Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 2-19-16

Feb. 19, 2016 COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

MILITARY SAVES Wolves at the door
&ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůdžƉŽ
by Lt. Col. The events in San Bernardino reminded me evil does
tŝŐǁĂŵZĞƐŽƌƚ HANK MCKIBBAN exist.
&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϮϳ͕ϮϬϭϲ
309th Fighter Squadron I don’t need to remind you our Air Force faces a number
ϵ͗ϬϬ—ϭ͗ϬϬƉŵ of internal challenges, resiliency, resource shortfalls, re-
I’ll start by stating I’m not run- tention and lack of professional development opportuni-
zŽƵ͛ƌĞŽƌĚŝĂůůLJŝŶǀŝƚĞĚƚŽƚŚŝƐĞdžĐůƵƐŝǀĞĞǀĞŶƚĨŽƌŵŝůŝƚĂƌLJĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ning for president of the United ties. Each of these seems to constantly compete for and
/d͛^&Z͊ States. I consciously avoid alarm- often exhaust our attention on a daily basis. However,
ist reactions. I know that 24-hour the events of Dec. 2 should serve to instead remind us
ZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌEKtĂŶĚƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĂĨƌĞĞŐŝŌ͊ cable news is at best, only one of where our focus must remain. The events of the day
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬĮŐŚƚĞƌĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ŽƌŐͬŵŝůŝƚĂƌLJƐĂǀĞƐǁĞĞŬ part information and two parts have convinced me we can never neglect the reality that
Lt. Col. Hank McKibban entertainment, and I truly believe the wolves are knocking at the door.
tĂůŬĂǁĂLJǁŝƚŚĂŵĂnjŝŶŐƉƌŝnjĞƐ͘DĂƌŬLJŽƵƌĐĂůĞŶĚĂƌdKz͊ American ideals apply to all people regardless of age, sex,
race or creed. I find strength in the existence of the sheepdog. In
DĂŬĞ^ĂǀŝŶŐƵƚŽŵĂƟĐ That said, I too have been moved by what happened Grossman’s essay, the sheepdog exists to protect the
Dec. 2, 2015, in San Bernardino, California, maybe more sheep and confront the wolves. The sheepdog represents
Military Saves Week is February 22-27 Take the Pledge TODAY! so than any similar event since Sept. 11, 2001. the warrior, and is the first one the sheep look to when
I was reminded of the warnings of nationalists who said the wolf shows up. It represents warriors like you who
&ŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͕ƉůĞĂƐĞĐĂůů Americans will begin to be more and more vulnerable here keep our world as safe as it is and are the only chance
ŝƌŵĂŶΘ&ĂŵŝůLJZĞĂĚŝŶĞƐƐĞŶƚĞƌ at home instead of abroad. I was reminded of the prophe- anyone has of defeating the evil threatening civilized
cies of pundits that an increasing number of terror plots humanity. The existence of people like you is also what
623-856-6550 would eventually originate from within our borders than keeps me serving.
from failed foreign states. Most of all, I was reminded of
ACTION LINE Army retired Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s essay titled “On There isn’t enough money, performance report stats or
Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs.” 5s, choice assignments, or even “thank yous” to recognize
IZSD#XVDIPLO Grossman’s controversial essay discusses the funda- all of your efforts. Yet, you still serve. You’re still here,
mental theme of violence using a flock of sheep to meta- exactly where I think we need Americans of exceptional
The Commander’s Action Line phorically represent civilized society, the vast majority of quality. You tolerate all of the imperfections of your ca-
is your direct line to me with ques- which are not inclined to hurt one another. Expanding that reer choice to protect those unable or unwilling to defend
tions or suggestions about subjects metaphor, he connects the decency of the flock with the wolf, themselves. You are the sheepdog who stands watch not
of concern to the entire Luke Air which represents evil and feeds on the flock without mercy. because of what you personally stand to gain but rather
Force Base community. in spite of all you might lose, acknowledging the threat
is too real to ignore or forget.
I appreciate your feedback.
Your ideas and concerns help Airpower starts here
build a stronger foundation on
which we can successfully com- by Master Sgt. Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Ara- in a different job, but with the same
plete our mission and take care of CHARLES LOFTUS bia, in support of Operation Southern attitude.
our people. Watch. One night I drove down the
56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron apron to check my equipment, and I January was the 25th year anni-
To receive a response, leave Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus was amazed at what I saw. To my left versary of Operation Desert Storm
your name and telephone number. 56th FW commander I walked into a recruiter’s office were F-15s and F-16s tucked neatly and March will be the 13th year
Action Lines of general interest are looking for a change in my life on away with a full complement of mu- anniversary of Operation Iraqi Free-
printed in the Thunderbolt. Remember, the quickest and Feb. 11, 1999. What I knew about the nitions ready to take it to the fight. dom. In both operations the Air Force
most efficient way to resolve a problem is to talk directly to Air Force was very little except what Shortly after, the aircraft took off to achieved air supremacy in less than
the responsible agency or through your chain of command. my two older brothers had told me. complete their mission. When they a month. At Luke Air Force Base we
It all happened fast as I started my returned I noticed they didn’t have train the world’s best F-35 and F-16
The Action Line isn’t just for complaints. Send along first day of Basic Military Training all their munitions loaded and began fighter pilots and airpower starts
your kudos when someone provides exceptional service, 14 days later. Once I arrived at my to reflect on what had just happened. right here with all of us. No matter
goes out of their way to help or deserves a kind word. first duty station I didn’t fully com- what your AFSC is, no matter what
prehend what I really contributed It hit me like a ton of bricks, the job entails, we’re all supporting
PHONE NUMBERS to the Air Force. As an aerospace “That’s what we do?” I thought to the mission.
ground equipment mechanic I was myself. That day forever changed
Airman and Family Readiness Center ....................... 623-856-6550 expected to perform my tasks in a me. I didn’t just service and dispatch
Chapel ................................................................... 623-856-6211 timely manner with a high quality equipment for the flightline or fix
Child Care Center ...................................................623-856-6339 output, but I had no idea what the pieces of AGE. People depended on
Community Center ............................................... 623-856-7152 Air Force as a whole really did. me to do my part, so they could do
Computer IT service desk .................................. DSN 945-2900 theirs. I continue this mindset today
Eye Clinic ............................................................. 623-856-7965 In December of 2000, I was sent to
Fitness Center ....................................................... 623-856-6241
Flight Medicine .................................................... 623-856-2273 Luke Editorial Staff 7KH7KXQGHUEROWXVHVPDWHULDOIURPWKH$UPHG)RUFHV,QIRUPDWLRQ6HUYLFH$LU
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Hobby shop .......................................................... 623-856-6722 Commander.......................................................... Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus E\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ7KH\FDQEHUHDFKHGE\FDOOLQJ
+RXVLQJRI¿FH Public Affairs chief ................................................. Lt. Col. Matt Hasson
Law enforcement desk ......................................... 623-856-5970 Public Affairs deputy chief ........................................... Kiley Dougherty 7KH7KXQGHUEROWLVSXEOLVKHGE\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZDSULYDWH¿UPLQQR
Legal assistance .................................................... 623-856-6901 Internal information............................................... Staff Sgt. Staci Miller ZD\FRQQHFWHGZLWKWKH86$LU)RUFHXQGHUH[FOXVLYHZULWWHQFRQWUDFWZLWKWKHWK
Library .................................................................. 623-856-7191 Editor ........................................................................... Deborah Leuthold )LJKWHU:LQJ/XNH$LU)RUFH%DVH$UL]7KLVFLYLOLDQHQWHUSULVH$LU)RUFHQHZVSDSHU
Marketing ............................................................. 623-856-3245 Designer .................................................................................Tinna Sellie LVDQDXWKRUL]HGSXEOLFDWLRQIRUPHPEHUVRIWKH86PLOLWDU\VHUYLFHV&RQWHQWVRIWKH
Military Equal Opportunity ................................. 623-856-7711 7KXQGHUEROWDUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\WKHRI¿FLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86JRYHUQ
Military pay .......................................................... 623-856-7028 Editorial Information PHQWWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHRUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH
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Patient advocate ................................................... 623-856-8968 7KHWK)LJKWHU:LQJ3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FHSUHSDUHVDOOHGLWRULDOFRQWHQWIRUWKH WKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ
Public Affairs ........................................................ 623-856-5853 7KXQGHUEROW7KHHGLWRUZLOOHGLWRUUHZULWHPDWHULDOIRUFODULW\EUHYLW\RUWRFRQIRUPZLWK
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Veterinary services ............................................... 623-856-6354 PLO7KHHGLWRUFDQEHUHDFKHGDWDQGWKHID[QXPEHULV
Wellness Center .................................................... 623-856-2273 (GLWRULDOFRQWHQWLVHGLWHGSUHSDUHGDQGSURYLGHGE\WKH3XEOLF$IIDLUVRI¿FHRI
Youth Center ......................................................... 623-856-7470 /XNH$)%$UL]$OOSKRWRJUDSKVDUH$LU)RUFHSKRWRJUDSKVXQOHVVRWKHUZLVHLQGLFDWHG