Combat Edge articles from May 2003

Combat Edge archives from May 2003

Trust but verify. (Accent on Safety).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... As a young pup, I was taught that you never left anything to chance when it comes to aviation. Your life and those you fly with may depend upon it. That meant in a gunnery pattern you always had the aircraft ahead of you in sight and absolutely...

Operation cover-up: towing the line on core value.
May 1, 2003... With "101 Critical Days" of summer starting this month, I want to talk to you about the big one that got away. No, I'm not talking about the fish. I'm talking about the reportable mishaps that were never reported to the Safety Office at your...

Poor choices.
May 1, 2003... The story I am telling is both tragic and true, but more importantly preventable. This is the story of a childhood friend of mine named Jason. Jason's life was cut short this past summer because of the choices he made--or for that matter,...

Picture this.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Imagine this... You are on vacation with your wife and 5-year-old son. You are in Florida visiting friends who you haven't seen in years. The children are all playing in the swimming pool. You and the couple you are visiting are poolside at...

A big aircraft, little sky!
May 1, 2003... There I was, a brand new mission-ready wingman flying a mighty A-10 Warthog 12 days into Operation DESERT STORM. Most of the Close Air Support (CAS) assets, including our flight of two A-10s, were diverted to Khafji that night to counter a...

Weapons safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... On Jan. 28, 2003, TSgt Smith, along with personnel from the 347th Rescue Wing's Safety and Legal Office were dispatched by the Command Post to investigate a cylindrical object, believed to be military in origin, which had crashed through a...

Flightline safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... During an Operational Readiness Exercise, A1C Williams was performing fire guard duties for aircraft 90-0246 as it returned to chocks after a sortie. Two F-15E aircraft were to be parked, one on each parking spot at the Mountain Home Live...

Ground safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... SSgt Swede personifies the adage "Safety First." During the month of January, he provided safety oversight for 30 radar maintenance personnel who inventoried, palletized, and mobilized a tactical air traffic control system in support of the...

Aircrew safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... On Jan. 25, 2003, Fever 11 had just completed a difficult low altitude, poor-weather helicopter air refueling during an attempted rescue mission when the crew noticed low oil quantity on #1 engine and subsequent fluctuating high gearbox oil...

Unit safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).
May 1, 2003... 728th Air Control Squadron 33rd Fighter Wing Eglin AFB, Fla. The 728 ACS conducted convoy training in support of unit Exercise DEMON DARE 03-01. The 728 ACS is a ground-based radar unit designed to be operationally self-sufficient...

What do you mean the gear's not attached?
May 1, 2003... We were about 3 weeks into a 6-week deployment supporting Operation NORTH ERN WATCH at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Our deployed tanker squadron of six KG-135 aircraft and seven crews had easily melded into a smoothly operating unit supporting...

Scooter scares.
May 1, 2003... What could be more relaxing than a scenic drive around a Caribbean island on a rented motor scooter? Then again, what could be scarier than seriously injuring yourself, your wife, and daughters in an accident on a tourist island hundreds of...

Sleep makes all the difference.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), only about one-third of American adults say they get at least the recommended 8 hours or more of sleep per night during the week. Most people don't see a lack of sleep as a safety issue, but...

Needless deaths.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... When I was 12 years old, my father moved our family to Hawaii. While staying in temporary lodging downtown, I saw a young girl drown. I found her while swimming in the hotel pool with several other people, including the girl's family. The girl...

Combat boot basketball.
May 1, 2003... Beale AFB There I was supporting Operation SOUTHERN WATCH at Prince Sultan Air Base in sunny Saudi Arabia. As you can imagine, things can get a little boring after doing the same thing day alter day. So I took it upon myself to raise my...

The ACC lost squadron.
May 1, 2003... Injuries to Date 248 Death to Date 22 FY03 current as of March 31, 2003 October 19, 2002: A 28-year-old SrA was driving his 1997 Ford F150 while under the influence of alcohol. He was traveling on a dark interstate road with a 75...