Page 13 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 4-22-16

Thunderbolt NEWS 13April 22, 2016
http://www.luke.af.mil
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Cody talks WAPS changes, role of education, more

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air consideration how it will make of ten, expediting the process Courtesy graphic
Force James Cody discussed the them better as Airmen and more and giving members “not too
implementation of the Weight- proficient at their jobs. much information, but enough April is National Alcohol
ed Airman Promotion System information.”
changes during his most recent “The sole fact that you are Awareness Month
CHIEFchat at Defense Me- educated doesn’t mean you’re “You have to perform at every
dia Activity on Fort George G. a better Airman or a better grade,” he said. “Some people are The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that
Meade. performer. It should help you slow starters and fast finishers. in 2010, alcohol misuse problems cost the United States $249.0 billion
perform better, and if it doesn’t, People start fast and finish up dollars. TRICARE covers Substance Use Disorder Treatment when prior
During his chat, he discussed well it’s not as relevant to us,” slow. We are all different. You authorization is obtained and within TRICARE limits.
the role of education in promo- Cody said. don’t want to either positively
tion, the continued relevance of or negatively impact somebody If you are having trouble with substance use or abuse or have any ques-
testing at all enlisted levels, and Testing overwhelmingly with looking so tions about these programs or your TRICARE coverage, talk with your
the feedback he and other senior Cody addressed a question far in a career.” Primary Care Manager or contact UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans
leaders have received about the from social media asking if TRICARE West Region Customer Service toll-free at 877-988-9378.
changes to the system. testing will ever be removed Feedback
for senior NCOs going up for With the promotion sys- To take a short alcohol and drug use screen, go to www.liveandwork-
Education promotion. tem nearing its first year with well.com/default.asp?programPIN=uhcmw&redirectURL=/member/tools/
Currently, the Community While duty performance re- the changes, Cody said more screener.asp?sid=9~lang=1
College of the Air Force degree is mains at the forefront of what data and feedback is needed to
only mandatory to be promoted will be considered for Airmen to see where the process can be Don’t forget to login to uhcmilitarywest.com to check your eligibility,
to senior master sergeant. It is be promoted, he said, it’s impor- smoothed out. view claims and referrals/authorizations, manage your paperless prefer-
masked on the master sergeant tant everyone has the baseline “The reality is, though, the ences and more:
evaluation board, and board level of knowledge that’s ex- feedback that we’re getting is
members are briefed not to con- pected of them at the their level. really, really positive, by and http://click.mail.uhcmilitarywest.com/?qs=b73758caf9b7a0756a328908
sider education as a discerning Thus, Airmen can expect no large,” he said. “We’re trying to 224e4892b051de0449ae0ce65258e89406651b8fefc746ba9b75b0f8
factor for promotion because changes to testing requirements. make sure to give enough time
they may not have the entire Enlisted performance re- to get all the feedback so that we Courtesy of UnitedHealthcare
picture. ports have it in the right context before
“A lot of Airmen receive edu- The decision to reduce the we start making changes.”
cation at various times,” Cody number of EPRs for a promotion As changes are considered,
said. “If it’s not within that board from ten to five has been Cody encourages Airmen and
most recent time period that the discussed for the past several commanders to ask themselves:
board would be looking at ... they years. “Do we feel we promoted the
wouldn’t see it.” Cody said when Airmen go right people?”
When Airmen consider fur- through the board process, the If the answer is yes, then the
thering their education, he said, board will now only look at the Air Force is in a better place.
it’s important they take into past five years of EPRs instead
Courtesy of af.mil

LEGACY (from Page 3) with getting everyone ready for them, but because of women, not in spite of them.” was to the Pentagon where she served on
poor Laughlin was caught off guard, as was After her undergraduate pilot training the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of
me, I would find someone else who would, everybody, with my arrival,” said Olson. Defense, and the Air Staff and deployed to
she said. “Laughlin pilots had to fly to Williams to graduation, Olson went to March AFB, several combat zones to include Iraq.
pick up my clothes and bring them back.” California, to fly the KC-135 before head-
“About a week later, I was called back to ing to Williams AFB to be an instructor “While I was in the pentagon, retired Lt.
his office where he told me I would begin The clothes and lodging were only small pilot. Despite being a trailblazer, it wasn’t Gen. Jay Garner was chosen by President
pilot training in February,” Olson said. problems. Her biggest challenge would be until almost 15 years later when Olson George W. Bush at the time to lead the
“It wasn’t until a bit later I found out he earning the respect of her colleagues. received her assignment to Fairchild AFB, rebuilding of Iraq,” Olson said. “He knew
was the Inspector General. My step-dad Washington, that she felt she was accepted he needed to surround himself with people
had been in for 25 years and never had a “The academy class of 1980 was the first by the Air Force. who didn’t look like him, think like him or
complaint. I had only been in training for class with females,” said Olson. “The class even act like him, and he chose me.”
six weeks and already made a complaint.” just ahead of us [in training at Laughlin] ‘One of us’
was the class of 1979, the last class with “The big moment for me came when I After helping in Iraq, Olson returned
Before walking out of his office, she all men. Needless to say, boys can be mean got the call for command,” Olson said. “To home in 2003, and in 2005, she retired.
asked the colonel if she would always have when they want to be. That was just the me it was the head nod from the Air Force,
to fight? era though. It’s completely different now.” which institutionally discriminated against Retirement
women for many years until 1994 when Upon retiring, Olson moved to Texas
“You, I’m afraid so,” Rush said. Even though she suffered through a time they opened up fighter aircraft to women, or where her husband is from and took a job
I’m here for pilot training when the idea of women in the service recently when they opened all career fields. in public education.
After commissioning through OTS, Olson wasn’t widely accepted, Olson remembers It was the Air Force saying ‘you’re one of us; By 2007, Olson had become the Direc-
went to Hondo, Texas, for flight screening a discussion about the Air Force’s flexibility. we believe in you.’” tor of Human Resources for the Dallas
in a militarized version of the Cessna 172. When the day came in 1998 to take com- Independent School District, the second
“Normally if you were a pilot, you would “The Air Force survived [and improved] mand of the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, largest school district in Texas. She
have gone to Hondo for the flight screen- with the influx of women, the influx of Olson became one of only eight women to served as president for Grace After
ing before OTS,” Olson said. “Since I was African-Americans, and it’s going to im- command an operational flying squadron Fire, a nonprofit organization dedicated
behind the power curve, I was sent after prove with the influx of other minorities,” in the Air Force. to helping women veterans. Olson also
OTS. When I finally arrived at Air Force said Olson. “It’s an institution that’s meant “When you take command, the com- wrote a book, Iraq and Back: Inside the
Base, Texas, I was the first and only female to flex, and it doesn’t just survive, it thrives mander hands the guidon to the first ser- War to Win Peace, her firsthand account
[student] pilot.” when it has diversity. What you really want geant, and the first sergeant hands it to of rebuilding Iraq.
Being the first female pilot at Laughlin in the military is a diverse group because the gaining commander,” Olson said. “I was In 2014, Olson was inducted into the
presented its own unique challenges not it makes for better leadership, better ideas so excited I nearly jerked the guidon from Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
only for Olson, but also for the base. and better decisions.” his hands. It was a proud moment for me.” Now, Olson speaks about aviation, leader-
“I’ll never forget this,” Olson laughed. “I As commander, Olson learned an impor- ship, service and women’s responsibilities
walked to the place where students sign in Her graduation from pilot training at tant lesson she’s never forgetten. at many events, but her most important
and said, ‘I’m here for pilot training,’ and Laughlin was part of an era where women “What happens as you progress and words may be those she spoke while sta-
their response was, ‘Are you sure?’ No one were breaking barriers and succeeding at become a commander? You don’t really tioned at Fairchild AFB.
knew I was coming, and they didn’t have many things they were previously barred do the mission anymore, your people do,” “When you’re the first at something, you
clothes or a place for me to live.” from doing. Olson said. “Your job as commander is to need to learn that you’re always watched,
At the time, women pilots were trained take care of those people so they can focus and people will look for you to fail,” she
at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, so “I love to tell people, especially when I on the mission.” said. “But, you have to hang tight, because
Laughlin was unprepared for her arrival. give speeches, that whether it was military The Pentagon if you quit, you’ll prove them right, and
“Williams had about a dozen female or other walks of life, women from 1979 to Olson’s next big move after command there won’t be hope for you or the women
pilots at the time, and they did a good job 1983 didn’t just open doors, we took them after you.”
off the hinges,” she said. “And, that made
for a better society. Any general worth his
salt will tell you that the Air Force is better