8 The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky. Vol. XXI, No. 3 • June 11, 2005

123rd Airlift WingPublic Affairs OfficeKentucky Air National Guard1101 Grade LaneLouisville, KY 40213-2678

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Exercises designedto further sharpencombat readiness

DoD NEWS

By Capt. Dale GreerWing Public Affairs Officer

New law to affect SGLI coverage, premiums

Above: Senior Airman Thomas Fuchs directs traffic on base while wearing hisprotective ensemble during the January UTA.

Photos by Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora/KyANGSee ORI, Page 4

Wing continues preparation for 2006 ORI

American Forces Press Service

Defense and Veterans Affairs officialsare ironing out details of programs thatwill expand benefits provided throughServicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.

The $82 billion supplemental legisla-tion signed into law by President BushMay 11 increases maximum SGLIcoverage to $400,000 and providespayouts of up to $100,000 forservicemembers with traumatic injuries,explained Stephen Wurtz, the VA’sdeputy assistant director for insurance.

The increased SGLI coverage will takeeffect Sept. 1, and the so-called “trau-matic SGLI” benefit, Dec. 1. Mr. Wurtzsaid the legislation directs that bothbenefits will be retroactive to Oct. 7,2001.

Traumatic SGLI benefits will beretroactive for troops who have lostlimbs, eyesight or speech or receivedother traumatic injuries as a direct resultsof injuries received during OperationIraqi Freedom or Operation EnduringFreedom. The benefit does not apply toservicemembers suffering from disease.

The retroactive coverage increase ispayable as a result of deaths in eitheroperation, or under other conditionsprescribed by the secretary of defense,Mr. Wurtz said.

Servicemembers enrolled in the SGLIprogram will notice an increase in their

premiums when the increases takeeffect. The traumatic SGLI benefitwill be rolled into the basic SGLIprogram and will likely cost about $1a month, Wurtz said.

Troops opting for maximum SGLIcoverage — $400,000 vs. the current$250,000 — will see their monthlypremiums increase from $16.25 to$26. This is based on the rate of 6.5cents per $1,000 of insurance cover-age.

SGLI coverage is currentlyavailable in $10,000 increments, butas of Sept. 1, the increments willincrease to $50,000.

Because the rates have notchanged, servicemembers who retain$250,000 or less coverage will see noincrease in their premiums, Mr. Wurtzsaid, except for the $1 “traumaticSGLI” premium.

While these expanded benefits willbe provided retroactively, affectedservicemembers won’t be chargedretroactive payments, he said. DoDwill absorb that cost.

In a new twist introduced throughthe supplemental legislation, troopswith dependents must get theirspouse’s approval to purchase lessthan the full amount of SGLI cover-age.

In the case of members who are notmarried, notice will be provided to the

designated beneficiary when the memberpurchases less than the maximumcoverage.

The new traumatic SGLI benefit isdesigned to provide “a quick infusion ofcash” for cash-strapped families oftroops recuperating from traumaticinjuries received in the line of duty, Mr.Wurtz said.

Compensation will range from$25,000 to $100,000, and is designed tohelp families of severely wounded troopsleave their homes and jobs to be withtheir loved ones during recovery.

“These families incur a lot of ex-penses, and this is designed to help themfinancially,” Mr. Wurtz said.

While VA staff members consult withDoD to write regulations that will put thenew SGLI benefits into effect, Mr. Wurtzsaid, “lots and lots of details have to beworked out.”

Among outstanding issues is the factthat the expanded SGLI coverage is partof the supplemental legislation packagethat funds operations only through Sept.30.

That’s 30 days after the new SGLIlimit takes effect and two months beforethe traumatic SGLI benefit begins.

Mr. Wurtz said the VA is confidentCongress will resolve this issue beforethere’s any lapse in coverage.

The VA will continue to oversee andcontrol the SGLI program.

The 123rd Airlift Wing will continuepreparations for its 2006 OperationalReadiness Inspection this weekend by stag-ing an exercise designed to test the capa-bilities of multiple command centers oper-ating in an unpredictable combat environ-ment.

The exercise, which will involve theWing Operations Center, the Survival Re-covery Center and the Unit Control Cen-ter, is the latest in a series of activities lead-ing up to the ORI, scheduled for April 2 ata deployed stateside location.

A representative sample of about 400wing members and three Kentucky aircraftare expected to participate in the seven-dayinspection.

During that time, Air Mobility Com-mand inspectors will evaluate the wing’sability to deploy to a forward base, performwartime taskings in a simulated combat en-vironment and return home safely.

Exercises began on base in January withTask Qualification Training — designed toensure that Guard members can do theirjobs while wearing the chemical warfaredefense ensemble — and continued throughMay with cargo mobility exercises and per-sonnel deployment functions.

“We’ve had a steep hill to climb, but Ithink we’ve come a long way in a shortperiod of time,” said Col. Mark Kraus, com-mander of the 123rd Airlift Wing.

“Attitudes seem to be good and peoplehave a strong desire to get the job done.Now, it’s just a matter of tweaking the pro-

Below: Senior Airman Tiffany Downs checks the weight of a pallet during cargoprocessing in May.

2 7The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

C

COMMANDER’S CALL AIR FORCE NEWS

Col. Mark Kraus123rd Airlift Wing Commander

We can choose to fear or forge ahead,but change is inevitable

Wing Commander....................................Col. Mark KrausWing Public Affairs Officer.....................Capt. Dale GreerStaff Writer......................................Staff Sgt. Mark Flener

This funded Air Force newspaper is an authorized publi-cation for members of the U.S. military services. Contentsof The Cargo Courier are not necessarily the official viewof, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department ofDefense or the Department of the Air Force.

The editorial content is edited, prepared and providedby the Public Affairs office of the 123rd Airlift Wing, Ken-tucky Air National Guard. All photographs are Air Forcephotographs unless otherwise indicated.

Our office is located in room 2118 of the Wing Head-quarters Building. Deadline for the next issue is June 30.

Address: 1101 Grade Lane, Louisville, KY 40213-2678Phone: (502) 364-9431Fax: (502) 364-9676E-mail: dale.greer@kyloui.ang.af.mil

An electronic version of the Cargo Courier is available at the Kentucky Air Guard’s Web site — www.kyang.ang.af.mil

123rd Airlift Wing Editorial Staff

Contact Us

hange is inevitable — atimeless truth if I everheard one.

We are by nature creatures of habit whogravitate toward routines in every aspect ofour lives, just for the simplicity it brings withit, if nothing else.

Change brings disruption, disrepair or, insome cases, outright destruction of the com-fort associated with no change. But changeis inevitable, and we must adjust accord-ingly.

Once we weather change and make thenecessary adjustments, what follows is a“new” routine that holds until the nextchange presents itself.

It’s an inescapable cycle of life that canbe frustrating, frightening and fatiguing…if we chose to allow it to be.

Change is inevitable, but how we as indi-viduals or as an organization respond makesall the difference in the world.

Former Secretary of State and architectof the post World War II world, DeanAcheson, nailed it when he said, “The man-ner in which one endures what must be en-dured is more important than the thing thatmust be endured.”

We choose to either fear change or em-brace it; different periods in time offergreater opportunities than others to makethose choices, and 2005 might be a banneryear for changing and choosing.

This organization has seen many changesover the years — changes in mission, in as-signed aircraft, base location, leadership,membership and on and on and on. As welook back now, those “adjustments” seemedto flow at a measured pace allowing eachupheaval to be dealt with one or two at atime.

Regardless of the angst at each juncture,each of these major changes and the corre-sponding adjustments down through theyears has served to mold our wing into what

it is today. The challenges that lie ahead willmold us into who and what we’ll be in thefuture.

What are some of these challenges?Some of the ones I know about include BaseRealignment and Closure (BRAC), Qua-drennial Defense Review, Vanguard, theDepartment of Defense budget, 56 Redux,New Mission Initiatives and the NationalSecurity Personnel System (NSPS) just toname a few.

Are there other things that we don’t knowabout? Of course there are — or will be —because change is inevitable!

How this particular confluence of changeagents will impact our organization is yetto be fully realized.

The fact that each will have an impactshould not, however, catch any of us by sur-prise.

We can fret, fear or forge ahead. It is firstan individual choice, and I choose to forgeahead, embrace the changes before us, what-ever they may be.

I believe that our wing is as well posi-tioned for growth in service as any unit inthe nation. There is a certain exhilaration inthe possibilities, and I’m convinced that theKentucky Air National Guard will be betterfor it.

Time will bring us the answers we seek.It will also serve to remind us that changeis inevitable.

Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Rebidue marshals in the Air Force’s second active-duty J-modelC-130 Hercules at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., April 5.

By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark.— Here at the “Home of the Herk,” there isno ambivalence about the new C-130J Her-cules.

The J-model is the latest addition to theC-130 fleet, bringing state-of-the-art technol-ogy to the tactical cargo- and troop-transportaircraft that has been in the Air Force inven-tory since 1954.

The J-model’s future had been in questionwhen the Pentagon initially acted to cancelthe program, but Defense Secretary DonaldRumsfeld restored it to the fiscal 2006 bud-get request in early May.

Secretary Rumsfeld’s decision got a re-sounding “thumbs up” from crews that haveflown the C-130J and can barely stifle theirenthusiasm for the new plane.

“From a pilot’s perspective, this aircraftis just phenomenal,” said Lt. Col. JeffreyBlalock, who has been flying the J-model forthree years.

He is the acting commander of the 48thAirlift Squadron here, which began offeringformal training on the C-130J in February2004.

The standardized program, with a dedi-cated cadre, replaces unit-level conversiontraining, which had initially been offered onthe aircraft since it first entered the inven-tory.

Sitting on the tarmac, the J-model does notlook much different from earlier-generationmodels. It is 15 feet longer, which gives itthe capability to carry 36 more troops or twomore pallets, and has six rather than fourblades on each propeller.

But step inside the cockpit and the differ-ences are clear.

The J-model features a streamlined instru-ment board, digital avionics, a heads-up dis-play and state-of-the-art navigation systems.

The heart of the system, a mission com-puter, handles many of the functionscrewmembers once did manually.

During an emergency, for example, thesesystems “will tell us about a problem and cor-rect it or take care of it before we can eventake out the checklist,” Colonel Blalock said.

These systems are so automated that theyhave eliminated two of the five crewmemberpositions on the C-130: the navigator andflight engineer.

Pilots express enthusiasm for J-model Hercules

Airman 1st Class Tim Bazar/USAF

The J-model, with more horsepower thanprevious C-130s, “climbs like a rocket” ontakeoff, Colonel Blalock said, a big pluswhen leaving a high-threat area.

It also flies farther at a higher cruise speedand takes off and lands in a shorter distancethan older C-130s.

Colonel Blalock said one of the best fea-tures of the J-model is the increased situ-ational awareness its glass heads-up displaypanel provides.

“It tells the pilot everything that’s goingon in the airplane, but also lets you look out-side the aircraft so you know what’s goingon around you,” he said.

In addition, an enhanced cargo-handlingsystem improves loading and unloading op-erations.

“It’s way, way more user-friendly, like itwas designed by a pilot,” said Capt. JillBrowning, a 48th AS instructor.

Captain Browning said she was “initiallyvery skeptical” about the J-model aircraft,but became a believer the first time she tookthe controls.

“It’s amazing how much more capable thisaircraft is, and the situational awareness it

gives you is just awesome,” she said.“We’re pretty excited about it, and we

absolutely love flying it,” Captain Brown-ing added.

Capt. Mark Suckow agreed.“It’s a great airplane,” said the pilot, who

has been flying the J-model for more thantwo years with the 815th Airlift Squadronat Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

“I sure wouldn’t want to go back to an-other plane.”

Captain Suckow, who initially receivedunit-level conversion training on the C-130J, is now here attending the 48th AirliftSquadron’s J-model course.

The squadron currently has three aircraftfor training, and officials expect to get fourmore by year’s end.

The J-model initially went into produc-tion in 1997, with the first models going tothe United Kingdom and Australian AirForce.

Air National Guard and Air Force Re-serve squadrons were the first U.S. units toreceive the C-130J aircraft. The first J-model went to the active Air Force in April2004.

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005 3The Cargo Courier

June 11, 20056

KyANG NEWS KyANG NEWS

Wing returns to field training concept for 2005

Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora/KyANG

Cargo Courier,Wing PA shop

win NGB awardsFor the eighth time in the past 10

years, The Cargo Courier has beennamed one of the best newspapers inthe National Guard.

The Cargo Courier took first placein its division during the 2004National Guard Bureau MediaContest after going head to head withpublications from other NationalGuard units across the United States.

The results of the contest wereannounced in March.

Significant contributors to the2004 Cargo Courier include thepaper’s former editor, 1st Lt AmyMundell; Capt. Dale Greer, wingpublic affairs officer; and photogra-phers Master Sgt. Mark Rines, Tech.Sgt. Dennis Flora and Senior AirmanPhillip Speck.

Captain Greer also won threeindividual awards — first-placesports article, first-place feature storyand National Guard Journalist of theYear.

The 2004 contest marks the fourthNGB Journalist of the Year title forGreer, who also won in 1997, 1998and 2000.

He was named U.S. Air ForcePrint Journalist of the Year in 1997and was the USAF runner-up in1998.

With the latest honors, the 123rdAirlift Wing public affairs sectioncontinues a long tradition of bench-mark-setting excellence.

The shop has won more than 40national awards since 1995, includingfirst- and second-place honors in theprestigious Department of DefenseThomas Jefferson Awards, whichrecognize the best journalism fromall branches of the U.S. military.

Prior to 2004, the Cargo Courierwon first-place newspaper honorsfrom the National Guard Bureau in1996, 1999 and 2000.

It took second place at theNational Guard Bureau MediaContest in 1995, 1997, 1998 and2002.

President Bush and U.S. Rep. Anne Northup greet well-wishers upon their ar-rival at the Kentucky Air National Guard ramp March 10. Mr. Bush flew to Lou-isville aboard Air Force One to promote his plan for Social Security reform.

Deployments to includefamily-friendly activitiesBy Capt. Dale GreerWing Public Affairs Officer

The 123rd Airlift Wing is returning to itsroots this summer with annual field trainingthat is designed to consolidate ancillarytaskings while building esprit de corps.

It’s been more than a decade since thewing deployed large groups of people solelyfor the purpose of annual field training, partlybecause the demands of real-world airliftmissions have kept unit members constantlyon the move, said Col. Mark Kraus, com-mander of the 123rd Airlift Wing.

As a result, much of the ancillary trainingthat once was accomplished during AFT —self-aid and buddy care, firearms qualifica-tion, chemical warfare refreshers — has beensqueezed into drill weekends. The numberof training requirements, however, contin-ues to grow, making unit training assemblies

Hail from the Chief

Wing spared by latest BRACBy Capt. Dale GreerWing Public Affairs Officer

A dozen Air Force facilities face extinc-tion following the latest round of recom-mendations by the federal Base Realign-ment and Closure Commission, but theKentucky Air Guard isn’t among them.

In fact, the 123rd Airlift Wing may actu-ally gain resources if the commission’s ini-tial recommendations are approved.

Those recommendations call for trans-ferring four C-130 aircraft from the Ten-nessee Air National Guard to the Louisville-based 123rd and relocating an aerial portsquadron from Mansfield, Ohio.

Details have not been made available, but

the commission also proposed adding six ci-vilian positions and 151 drill-status slots tothe wing’s manning authorization.

“There will be a lot more discussion aboutBRAC in the coming months, and the rec-ommendations might change a bit, but I’mvery pleased with the initial announcement,”said Col. Mark Kraus, commander of the123rd Airlift Wing.

“I think we’re right on track and cameout of the initial assessment in a very posi-tive fashion. We’re in as good a position asany Guard unit in the nation right now.”

Commission members are currently vis-iting targeted facilities and will examine in-

put from the various services before forward-ing final recommendations to President Bushby Sept. 8. The president has until Sept. 23to approve the recommendations, and Con-gress will have another 45 days to reject oraccept the list in its entirety.

While the final outcome may not beknown for several months, Colonel Kraussaid the 123rd has a number of factors work-ing in its favor to help make BRAC a growthopportunity for the wing.

These include a strong local economy, afamily-friendly community and a relativelynew base with excellent facilities and roomto grow. The base ramp could, for example,easily be expanded to accommodate 16 C-130 aircraft.

People are an important factor, too.Colonel Kraus noted that the wing has a

long history of outstanding achievement, duelargely to the unit’s dedicated members andtheir pursuit of excellence.

The 123rd also is one of a handful of unitsnationwide that has been able to maintain itsrecruiting numbers. See BRAC, Page 6

BRACContinued from Page 3

“I think we have a real bright future, notonly for the aviation side, but also for newmission opportunities as they come about,”Colonel Kraus said. “We’re very well posi-tioned to pick up some extra missions andsome extra folks to do those missions.”

If the commission’s recommendations forKentucky are approved, the addition of fourC-130s would bring the wing back to its prior12-aircraft authorization.

Ironically, the wing was forced to trans-fer three of its 12 Hercules transports to theIdaho Air Guard in March as part of an AirForce plan called 56 Redux.

The moves were designed to balance C-130H inventories across the Air Force as theservice prepared to retire the aging C-130E.

Funding also was eliminated for a fourthKentucky C-130 as part of 56 Redux, andthat plane was subsequently loaned toBoeing in April for use as a test aircraft inthe company’s Aircraft Modernization Pro-gram project.

Colonel Kraus said it may be possible forKentucky to reclaim ownership of the planesit sent Idaho rather than accept C-130s fromTennessee as recommended by BRAC.

“We’re already familiar with those tailnumbers, so that’s what we would like todo,” he said.

less and less productive for people trying toaccomplish their primary duties.

Unit members also have had fewer op-portunities to socialize wing-wide, compro-mising the sense of family so integral to theKentucky Air Guard, Colonel Kraus said.

The most effective solution for both prob-lems, wing leaders decided, was to updatean old idea.

And so this summer, the wing is stagingtwo annual field training events — each willlast six days rather than the traditional 14— and unit members are encouraged to bringtheir families along.

“This will give us a way to accomplishour ancillary training needs in a short spanof time,” ultimately freeing up drill week-ends for duty-specific taskings, ColonelKraus said.

It also will give unit members a chanceto socialize and relax together, thanks to anumber of planned activities like volleyballgames and cookouts, said Chief Master JimSmith, who along with the Chiefs’ Councilis helping plan MWR events.

“We’ll get to work hard and play hardtogether at the same time,” Colonel Kraussaid. “That’s something we’ve not been ableto do over the past few years.”

Both AFT events will be held at theGulfport Combat Readiness Training Cen-ter in Biloxi, Miss. The first is scheduled forJuly 24 to 29, and the second is slated forJuly 29 to Aug. 3. About 450 unit membersare expected to deploy for each, along withabout 60 dependents.

Guard members may bring along as manydependents as they like, but the dependentsmust pay their own travel expenses. Lodg-ing fees are $18 for one to three dependentsor $36 for four to seven.

Accommodations feature private bath-rooms, televisions, microwave ovens andrefrigerators.

Shuttle buses will provide transportationto and from the beach, said Chief Master Sgt.Veronica Holliman, and movies will beshown nightly on base.

The Gulfport CRTC features a fitness cen-ter and an all-ranks club.

The following individuals have beenpromoted to the rank indicated

as members of theKentucky Air Guard

and reservistsof the United States Air Force:

•Jeffrey Clark,123rd Aircraft Maintenance Sq.

•Craig Davis,123rd Security Forces Sq.

•Wendy Haight,123rd Services Flight

STAFF SERGEANT (E-5)

•Christopher Burgin,123rd Maintenance Sq.•Chad Chamberlain,

123rd Aircraft Maintenance Sq.•Edgar Harper,

123rd Maintenance Sq.•Michael McDonald,

123rd Maintenance Sq.•James McFarland Jr.,123rd Maintenance Sq.

TECHNICAL SERGEANT (E-6)

Promotions

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005 54

cess and cleaning up the details.”Several teams are evaluating the base

exercises and have offered useful adviceon ways to improve functions or boost ef-ficiency, the colonel said.

Participants also will have severalmore opportunities to practice their de-ployment and Ability To Survive andOperate — or ATSO — skills betweennow and April.

Upcoming events include a mobilityexercise scheduled for the SeptemberUTA and a full-scale Operational Readi-ness Exercise slated for Nov. 11 to 19 atthe Gulfport Combat Readiness TrainingCenter in Biloxi, Miss.

The ORE will test deployment,beddown, ATSO, employment and rede-ployment functions.

ORIContinued from Front Page

Above: Master Sgt. Frank Collinshelps an aircrew memberprocess through thepersonnel deploymentfunction exercise duringthe May UTA.

KyANG photos byTech. Sgt. Dennis Flora

Members of the 123rd Aerial PortSquadron marshal cargo for simu-lated deployment during the Febru-ary and May UTAs.

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005 54

cess and cleaning up the details.”Several teams are evaluating the base

exercises and have offered useful adviceon ways to improve functions or boost ef-ficiency, the colonel said.

Participants also will have severalmore opportunities to practice their de-ployment and Ability To Survive andOperate — or ATSO — skills betweennow and April.

Upcoming events include a mobilityexercise scheduled for the SeptemberUTA and a full-scale Operational Readi-ness Exercise slated for Nov. 11 to 19 atthe Gulfport Combat Readiness TrainingCenter in Biloxi, Miss.

The ORE will test deployment,beddown, ATSO, employment and rede-ployment functions.

ORIContinued from Front Page

Above: Master Sgt. Frank Collinshelps an aircrew memberprocess through thepersonnel deploymentfunction exercise duringthe May UTA.

KyANG photos byTech. Sgt. Dennis Flora

Members of the 123rd Aerial PortSquadron marshal cargo for simu-lated deployment during the Febru-ary and May UTAs.

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005 3The Cargo Courier

June 11, 20056

KyANG NEWS KyANG NEWS

Wing returns to field training concept for 2005

Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora/KyANG

Cargo Courier,Wing PA shop

win NGB awardsFor the eighth time in the past 10

years, The Cargo Courier has beennamed one of the best newspapers inthe National Guard.

The Cargo Courier took first placein its division during the 2004National Guard Bureau MediaContest after going head to head withpublications from other NationalGuard units across the United States.

The results of the contest wereannounced in March.

Significant contributors to the2004 Cargo Courier include thepaper’s former editor, 1st Lt AmyMundell; Capt. Dale Greer, wingpublic affairs officer; and photogra-phers Master Sgt. Mark Rines, Tech.Sgt. Dennis Flora and Senior AirmanPhillip Speck.

Captain Greer also won threeindividual awards — first-placesports article, first-place feature storyand National Guard Journalist of theYear.

The 2004 contest marks the fourthNGB Journalist of the Year title forGreer, who also won in 1997, 1998and 2000.

He was named U.S. Air ForcePrint Journalist of the Year in 1997and was the USAF runner-up in1998.

With the latest honors, the 123rdAirlift Wing public affairs sectioncontinues a long tradition of bench-mark-setting excellence.

The shop has won more than 40national awards since 1995, includingfirst- and second-place honors in theprestigious Department of DefenseThomas Jefferson Awards, whichrecognize the best journalism fromall branches of the U.S. military.

Prior to 2004, the Cargo Courierwon first-place newspaper honorsfrom the National Guard Bureau in1996, 1999 and 2000.

It took second place at theNational Guard Bureau MediaContest in 1995, 1997, 1998 and2002.

President Bush and U.S. Rep. Anne Northup greet well-wishers upon their ar-rival at the Kentucky Air National Guard ramp March 10. Mr. Bush flew to Lou-isville aboard Air Force One to promote his plan for Social Security reform.

Deployments to includefamily-friendly activitiesBy Capt. Dale GreerWing Public Affairs Officer

The 123rd Airlift Wing is returning to itsroots this summer with annual field trainingthat is designed to consolidate ancillarytaskings while building esprit de corps.

It’s been more than a decade since thewing deployed large groups of people solelyfor the purpose of annual field training, partlybecause the demands of real-world airliftmissions have kept unit members constantlyon the move, said Col. Mark Kraus, com-mander of the 123rd Airlift Wing.

As a result, much of the ancillary trainingthat once was accomplished during AFT —self-aid and buddy care, firearms qualifica-tion, chemical warfare refreshers — has beensqueezed into drill weekends. The numberof training requirements, however, contin-ues to grow, making unit training assemblies

Hail from the Chief

Wing spared by latest BRACBy Capt. Dale GreerWing Public Affairs Officer

A dozen Air Force facilities face extinc-tion following the latest round of recom-mendations by the federal Base Realign-ment and Closure Commission, but theKentucky Air Guard isn’t among them.

In fact, the 123rd Airlift Wing may actu-ally gain resources if the commission’s ini-tial recommendations are approved.

Those recommendations call for trans-ferring four C-130 aircraft from the Ten-nessee Air National Guard to the Louisville-based 123rd and relocating an aerial portsquadron from Mansfield, Ohio.

Details have not been made available, but

the commission also proposed adding six ci-vilian positions and 151 drill-status slots tothe wing’s manning authorization.

“There will be a lot more discussion aboutBRAC in the coming months, and the rec-ommendations might change a bit, but I’mvery pleased with the initial announcement,”said Col. Mark Kraus, commander of the123rd Airlift Wing.

“I think we’re right on track and cameout of the initial assessment in a very posi-tive fashion. We’re in as good a position asany Guard unit in the nation right now.”

Commission members are currently vis-iting targeted facilities and will examine in-

put from the various services before forward-ing final recommendations to President Bushby Sept. 8. The president has until Sept. 23to approve the recommendations, and Con-gress will have another 45 days to reject oraccept the list in its entirety.

While the final outcome may not beknown for several months, Colonel Kraussaid the 123rd has a number of factors work-ing in its favor to help make BRAC a growthopportunity for the wing.

These include a strong local economy, afamily-friendly community and a relativelynew base with excellent facilities and roomto grow. The base ramp could, for example,easily be expanded to accommodate 16 C-130 aircraft.

People are an important factor, too.Colonel Kraus noted that the wing has a

long history of outstanding achievement, duelargely to the unit’s dedicated members andtheir pursuit of excellence.

The 123rd also is one of a handful of unitsnationwide that has been able to maintain itsrecruiting numbers. See BRAC, Page 6

BRACContinued from Page 3

“I think we have a real bright future, notonly for the aviation side, but also for newmission opportunities as they come about,”Colonel Kraus said. “We’re very well posi-tioned to pick up some extra missions andsome extra folks to do those missions.”

If the commission’s recommendations forKentucky are approved, the addition of fourC-130s would bring the wing back to its prior12-aircraft authorization.

Ironically, the wing was forced to trans-fer three of its 12 Hercules transports to theIdaho Air Guard in March as part of an AirForce plan called 56 Redux.

The moves were designed to balance C-130H inventories across the Air Force as theservice prepared to retire the aging C-130E.

Funding also was eliminated for a fourthKentucky C-130 as part of 56 Redux, andthat plane was subsequently loaned toBoeing in April for use as a test aircraft inthe company’s Aircraft Modernization Pro-gram project.

Colonel Kraus said it may be possible forKentucky to reclaim ownership of the planesit sent Idaho rather than accept C-130s fromTennessee as recommended by BRAC.

“We’re already familiar with those tailnumbers, so that’s what we would like todo,” he said.

less and less productive for people trying toaccomplish their primary duties.

Unit members also have had fewer op-portunities to socialize wing-wide, compro-mising the sense of family so integral to theKentucky Air Guard, Colonel Kraus said.

The most effective solution for both prob-lems, wing leaders decided, was to updatean old idea.

And so this summer, the wing is stagingtwo annual field training events — each willlast six days rather than the traditional 14— and unit members are encouraged to bringtheir families along.

“This will give us a way to accomplishour ancillary training needs in a short spanof time,” ultimately freeing up drill week-ends for duty-specific taskings, ColonelKraus said.

It also will give unit members a chanceto socialize and relax together, thanks to anumber of planned activities like volleyballgames and cookouts, said Chief Master JimSmith, who along with the Chiefs’ Councilis helping plan MWR events.

“We’ll get to work hard and play hardtogether at the same time,” Colonel Kraussaid. “That’s something we’ve not been ableto do over the past few years.”

Both AFT events will be held at theGulfport Combat Readiness Training Cen-ter in Biloxi, Miss. The first is scheduled forJuly 24 to 29, and the second is slated forJuly 29 to Aug. 3. About 450 unit membersare expected to deploy for each, along withabout 60 dependents.

Guard members may bring along as manydependents as they like, but the dependentsmust pay their own travel expenses. Lodg-ing fees are $18 for one to three dependentsor $36 for four to seven.

Accommodations feature private bath-rooms, televisions, microwave ovens andrefrigerators.

Shuttle buses will provide transportationto and from the beach, said Chief Master Sgt.Veronica Holliman, and movies will beshown nightly on base.

The Gulfport CRTC features a fitness cen-ter and an all-ranks club.

The following individuals have beenpromoted to the rank indicated

as members of theKentucky Air Guard

and reservistsof the United States Air Force:

•Jeffrey Clark,123rd Aircraft Maintenance Sq.

•Craig Davis,123rd Security Forces Sq.

•Wendy Haight,123rd Services Flight

STAFF SERGEANT (E-5)

•Christopher Burgin,123rd Maintenance Sq.•Chad Chamberlain,

123rd Aircraft Maintenance Sq.•Edgar Harper,

123rd Maintenance Sq.•Michael McDonald,

123rd Maintenance Sq.•James McFarland Jr.,123rd Maintenance Sq.

TECHNICAL SERGEANT (E-6)

Promotions

2 7The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

C

COMMANDER’S CALL AIR FORCE NEWS

Col. Mark Kraus123rd Airlift Wing Commander

We can choose to fear or forge ahead,but change is inevitable

Wing Commander....................................Col. Mark KrausWing Public Affairs Officer.....................Capt. Dale GreerStaff Writer......................................Staff Sgt. Mark Flener

This funded Air Force newspaper is an authorized publi-cation for members of the U.S. military services. Contentsof The Cargo Courier are not necessarily the official viewof, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department ofDefense or the Department of the Air Force.

The editorial content is edited, prepared and providedby the Public Affairs office of the 123rd Airlift Wing, Ken-tucky Air National Guard. All photographs are Air Forcephotographs unless otherwise indicated.

Our office is located in room 2118 of the Wing Head-quarters Building. Deadline for the next issue is June 30.

Address: 1101 Grade Lane, Louisville, KY 40213-2678Phone: (502) 364-9431Fax: (502) 364-9676E-mail: dale.greer@kyloui.ang.af.mil

An electronic version of the Cargo Courier is available at the Kentucky Air Guard’s Web site — www.kyang.ang.af.mil

123rd Airlift Wing Editorial Staff

Contact Us

hange is inevitable — atimeless truth if I everheard one.

We are by nature creatures of habit whogravitate toward routines in every aspect ofour lives, just for the simplicity it brings withit, if nothing else.

Change brings disruption, disrepair or, insome cases, outright destruction of the com-fort associated with no change. But changeis inevitable, and we must adjust accord-ingly.

Once we weather change and make thenecessary adjustments, what follows is a“new” routine that holds until the nextchange presents itself.

It’s an inescapable cycle of life that canbe frustrating, frightening and fatiguing…if we chose to allow it to be.

Change is inevitable, but how we as indi-viduals or as an organization respond makesall the difference in the world.

Former Secretary of State and architectof the post World War II world, DeanAcheson, nailed it when he said, “The man-ner in which one endures what must be en-dured is more important than the thing thatmust be endured.”

We choose to either fear change or em-brace it; different periods in time offergreater opportunities than others to makethose choices, and 2005 might be a banneryear for changing and choosing.

This organization has seen many changesover the years — changes in mission, in as-signed aircraft, base location, leadership,membership and on and on and on. As welook back now, those “adjustments” seemedto flow at a measured pace allowing eachupheaval to be dealt with one or two at atime.

Regardless of the angst at each juncture,each of these major changes and the corre-sponding adjustments down through theyears has served to mold our wing into what

it is today. The challenges that lie ahead willmold us into who and what we’ll be in thefuture.

What are some of these challenges?Some of the ones I know about include BaseRealignment and Closure (BRAC), Qua-drennial Defense Review, Vanguard, theDepartment of Defense budget, 56 Redux,New Mission Initiatives and the NationalSecurity Personnel System (NSPS) just toname a few.

Are there other things that we don’t knowabout? Of course there are — or will be —because change is inevitable!

How this particular confluence of changeagents will impact our organization is yetto be fully realized.

The fact that each will have an impactshould not, however, catch any of us by sur-prise.

We can fret, fear or forge ahead. It is firstan individual choice, and I choose to forgeahead, embrace the changes before us, what-ever they may be.

I believe that our wing is as well posi-tioned for growth in service as any unit inthe nation. There is a certain exhilaration inthe possibilities, and I’m convinced that theKentucky Air National Guard will be betterfor it.

Time will bring us the answers we seek.It will also serve to remind us that changeis inevitable.

Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Rebidue marshals in the Air Force’s second active-duty J-modelC-130 Hercules at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., April 5.

By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark.— Here at the “Home of the Herk,” there isno ambivalence about the new C-130J Her-cules.

The J-model is the latest addition to theC-130 fleet, bringing state-of-the-art technol-ogy to the tactical cargo- and troop-transportaircraft that has been in the Air Force inven-tory since 1954.

The J-model’s future had been in questionwhen the Pentagon initially acted to cancelthe program, but Defense Secretary DonaldRumsfeld restored it to the fiscal 2006 bud-get request in early May.

Secretary Rumsfeld’s decision got a re-sounding “thumbs up” from crews that haveflown the C-130J and can barely stifle theirenthusiasm for the new plane.

“From a pilot’s perspective, this aircraftis just phenomenal,” said Lt. Col. JeffreyBlalock, who has been flying the J-model forthree years.

He is the acting commander of the 48thAirlift Squadron here, which began offeringformal training on the C-130J in February2004.

The standardized program, with a dedi-cated cadre, replaces unit-level conversiontraining, which had initially been offered onthe aircraft since it first entered the inven-tory.

Sitting on the tarmac, the J-model does notlook much different from earlier-generationmodels. It is 15 feet longer, which gives itthe capability to carry 36 more troops or twomore pallets, and has six rather than fourblades on each propeller.

But step inside the cockpit and the differ-ences are clear.

The J-model features a streamlined instru-ment board, digital avionics, a heads-up dis-play and state-of-the-art navigation systems.

The heart of the system, a mission com-puter, handles many of the functionscrewmembers once did manually.

During an emergency, for example, thesesystems “will tell us about a problem and cor-rect it or take care of it before we can eventake out the checklist,” Colonel Blalock said.

These systems are so automated that theyhave eliminated two of the five crewmemberpositions on the C-130: the navigator andflight engineer.

Pilots express enthusiasm for J-model Hercules

Airman 1st Class Tim Bazar/USAF

The J-model, with more horsepower thanprevious C-130s, “climbs like a rocket” ontakeoff, Colonel Blalock said, a big pluswhen leaving a high-threat area.

It also flies farther at a higher cruise speedand takes off and lands in a shorter distancethan older C-130s.

Colonel Blalock said one of the best fea-tures of the J-model is the increased situ-ational awareness its glass heads-up displaypanel provides.

“It tells the pilot everything that’s goingon in the airplane, but also lets you look out-side the aircraft so you know what’s goingon around you,” he said.

In addition, an enhanced cargo-handlingsystem improves loading and unloading op-erations.

“It’s way, way more user-friendly, like itwas designed by a pilot,” said Capt. JillBrowning, a 48th AS instructor.

Captain Browning said she was “initiallyvery skeptical” about the J-model aircraft,but became a believer the first time she tookthe controls.

“It’s amazing how much more capable thisaircraft is, and the situational awareness it

gives you is just awesome,” she said.“We’re pretty excited about it, and we

absolutely love flying it,” Captain Brown-ing added.

Capt. Mark Suckow agreed.“It’s a great airplane,” said the pilot, who

has been flying the J-model for more thantwo years with the 815th Airlift Squadronat Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

“I sure wouldn’t want to go back to an-other plane.”

Captain Suckow, who initially receivedunit-level conversion training on the C-130J, is now here attending the 48th AirliftSquadron’s J-model course.

The squadron currently has three aircraftfor training, and officials expect to get fourmore by year’s end.

The J-model initially went into produc-tion in 1997, with the first models going tothe United Kingdom and Australian AirForce.

Air National Guard and Air Force Re-serve squadrons were the first U.S. units toreceive the C-130J aircraft. The first J-model went to the active Air Force in April2004.

8 The Cargo CourierJune 11, 2005

123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, Ky. Vol. XXI, No. 3 • June 11, 2005

123rd Airlift WingPublic Affairs OfficeKentucky Air National Guard1101 Grade LaneLouisville, KY 40213-2678

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Exercises designedto further sharpencombat readiness

DoD NEWS

By Capt. Dale GreerWing Public Affairs Officer

New law to affect SGLI coverage, premiums

Above: Senior Airman Thomas Fuchs directs traffic on base while wearing hisprotective ensemble during the January UTA.

Photos by Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora/KyANGSee ORI, Page 4

Wing continues preparation for 2006 ORI

American Forces Press Service

Defense and Veterans Affairs officialsare ironing out details of programs thatwill expand benefits provided throughServicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.

The $82 billion supplemental legisla-tion signed into law by President BushMay 11 increases maximum SGLIcoverage to $400,000 and providespayouts of up to $100,000 forservicemembers with traumatic injuries,explained Stephen Wurtz, the VA’sdeputy assistant director for insurance.

The increased SGLI coverage will takeeffect Sept. 1, and the so-called “trau-matic SGLI” benefit, Dec. 1. Mr. Wurtzsaid the legislation directs that bothbenefits will be retroactive to Oct. 7,2001.

Traumatic SGLI benefits will beretroactive for troops who have lostlimbs, eyesight or speech or receivedother traumatic injuries as a direct resultsof injuries received during OperationIraqi Freedom or Operation EnduringFreedom. The benefit does not apply toservicemembers suffering from disease.

The retroactive coverage increase ispayable as a result of deaths in eitheroperation, or under other conditionsprescribed by the secretary of defense,Mr. Wurtz said.

Servicemembers enrolled in the SGLIprogram will notice an increase in their

premiums when the increases takeeffect. The traumatic SGLI benefitwill be rolled into the basic SGLIprogram and will likely cost about $1a month, Wurtz said.

Troops opting for maximum SGLIcoverage — $400,000 vs. the current$250,000 — will see their monthlypremiums increase from $16.25 to$26. This is based on the rate of 6.5cents per $1,000 of insurance cover-age.

SGLI coverage is currentlyavailable in $10,000 increments, butas of Sept. 1, the increments willincrease to $50,000.

Because the rates have notchanged, servicemembers who retain$250,000 or less coverage will see noincrease in their premiums, Mr. Wurtzsaid, except for the $1 “traumaticSGLI” premium.

While these expanded benefits willbe provided retroactively, affectedservicemembers won’t be chargedretroactive payments, he said. DoDwill absorb that cost.

In a new twist introduced throughthe supplemental legislation, troopswith dependents must get theirspouse’s approval to purchase lessthan the full amount of SGLI cover-age.

In the case of members who are notmarried, notice will be provided to the

designated beneficiary when the memberpurchases less than the maximumcoverage.

The new traumatic SGLI benefit isdesigned to provide “a quick infusion ofcash” for cash-strapped families oftroops recuperating from traumaticinjuries received in the line of duty, Mr.Wurtz said.

Compensation will range from$25,000 to $100,000, and is designed tohelp families of severely wounded troopsleave their homes and jobs to be withtheir loved ones during recovery.

“These families incur a lot of ex-penses, and this is designed to help themfinancially,” Mr. Wurtz said.

While VA staff members consult withDoD to write regulations that will put thenew SGLI benefits into effect, Mr. Wurtzsaid, “lots and lots of details have to beworked out.”

Among outstanding issues is the factthat the expanded SGLI coverage is partof the supplemental legislation packagethat funds operations only through Sept.30.

That’s 30 days after the new SGLIlimit takes effect and two months beforethe traumatic SGLI benefit begins.

Mr. Wurtz said the VA is confidentCongress will resolve this issue beforethere’s any lapse in coverage.

The VA will continue to oversee andcontrol the SGLI program.

The 123rd Airlift Wing will continuepreparations for its 2006 OperationalReadiness Inspection this weekend by stag-ing an exercise designed to test the capa-bilities of multiple command centers oper-ating in an unpredictable combat environ-ment.

The exercise, which will involve theWing Operations Center, the Survival Re-covery Center and the Unit Control Cen-ter, is the latest in a series of activities lead-ing up to the ORI, scheduled for April 2 ata deployed stateside location.

A representative sample of about 400wing members and three Kentucky aircraftare expected to participate in the seven-dayinspection.

During that time, Air Mobility Com-mand inspectors will evaluate the wing’sability to deploy to a forward base, performwartime taskings in a simulated combat en-vironment and return home safely.

Exercises began on base in January withTask Qualification Training — designed toensure that Guard members can do theirjobs while wearing the chemical warfaredefense ensemble — and continued throughMay with cargo mobility exercises and per-sonnel deployment functions.

“We’ve had a steep hill to climb, but Ithink we’ve come a long way in a shortperiod of time,” said Col. Mark Kraus, com-mander of the 123rd Airlift Wing.

“Attitudes seem to be good and peoplehave a strong desire to get the job done.Now, it’s just a matter of tweaking the pro-

Below: Senior Airman Tiffany Downs checks the weight of a pallet during cargoprocessing in May.