Fundraiser for Hunger Abatement Programs

Alpha Omega Life Care, Inc. is a community-based, non-profit, broad-spectrum social service agency, with, among their missions, a deep and abiding commitment to Hunger Abatement. To this end, the agency manages six community food programs:

1. Partnering with the Fairbanks Community Food Bank providing local administration and distribution for the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
2. Administers a small grant from FEMA/United Way providing for food vouchers to be used at the local market.
3. In season, manages locally for the state of Alaska, the Senior Nutrition and Farmer’s Market Coupon Program.
4. Serves on the advisory board for the local Farmer’s Market.
5. Maintains a community-based Food Pantry by means of donations to allow emergency issues of food when necessary.

Six plus years ago when the Board of Directors made a resolution regarding hunger abatement, the corporate mini-van sufficed to serve our fledgling efforts. Today, bringing to Delta Junction from Fairbanks nearly 5 tons of food per month, and serving 150+ families and seniors each month, the van no longer serves.

Since that time, we have added by means of grants and good stewardship, an insulated wired, heated, 16’ X 24’ building, industrial shelving, commercial refrigeration, and large chest freezer to house our hunger abatement programs.

However, we are (glad or sad, we’re not certain) to say, that our Hunger Abatement programs have outgrown the floor space available. When our CSFP and TEFAP consignments arrive on Saturdays, they must be off-loaded from the truck and stored until the following Monday, distribution day. Some boxes end up being temporarily stored, because of the 65 – 85 families and individuals we serve with each program, some of those recipients do not arrive to pick up their boxes during distribution. Storage consumes floor space and interferes with emergency issues and administrative functions.

Therefore, we are seeking funding through a major fundraiser to build an additional building to the present facility exclusively for storage of food boxes.

Service Area and Target Populations
Our hunger abatement programs presently serve low-income seniors and families, also those with urgent/emergency needs in the Greater Delta Junction area, and a few individuals and families in Dot Lake and Tok.

Goals, Objectives, Impact
1. Expanded storage capacity
2. Eminently suitable and task adapted single purpose building
3. Practical project for high school construction trades program

Monitoring Success Measurement
The programs as they exist are successful; this is an effort to reduce or alleviate a limited storage capacity state. Monitoring will be done by Alpha Omega staff, who now operate the programs and will continue to do so.

The fundraiser to be held July 18, 2009 at the Moose Lodge will be a social gathering and will include a live auction, live music and dinner. Dave Stancliff and Susan Grace have agreed to perform for our event. The fun begins at 2:00pm. Look for the flyers and listen for the announcements on local radio stations.

You can call 895-4104 for more information.

Some of the items up for auction will be: A quilt made by Mary Beth Miller and Jackie Becker, creations by Jane Oliver, Helga Wagenleiter, Ruby Hollembaek, Mark Bynum and others, photos by Carol Watkins and possibly Dwight Phillips, gift baskets, a gliding rocker and matching ottoman, leather jackets, a counter top wine rack, a yard hammock, Walmart gift certificate, Sam's Club and many more.

Photo of the day - July 1

Be careful when mowing your lawn in June. You may find a nesting Dark Eyed Junco, common in Delta this time of year. A Junco may be 5 inches long, about half of which is its tail. The Juncos are now busy feeding the little ones, who are sprouting pinfeathers. We may soon be able to mow our entire lawn!

Strategic Triangle Civic Leader Tour

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Gen Howie Chandler, Pacific Air Forces Commander, poses with Alaska civic leaders in Guam during the 22-26 June Pacific Air Forces Civic Leader Trip. The 10,000 mile trip, with stops here, at Eielson AFB, AK and Andersen AFB, Guam, and Hickam AFB, Hawaii included 24 civic leaders from all locations. The trip was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the U.S. Air Force and the professionalism of Airmen at our forward-most, "Strategic Triangle" bases in the Pacific. Alaska civic leaders returned Saturday on a 176 AW C-17.

Use Caution When Buying Michael Jackson Memorabilia

Value of Items Could Only Be Sentimental

Anchorage, Alaska – June 30, 2009 – Immediately following the announcement of Michael Jackson’s sudden death, enterprising individuals began selling memorabilia online to take advantage of the increased demand. Better Business Bureau warns that the value of most memorabilia and commemorative items being sold is sentimental and the currently inflated prices for many items will drop over time.

According to Smartmoney, before Jackson’s death, sellers listed an average 200 to 400 memorabilia items daily on eBay, but by the morning following his death almost 20,000 Michael Jackson-related items and memorabilia were for sale on the auction Web site. Items included autographs, gloves, posters, newspapers and even a Cheeto which supposedly predicted the death of the pop star.

In addition to memorabilia, commemorative items are already being mass produced and sold to fans—including t-shirts and special edition newspapers and magazines. Because the value of collectibles is largely dependent on how rare an item is, mass-produced commemorative items are not likely to appreciate in value.

“Collectibles associated with Michael Jackson are selling at a premium right now and most of these items will not increase in value in the future,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “Following the death of Princess Diana, the market was flooded with mass-produced items commemorating her death including special edition Beanie Babies that at one time sold for more than $100 but are now on garage sale tables for a buck.”

For fans looking to purchase items to help them remember the King of Pop, BBB offers the following advice:

Get educated.
Collectors should research the value of Michael Jackson-related items before they begin purchasing memorabilia, especially if they are interested in purchasing pieces that have the potential for substantial appreciation in value.

Confirm authenticity.
Confirming the authenticity of memorabilia is rarely easy. Autographs can be verified by a third party, but for other items, the collector should feel free to ask the seller questions about the item, including how the seller came to own it. If the seller can’t answer simple questions, then the collector should walk away.

Make purchases with a credit card.
Consumers should always purchase items with a credit card if they are shopping online. If the seller turns out to be fraudulent, then the consumer can dispute the charge with the credit card company and may be eligible for reimbursement.

Purchase items from a reputable seller.
When shopping online stores, collectors should look for the BBB seal on Web sites and click on the seal to confirm its legitimacy. If there isn’t a BBB seal on the site, shoppers should always check a company out with their BBB before they buy at www.bbb.org.

When purchasing items from an individual on eBay, research the seller’s track record by reading buyer reviews. When shopping on Craigslist, go local and never wire money as payment.

Don’t be fooled by empty advertising claims.
Just because the seller claims that the item is of limited edition, it doesn’t mean that there weren’t millions made. If the item is being widely advertised, chances are, it’s too common to actually gain much value over the years.

Photo of the day - June 30

On our trip up the Dempster to Inuvik, NWT we spotted a Mammoth crossing a far off ridge. Drive is worth the time, but unless you want to spend $5-700 on a fly in guided tour of on of the outlying villages, don’t plan for much time in Inuvik as the biggest attraction is the community greenhouse.

Obituary for Cindy Smith

Cindy Sue (Wilbanks) Smith went home to be with the Lord on June 28, 2009. Cindy was born on November 3, 1954. She married Tony R. Smith on October 31, 1974 in Midland, TX. She was a beautician in Delta Jct. since 1992. She worked at Tropical Creations, and was the owner of Mane Event and also worked at the barber shop on Fort Greely.

She is survived by her husband Tony R. Smith of Delta Junction, Alaska and 3 sons: Jeremy R. Smith of Soldotna, Alaska, Brant C. Smith of Anchorage, Alaska and Casey L. Smith of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Funeral and burial services will be in Mount Pleasant, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that a contribution be made to Olivia's House for Assisted Living in Fairbanks. A Wells Fargo account has been set up in Cindy's name. Please contact Margaret Gearhart. All proceeds will be given to Olivia's House.

Cards and letters can be sent to: Tony Smith, PO Box 206, Delta Jct. AK 99737

Mystery Photo for Week June 23 - 30

The winner of last week's mystery photo is Denise Wilhelm

We had 31 correct entries last week.

Denise will receive a gift certificate from the Buffalo Center Diner courtesy of Ed and Ann Richards.

Thank you for each one that submitted their entry, along with your mailing address. Please remember to include your mailing address with each entry. DNW will not accept entries without mailing addresses. We do not store your address from week to week.

The photo is part of the sign that is located in the diner behind the counter.

Cavalry Troopers Return

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – Arrival time for the more than 85 soldiers from 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry advance party has changed. Pick-up time at the gate has changed to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Officials expect the group to arrive at Eielson Air Force Base. Wednesday. After in processing at Eielson, they will be bussed to Fort Wainwright to be reunited with their families.

The unit left Fort Wainwright last summer. The main body of the unit will return in early July.

Photo of the day - June 29

The Black Powder Rendezvous started last weekend June 20 and went through to this weekend June 28. They were set up off the Alaskan Highway near mile marker 1405. The members dressed in period dress of the Mountain Man era. They live in canvas tents, cook over a fire, and shoot their black powder rifles and pistols at targets trying to be the best marksman or woman. The members who don't have canvas tents group their tin teepees away from the main encampment. The Black Powder Rendezvous started last weekend June 20 and went through to this weekend June 28. They were set up off the Alaskan Highway near mile marker 1405. The members dressed in period dress of the Mountain Man era. They live in canvas tents, cook over a fire, and shoot their black powder rifles and pistols at targets trying to be the best marksman or woman. The members who don't have canvas tents group their tin teepees away from the main encampment. Photo Courtesy Barb Tharp

Click on the photo for a photo enlargement.

Photo of the day - June 27

Numerous wild flowers are in bloom at this time. This image shows a wild Iris with raindrops. Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

Sun sets on Exercise Northern Edge 2009

Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Miller
Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau

6/26/2009 -- EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Exercise Northern Edge 2009, the largest biannual military training event in Alaska, came to a close June 26 after 11 successful days of multi-service interaction at numerous locations throughout the state.

This exercise, which involved almost 200 aircraft, provided nearly 9,000 service members from all branches of the military the opportunity to train together on, above and afloat in Alaska’s massive training areas. In addition to the permanent personnel already here, almost 2,000 personnel deployed to Alaska from the United States, Japan and South Korea while another 5,000 were stationed aboard an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Alaska.

“This exercise was designed to train participants in a joint environment, which is an essential element of preparation for combat,” said Air Force Brigadier Gen. Mark W. Graper, 354th Fighter Wing commander. “It allows the service members to practice tactics, techniques and procedures which need to be synchronized between the different branches of the military.”
Across the board, better command, control, communication and understanding between each service were some of the most important practices sharpened during the event in order to develop better interoperable plans for the future.

According to Air Force Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, commanding general of Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force, being able to train here each year is valuable because there are more than 65,000 square miles of available training space over land, and 120,000 when including the Gulf of Alaska. This space includes Alaska’s Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, Gulf of Alaska restricted air space, and an in-transit corridor connecting military training air space and live-fire training ranges.

“Northern Edge is the premier exercise conducted within the Pacific Command’s area of responsibility,” said Atkins. “It lets our joint warfighters learn about each other.”

Learning about each other, and the way the varying services operate is very important, according to Air Force Maj. Lyle Dawley, Northern Edge exercise control team chief.

“Communication can be a big challenge,” he said. “We don’t always speak the same language whether we are on the ground or in the air.”

Realistic scenarios were employed during the exercise so each unit could get the most out of the training, particularly in the areas of defensive counter-air, close-air support, air interdiction of marine targets and personnel recovery missions.

Many of the air-borne scenarios required pilots to stay in the air for long periods of time, and the Alaska National Guard’s 168th Air Refueling Squadron was there to make that happen. The Eielson-based squadron flies KC-135 refuelers.

"It's like these guys are pulling into a full-service flying gas station," said Air Force Lt. Col. Tim Trefts, the squadron's wing plans officer. "This gets our fighter pilots deeper into enemy lines and cuts down on the time it takes to get air support to guys on the ground."

In another exercise scenario, members of a West Coast based Navy SEAL team trained with Fort Wainwright’s Army Task Force 49, conducting security missions and insertions from CH-47D Chinooks in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. They also practiced river crossing techniques in Phelan Creek with instructors from the Northern Warfare Training Center.

“The water was pretty cold and the current was fast, but our guys weren’t afraid to get in there and go to work,” said one senior SEAL team member. “The training that we are learning here is invaluable. We are always looking for ways to improve skills; Northern Edge 09 gives us an opportunity to do that.”

The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, which consists of the USS John C. Stennis, Carrier Air Wing 9 and USS Antietam, was stationed in the Gulf of Alaska for its portion of the exercise. The carrier was the chief asset of the naval component commander in the exercise scenario, as well as providing airpower when necessary, according to a pre-exercise statement made by Navy Capt. Joseph Kuzmick, Stennis commanding officer.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni supported the exercise at Eielson Air Force Base with various components of personnel including Marines and sailors with Marine Aircraft Group 12 headquarters, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, and augments from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron such as the Provost Marshal’s Office and Public Affairs. Additional Marines also supported from Marine Air Control Squadron 4 out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Also from Futenma, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 operated at Elmendorf Air Force Base. In all, approximately 290 Marines and sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force participated.

“Northern Edge is MAG-12’s best opportunity to get together with the Navy and Air Force to practice advanced tactics in missions that are similar to what we would have to do here in the Pacific area of operations,” said Lt. Col. James Walker, MAG-12 operations officer. “We work with large forces here, 50 to 60 aircraft at a time, and that’s not something we get to do on a daily basis. So, this is a good opportunity for MAG-12 to train in a tactical environment.”

Some, but not all, of the other units which supported Exercise Northern Edge out of Eielson AFB included B-52H Stratofortresses from Barksdale AFB, La., F-15 Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, F-16 Fighting Falcons from Misawa Air Base, Japan, and Eielson’s F-16 Aggressors. Exercise Northern Edge is just one in a series of Pacific Command sponsored exercises that helps forces prepare to respond to potential future crises in the Asia Pacific region.

Photo of the day - June 26

Frequent visitors to Alaska's interior, a male, white winged crossbill drops in for a quick "cone to go" allowing the photographer a snapshot. Image by Dwight Phillips

Apha Omega needs help with food box distribution

6,331 pounds of food is being distributed!

We sure could use some help! Would anyone be interested in helping Alpha Omega with food box distribution?

Stop by or call 895-4143 to see how you can help!

Air Force combat controllers – only the toughest need apply

EIELSON AFB, Alaska -- An Air Force combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, uses a compass to help direct pilots to their correct targets. During this mission June 23, 2009, several combat controllers called in strikes from a pair of F-15 fighter jets which dropped Mark-82 500-pound bombs on Fort Wainwright's Range 2205. The training mission was part of Exercise Northern Edge 2009, which is an exercise designed to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region. (United States Air Force photo/1st. Lt. John Callahan) -

EIELSON AFB, Alaska -- An Air Force combat controller uses a laser range finder, which helps him direct pilots to their correct targets. During this training mission June 23, 2009, several combat controllers called in strikes from a pair of F-15 fighter jets who dropped Mark-82 500-pound bombs on Fort Wainwright's Range 2205. The training mission was part of Exercise Northern Edge 2009, which is an exercise designed to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region. (United States Air Force photo/1st. Lt. John Callahan.)


by 1st Lt. John Callahan
Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau

6/25/2009 – EIELSON AFB, Alaska --Air Force combat controllers are a rare breed: an elite group of specialists who accompany U.S. ground troops – usually small teams of special operations forces – to serve as a liaison between those forces and the air support they rely on.
Each combat controller is a fully qualified air traffic control expert, able to manage the complex air operations above a combat zone or remote airfield. Many also qualify as Joint Terminal Attack Control experts, coordinating air strikes, reconnaissance and other forms of air support on behalf of the ground troops they accompany.

“It definitely takes a special kind of person to do this,” said Capt. Garrett (last name withheld for security reasons), commander of a small team of combat controllers with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron. Based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Garrett’s team is in Alaska participating in Exercise Northern Edge 2009.

“The typical combat controller is your classic ‘Type A’ personality,” he explained, listing off some of the things the Air Force looks for in a recruit. “Absolute self-confidence, to the point where they are not afraid to make mistakes. A ‘never quit’ attitude. And, bottom line, you really need to be an athlete. This job is just so physical. You look around at this career field, and it’s all a bunch of high-school and college wrestlers and swimmers.”

“That’s right,” agreed Airman 1st Class John, the team’s junior member. “In fact, that’s how I got into this field. I grew up playing a lot of soccer and basketball. At some point, a recruiter who had seen me play, I think, came up to me and said, ‘Hey, have you ever considered Special Forces?’ Until that point, I would have said ‘Me? Special Forces?’”

Ultimately, Capt. Garrett and Airman 1st Class John agreed, it is mental and emotional toughness that sets the combat controller apart. Every combat controller is the survivor of an incredibly grueling training and selection “pipeline,” similar to that endured by the better-known Navy SEALS, Air Force pararescuers and other special operations units. The entire process, Airman 1st Class John said, is designed to try to convince participants to quit.

“The instructors will always give you an easy out,” he said. “And they never let you know exactly how much work you have ahead of you or when you’ll be done. In other words, they won’t say, ‘We’ll be training tonight until 2100 hours.’ Instead, they’ll just say, ‘All right, let’s go.’ Or they’ll tell your team something like, “Push this Humvee up the hill. When you’re done, do it again, and keep doing it.” For all you know, you’ll be working all day and night. And that does happen!”

Once a combat controller graduates training, his unique blend of skills places him in high demand.

“We travel and train so much, sometimes it seems like we’re hardly ever actually at our base,” said Airman 1st Class John.

Captain Garrett said his team members were eager to put their training to good use. In fact, the prospect of a difficult and dangerous assignment to a combat zone was one of the things that attracted him to the life of a combat controller.

“Let’s face it – we do a lot of cool stuff,” he said. “Jumps, diving, travel … we love what we do.”
A combat controller’s roots lie in the U.S. Army’s old Pathfinder Corps, a group of WWII paratroopers trained to drop into an assault zone in advance of the main force, identifying drop zones and guiding in gliders and troop transport planes.

Photo of the day - June 25

These swans were flying past the Granite Mountains as they migrated through the Delta area earlier this spring. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Northern Edge 2009 gets Buff

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from Eielson AFB during NORTHERN EDGE 2009, June 23. NE09 is one in a series of U.S. Pacific Command exercises that prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the region. The B-52 is assigned to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)




by Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz
Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau

6/24/2009 – EIELSON AFB, Alaska – The 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, deployed here for exercise Northern Edge 2009 to practice mission planning and war-time procedures.

The 96th BS brought three B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers, or “Buffs,” to train in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and over the Gulf of Alaska with Navy, Marine, Army and Air Force units.

The B-52 is an aircraft that can fly long distances and has the capability of holding large amounts of munitions, which is important in global deterrence.

“We can drop bombs anywhere in the world, including the Pacific,” said Capt. Bryan Walter, B-52H navigator. “The B-52’s have up-to-date systems and the aircraft is constantly improving, making the Buff still very relevant in today’s world.”

But in order for the B-52H to unleash its full potential in the sky, pilots and navigators alike must come together behind the scenes and become familiar with other aircraft and different missions that participating units bring to the table.

“Mission planning is probably one of the most crucial things during NE09,” said Capt. Chris Diaz, B-52H pilot. “We all get to learn the roles and missions of other flyers compared to us; when we’re able to communicate those things face-to-face, the mission becomes that much easier.”
Good mission planning can translate into highly effective learning experiences for involved participants, resulting in putting bombs on target, on time.

“The B-52 can use a multitude of weapons and hold 10 to 45 munitions at a time,” said Captain Diaz. “We can bring the fight to the enemy for long durations and distances, but we couldn’t do it as effectively without having the F-16’s or F-15’s working with us – they help us get the job done.”

The B-52H aircrews get to try new tactics and see how they can use them for real scenarios, according to Captain Walter.

At the end of NE09, the 96th BS will incorporate lessons learned into future planning and preparation for joint military missions. They will also have a better understanding of how different services operate, according to Captain Walter.

“At the beginning of the NE09 there were a lot of things that we didn’t know and it was really hazy,” said Captian Diaz. “But after working in a joint environment for a while, it felt like we all started to come together and the missions became seamless. It’s a great experience and enhances our skills.”

NE09 is a mass exercise which provides an opportunity for participants to gain experience in responding to crises in the Asian Pacific region.

Photo of the day - June 24

Granite Mountains at midnight, taken on June 21, the longest day of the year.
Photo Courtesy Elizabeth Boardman

Air Refueling Squadron "passes gas" during NE 09

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - An F-22 Raptor receives fuel from a KC-135 flown by pilots from the 168th Air Refueling Squadron stationed at Eielson Air Force Base during an aerial refueling mission June 19.. The mission was part of Exercise Northern Edge 2009, which prepares joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region. During the mission, both F-22 and F-15 fighter jets received fuel. (United States Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Rholes)

Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Rholes
Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska –Air National Guardsmen from the 168th Air Refueling Squadron here conducted a four-hour in-flight refueling mission Friday, June 19, as part of Exercise Northern Edge 2009.

During the mission, Airmen from the 168th honed their aerial refueling skills by topping off F-15 and F-22 fighter jets to keep them in the fight longer.
“It’s like these guys are pulling into a full-service flying gas station,” said Lt. Col. Tim Trefts, the squadron’s wing plans officer. “This gets our fighter pilots deeper into enemy lines and cuts down on the time it takes to get air support to guys on the ground.”

As demonstrated by this mission, it is not uncommon for aerial refueling flights to last several hours and for the crew to transfer more than 75 thousand pounds of fuel to almost a dozen aircraft, added Trefts.

Refueling aircraft while in the air is anything but easy. The aircraft receiving fuel moves to within 30 feet of the tanker, and the pilot holds his aircraft steady. A boom operator, laying on his or her stomach in a refueling pod underneath the back of the tanker, uses a joystick to move the tip of the boom into the waiting aircraft’s fuel slot. The process takes about seven minutes for each aircraft after the pilot begins approaching the tanker, although that time varies if the boom operator has trouble connecting the boom and if the aircraft needs a larger than average load of fuel.

Exercises like NE09 give the 168th pilots and crew the opportunity to practice performing long-range missions, due to the large amount of available air space in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

The 168th Air Refueling Squadron was founded in 1942 as the 437th Bombardment Squadron and is now a part of the 168th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
Since first developed by the Army Air Corps in the late 1920’s, aerial refueling has provided America’s air assets the critical ability to refuel in mid-flight. This allows for on-call air support and allows aircraft to take off with a greater payload. It also keeps air-mobile command posts in the air longer and allows for quicker air evacuations.

Marines, Airmen fuel up Exercise Northern Edge

EIELSON AFB, Alaska -- Lance Cpl. Justin Moore, MWSS-171 bulk fuel specialist, extends the hose from an R-11 fuel truck over to a jet for fueling on the flightline here June 19. Moore is participating as part of Exercise Northern Edge 2009.(U.S. Marine Corps photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Miller)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Miller
Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau

Bulk Fuel
June 19, 2009

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, AK –Pacific Command’s Exercise Northern Edge 2009 is allowing more than 200 aircraft the opportunity to train in nearly 120,000 square miles of airspace above interior Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska, June 15-26.

With the numerous aircraft in the air and massive amounts of mileage to cover during the 11-day exercise, one of the most important support billets the pilots have covering their six is the bulk fuel specialist.

“We’ve pumped nearly a half million gallons of jet fuel per day during the first week of this exercise,” said Senior Airman Derick Bowers, a bulk fuel specialist with the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron here at Eielson Air Force Base. “Without us, pilots are pedestrians.”
Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, currently has Marines cross training and working side-by-side with the Air Force to ensure the pilots are taken care of as expediently and safely as possible.

“There is a little bit of a communication barrier, but it is good to see how other services work,” said Lance Cpl. Justin Moore, MWSS-171 bulk fuel specialist. “It helps diversify my skill set by knowing how to fuel F-16s and F-15s and working with the different forces.”

Because of the differences in lingo, aircraft and overall work atmosphere, the Marines are well-versed before being sent out on the flightline alone.

“We’ve shown them where the fuel points are on the aircraft, as well as trained them on the paperwork, local forms and Air Force forms and fuel receipts,” said Bowers. “Without proper training, lots of expensive equipment can get broken.”

Bowers has served as Moore’s ride-along for the duration of the exercise’s first week.
During the first couple of days the Marines merely shadow the Airmen, watching how they operate on the flightline. For the next three to four days the Marines drive and operate the R-11 fuel trucks with close supervision from their instructors. Next week, which is the final week of the exercise, will be totally different.

“Next week I’ll be all by myself,” Moore said eagerly, knowing this is what he’s been trained for and doing at Iwakuni for quite sometime now, but nevertheless ready to put to work his new skills he’s learned from his Air Force counterparts.

Bowers reiterated his confidence in the Marines’ abilities for next week’s changes, stating that they have adapted and caught on well to the way the Air Force does things.

Of the nearly 9,000 total service members participating in Exercise Northern Edge this year, approximately 290 are Marines and sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Although the exercise is headquartered out of Elmendorf Air Force Base, activities are taking place across the training grounds of Alaska in order to better prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region.

Exercise Northern Edge is Pacific Command’s premier joint training exercise.

Photo of the day - June 23

The way you can tell a tundra swan from a trumpeter is by the yellow spot underneath its eye. Both of these swans come to Alaska to breed and raise their young for just one short summer before heading to the Southwestern U.S. to winter. Photo by Steve Thomas

Mystery Photo for Week June 16 - 23

The winner of last week's mystery photo is Tanya Akimenko

We had 16 correct entries last week.

Tanya will receive a gift certificate from the Buffalo Center Drive In courtesy of John and Linda Sloan.

Thank you for each one that submitted their entry, along with your mailing address. Please remember to include your mailing address with each entry. DNW will not accept entries without mailing addresses. We do not store your address from week to week.

The photo is part of the Hair Doctor, owned by Sherry Decker on the Alaska Highway.

Photo of the day - June 22

Some of the local residents experienced a power outage, while others were getting power bumps Sunday evening. Thank you Candy Corty for sending the photo showing the tree across 3 power lines.