Page 2 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, January 8, 2021

2 January 8, 2021 Commentary Desert lightning news s. nevaDa Desert lightning news s. nevaDa Year in review January 8, 2021 3
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New Year note from Chaplain: Singapore Air Show kicks-off Public Health Emergency
Hunters’ 2020 season
Making plans in 2021 On April 3, Col. Cavan Craddock, 99th Air Base Wing commander,

declared a public health emergency and announced the
following changes for access to Nellis Air Force Base. These
restrictions will remain in place until further notice:
• Beginning April 6, access to the base will be limited to mission
essential personnel and those who reside on the installation.
by Chaplain (Maj.) David Kreis making plans we now can look at planning and goal versations we strug- Retirees will continue to be able to access the Satellite
944th Fighter Wing making differently. Some tips as you go about making gled to make adjust- Pharmacy through April 10.
those plans and goals: ments. For many of • Starting April 11, only essential personnel and residents of the
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — So there I was, 1. Making Plans is a Spiritual Exercise. When filling us, myself included, base will be granted access to the installation.
going to hang a new 2021 calendar on the wall in my of- out the calendar and deciding on goals, realize which when something got Courtesy photo • The Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center will remain
fice and I stopped to look at the 2020 calendar before I ones are most important now. Those things we ascribe canceled, the audible Air Force photograph by 1st Lt. Scarlett Trujillo open for emergencies and required appointments for all
took it down. most value to will be the things that float to the top of the was typically just A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper with the 432nd Wing/432nd beneficiaries, including retirees.
I had listed on it several temporary duties, schools, lists. Visiting family may be difficult to do as often as it Netflix. So maybe this year think of the backup plan. Air Expeditionary Wing sits on display during Singapore • The Commissary and Base Exchange will remain open for
leave, annual tour dates, and goals for the year. was before so maybe it is more important this year. With Rather than just Netflix or video games, work to accom- Airshow 2020, at Changi Air Base East, Republic of Courtesy photo mission essential personnel and their dependents only.
At some point in the July portion of the calendar I less in-person church services available maybe making plish that PME, read through your stack of books, or work Singapore, Feb. 11, 2020. Singapore Airshow is the largest
simply just stopped trying and quit filling in most of it. the extra effort to participate in what is available online on crafts or a self-improvement course so we don’t just roll defense exhibition and biennial international tradeshow
Ha! I have not used it much since then because stuff just or in-person. to auto pilot and waste the time. in the Pacific, the U.S. has the largest international
kept changing. It became a week-to-week affair with little 2. Manage Expectations. One area that hurt us all this 4. Hope through cope. Coping with canceled events, presence at the Singapore Airshow. This was the first ACC Red Flag 20-1 gets underway
forward planning as I am sure it was for many of you. year was canceling of all kinds of events and activities. stress, changes, and quarantines is good. We have many time the MQ-9 Reaper has been on display at Singapore
While taking inventory of the year 2020, it was definitely Missed events and activities hurt and it was incredibly coping skills but I want to challenge us to hope for change Airshow with the 432nd WG/432nd AEW. The airshow, leAdership
not what I was expecting. Of course none of us expected it. frustrating. Part of the stress of the year came because and growth in resiliency. Your hope will give you your on the other hand, has been around for seven iterations.
Now looking at 2021 … we came to expect a certain item/event to exist and then “why” so you can cope. Coping is what we do when we Singapore Airshow is a biennial event and is the largest visit refleCts
Do I buy a calendar? Do I even attempt to fill in some when it didn’t we realize how much value we placed on it. react to life but growing, changing, and becoming stron- defense exhibition and international tradeshow in the
plans? How do I go about making plans/goals for 2021? So as you plan for sports, shows, concerts, recitals, tourna- ger is all because we hope in greater outcomes. My faith Pacific. pAst,
A friend of mine shared a lesson entitled “Making ments, schools, graduations, weddings, or other things, drives me to hope in something greater and for a greater
Plans in Pencil” back on 29 December 2019 in which he be aware of your emotional and spiritual state when these purpose which gives meaning and direction. I know I will Innovative Airmen help foreCAsts
spoke about making plans as a spiritual exercise. I now things have to change. grow and change through wild events. I hope in greater
look back at that and marvel at how his recommenda- 3. Adjusting plans will probably happen again. As with peace and justice that will come from the lessons learned future
tion would be so true for the year. Now looking at 2021, quarantines and events canceling, I know through con- over the past year and the next year. ‘shield’ from pandemic
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class William Rosado
Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command,
Mandatory perspective, brought to you by COviD addresses officers during an all call at Creech Air
Force Base, Nev., Jan. 7, 2020. Holmes touched on
several subjects from leadership to the future of the
Remotely Piloted Aircraft enterprise. First, Holmes and Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie
by Chief Master Sgt. Michelle Ray been able to get a unique glimpse into each other’s lives. been front and center. Our lives and the way we do busi- Wade discussed the progress of current and future Three F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jets assigned to the
Dover AFB, Del. The internet is alight with videos showing kids wander- ness have revolved around public health and force health developments to the infrastructure and missions of 64th Aggressor Squadron (AGRS) prepare to take off
ing into office meetings demanding snacks, cats jumping protection guidelines. Manpower and personnel policies Creech Air Force Base with 432nd Wing/432nd Air from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 11, 2020. The 64th
Work-life balance is not unique to the military, neither onto their owner’s laps, and occasionally the ill-advised have been crucial as we have had to navigate exception- Expeditionary Wing leadership. Conversations included AGRS provides realistic adversary replication to deliver
is it a new idea. family member who walks unknowingly in front of the to-policy guidance so we can safely execute permanent- continued pursuit for short and long-terms quality of the most accurate training to participants at Red Flag
As far back as the 1970s, Harry Chapin wrote and camera while in their jammies. We’ve gotten to meet change-of-station moves or go on leave. What “color” is life improvements. Among the subjects discussed were 20-1. More than 80 aircraft took part, departing Nellis
performed perhaps his most famous song, “Cat’s in the spouses, kids and cherished pets in their natural habitat. a state? How can we message the pandemic’s impact on various military construction projects, such as the fast- twice a day, and remaining in the air for up to five hours
Cradle.” We’ve shared laughs over unanticipated family interrup- wing operations and changes to services to our youngest approaching opening of a new Force Support Building. during Red Flag.
In the song, he tells the story of a father who is always tions. Airmen or how about our retirees? We’ve had to figure out
too busy to play with his young son. Finally, as the man For some, we’ve discovered that they live alone. It’s which funds to use for personal protective equipment for
becomes older and has the time the boy no longer wants made us stop and wonder how they get that sense of con- medical operations versus flying missions. Would I have Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class
Bryan Guthrie
to spend time with his father. The boy is now grown, with nectedness when they can’t go out of their home to spend believed you last year at this time if you told me we would Tech. Sgt. Matthew J. Bobbitt, DOD institutes Stop Movement order
a family of his own, and is far too busy himself. time with their social circle. What is the true impact, have people begging to get a dental cleaning? NOPE!! 57th Aircraft Maintenance
Probably the most interesting side effect of the CO- especially for those who live alone, if we are under another As the vaccinations roll out and we start to recover, I Squadron resource advisor, The Department of Defense issued a stop
VID-19 pandemic over these many months has been the stay-at-home order or quarantine? hope that we don’t throw out the lessons learned on the opens the cover to a Fusion 3 movement of all personnel to, from or
re-arranging of our lives, which has caused us to look at I thought I had always had a good sense of mission and importance of family, connection and mission along with F410 3D printer on Nellis Air
work-life balance in a new way. For many, work has been what things were essential. the face masks. Force Base, Nev., March 30, through Centers for Disease Control and
literally brought into our homes. For others who must However, besides helping us to focus on what our core As we close out 2020 and take on all that 2021 brings, Prevention designated Level 3 COVID-19
keep the mission going, we are now acutely aware of what mission sets are, the pandemic has really highlighted just take some time to reach out to a coworker, supervisor, old 2020. Bobbitt, is using four locations effective March 13 and for the next
is mission essential; we understand that not everything how essential our support services are to our wing. The or new, friend or family member and just let them know simple objects: a 3D printer, 60 days. Following Secretary of Defense
is a priority. medical group, security forces, force support, comptrol- you are thinking of them. I want to wish everyone happy transparency film, rubber bands Mark T. Esper’s announcement of new
For those who have had to work from home, we have ler squadrons, and public affairs, to name a few, have all holidays and an even better 2021! and clips, costing roughly $4 travel restrictions, the Air Force began
to print each face shield for implementing and complying with this
healthcare workers on base. “Our guidance. The stop movement applies to all
Desert Lightning News, So. Nevada edition is Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and For all submissions, a name and phone number ability to overcome an adversary, forms of official travel such as permanent
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