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EEaarrllyy OOrrbbiitt EExxppeerrttss!!The journey to mid-earth orbittakes Global Positioning Systemsatellites through the 1st SpaceOperations Squadron here. SeePage 4 for their early-orbit story.VOL. 8, NO. 48 www.schriever.af.milColorado Springs, Colo.NOVEMBER 30, 2006

Learn more about IslamSchriever is invited to learn

more about the religion ofIslam during a military educa-tion seminar Monday at 10:30a.m.

The U.S. Air ForceAcademy’s Chaplain Al-Mubarak, an imam and one ofthe Air Force’s leading expertson Islam, will present informa-tion on terms such as Sunni,Shia, jihad, Sharia Law andmore.

For more information, con-tact Capt. Kevin Michaelsen,22nd Space OperationsSquadron, at 567-2851.

Buzzed? Catch a rideThe Health and Wellness

Center and the Drug DemandReduction Program hereencourage everyone to drinkresponsibly and drive safelythis holiday season.

According to the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministation, as many as 50lethal crashes per day are aresult of drunken driving.

If you feel “buzzed,” don’tget behind the wheel. Call 55-NO DUI, a taxi, a familymember or a Wingman.

Holiday Party ticketsToday is the last day to buy

a ticket for the 50th SpaceWing’s 2006 Holiday Party.

The party will be held Dec. 2 at the Peterson AirForce Base Officers Club with cocktails beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Air Force AcademyBand’s Blue Steel will provideentertainment.

Volunteers will offer freeon-site child care.

Dress is casual. Pricesbegin at $5 for Airmen in E-1and E-2 pay grades.

For more information, con-tact your squadron ticket rep-resentative or 2nd Lt. AndrewPowell, 50th SpaceCommunications Squadron, at567-4057.

Volunteers needed!Volunteers are needed for

this year’s Children’s HolidayFestival Dec. 9.

To volunteer or requestmore information, call the50th Services Division at 567-4746.

News Briefs

Features . . . . . . .14-17Sports . . . . . . . . . . .18

‘Leavin’ on a Jet Plane’ —

Staff Sgt. Don Branum50th Space Wing Public Affairs

The 4th Space Operations Squadron’s Ground Mobile-3 vehiclemade history Saturday with its first-ever deployment aboard a C-17Globemaster III.

The GM-3 and a crew of 4th SOPS Airmen deployed to AndersenAir Force Base, Guam, and set up for deployed mobile satellite com-mand-and-control operations.

In previous deployments, GM-3 had deployed via a C-5A Galaxy.Using a C-17 instead saved the Air Force $360,000 in Global War onTerrorism funds.

A test load on a C-17 in September validated the concept of deploy-ing GM-3 on a C-17—a concept they adopted from the 137th SpaceWarning Squadron, said Capt. Kenneth Lancaster, 4th SOPSOperations Support Flight chief.

The loading process on the flightline at Peterson AFB wentsmoothly. GM-3 backed up under its own power to the edge of the C-17 loading ramp. From there, the aircraft’s internal winch system tookover, pulling the semi trailer neatly aboard for its trans-Pacific flight.

Getting the GM-3 into the C-17’s cargo bay is a nail-biter—thetrailer has less than an inch of clearance to the roof of the cargo bay.But, according to Tech. Sgt. Dan Boawn, 4th SOPS’ NCO in charge ofmobile maintenance, that fraction of an inch is good enough.

“It’s close enough that it gets us in,” Sergeant Boawn said.The mobile support trailer, containing additional equipment and

spare parts for the mobile mission, was loaded next. “We loaded it in the required time and got the flight off on time,”

Captain Lancaster. “That’s important because the last thing you wantto do is delay the crew.”

Minutes after the loading ramp closed, the C-17 taxied into posi-tion and took off, carrying its satellite command-and-control cargowestward.

The C-17’s most precious cargo was certainly not GM-3, but rathera six-member 4th SOPS mobile satellite C2 team that will providesecure space-based communication to war fighters worldwide in sup-port of the Global War on Terrorism.

The 4th SOPS Airmen will spend the holidays in their deployedlocation, along with many other Air and Space Expeditionary ForceAirmen.

Family members came out to Peterson AFB to wish their Airmenfarewell.

“We physically moved GM-3 (into a C-17) for the first time,”Captain Lancaster said. “It worked well for us and for the Air NationalGuard unit flying the aircraft.”

“This is a part of our satellite C2 mission—and a way of deliveringcombat effects—that we’re very proud of,” said Capt. Chris Bendig,chief of 4th SOPS’ mobile operations crew.

GM-3 deploys aboard C-17for Milstar mission to Guam

The 4th Space Operations Squadron's Mobile Operations Flight loads their Ground Mobile-3 vehicle into a C-17 Globemaster III at Peterson AirForce Base Saturday. The GM-3 and a team of 4th SOPS Airmen will provide secure communication combat effects from their deployed loca-tion at Andersen AFB, Guam. GM-3 is a mobile platform for Milstar constellation command and control. For more photos, see pages 14 and 15.

U.S. Air Force photo

NOVEMBER 30, 2006SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.milCOMMENTARY2

COL. JOHN HYTEN, 50TH SPACE WING COMMANDER

Ed Parsons, Chief of Public Affairs

Capt. Jean Duggan, Chief of Internal Information Newspaper Staff:

Staff Sgt. Don Branum, EditorSkip Grubelnik, Layout and design

Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in no way

connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Schriever Air

Force Base.

This Commercial Enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for mem-

bers of the U.S. military services.

Contents are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. gov-

ernment, the Department of Defense or the Air Force. The appearance of adver-

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the purchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 50th Space Wing

Public Affairs office. Paid advertising is accepted by the publisher at 634-5905.

Deadline is Friday at noon, the week prior to publication.E-mail submissions to flyer@schriever.af.mil or call thePublic Affairs office at 567-5040 for more information.

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Navajo code in WWII was never brokenEditor’s Note: We received this article as a slide pres-

entation from Nicolas Romero, 50th Space Wing MilitaryEqual Opportunity office.

During World War II, the U.S. government asked forthe Navajo people’s help. Though the Navajo had sufferedgreatly from this same government, they proudlyanswered the call to duty.

The Navajo Code Talkers, whose ranks exceeded 400during World War II in the Pacific theater, have beencredited with saving countless lives and hastening the endof the war. The Code Talkers served in all six Marinedivisions from 1942 to 1945.

WWhhyy NNaavvaajjoo??

The Code Talkers’ primary job was to talk and transmitinformation on tactics, troop movements, orders and othervital battlefield information in their native dialect viatelegraphs and radios.

The idea to use the Navajo language for secure com-munications came from Philip Johnston, the son of a mis-sionary to the Navajos and one of a few non-Navajos whospoke their language fluently.

Mr. Johnston, reared on a Navajo reservation, was aWorld War I veteran who knew of the military’s search fora code that would withstand all attempts to decipher it.He also knew that Native American languages, notablyChoctaw, had been used in World War I to encode mes-sages.

Mr. Johnston believed the Navajo language answeredthe military requirement for an undecipherable codebecause it is an extremely complex language. Its syntax,tonal qualities and dialects make it unintelligible to any-one who does not have extensive exposure and training. Itis an unwritten language with neither alphabet nor sym-bols, and it is spoken only on the Navajo lands of theAmerican Southwest.

CCrreeaattiinngg aa CCooddee

Early in 1942, Mr. Johnston met with Marine Maj.Gen. Clayton Vogel, commanding general of AmphibiousCorps, Pacific Fleet, and his staff to convince them of theNavajo language’s value as code. Mr. Johnston stagedtests under simulated combat conditions, demonstratingthat Navajos could encode, transmit and decode a three-line English message in 20 seconds. Convinced, GeneralVogel recommended to the commandant of the MarineCorps that the Marines recruit 200 Navajos.

In May 1942, the first 29 Navajo recruits attended bootcamp. Then, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., this first groupcreated the Navajo code. They developed a dictionary andnumerous words for military terms. The dictionary and allcode words had to be memorized during training. Once aNavajo Code Talker completed his training, he deployedto a Marine unit in the Pacific theater.

When a Code Talker received a message, what heheard was a string of seemingly unrelated Navajo words.The code talker first translated each Navajo word into itsEnglish equivalent. He then used only the first letter ofthe English equivalent in spelling. Thus, the Navajo words“wol-la-chee” (ant), “be-la-sana” (apple) and “tse-nil”(axe) all stood for the letter “a.”

Not all words had to be spelled out letter by letter. Theoriginal code’s developers assigned Navajo words to rep-resent about 450 frequently used military terms that didnot exist in the Navajo language. For example, “besh-lo”(iron fish) meant submarine, “dah-he-tih-hi” (humming-bird) meant fighter plane, and “debeh-li-zine” (blackstreet) meant squad.

SSuucccceessss iinn tthhee PPaacciiffiicc

The Code Talkers earned praise for their skill, speedand accuracy throughout the war. At Iwo Jima, Maj.Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal officer,declared: “Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would

never have taken Iwo Jima.” Major Connor had sixNavajo code talkers working around the clock during thefirst two days of the battle, sending and receiving morethan 800 messages without error.

The Navajo language and code baffled the Japanesearmy’s skilled code breakers. Japanese Lt. Gen. SeizoArisue, chief of intelligence, said that while the Japanesecould crack the Army and Army Air Corps’ codes, theynever deciphered the code used by the Marines.

The Navajo remained largely unrecognized in theUnited States for nearly 50 years due to the continuedvalue of their language as a classified code. TheDepartment of Defense honored their contributions toWorld War II in a ceremony Sept. 17, 1992, at thePentagon.

Native American efforts not forgottenLt. Col. Eric Brewington

23rd Contracting Squadron

During World War II, Native Americanzeal to serve this country was so greatthat, according to U.S. Army officials, thedraft would not have been necessary if thecountry’s entire population had enlisted inthe same proportion as did NativeAmericans.

Native Americans began enlisting in thelate 1930s when the Armed Forces beganto mobilize.

They were ready to fight for our coun-try, people and families.

These great men were mere boys at thetime of their calling. Many never left theirreservation or ventured far from theirNative American communities before, yetthey were proud and eager to serve.

Many Native Americans would comehome on leave sporting their new uni-forms, and sharing their adventures ofmeeting people from all over the country.

The end result was that 99 percent ofall eligible Native Americans registered

for the draft, setting a national standard. Infact, many Native Americans who werenot even old enough to serve found a wayinto military service.

There were choices for NativeAmericans outside of military service.

“If you were a farmer, you didn’t haveto go into service,” said James Locklear,who is part of the Lumbee Tribe andserved in the Navy from 1943 to 1946.“But many of us Native American boysfelt obligated to join our buddies andfight. That’s why I begged and had a littlehelp to get in.”

Mr. Locklear served on the battleshipUSS New Mexico and first saw combat atthe age of 17.

On Dec. 7, 1941, there were 5,000Native Americans in the service and by theend of the war, more than 44,500 NativeAmericans served in uniform—24,521from reservations and 20,000 from non-reservation communities. The combinedtotal was more than 10 percent of theNative American population, and one-thirdof the able-bodied men from 18 to 50

years old. Some Native American menwere so eager to fight, they stood in linefor hours—during all types of weather—just to sign their draft cards.

“I spent my own money to ride a busfor two hours one-way just to see arecruiter, because no one really knew thedifferences between the Navy, Marines andArmy,” said James Maynor, who is aWorld War II veteran and native of theLumbee Tribe.

One-fourth of the Mescalero Apachesin New Mexico and nearly all able-bodiedChippewas at the Grand PortageReservation enlisted because they did notwant to wait for their draft numbers.

In early 1942, the Navajo Tribal councilcalled a special convention attended by50,000 Native Americans to dramatizetheir support for the war effort.Tuscaroras, Oneidas, Senecas, Cayugas,Onondagas, Chippewas and the SiouxNations united and declared war on theAxis powers. More than 300 NativeAmericans first saw action in the Pacific,including a descendant of famed Apache

Chief Geronimo, who took part in thedefense of Bataan and Corregidor.

The Marine Corps welcomed NativeAmericans into their ranks primarilybecause of the warrior reputation and spir-it.

The Army’s famed 45th “Thunderbird”Infantry Division had the highest propor-tion of Native American soldiers of anydivision—more than 2,000 men.

Large numbers of Native Americansexperienced the non-Native Americanworld for the first time. As a result, somereturning veterans went through purifica-tion ceremonies to return to their normallives.

Many Native Americans make the tran-sition, and through assimilation, learn tolive successfully in both worlds.

Others continue to live on reservationsand Native American communities inorder to preserve the traditional way oflife.

Many of us have found that it is themilitary that provided a successful balancebetween both worlds.

3NOVEMBER 30, 2006

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Base offers performance management courseEd Parsons

50th Space Wing Public Affairs

With less than two months to go until the NationalSecurity Personnel Service begins at Schriever, non-bar-gaining federal civil service employees are encouragedto take control of their careers by attending the eight-hour Performance Management courses for employeesand supervisors which began on base last week.

“Unlike the legacy system which ends today, underNSPS an employee will have a say in the criteria bywhich he or she will be evaluated.” said Herbert Poiro,Jr., 50th MSS Civilian Personnel Flight chief. “Thiscourse shows how this is accomplished.”

This training session, along with the NSPS 101 andHuman Resources training, are required for all non-bar-gaining civilian employees and their supervisors.

“From the beginning, our objective has been to makeall the information available for everyone,” Mr. Poirosaid. All training from NSPS 101 to the PerformanceManagement courses need to be completed by mid-January 2007. NSPS will begin at Schriever Jan 21,2007.

The performance management courses are beingoffered to supervisors and employees with each coursecovering the same material. The eight hour courses are“hands-on” where participants use work requirementsamples and fill out appropriate work evaluation forms.Each course will begin at 7:30 a.m. and last until approx-imately 4:30 p.m.

“The performance management course is importantfor employees because they now have a lot more abilityto participate in determining what they’re doing andknowing how their work affects the mission,” said SusanLove, a course instructor.

“For supervisors, the course is important because itwill help them to work with their employees in determin-ing work objectives and get teamwork and focus inaccomplishing mission needs,” she said.

The employees’ performance management course stillhas openings Jan. 11. Seats are still available for thesupervisors’ course Dec. 15, 18 and 21, Jan. 5, 12, 16,19, 23 and 26.

Each class is limited to 15 participants. All classes are in the DeKok building. To enroll, con-

tact Frank Villagrana at 567-5769.

What’s covered in NSPSPerformance Management?

The NSPS Performance Management coursescover the following basic areas:

• Understanding the performance managementsystem

• Understanding the rating process and factorsused in evaluating performance

• Identifying how to succeed by meeting projectand organizational needs in support of mission,goals and results

• Tracking and recording individual perform-ance against activity goals during the reportingperiod

• Developing performance-based objectives• Developing communication skills to effective-

ly participate in performance-based discussions• Understanding the rating procedure and

design and how it relates to pay pool participation.

4 NOVEMBER 30, 2006SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.mil

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1st SOPS early orbit support critical to satellite missionsStaff Sgt. Don Branum

50th Space Wing Public Affairs

How does a Global Positioning Systemsatellite make it from the ground into a12,000-mile orbit?

The 45th Space Wing at Patrick AirForce Base, Fla., is in charge of the first 68minutes of the trip; after that, they hand thereins to the 1st Space Operations Squadronhere.

“We take over as soon as the satelliteseparates from the (rocket’s) third stage,”said Lt. Col. Thomas Meyer, 1st SOPSdirector of operations. “From there until wehand the vehicle in its near-final orbit to2nd SOPS, we take care of everything.”

The stretch of five to seven days when1st SOPS has satellite control authority, orSCA, is the most important period of timein a satellite’s life. In that short time, thesatellite will maneuver more—and spendmore fuel—than any other time in it’s oper-ational life.

In the case of GPS IIR-16(M), whichlaunched Nov. 17 from Cape Canaveral AirForce Station, Fla., the critical few daysbegan as the satellite separated from itsDelta II rocket over the Pacific Ocean.Space systems operators at 1st SOPS madecontact when the vehicle came within rangeof the Air Force Satellite Control Network’sfacility on Oahu Island, Hawaii.

“The first acquisition is always key,”Colonel Meyer said. “That’s when weestablish that it’s in the right orbit, get aninitial state of health and begin the ‘turn-on’ processes.”

The “right” orbit, which the GPS satel-lite achieves within hours of launch, is ahighly elliptical path that is more than

11,000 miles above the earth at apogee andjust a few hundred miles away at perigee.

The orbital analysis shop in 1st SOPScalculates the satellite’s precise orbit.

“Orbital analysis is a big part of this,”Colonel Meyer said. “We can’t point anten-nas or know when to conduct satellite sup-ports without knowing where and in whatorientation the satellite is.”

Knowing the satellite’s precise orbit isalso crucial to the next step: an apogeekick-motor burn, or AKM, that devours2,011 pounds of fuel in 55 seconds in thesatellite’s equivalent of full afterburner. Ifoperators were to conduct the AKM at thewrong point in the satellite’s orbit, it couldbecome a multi-million dollar piece ofspace debris.

GPS IIR-16(M)’s AKM, in contrast, wasa textbook example of accuracy. The proce-dure of moving the satellite into a perma-nent orbit allows for a number of correctivemaneuvers after the AKM—maneuvers 1stSOPS did not have to perform.

“It’s exciting for us because the AKMwas on-target,” Colonel Meyer said.

Once the satellite reaches a more circu-lar orbit, 1st SOPS operators send it com-mands to slow its spin: from 55 rotationsper minute to 10, then from 10 to 1.3 RPM.The vehicle’s solar panels deploy next,slowing its rotation further.

From there, the satellite achieves atti-tude control: the solar panels lock onto thesun, the vehicle locks onto the earth, andthe satellite stops spinning altogether.

Satellite operators begin turning on thevehicle’s sensors and systems once thevehicle’s attitude is stable.

“It’s just turning on boxes at that point,”Colonel Meyer said.

The final activation sequences, andmaybe a few drift rate adjustment maneu-vers, are the final steps of preparing thesatellite for handoff to 2nd SOPS.

“When we hand over SCA, it will be ina configuration in which 2nd SOPS cantake it and run with it,” Colonel Meyer said.“We’ll give them SCA but we’ll ‘tweak’ thesatellite’s orbit for them over the next cou-ple of weeks.”

An informal ceremony surrounds SCA

transfer from 1st SOPS to 2nd SOPS. Thetwo squadrons are located across the hallfrom each other, and Airmen from bothunits come out to observe a ritual footballhandoff—or throw, in this case.

Although the business of early orbittakes place in 1st SOPS’ facilities here, ittakes a total-force team to raise a satellite.In Florida, 45th SW coordinates the rocketscience of getting the satellite into orbit.

Capt. William Dexter passes a football to Capt. James Erminger of the 2nd SpaceOperations Squadron to symbolize handoff of GPS IIR-16(M) from 1st to 2nd SOPS.Captain Dexter is a satellite vehicle operations director for 1st SOPS.

See ORBIT, Page 5

photo by Staff Sgt. Don Branum

5NOVEMBER 30, 2006

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Here, Airmen from 7th SOPS, the Air ForceReserve associate unit for 1st SOPS, work along-side their active-duty counterparts on 1st SOPS’operations floor.

“I’m extremely proud of how the team hasworked throughout this entire launch,” ColonelMeyer said.

Contractors with Lockheed Martin andAerospace Corporation both provide technicalknow-how in the technical adviser shop adjoiningthe operations floor.

“This is the hub,” Colonel Meyer explained.“Data from the floor comes back here. LockheedMartin contractors talk to people at the factorywho designed and built the satellite, who areready in a second if something goes wrong inorbit.”

Capt. William Dexter, a space vehicle opera-tions director with 1st SOPS, was the focal pointof information flow between operators and techni-cal advisers for the GPS IIR-16(M) mission. Healso handled behind-the-scenes support before thelaunch, such as making sure crewmembers cantalk to satellites via the AFSCN before the vehicleleaves the ground.

Colonel Meyer also spoke highly of 22ndSOPS’ work in scheduling support for launch andearly orbit. Bad weather at Cape Canaveral haddelayed the launch of GPS IIR-16(M) on a coupleof occasions.

“They (22nd SOPS) were very helpful becausethey’ve been very flexible and agile in their sup-port,” Colonel Meyer said.

Without Airmen, reservists, government civil-ians and contractors working side by side, the12,000 mile trip would never take its first step.

“We appreciate all the vehicle work 1st SOPShas done,” said Lt. Col. Harold “Stormy” Martin,2nd SOPS director of operations. “It’s historic inthe sense that we now have 31 satellites in theGPS constellation. We appreciate the role youplayed in doing that.”

ORBIT, from Page 4

Chief’s Pick

At WorkJob description: Customer Support Technician.Best part of your job: Fixing a customers problem put-

ting their mind at ease.Best Air Force experience: Returning from Korea and

getting stationed back home.Time at Schriever: Two years, nine months.Time in Air Force: 14 years, two months.Career goals: Making at least two more ranks before I

retire, finishing my Community College of the Air Forcedegree and completing my bachelor’s degree.

How do you support your Wingman? I watch out forthem and give them help in any way I can. I am alwayschecking on someone to make sure they are all right.

At HomeSpouse/Children: Brianna is 7 going on about 30; my

mom says she’s just like me.Life goals: Providing the best home I can for my daugh-

ter and making sure that my family is taken care of.Retiring and being able to volunteer with children.

Hometown: Colorado Springs by way of Springfield,Mo.

One word to describe you: Independent.Hobbies: Shopping, music, computers.When I’m with friends, I enjoy: Joking around and

people watching.Pet Peeve: Being interrupted when I am talking.No one knows I’m: A momma’s girl.When I was growing up, I wanted to be: A mom.The first thing I would do if I won $1 million is: Pay

off my bills and my family’s bills, invest and donate tocharity.

Staff Sgt. Renee Price50th Comptroller Squadron

photo by Staff Sgt. Don Branum

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From Master of the Sky to Master of Space:

Editor’s note: As the Air Force prepares to celebrate its60th anniversary in 2007, a look back at the 50th SpaceWing’s journey is appropriate. Over the next 12 months, theSatellite Flyer will publish articles describing the wing’sdistinguished past. This is the third article in the series.

Randy Saunders50th Space Wing Historian

While construction continued at Hahn Air Base,Germany, in 1952, the Air Staff redesignated the 50thFighter-Interceptor Wing as the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wingand placed it in active status Nov. 15. The Air Staffassigned the wing to the Tactical Air Command for activa-tion, which occurred Jan. 1, 1953.

Meanwhile, the 50th Fighter-Interceptor Group activat-ed as the 50th Fighter-Bomber Group (later renamed 50thOperations Group) and became the wing’s primary combatelement. The group consisted of two of its original WorldWar II squadrons: the 10th and 81st Fighter Squadrons.

Originally assigned to Clovis (later Cannon) Air ForceBase, N.M., for training, the wing resumed flight opera-tions in the F-51 Mustang. Before long, the wing replacedits propeller-driven Mustangs with jet-powered, F-86FSabres. As the conversion to the F-86F continued in thespring and early summer of 1953, crews and maintenancepersonnel continued their training in the Sabre. Once train-ing levels for pilots and aircrews had reached operationallevels, the 50th FBW began preparations for its move toGermany.

Sailing from Galveston, Texas, to Bremerhaven,

Germany aboard the USNS General M. B. Stewart, the50th FBW began its first Atlantic crossing; it was the thirdsuch trip for the 50th FBG. From Bremerhaven, 50th FBWmoved by rail to its new home at Hahn AB, completing thejourney in August 1953, and reported to its new headquar-ters, 12th Air Force.

At Hahn AB, the wing completed its fighter squadroncomplement with the assignment of the 417th FighterSquadron. Although the 417th FS was not one of the 50thFighter Group’s original units, the squadron had been sta-tioned with the group at Giebelstadt, Germany, during thefinal days of the war. Soon thereafter, 50th FBW becamethe first tactically operational Air Force wing in 12th AirForce’s jurisdiction.

The movement of 50th FBW and its F-86F aircraft tothe European mainland was one of several events thatrevealed and responded to a worsening of American-Sovietrelations.

The former allies deeply felt a mutual distrust anduneasiness that came to characterize a Cold War that wouldlast nearly 40 years.

The buildup of American forces in Europe sought toquell any Soviet expansionist interests in the region bystrengthening NATO, thereby demonstrating Westernresolve to disallow any expansionist political or militaryactivities.

Arriving at Hahn AB under the command of Col.Wallace Ford, the wing delayed unpacking all but its mis-sion-critical cargo and put off other routine activities toparticipate immediately in Exercise Monte Carlo. The pur-pose of this staged combat employment drill was to illus-

trate the power and capability of the European allies’ airdefense forces. During the brief operation, 50th FBW’s aircrews flew 124 simulated aggressor combat sorties, includ-ing 52 in only four hours.

In line with a stepped-up training program, whichUnited States Air Forces in Europe initiated in 1954, 50thFBW aircrews spent six weeks at the Wheelus Field rangein Tripoli, Libya, to improve their air-to-air combat andground attack skills.

Demonstrating their prowess in both facets of their mis-sion, the F-86F crews of 50th FBW flew 3,062 effectivesorties in those six weeks and scored higher in both air-to-air and air-to-ground events than any other unit assigned to12th Air Force.

By 1955, USAFE had initiated an annual, command-wide aerial gunnery competition at the Wheelus Fieldranges. During the first such event, held July 30, 1955, the“straight shooting” pilots of 50th FBW improved upontheir achievements of the previous year, taking top honorsin the command.

While the victory at the gunnery competition was stillfresh, the wing began modernizing its aircraft fleet. Thefirst of the wing’s new F-86H Sabres arrived at Hahn ABOct. 21, 1955. Conversion continued throughout the winterof 1955 and spring of 1956, ending in May.

While 50th FBW prepared for and converted to the F-86H, the wing expanded its mission responsibility toinclude supporting 12th Air Force’s 7382d Guided MissileGroup. The wing had previously supported the 69thTactical Missile Squadron at Hahn, which operated theTM-61 “Matador” missile.

50th gets Sabres,begins tour at Hahn AB

7NOVEMBER 30, 2006

SATELLITE FLYERwww.schriever.af.mil

866-706-2802coloradotech.edu

Interagency cooperation improves space commTech. Sgt. Kate Rust

Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

Air Force Space Command and the National Recon-naissance Office seek to improve interagency cooperationbetween space agencies by conducting a senior officer anda senior civilian exchange between AFSPC and the NROheadquarters in Chantilly, Va.

Several military and civilian agencies support thenation’s space program, but coordinating communications,acquisition and planning can be problematic because theyoperate independently using separate “stovepiped” sys-tems.

Maj. Gen. John “Tom” Sheridan, program executiveofficer and system program director of the Air Force SpaceRadar Program, was selected as NRO deputy director andbegan serving in this position July 31. NRO develops,builds and operates the nation’s reconnaissance satellites.

“The importance of strengthening interagency tiesrelates to our most valuable resource: people,” GeneralSheridan said. “We are all on the same national securityspace team. This new agreement allows for both organiza-tions to collaborate on a number of space professionaldevelopment efforts as we continue to mature our spaceforce, develop our acquisition core expertise, and compli-ment one another in a variety of other areas.”

Bruce Wilson came to AFSPC from the NRO inSeptember and became the deputy director of Air, Spaceand Information Operations. With 24 years of combinedexperience in space systems operations, maintenance,engineering, development, acquisition and program man-agement, Mr. Wilson now serves as the senior NRO advi-sor to the AFSPC commander.

“The challenge is not so much getting the organizationsto work together, but to try and integrate their informationsystems where the data results come from—those architec-tures,” said Mr. Wilson. “That’s certainly been one of Dr.Kerr’s initiatives (Dr. Donald Kerr, NRO director). Howcan we get the data we generate on the intelligence side outto the war-fighting commanders in a more timely manner?

“We’re taking the first steps now, getting organizations

working together,” he said. “The next step is (determining)what kind of acquisition development we need to do to tietogether the information infrastructure so that all informa-tion data is available to the war-fighting commanders. Theoperations tempo really relies on space-based informationfor all ops planning and for all mitigation and understand-ing of what’s going on out on the battlefield.”

In an article written for AFSPC High Frontier Journal,Lt. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, deputy commander of U.S.Strategic Command, explained some of the organization’schanges and the philosophy behind them.

“We are ... formalizing the relationships between theJoint Functional Component Command for Space and ourinteragency and commercial partners,” General Kehlerwrites. “Specifically, we are enhancing our operationalrelationships with the National Reconnaissance Office,National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, (NASA) and theNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency.Strengthening these ties will enhance information sharingamong the organizations and is expected to provide a morecomprehensive decision-making process.”

Working together is not new for the national space secu-rity agencies. General Sheridan pointed out that the AirForce and NRO have been partners for many years.

“From the Cold War to the Global War on Terrorism, ourprofessionals have been working closely together to sup-port a wide variety of end-users from the intelligence com-munity and the Department of Defense,” he said. Theunique aspect is working with the many mission partners,including the intelligence community, DOD, legislativeand industry (partners).

Both General Sheridan and Mr. Wilson are well-quali-fied for their new responsibilities. The general, who was

the AFSPC Director of Requirements from June 2002 toMay 2005, has spent a third of his career in the NRO.

“There have been remarkable strides made in the areasof people and mission success,” he said. “I’ve made it a pri-ority to get out to the individual directorates to meet theteam and learn about areas where I may be of assistance.”

Mr. Wilson’s most recent assignment was leading acqui-sition and system planning of one of the NRO’s highest pri-ority collection programs.

“I’m really looking forward to see how we can ... com-bine NRO (and) Air Force capabilities to better enable ourcombatant commanders to do their job,” Mr. Wilson said.

This exchange supports the recently released NationalSpace Policy, which states in part: “Departments and agen-cies shall capitalize on opportunities for dynamic partner-ships—whether through collaboration, information shar-ing, alignment or integration.”

The full text of the National Space Policy is availablevia the Schriever public Web site’s library: www.schriever.af.mil/library.

“The importance of strengtheninginteragency ties relates to our mostvaluable resource: people.”

— Maj. Gen. John “Tom” SheridanNational Reconnaissance Office deputy director

8 SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.mil

NOVEMBER 30, 2006

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SATELLITE FLYERwww.schriever.af.mil

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New aggressors expand training capabilitiesStaff Sgt. Todd LopezAir Force Print News

Unit changes at Nellis Air Force Base,Nev., and Eielson AFB, Alaska, have result-ed in two wings that together create betteropportunities for Air Force pilots to trainfor combat against potential adversaries.

In January, the 65th Aggressor Squadronwas reactivated under the 57th AdversaryTactics Group at Nellis AFB. The 65thAGRS, an F-15 Eagle unit, is a sistersquadron to the existing 64th AGRS, an F-16 Fighting Falcon unit.

About 2,300 miles north, at EielsonAFB, Alaska, the 354th Operations Groupis also adding an aggressor squadron.There, the 18th Fighter Squadron is prepar-ing to swap its current fleet of Block-40 F-16 Fighting Falcons for the Block-30 ver-sion. In October 2007, the unit will changeits name to the 18th AGRS.

An aggressor squadron such as the 65thAGRS acts as a training aid for other mili-tary pilots. Aggressor squadron aircraft areflown by pilots specially trained to act asenemy aircraft during air combat exercises.While Air Force aggressor pilots fly aircraftsuch as the F-16 and the F-15, during exer-cises they fly as though they are in adver-sary aircraft, and they only use aircraftcapabilities that would be available toenemy pilots.

The most visible use of that trainingcomes during exercises called “Red Flag -Nellis” and “Red Flag - Alaska.” In thoseexercises, “friendly” blue forces, the partic-ipating units, fly against “hostile” redforces—the aggressor squadrons—in mockcombat situations.

In the past, only Nellis hosted Red Flagexercises. With two Air Force bases nowhosting the exercises, mission-ready pilotshave more opportunities to test their com-bat mettle in lifelike air-to-air scenarios.

And although the two Red Flag exercisesare held in different parts of the country,they both provide the same level of trainingto pilots who attend, said Brig. Gen. DavidScott, commander of the 354th FighterWing at Eielson.

“They’re not going to be identical,they’re not going to be perfectly the same;what they’re going to be is complementaryand compatible,” he said. “And what wemean by that is you can go to either one ofthem and get the full spectrum. If aSpangdahlem (Air Base, Germany, pilot)shows up at Nellis or at Eielson, it won’tmatter. The T-shirt may be a different color,but it will be the same training.”

The full spectrum of training includesmore than just training against enemy air-craft. The 527th and 26th Space AggressorSquadrons at Schriever replicate enemythreats to space-based systems, while the177th Information Aggressor Squadron atMcConnell AFB, Kansas, replicates hostilethreats to information systems.

These units round out the 57th ATG’sability to present a complete array ofthreats to friendly forces—air, ground,space and cyberspace.

In December, the group’s 507th CombatTraining Squadron will become the 507thAir Defense Aggressor Squadron. Theredesignated squadron will focus on oper-ating ground-based elements of an“enemy” integrated air defense systemincluding early warning, ground-controlledintercept and acquisition radars, and sur-face-to-air missile systems.

While Eielson will not be adding similarsquadrons to its 354th OG, the units will beshared between both Red Flag - Nellis andRed Flag - Alaska, adding new dimensionsto the exercise, said Col. TerrenceO’Shaughnessy, commander of the 57thATG.

“What we are trying to do is put all our

adversary forces under one umbrella—toget the synergy of having multi-disciplinefolks together in one effort—so when wepresent a threat we don’t present it in onedimension, but in an integrated fashion,” hesaid. “We’ll have our surface-to-air threat,our air threat, the information operationsside, (the) advanced electronic warfareissues, and even our space aggressors, totry to present what we call the completeenemy target set.”

Red Flag exercises are attended by pilotsand ground crews alike. And with the addi-tion of Red Flag - Alaska, there are nowmore opportunities for pilots and groundcrews to train. Air Force, Navy, and alliedair forces participate in the exercises.

Everybody who attends a Red Flag willnow be challenged by the variety of new

capabilities that have been included withthe addition of the new types of aggressorunits. But the primary goal of Red Flagremains the same: to ensure that mission-ready pilots are made as sharp as possiblein a controlled, safe environment, beforethey are sent out to fight America’s real-world battles, General Scott said.

“If you look back through history, dur-ing the first 10 sorties in a war, if (pilots)hadn’t had any training, that’s when theysuffered the highest losses,” he said. “Whatwe want to do is get the young wingmanacross very intense scenarios so that healready has those in his hip pocket. Sowhen he does go to Iraq, Afghanistan orwherever we send him, he has that and hasalready lived under those kinds of high-intensity, stressful situations.”

photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Dumboski

Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Eielson AFB, Alaska, put more than80 aircraft in the air at one time to sharpen U.S. and allied combat skills. The 527th and26th Space Aggressor squadrons stationed at Schriever provide realistic opposing-forcespace effects such as jamming navigation signals and satellite communications.

10NOVEMBER 30, 2006SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.mil

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SATELLITE FLYERwww.schriever.af.mil

Airman from ‘the Mountain’receives Purple HeartCapt. Jeff Clark

386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

A security forces Airman deployedfrom Cheyenne Mountain Air ForceStation was one of two defenders whoreceived Purple Heart Medals in CampBucca, Iraq, Nov. 14 for injuries sustainedwhen an improvised explosive deviceripped through their Humvee.

Staff Sgt. Rory Sturm, deployed to the586th Expeditionary Security ForcesSquadron Area Security Operations teamat Camp Bucca, said the night of theexplosion is one he will never forget.

On the evening of Oct. 16, SergeantSturm was the truck commander andAirman Keven Perez Glazer was the driv-er on patrol near Safwan, Iraq.

As their vehicle approached an over-pass there was a loud bang and brightflash.

“I thought ‘Whoa, what was that?,’”said Airman Perez Glazer, who isdeployed from Spangdahlem Air Base,Germany, and also received a PurpleHeart. “I knew some of the tirespopped”—it turned out they all had—“but I also knew I had to get us out ofthere.”

Airman Perez Glazer drove another150 meters or so, then provided securityfor the disabled vehicle while SergeantSturm performed buddy care on theirgunner, Airman 1st Class Brandon Byers.

Once one of the unit’s combat lifesavers, Staff Sgt. Jason Kidd took overcaring for Airman Byers. Sergeant Sturmmanned the M-2 .50-caliber turret andstarted scanning for an attack or the trig-

german, but the area was clear. “Our team worked flawlessly,”

Sergeant Sturm said. “We happened to bethe ones hit, but we’re here today becausethe other vehicles in our team, SergeantKidd and an Army medic responded soquickly.”

Both Airmen agree the unknown pri-vate first class was “on point” anddeserves recognition and credit for therole he played.

“I think (the Army medic) savedAirman Byers’ life,” Airman Perez Glazersaid. “He was just so calm and fast. I wishI knew his name so I could thank him.”

Once Airman Byers, who wasdeployed from Nellis Air Force Base,Nev., was medevaced and the adrenalinestopped pumping through them, bothSergeant Sturm and Airman Perez Glazerrealized they’d been injured as well.

“I was checked out and told to get mygear off,” Airman Perez Glazer said.“They said I’d been hit with shrapnel inthe back.”

Staff Sgt. Rory Sturm received a Purple Heart Medal at a ceremony Nov. 14 in Camp Bucca,Iraq, for wounds received when his patrol Humvee was struck by an improvised explosivedevice Oct. 16. He is deployed to the Camp Bucca from the 721st Security Forces Squadron atCheyenne Mountain Air Force Station.

photo by Capt. Jeff Clark

“Our team worked flawlessly. We happenedto be the ones hit, butwe’re here today becausethe other vehicles in ourteam ... responded soquickly.”

— Staff Sgt. Rory Sturm586th Expeditionary Forces Squadron

12 SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.mil

NOVEMBER 30, 2006

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SATELLITE FLYERwww.schriever.af.mil

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NNoo FFEEAARR ttrraaiinniinngg dduuee DDeecc.. 1155All Air Force civilians and their supervisors must

complete Notification and Federal Employee Anti-dis-crimination and Retaliation (NoFEAR) training beforeDec. 15. Contractors are encouraged but not required toattend.

To take the training, log into https://golearn.csd.disa.mil and go to Course List – Miscellaneous – No FearAct Training. Participants must pass the end-of-trainingtest with a score of 70 percent or better to receive creditfor taking the course.

Turn in copies of completion certificates to CelestineJoyner, 50th Space Wing Equal EmploymentOpportunity, via fax at 567-5309 or via e-mail at celes-tine.joyner@schriever.af.mil.

For more information, contact Ms. Joyner at

567-7096.

AAFFIITT nnoommiinnaattiioonnss dduuee JJaann.. 2200Applications for NCOs to attend the Air Force

Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air ForceBase, Ohio, are due to Air Force Personnel Commandno later than Jan. 20.

Applicants should be technical sergeants or abovewith a minimum of eight years time-in-service, 24

months time-on-station and three years of retainabilityupon graduation.

They must have completed the appropriate skill-level upgrade and resident professional military educa-tion for their rank.

For more information, contact Master Sgt. RichardLongacre, 50th Space Wing career assistance adviser, at567-5927.

HHeeaalltthh bbeenneeffiittss ooppeenn sseeaassoonnFederal Employees Health Benefits open season con-

tinues through Dec. 11. Additionally, the Schriever Civilian Personnel Flight

will hold Health Fair Friday in The DeKok Building,Room 310, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

During the open season, eligible federal civilianemployees may enroll, change plans or options, changefrom self-and-family to self-only or cancel coverage.

For Air Force-serviced civilian employees, open sea-son enrollment or changes become effective Jan. 7 andwill be reflected on your leave and earning statementreceived Jan. 26. Also, the new Federal EmployeesDental and Vision Insurance Program is available to eli-gible Federal employees and their family members dur-ing the open season. For those who enroll during theopen season, coverage will be effective Dec. 31.

Premium deductions will begin for Air Force-serv-iced civilian employees with the pay period that begins

Jan. 7 and will be reflected in Jan 26 leave and earningsstatements.

5500tthh SSCCSS ooffffeerrss ccoommppuutteerr ccllaasssseessThe 50th Space Communications Squadron will

offer introductory and intermediate classes onMicrosoft Office tools in November and December.

Classes are open on a first-come, first-served basis.For more information, contact Schriever Training

Services at 567-7887.

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14NOVEMBER 30, 2006SATELLITE FLYER 15

NOVEMBER 30, 2006

SATELLITE FLYER

Tucked between GM-3 and the C-17, 1st Lt. Craig Cherek attaches the C-17's winch chains to the GM-3's rear axle. Thewinch pulled the trailer into the aircraft's cargo bay while the driver steered the front of the truck. The C-17 departs Peterson AFB bound for Andersen AFB after the successful loading operation. The aircraft and crew are assigned to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

GM-3 is loaded, locked in and ready to “roll out.” The gross vehicle weight requirement for the truck and trailer is 73,000 pounds--or about 14 Humvees.The 4th Space Operations Squadron's Mobile Operations Flight loads the Ground Mobile-3 vehicle into a C-17 Globemaster III at Peterson Air Force Base Saturday. The GM-3 and a team of 4thSOPS Airmen will provide secure Milstar communication effects from their deployed location at Andersen AFB, Guam to support the Global War on Terrorism.

Tech. Sgt. Dan Boawn measures the clearance—which can be less than an inch—between the top of the GM-3 trailer and the roof of the C-17's cargo bay. Sergeant Boawn is 4th SOPS' NCO in charge of mobile maintenance.

photos by Maj. Tommy Roberts

Staff Sgt. Don Branum50th Space Wing Public Affairs

We don’t often talk about aircraft as a part ofSchriever’s mission; but when those aircraftsave the Department of Defense $360,000 perone-way flight, that’s a big deal. The C-17Globemaster III and its crew of capable Airmenat March Air Reserve Base, Calif., made it hap-pen.

According to the Air Force C-17 fact sheet, aC-17 has a maximum cargo capacity of about85 tons. The gross vehicle weight requirement

for the Ground Mobile-3 vehicle is 36.5 tons,so in terms of weight, GM-3 is an easy fit.

It’s the height that’s not easy. The C-17 cargocompartment’s height, according to the factsheet, is 148 inches. The maximum height ofthe GM-3, according to 1st Lt. Stefan Gerardsof the 4th Space Operations Squadron, is 152inches.

How do they make it fit?The GM-3 has a suspension system that con-

sists of a series of airbags built into the trailer.By applying air pressure produced by the trac-tor, the air bags can be raised or lowered.

Airmen with 4th SOPS’ Mobile OperationsFlight and the 452nd Airlift Wing at MarchARB do just that as they load it onto the C-17.

Like a limbo player, the trailer “ducks” untilit’s only 14 inches off the ground as it crawlsinto the cargo bay of the aircraft.

They then back the truck as far into thecargo bay as they can while keeping a marginfor safety.

Once the vehicle is in place, the Airmen lockit down securely. They load a smaller traileronto the C-17’s cargo door and secure it. TheAirmen board, and off they go.

‘Airmen on a Plane’—The ins and outs of GM-3 and a C-17 Globemaster III

16NOVEMBER 30, 2006SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.mil

17NOVEMBER 30, 2006

SATELLITE FLYERwww.schriever.af.mil

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Preparing Thanksgiving feast no easy featMaster Sgt. Jason Tudor

380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA — An American Thanksgivingkitchen is often a loud, clattering commotion of cooks,noise, smells and relatives arguing about what time theDallas Cowboys game starts. By the time the chaos settlesonto polished dining room furniture, all that’s left are theclean-up, naps and a good game of football on TV.

The same could be said about the 380th ExpeditionaryServices Squadron’s dining facility kitchen in the daysleading up to turkey day. Sans noisy relatives with nev-erending stories, the 26 people who planned and cookedthis base’s formal Thanksgiving meal were hustling nowto meet Thanksgiving’s 11 a.m. start time—for good rea-son.

“People will be away from home, but they will still getthe same quality here,” said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Slowick,NCO in charge of the dining facility. “This meal is aboutmorale. Everybody gets to sit down and enjoy.”

And, oh, what they enjoyed: three-quarters of a ton ofturkey, including 24 whole birds; 350 pounds of ham; 613pounds of steamship round roast; 56 sweet potato pies; 42apple and pumpkin pies; and 32 pecan pies.

That’s just a slice of the feast. There are also enoughmashed potatoes to make an Idahoan proud, enough cran-berry sauce to wrestle in, an assortment of candy, nutsand much more.

Staff Sgt. James Lotz ordered and received that basketof groceries. Ten cooks started preparing the $25,000food order—purchased from the Defense Supply Centerin Philadelphia—Nov. 21, three days before the first hun-gry Airman hit the food line.

The meats get cooked first. “The cooks pull the meats, put them in a thaw box and

start cooking everything to meet demand,” SergeantSlowick said. “We have to make sure everything iscooked properly before we put it onto the serving line at11 a.m.”

He said the most difficult items to prepare are thesteamship round roasts. One roast weighs 65 pounds andis slightly larger than a beach ball. The roast has to becooked 14 to 16 hours to make sure it’s the correct tem-perature inside.

“You can’t halfway cook it and start over,” SergeantSlowick said.

Turkeys and hams take about three hours to cook.Almost everything else can be done Thanksgiving day.

Even as they preflight the Thanksgiving meal, the din-ing facility team is still making breakfast, lunch, dinnerand a midnight meal.

From the start of the week to today, the crew served11,100 meals. That’s 133 meals served every hour until

show time, in addition to flipping and stuffing the holidaybirds.

None of this is lost on the facility’s patrons: Staff Sgt.Scott Harris, a 380th Expeditionary Security ForcesAirman, knows his Thanksgiving, too. His hometown is astone’s throw from Plymouth Rock.

“It won’t be the same,” the Carver, Mass., native said.“We usually eat, watch football, and have a good time.Then we head down to Plymouth Plantations.”

However, when Sergeant Harris heard about the vol-ume of food and the effort undertaken by the dining facil-ity workers, he smiled.

“Their effort is great,” he said. “It can’t be somethingthat’s easy.”

photo by Master Sgt. Jason Tudor

A contract food services worker bastes a 65-pound steamship round roast Nov. 21. Several of the roasts were prepared,along with about 1,700 pounds of turkey, for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's Thanksgiving meal.

AROUND THE AIR FORCE

18NOVEMBER 30, 2006SATELLITE FLYER www.schriever.af.mil

photo by Skip Grubelnik

The Players Pool's Rico Terrell goes for a rebound in basketball intramural playoff actionagainst the 4th Space Operations Squadron Monday. 4th SOPS upset the number-twoseed in a 50-49 overtime squeaker.

If at first you don't succeed ...

SIDC

NOPS

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Championship

Monday at 11 a.m.Fitness Center

Game 6

Friday at noon

Schriever IntramuralBasketball Playoffs

SIDC 71 - 50 OGV 30 50th SCS 50 - 2nd SOPS 36 4th SOPS 50 - Players Pool 49 (OT)

Monday’s Scores

SPORTS

19NOVEMBER 30, 2006

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