Combat Edge articles from March 2005

Combat Edge archives from March 2005

Mission Complete.(ACCent on Safety)
March 1, 2005... I would like to thank the ACC Director of Safety for allowing me, upon my retirement, 3 months short of 23 years active duty service, the opportunity to say farewell. In my career, I've had safety jobs in four different MAJCOMs: MAC, SAC, AETC,...

What could happen? No room for complacency in OIF.
March 1, 2005... Early September found the Black Aces of VFA-41 in its fifth month of flying in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Most of the aircrew in the squadron, including those involved in this particular flight, had been "over the beach" more than two...

On course on glidepath.
March 1, 2005... My crew and I were recovering our KC-135 into Nellis AFB, Nev., after participating in a rather uneventful Red Flag sortie on the Red Air side. It was mid-afternoon, the skies were clear, the descent checklist was complete, and Nellis was...

Armed & dangerous.
March 1, 2005... Even though safety is a term that is more familiar to us as Air Force members, how many of us truly incorporate it into our daily responsibilities. As an Ammo troop, I'm asked all the time, "Are those bombs safe?" My response is, "Yes. They're...

Ultimate responsibility.
March 1, 2005... The purpose of this article is to remind people about their responsibilities regarding the safety of themselves and the men and women working with them. As a supervisor or a subordinate, safety should always remain your top priority, especially...

Tragedies of war.
March 1, 2005... Life has a way of slinging an inside curve ball at your chin every once in a while, giving you a wake up call. For me, it happened on my last deployment to the AOR as an active duty Safety Technician when the war we all watch and read about...

Ground safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)
March 1, 2005... SSgt Krista Patton is the Unit Safety Representative for the 31st Combat Communications Squadron and has aggressively taken the "seat belt awareness campaign" for the 3rd Combat Communications Group (3 CCG) head on. During the first quarter of...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)
March 1, 2005... On the night of 4 Nov 04 at approximately 2100 hrs, TSgt Hall, SSgts Farnell & Womack and SrA Hess were performing end-of-runway (EOR) checks on a two-ship of F-15Es. TSgt Hall discovered the landing light on aircraft 87-0484 was cracked,...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)
March 1, 2005... On 10 Nov 04, Capt Christina Szasz was taking off on the third Surface Attack sortie of her initial F-117 qualification training at Holloman AFB, N.M.; only her seventh sortie in the aircraft. At 150 feet above ground level, the left Bleed Duct...

Unit Safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)
March 1, 2005... AMMO absolutely made it happen! From 01-15 Nov 04, the 379 EMXS Munitions Flight successfully transitioned production operations for 98 personnel, 52 vehicles, 70 munitions trailers, test/support equipment, and 585,500 pounds of explosives from...

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.
March 1, 2005... Capt Knight was number two of a two-ship night Close Air Support (CAS) sortie supporting Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. During takeoff in full afterburner at approximately 120 knots, Capt Knight hit an unknown dip in the runway followed 3-5 seconds...

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(A1C Brian J. Mitchell)
March 1, 2005... On 1 Dec 04, A1C Mitchell prevented extensive F-16 airframe and engine damage while launching an aircraft for a training mission. Just after engine start, Airman Mitchell identified an aircraft ladder sliding across the parking ramp toward his...

Mountain of trouble.
March 1, 2005... Much of my youth was spent in the outdoors doing the typical weekend campouts with the Boy Scouts and the occasional long-term summer camp. My dad and I spent countless hours on the water fishing and duck hunting anywhere from Louisiana to...

Passing the bucks.
March 1, 2005... I have spent a lot of time riding my motorcycle with a group and have learned that riders tend to let their guard down in a group setting. It is critical that those of us who ride in groups maintain our situational awareness at all times. This...

Passing of the brush: "enthusiasm is that spark of energy and sense of interest and inspiration that ignites effort, good ideas, intention, creativity, and hard work.".
March 1, 2005... A "Hail and Farewell" ceremony normally signals change for people and organizations as we move from place to place throughout their Air Force career, and we here at The Combat Edge are no different. Joe Oldham, a past editor of Popular...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.
March 1, 2005... Aircraft Notes Nice work. ACC's only Class A in January was non-rate producing. An MQ-1 crashed during an AOR mission after losing its data link. Last week, I was working to get airborne when a caution light came on in the cockpit....