.

So, what did we learn? Most importantly, we learned that sexual assault can be prevented. Effective sexual assault prevention strategies focus on preventing perpetration because that is the only guaranteed way to stop the violence. Raising awareness about sexual assault is an important first step towards prevention; but awareness alone will not create the individual or societal changes needed to stop sexual assault.

Based on decades of prevention science, we know that prevention of sexual assault involves addressing factors that put individuals at risk for perpetrating sexual assault. Some prevention approaches teach skills to change attitudes or behaviors that are associated with assault. Other approaches equip bystanders with the skills to spot and intervene in high risk situations or to speak out against language and practices that create a culture which tolerates or promotes sexual assault.

Strategies that simply raise awareness foster understanding of sexual assault without providing tools to take action. Tools for changing behaviors, relationships, and our culture are key to making every Airman a change agent and to creating a force free from assault.

The prevention summit culminated with Airmen’s recommendations to prevent sexual assault. We are working hard to build programs across the Air Force based on these recommendations. In the meantime, I challenge every Airman to move beyond mere awareness and equip yourselves, your co-workers, your subordinates, and everyone in your sphere of influence, with the tools we all need to prevent sexual assault.

National Days of Remembrance: Holocaust FAQ

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What is Days of Remembrance?

The U.S. Congress established Days of Remembrance as the nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims. This year, Holocaust Remembrance week is May 1 through May 8, 2011. The Museum designated “Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have We Learned?” as the theme for the 2011 observance. In accordance with its congressional mandate, the Museum is responsible for leading the nation in commemorating Days of Remembrance and for encouraging appropriate observances throughout the United States.

What is the Holocaust? Who are we remembering?

The Holocaust was the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945. Jews were the primary victims—six million were murdered; Roma (Gypsies), people with disabilities, and Poles were also targeted for destruction or decimation for racial, ethnic, or national reasons. Millions more, including homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents, also suffered grievous oppression and death under Nazi Germany.

Why is Days of Remembrance observed in the United States?

In 1980, Congress unanimously passed legislation to establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, which oversees the Museum. The Council, which succeeded the President’s Commission on the Holocaust, was charged with carrying out the following recommendations:

That a living memorial be established to honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust will be taught in perpetuity

That an educational foundation be established to stimulate and support research in the teaching of the Holocaust

That a Committee on Conscience be established that would collect information on and alert the national conscience regarding reports of actual or potential outbreaks of genocide throughout the world

That a national day of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust be established in perpetuity and be held annually

What is the significance of this year’s Days of Remembrance theme?

This year’s Days of Remembrance theme, “Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have We Learned?” commemorates the 65th anniversary of the verdicts delivered at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg and the 50th anniversary of the Eichmann trial. The theme marks these anniversaries and encourages reflection on the role of justice in the aftermath of genocide. Both trials set important precedents and raised significant questions about the nature of justice in the face of such enormous crimes. Prior to the International Military Tribunal and subsequent Nuremberg trials, the principle of national sovereignty prevailed; in its aftermath, a new understanding of international responsibility for human rights would emerge as the world began to fully understand the events now called the Holocaust. Adolf Eichmann was a high-ranking SS (Schutzstaffel, or elite guard of the Nazi party) officer central to the planning and implementation of the murder of six million Jewish men, women, and children. He was captured in Argentina by Israeli agents in 1960 and brought to trial in Israel for what would become known as the “trial of the century.” It was a watershed event televised around the world, refocusing international attention on the murder of Europe’s Jews. The Nuremberg and Eichmann trials strove for justice, but what does justice really mean in the face of a crime like genocide? The trials were an act of public accountability owed to the victims; justice to a great extent was aspirational.

Why do the Days of Remembrance dates change from year to year?

The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) established Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah), to be observed on the 27th day of Nisan of the Hebrew calendar. The Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar so the date changes each year in the United States. Observances and remembrance activities occur throughout the week of Remembrance, which runs from the Sunday before Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) through the following Sunday. Please view the Museum’s Remembrance Day calendar for future dates, www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/calendar.

How can I participate in Days of Remembrance?

Every year during Days of Remembrance, ceremonies and activities are held throughout the United States—in local communities; at state and local government offices; on military bases; and in workplaces, schools, churches, and synagogues. You may be able to take part in a commemoration already planned in your community, or if such a community-wide event is not currently planned, you may encourage your local and state officials to issue a proclamation indicating their support for commemorating these events. For sample state and city proclamations, visit www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/organize. For information about the many other ways to get involved, please review the materials in the Planning Guide, or visit the Museum’s Web site, www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor.

Should refreshments be served at a Days of Remembrance commemoration?

Days of Remembrance is about memorialization and gathering as a community. Refreshments may be served but are not necessary. Theme-specific food is not appropriate.

We are planning a Names Reading ceremony in my community. How do we find lists of names?

The Museum has a list of 5,000 names of victims of the Holocaust on its Web site and available in the Planning Guide. To access the list on the Web site, please visit www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor and click on the link at the bottom of the page that says “Participate in the 2011 Names Reading Ceremony, at the Museum or virtually.” In the Planning Guide, the list is located under the “Materials to Use” tab.

Can we participate in Days of Remembrance events at the Museum or the U.S. Capitol?

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum welcomes attendance at its Names Reading ceremony, which takes place in the Museum’s Hall of Remembrance throughout Holocaust Remembrance week. The National Days of Remembrance Ceremony held at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda can be viewed live on the Museum’s Web site, www.ushmm.org.

Why is the date of Days of Remembrance different from the date of International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

In 2005, the United Nations established January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27, 1945, was the day that Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet troops. Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) was established in 1951 by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising and with the liberation of the concentration camps in western Europe.

Where can I find more resources for a Days of Remembrance commemoration or general information on the Holocaust?

Please visit www.ushmm.org.

Sexual assault survivor: ‘You are not alone’

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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) — I remember the day like it was yesterday. My heartbeat echoed in my head as I attempted to dry my sweaty hands on my jeans. I was 21 years old, sitting in a Korean court room, waiting to be questioned by prosecutors. How I ended up there was unreal. Just a few months earlier I was happy; I had a loving husband, amazing friends and arguably the greatest job in the Air Force, but the color in my world had been stolen.

This is my story of how I was sexually assaulted.

After a year at my first duty station, I wanted to further my career so I volunteered for a short tour to Korea. I soon received an assignment to Osan Air Base, South Korea, as an American Forces Network broadcaster. It would be difficult, I knew, because my husband was unable to join me, but we agreed it was a great opportunity.

Upon arriving in Korea, I quickly learned the assignment was no easy task. The days were long and work never seemed to stop. It wasn’t until half way through my tour that I finally made time to volunteer off-base with a fellow coworker. We spent the day helping members in the local community practice their English-speaking skills. After lunch, my coworker and I said our good-byes to the Koreans and headed back to base.

The taxi dropped us off at the street right in front of the base. I paid the driver, thanked him and waved good-bye to my buddy as he left to play pool off base.

Walking toward base, I noticed a button on my coat was loose, so I stopped at a tailor shop a few feet from the gate entrance. I walked in, greeted the worker with “Annyeonghaseyo,” and asked if he could fix my button. He nodded and took the coat from me. When he finished, I put it on and asked how much. He kept saying no charge and proceeded to get closer to me. The next few minutes became dark. He proceeded to take advantage of me, and I just froze. I didn’t know what to do; I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Once I snapped to, I ran as fast as I could toward base. I knew what had just happened to me wasn’t right, and my mind and body didn’t want to believe it. It felt like my brain kept telling me, there’s no way it could have happened.

But it did.

As I sat in my room, replaying the events in my head, I heard the recognizable beeping sound coming from my computer. It was my husband calling me via Skype. I answered, and realizing something was bothering me, he asked what was wrong. Hesitating, I slowly began to tell him what happened that day. I could see the anger and frustration in his eyes; he wanted so badly to hug and kiss me and tell me everything was going to be all right, but he couldn’t.

The following day, I took his advice and talked to my supervisor about the events that occurred. While comforting me, she asked what I wanted to do and explained my options. We walked to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator’s office and the lieutenant there escorted me to the (Air Force) Office of Special Investigations, where they took my statement. The OSI agents were very understanding and explained that because this was a Korean national, I would have to file a report with the Korean National Police. I thought it would end there, but that was only the beginning.

The SARC informed me this would be a long procedure and recommended I use the Air Force’s new Special Victims Council Program to help me through the process; I agreed.

A few weeks later, my first sergeant called to tell me that, according to Korean law, anytime a person files a sexual assault, both parties must present their account of the actions in front of a judge. “You will have to face him if you want to keep going with this,” he said.

I echoed softly, “Face him?” This was the last thing I wanted.

He got quiet and then told me, “Hey, I don’t agree with this system. You should never have to see him again. I will support whatever decision you make, but just know our OSI translator says most women end up retracting their statements because they’re afraid of facing their assailant.”

After hearing that, I knew I had to do what was right.

Soon, an Air Force captain from the SVC contacted me. As a lawyer, he would help me through any legal issues and be available for support.

Finally, the day arrived when I would have to face the man who assaulted me. At the Korean National Police Station, we would argue the truth over that day’s events.

My first sergeant and commander drove in from Seoul to accompany me. Before leaving the office, my commander talked to me. He asked me how I was doing and if I was ready. But I will never forget what he told me next, “I have to tell you that I really admire what you’re doing. It takes a lot of guts, so let’s go out and (seek justice for what has happened to you).”

We pulled up to the police station and an officer escorted us into a room. The door opened and I saw my assailant. Next to him was an empty chair where the officer signaled me to sit. Shaking, I managed to take my seat at which time my assailant starts yelling. There was no need for translation; my interpreter told me he was accusing me of lying and trying to ruin his marriage.

I left the room momentarily to try and compose myself. I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. I had been so stressed for the past two months and it reflected in my physical appearance. My skin had broken out from my face all the way down to my chest. But I knew in my heart what happened that day; I wasn’t a liar. I closed my eyes and prayed to God for strength.

I made my way back into the room. I looked around at all the people who came out to support me — my commander, first sergeant, station manager and OSI translator and, for the first time in a long time, I felt safe. I remained as calm as I could and answered the questions asked of me, despite my offender being a few inches away and constantly yelling at me and my interpreter.

This was, by far, the hardest thing I’ve had to face in my life.

Weeks went by before we heard anything. The judge decided to take my case to court. I would have to testify again, except this time no one was allowed in the court room with me.

My special victim’s counselor walked me to the door of the court room. Then a Korean officer took me in and motioned me to sit in a chair that had been placed in the middle of the room. I looked around; no one sat in the pews and there was no jury — just a judge, an interpreter and a transcriber. They all stared as the prosecutor approached me. I was the victim, yet somehow, the room, the glares, the questions, all made me feel as if I was the offender.

A month later, I was told the judge had found my assailant guilty. It was a huge relief, not only for me, but for others as well. I learned I wasn’t alone; many others on base came forth and said they, too, had experienced harassment from this man. The Air Force put his shop off-limits, helping to ensure others wouldn’t fall victim to the same crimes.

Throughout the four-month ordeal, my Air Force and Army family stood by my side. My special victim counselor helped me through every step of the legal process, despite being stationed in Japan. To this day, he continues to check up on me from time to time. OSI volunteered an agent familiar with Korean law to translate and advise my counselor and me on the next step. Everyone in my chain of command, my fellow Airmen and Soldiers all the way up to the Pentagon, showed sincere and personal support.

Today, with the love and support of my family and friends, my wound is slowly healing. I hope that, in sharing my story, people may find comfort in knowing that no matter where you’re serving, despite being away from everything you know, you are not alone.

Air Force’s updated policy further promotes tobacco-free environments

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The Air Force has led the military in advancing innovative tobacco control policies, such as the tobacco-free medical campus and prohibiting tobacco use outside “designated tobacco areas”. Now, an updated Air Force Instruction, published in March, seeks to further reduce health impacts from smoking, the nation’s leading cause of death.

“The Air Force is committed to promoting Comprehensive Airman Fitness, and Tobacco Free Living is a critical component of CAF,” said Col. (Dr.) John Oh, Chief, Health Promotion, Air Force Medical Support Agency.  The updated AFI 40-102, Tobacco Free Living, further clarifies tobacco-free environments by prohibiting tobacco use in “installation recreation facilities, including but not limited to athletic fields, running tracks, basketball courts, golf courses, beaches, marinas, and parks”.  It prohibits smoking in vehicles with children, and reinforces that medical campuses are 100% tobacco-free.  The instruction also prohibits special events in Services’ facilities that promote tobacco use, such as “Cigar Night”, which run counter to CAF and an Air Force Culture of Health.

Oh cited recent progress in reducing smoking in the Air Force, with credit being shared widely among Airmen, supervisors, senior leaders, and medical staff.  “Since 2008, our Web Health Assessment data has shown smoking has declined 39 percent among active duty Airmen,” said Oh. “Our smoking prevalence among active duty Airmen is actually lower than the Healthy People 2020 national objective of 12 percent,” he said.   

Smokeless tobacco use, however, remains a significant problem in the Air Force, impacting 7.4 percent of Airmen.  “If the Air Force was a state, we would have the second lowest smoking prevalence in the nation – that’s the good news.  But we would also have the fourth highest smokeless tobacco use,” he said.

Oh clarified that electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, fall under the same restrictions as conventional cigarettes.  “We define e-cigarettes as a tobacco product because that is how they are defined under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act,” he said.

While acknowledging that some contend that e-cigarettes are not as harmful, Oh said the long-term safety of e-cigarettes is currently unknown.  “AFI 40-102 treats e-cigarettes like any other tobacco product.  We will consider changes to this policy based on scientific evidence and in consultation with subject matter experts in DoD, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” he said.

Tobacco users ready to quit are encouraged to visit DoD’s Quit Tobacco website (www.ucanquit2.org) and consult with their healthcare provider or installation Health Promotion program.  The best way to quit is through combining tobacco cessation medications and counseling.

Oh said tobacco users should not be too discouraged if they relapse after quitting, since it may take multiple attempts to quit before success.  “The average smoker loses 10 years of life compared with nonsmokers, but you can gain back all or nearly all of these 10 years if you quit now.  We want all our Wingmen to live long, healthy, productive lives, and Tobacco Free Living is the cornerstone,” he said.

Team March loses Airman

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Senior Airman Travis Pettit

August 28, 1989 – April 4, 2015

Senior Airman Travis Pettit, KC-135R boom operator, 336th Air Refueling Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, California, died Saturday April 4, 2015.

Pettit made his home in Desert Hot Spring, California, and had been a Total Force Airman for several years. His military career began in October 2010 as a KC-10 aircraft maintenance journeyman assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California. He joined the 336th ARS at March ARB in October 2013. Pettit loved to complete the Air Force Mission while experiencing world travel with his squadron crewmembers. He most recently completed a mission supporting deploying members of the 446th Maintenance Group (Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington) while traveling to Seattle; Yokota Air Base, Japan; and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

He is survived by his parents, Laura and Thomas; sister, Kaye; and many friends. Memorial and funeral arrangements are pending. You may contact either Chief Master Sgt. Deborah McGuane at 951-655-2153 or Maj. Brian Weaver at 951-655-2166 for more information.

DEOMI releases 2015 Holocaust Days of remembrance poster

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – In observance of the Holocaust Days of Remembrance, observed each year during the week of Remembrance that runs from the Sunday before Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah) through the following Sunday, the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), proudly announces original artwork available for download from DEOMI’s public website, www.deomi.org.

This year, the Holocaust Days of Remembrance week will be observed from April 12 – 19, 2015. Holocaust Remembrance Day is Thursday, April 16, 2015. The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as our nation’s annual commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, http://www.ushmm.org, as a permanent, living memorial to those victims.

Mr. Peter Hemmer, DEOMI Illustrator, described this year’s Days of Remembrance poster, saying “The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provides a wide-selection of materials covering many themes allowing communities to choose a focus for a commemoration for their specific needs. DEOMI, as a teaching institute, decided on the theme: “Learning from the Holocaust: Choosing to Act,” to showcase the impact just one individual can have. The theme text on the poster is stitched together from yellow fabric similar to the Star of David that Jews were forced to wear by the Nazi’s for identification. Railroad tracks have always shared an iconic connection with the Holocaust in their use to carry millions of Jews to concentration and death camps. In this design, I tried to show the idea of how a single choice could have a profound impact on another person’s life. Straight ahead, barren, desolate and dark- almost certain death, to the right, growth and vegetation- a chance at life. Despite trying times and at their own personal risk, there were people during the Holocaust who still chose to do what was right.”

In accordance with its congressional mandate, the museum is responsible for leading the nation in commemorating the Days of Remembrance, and for encouraging and sponsoring appropriate observances throughout the United States.

Remembrance not only obligates us to memorialize those who were killed during the Holocaust, but also reminds us of the fragility of democracy and the need for citizens to be vigilant in the protection of democratic ideals. We remember because we recognize the importance of preserving freedom, promoting human dignity, and confronting hate whenever and wherever it occurs.

All DEOMI observance month poster files are in the public domain unless otherwise indicated. We simply request you credit the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.

From the desk of the 452 AMW Inspector General

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Col. Ray Danowski, inspector general

Maj. Evert Wells, deputy inspector general

I am Col. Ray Danowski, 452nd Air Mobility Wing Inspector General, and Maj. Evert Wells, is my deputy IG. We are here to handle your complaints resolution needs. We are also responsible for establishing an active Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) program on base.

The success of our FWA program lies with each individual assigned to the base. Support by both military and civilian members is crucial in preventing and eliminating FWA. You must report any FWA or lack of controls that could allow resources to be wasted or diverted from their intended purpose. 

Here are some definitions to help you determine if FWA is occurring:

Fraud – any intentional deception designed to unlawfully deprive the Air Force of something of value or for an individual to secure from the Air Force a benefit, privilege, allowance or consideration to which he or she is not entitled

Waste – the extravagant, careless or needless expenditure of Air Force funds or the consumption of Air Force property resulting from the deficient practices, systems controls or decisions. The term also includes improper practices not involving prosecutable fraud.

Abuse – the intentional, wrongful or improper use of Air Force resources. Examples include misuse of rank, position or authority that causes the loss or misuse of resources.

Gross Mismanagement – management action or inaction that creates a substantial risk or significant adverse impact on the organization’s ability to accomplish the mission. It is more than mere trivial wrongdoing or negligence. It does not include management decisions that are merely debatable, nor does it mean action or inaction that constitutes simple negligence or wrongdoing.  There must be an element of blatancy.

If you discover a FWA violation on base, you should first contact your unit FWA monitor. If the violation is not addressed, feel free to contact me or Maj. Wells on the wing FWA Hotline at 951-655-4400. You also have the option of contacting the Air Force Reserve Command FWA Hotline at 800-223-1784 extension 4971513; Secretary of the Air Force FWA Hotline at 800-538-8429; or the Defense Department FWA Hotline at 800-424-9098. Please try to work your issue at the lowest level in the name of expediency.

These austere times dictate that we should be aware of and report FWA. Keep your eyes open and help us be as economical as possible. You may want to consider volunteering to be your unit FWA monitor should you need an additional duty.

Feel free to visit our office in the Education and Training Center, Bldg. 441, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on drill weekends if you have any FWA concerns. Just look for the double doors east of the Education Office’s entrance. We are available for appointments by calling 951-655-4478 or you may email us at 452amw.ig@us.af.mil.

Flournoy receives second star

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U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Damon Mazyck

Family members look on as Maj. Gen. John C. Flournoy Jr.’s mother and wife pin on a second star during the general’s promotion ceremony in the Cultural Resource Center at March Air Reserve Base, California, April 3, 2015. Flournoy, commander, 4th Air Force (headquartered at March), was promoted from brigadier general to major general.

Chamber honors Muncy

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Courtesy photo

Col. Russell Muncy, commander, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, addresses the audience March 26, after receiving the Second Chair’s Award from Ron Redfern, R3 Associates and past chair of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. The chamber’s Annual Inaugural Celebration was where Muncy was honored for embracing the history between the base and surrounding communities, and his work to connect business leaders with the men and women of Team March in order to showcase how critical the base is to local communities.