Saturday, September 28, 2013

Soviet History



The October 5, 2013, episode of American Heroes Radio features a conversation with Captain S. Martin Shelton, USN (ret.), the author of St. Catherine’s Crown.

Program Date:  October 5, 2013
Program Time: 1500 hours, PACIFIC
Topic: Soviet History

About the Guest
Captain S. Martin Shelton, USN (ret.) completed “forty plus years of military service which included active duty in the Korean and Vietnam wars, requiring that he travel throughout the world, with particular emphasis on the Far East.  S. Martin Shelton has an extensive background in Soviet and Chinese studies which fostered his interest in the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Bolshevik’s regicide of the Czar, Empress, and their five children, and the burgeoning Soviet Communist rĂ©gime. Captain S. Martin Shelton is the author of St. Catherine's Crown.

According to the book description of St. Catherine's Crown, “1917- Empress Alexandria understands that the Bolsheviks will soon topple the Czar. She charges her godson, Kirik Pirogov, to carry the imperial crown of Catherine the Great and a cache of Romanov jewelry to a secret czarist refuge in western China. Alexandra informs her youngest daughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia, of the escape route necessary to carry on the Romanov Dynasty.

Kirik and Anastasia make perilous journeys across Siberia via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Their story is told against a background of revolution, their hardscrabble life in the Russian village, constant fear of the Soviet secret police, and unscrupulous treasure-hunters.”

About the Watering Hole

The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life.  Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
           
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years.  He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant.  He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University.  He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership.  Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One.  He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

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Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
909.599.7530

117 ARW Holds POW/MIA Walk

by Maj. Lisa Weaver
117th Air Refueling Wing Executive Officer


9/25/2013 - HOOVER, Ala. -- Members of the 117th Air Refueling Wing walked 16 miles here at Veterans Park on Friday in honor of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action service members.

POW/MIA Recognition Day is a national holiday that honors former and current prisoners of war and service members still missing in action.

Tech Sgt. Matthew Crawford from the 99th Air Refueling Squadron organized the event. "I just want people to take a second and be thankful for what they have and think about the misery and the pain these people went through. And for those that are still missing, their families, their loved ones that don't have that closure, just think about them for a second, reflect on that," said Crawford.

Lt. Col. Michael Phillips, a pilot from the 106th Air Refueling Squadron, participated in the walk. Phillips' father was an F-4 weapon systems operator in the Air Force and was shot down during the Vietnam War. His father was never found and was declared missing in action.

The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office reports the latest figure for those still missing abroad as more than 83,000. This year the 117 ARW walked one foot for every missing person, which is roughly the equivalent of 16 miles.

Airmen from the 117 ARW carried the POW/MIA flag and kept it in motion the entire 16 miles. "This symbolizes our vigilance and also our commitment to these people and their loved ones," said Crawford.

122nd Fighter Wing promotes first female command chief in its 67 year history

by Master Sgt. Darin L. Hubble
122nd Fighter Wing IN ANG


9/20/2013 - 14 Sept. 2013, Fort Wayne IAP, IN  -- The 122nd Fighter Wing held a Command Chief change of authority and promotion ceremony, Sept 14, 2013, ushering in the unit's first female command chief in its 67 year history. Christine A. Hutchins was promoted to Chief Master Sgt. and Chief Master Sgt. James E. Salway II passed the responsibilities of the position of the 122nd Fighter Wing's Command Chief on to Hutchins.

Salway has been selected to serve as the State Command Chief for the Indiana Air National Guard at Joint Force Headquarters in Indianapolis. Commander of the 122nd Fighter Wing, David L. Augustine said of both Chiefs, "Men and women of the 122nd Fighter Wing, this is a momentous occasion for all of us, I could not be prouder of these two blacksnakes that we honor today, they represent the very best of the Air Force, the Air National Guard and the 122nd Fighter Wing." He said to Chief Master Sgt. Hutchins, "You are the right leader for the right time, at the right place, to follow in the footsteps of Command Chief Salway. I say 'follow' lightly because I know that you will make your own tracks just as Chief Salway did in taking this wing to new heights. This is a very important day in the history of the wing, a historic event, we salute promoting our first-ever female airman into the position of Wing Command Chief!"

Hutchins began her career in 1982 enlisting here as an Administrative Communications Clerk in the Combat Support Squadron. She has served in various positions including Personnel Administrative Assistant, Commanders Assistant, Base Records Manager, Information Management, C4 Plans, and Cyber Systems Manager. She holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Institute of Technology and has been awarded with many superior performer recognitions and is highly decorated as an Information Management Craftsman.

Duties of the Wings Command Chief include understanding the challenges ahead of our airmen as we continue to fill an operational role overseas while protecting the homeland here in Indiana. Hutchins understands the challenges of conversion, grade leveling and airman development. "She will be an ambassador on not only the local or state scene but also the national scene for airman programs, her keen eye towards morale will allow us to enhance family programs and airmen programs alike," said Augustine.

Hutchins taking the opportunity to address the formation gathered for the ceremony said, "I'm both honored and excited about being selected to serve as the next 122nd Fighter Wing Command Chief -I am eager to have the chance to be your enlisted voice." She shared her understanding that change is a constant factor in the Air National Guard illustrated by sharing that she has personally changed AFSC's and taken part in aircraft conversions three times in her career. "We have some challenges in front of us but I am confident that we will overcome them in an outstanding fashion as we have in the past!"

In attendance was Indiana Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Hauser, retired Maj. Gen. Frank Hettlinger, Hutchins father and former Air National Guard Commander of Indiana, David L. Augustine, 122nd Fighter Wing Commander, James Gordon, Indiana Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj., family and friends of both Salway and Hutchins.

Leadership Changes for the Oregon Air National Guard

by Tech. Sgt. John Hughel
142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs


9/25/2013 - PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ore. -- Members of the Oregon Air National Guard assembled at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Ore., on Sept. 8, 2013, to observe the change of command ceremony for the Oregon Air National Guard, as Brig. Gen. Steven Gregg presented the colors to Brig. Gen. Michael Stencel.

Prior to his promotion to head the Oregon Air National Guard, Stencel had been the Assistant Adjutant General (Air) and had served as the Commander of the 142nd Fighter Wing at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore.

As the commander of the Oregon Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. Stencel will oversee the organization and ongoing training of more than 2,200 Air Guardsmen based throughout the state of Oregon.

Brig. Gen. Gregg, who joined the Oregon Air National Guard in 1984, first took command of the Oregon Air National on Jan. 8, 2011. He also served as the Director of Operations at Joint-Force Headquarters in Salem, Ore., and as the Commander of the 142nd Fighter Wing. A formal retirement ceremony is scheduled for Brig. Gen. Gregg in October.

After the change of commanders, the Oregon Air National Guard State Command Chief Change of Authority took place as Chief Master Sgt. Patrick "Andy" Gauntz assumed command from Command Chief Master Sgt. Mark Russell. Russell had served as the State's top Air Guard enlisted Noncommissioned Officer since Jan. 11, 2011.

Chief Gauntz previously served with the 116th Air Control Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard, Camp Rilea, Warrenton, Ore., before being selected to lead as the new Oregon State Command Chief.

Hurricane Hunters join AES for training

by Capt. Philip Cortez
433 AW/PA


9/27/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- When a community is informed that a hurricane is headed toward them, their first natural reaction is to go away from the storm. That is not the case for the 53rd Weather Squadron, or as they are appropriately named, the "Hurricane Hunters."

Hurricane Hunters, based at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. are trained specifically to encounter a hurricane, head on and attempt to gather critical information in regard to the strength of the storm, wind speed, distance from the shore, and to evacuate citizens from danger. The men and women of this brave squadron came to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland this week to participate in a training exercise with the 433rd Aeromedical Squadron.

Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Christa, 433rd AES superintendent, stressed the importance of training with the Hurricane Hunters.

"We have been fighting wars for over 10 years now," said Christa. "War-time efforts and humanitarian efforts, in terms of evacuating people, are completely different. We need to train with the 53rd Weather Squadron to view things through a humanitarian lens."

The job of evacuating citizens from natural disaster areas in the U.S. now regularly includes members from all branches of military. The nation has a greater expectation from the military in terms of having an active role in providing both care and order to communities impacted by a natural disaster.

Master Sgt. David Snow, a 23-year member of the 433rd AES, was excited and grateful to be able to train with the members of the 53rd WS.

"The 433rd AES is the largest air evacuation unit in the Air Force, and we are proud of it, but we can always get better by training with an elite group such as the Hurricane Hunters," Snow said. "I'm honored to be able to help in both military and humanitarian missions."

The members of the Hurricane Hunters squadron also recognized the need for continuous and updated training as their role on a humanitarian level continues to evolve. Tech. Sgt. Troy Bickham, a six-year member of the 53rd WS, appreciates the opportunity to help citizens impacted by a natural disaster, but he takes pride in bringing home our nation's wounded warriors from the combat zone.

"It's an honor to bring our wounded warriors home from Iraq and Afghanistan to their families," said Bickham. "I know they have sacrificed a lot to defend our country, and they deserve a smooth ride home from us to recover with their loved ones. We train for them."