Page 2 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, September 2020

2 September 2020 Desert Lightning News Desert Lightning News September 2020 3
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Face unconscious bias head on Travis firefighters battle wildfires
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by Maj. my advice is learn to be comfortable with being uncom- Story and photo by The fire started in Napa, California as the result 48 hours, the base dispatched 28 firefighters with Beale
AUDRIC BILLS fortable. It is imperative. Encouraging these conversa- NICHOLAS PILCH of a lightning storm, and quickly spread through AFB contributing an additional eight firefighters, four
tions and talking about the trauma are the initial steps
445th Airlift Wing toward healing. 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs the area to Vacaville and Fairfield — both of which from a specialty wildfire unit. The 36 firefighters were
Equal Opportunity Office border Travis AFB. Tens of thousands of people were dispatched to 10 locations.
Building relationships and earning trust among team
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio members help identify our unconscious bias behaviors TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) forced to evacuate their homes in Napa and Solano “A lot of the fire was not directly near the road,”
— On May 25, 2020, the death of George Floyd brought and develops understanding for your fellow Airman. — Airmen from Travis Air Force Base’s 60th Civil counties through the duration of the day. said Kevin Bouillon, 60th CES battalion chief. “The
a long-standing issue to the forefront of society that, in “Trust is earned in the smallest of moments. It is Engineer Squadron responded to the LNU Lightning In the early hours of Aug. 19, Travis AFB initially crews had to connect hoses together that reached as
many ways, has been ignored. earned not through heroic deeds, or even highly visible Complex fire to support the Vacaville Fire Protection dispatched a four-person crew to the Cherry Glenn long as a thousand feet because the fire needed to be
This appears to be true because it does not affect actions, but through paying attention, listening, and District’s firefighting effort, Aug. 19. area to safeguard homes. Over the course of the next extinguished.”
everyone directly. Some may not even understand the gestures of genuine care and connection.” The 60th CES dispatched five trucks in total, one
full magnitude of it, but racism exists. ~ Brené Brown normally being a specialty truck used to put out fires
The Air Force’s stance on unlawful discrimination, Racial discrimination or inequality in any organiza- on aircraft.
specifically racism, is “zero tolerance.” But this is only tion, simply put, is an injustice. Change and unity will “Containing the fire is difficult because winds shifted
relevant if the situation is substantiated. From the not happen unless everyone participates. Everyone has later in the day,” said Staff Sgt. James Muncy, 60th CES
Equal Opportunity perspective, racism is difficult to the responsibility to address discrimination (racism) at crew chief. “Trees were falling, and various fires were
prove because people shy away from the conversation. the lowest level — this is the most effective approach. reigniting.”
Now, amid civil unrest, these conversations need to Commanders, directors, first sergeants, supervisors
COMMENTARY
be had. Here is why… 12% of the entire wing is Black/ and subordinates must ensure all appropriate resources Muncy also said the fire needed as much containment
African American and another 5% identifies with other are utilized to stamp out negative behaviors that promote as possible, so more crews dispatched from Travis AFB.
ethnic backgrounds. bigotry and hate. Ricardo Campos, 60th CES captain, and his crew were
When a racist event occurs, be it an undertone or an “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for initially dispatched near Interstate 80; however, they
overt action, it’s traumatic in nature. On top of that you good men to do nothing.” were re-routed to prevent the destruction of a neighbor-
feel alone. I speak from experience. ~ Edmund Burke hood near Sales Lane in Fairfield.
courtesy photo Discrimination in a culture will initiate division in Again, leaders you are encouraged to have sit-down “If the fire broke through, there it would’ve been pos-
Maj. Audric Bills is the 445th Airlift Wing Equal any organization if left unchecked. For those of you in conversations or sensory sessions with your Airmen and sible for that fire to take out acres of land passing through
Opportunity Office director uniform who are uncomfortable with the subject matter, address the feelings concerning our current environment. those residences and would destroy possibly hundreds of
acres of residential homes past it,” Campos said.
Firefighters from across the county are actively trying
Let our core values be your Polaris to contain the fire in Napa and Solano counties.
“A fire this size, there is no way you can contain it in
a day,” said Bouillon. “The ongoing relationship with
the local stations allows us to assist in working a fire
like this.”

by Col. front of the honor court, they can look I personally went to each squadron to derstand the demographics of our wing;
CRAIG DRESCHER up through the specially designed roof deliver Diversity and Inclusion train- we are making progress there as well.
to see the North Star so they can find ing. If you recall, I stipulated that we Over the last 15 months we have
908th Airlift Wing their way back on course. will be much better as an organization increased our diversity in the gender A man’s best friend … SPOTLIGHT
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, As I examine the many, many chal- if we include everyone; we will have a and race demographics. Unfortunately,
Ala. — Almost two years ago, I had lenges that our wing faces, I sometimes great mix of diverse thought which will we aren’t very diverse when it comes to Airman 1st Class Ryan Girouex, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, extinguishes a fire on a shed
the opportunity to visit the Air Force wonder what direction to take. What’s yield the best solutions. If we respect our more senior ranks and leadership on Soaring Eagle Trail in Vacaville, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020. The 60th CES loaned 28 personnel and five
Academy with many of the leaders of the best course of action and what’s everyone, we ALL will have the same positions. I’m committed to digging trucks to aid in the fight against the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, a cluster of fires that forced tens of
into the data so we can better under-
opportunity to compete on a level play-
22nd Air Force, where I found a beauti- best for our Airmen? Like Polaris ing field. Chief and I consistently ask stand our demographics throughout all thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
ful base and campus full of rich history showing the way, I find that no mat- you to let us know if there are barriers ranks. We recently obtained data that
and traditions. One of the highlights ter the challenge or the circumstance, in your way (do you remember the one will help us analyze our demograph-
was a tour of one of the newest build- guidance can be found in our Core lane on the track that had a higher ics in each rank in each squadron. We
ings, Polaris Hall. Polaris (another Values. Integrity First, Service Before hurdle to get over?) don’t fully understand the situation Chapel Services
name for the North Star) is a very Self, and Excellence In All We Do will We kicked off two initiatives last yet but we are enlisting the help of
modern building designed to foster col- apply regardless of the current crises August. The first was to gain approval a small group to help us analyze the
laborative, innovative problem solving we find ourselves in. Woven into each of to have an Alabama State University data and look for positive actions we Catholic Services Staff
with teams of Airmen. the three values is respect: respect for plane complete with nose art and an can take to ensure ALL Airmen have Publisher ..............................................................Paul Kinison
The other purpose of the building is yourself, respect for the organization outreach event to celebrate the of- the same opportunities to progress and All Catholic services are canceled until further notice. Business manager ...............................................Lisa Kinison
to house the cadet honor court. Before and respect for each other. We all have ficial unveiling. We have made a lot of develop. So far, the one thing we all Editor .......................................................... Deborah Leuthold
the responsibility to hold each other
sophisticated navigation systems were accountable to respecting the Core progress and are on track for an early can agree on is we ALL can do a bet- Advertising representative ................................Sandi Bueltel
developed, people navigated by using Values and each other. It’s integral September unveiling, perhaps even a ter job of mentoring each other so all Protestant Services, Studies Designer .................................................................Tinna Sellie
the North Star. The concept of the to the success of each team and the fly-over before the Labor Day Classic Airmen understand career paths and and Programs ONLY Published by Aerotech News and Review, Inc.
building is if a cadet has done some- organization at large. on September 5th against Tuskegee. requirements for promotion and career 877- 247-9288 • www.aerotechnews.com courtesy photo
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