Cartoon: Dick Locher, Chicago -- The Chicago Tribune
See the rest of the Memorial Day cartoons here. And here are the Memorial Day messages from Air Force Leaders.
27 May 2006
Memorial Day
Cartoon: Dick Locher, Chicago -- The Chicago Tribune
See the rest of the Memorial Day cartoons here. And here are the Memorial Day messages from Air Force Leaders.
Mission, May, and Engineer Antics
Whew! It’s been another busy month!
We went right from a Field Training Exercise (FTX) to the Air Show to preparations for the end of the fiscal year…and to top it off, we had 2 car washes and the Spring Picnic! As usual, you did it all with style, a great attitude, and excellence.
Our first-of-it’s-kind FTX worked us out hard, but we got superb training. For three days, more than one hundred 2 CES Airmen practiced beddown, expedient construction, perimeter/strongpoint defense, tactical convoy operations, and basic ground combat skills in preparation for our Conventional Operational Readiness Inspection (CORI) next March. Fifty Airmen from the 917 CES, our Air Force Reserve Command “partner unit”, joined us for Total Force operations geared toward sharpening our steel for the upcoming inspection. Not only are these skills necessary for passing the inspection, but they are vital for the missions Engineer Airmen are doing everyday in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. I’m proud to report a wholesale improvement in our performance over the last CORE; the 2 CES is ready to fight.
The 2006 Barksdale “Defenders of Liberty” Air Show 12-15 May was a resounding success. Approximately 135,000 people visited the base over the course of the show, and by all accounts, had a great time. As usual, much of the hard behind the scenes work of making the show work went to the MSG, and most of the heavy lifting the Engineers carried. I was extremely proud of the pride and outstanding work done by 1Lt Michelle Jackson, CMSgt John Milford, SSgt Justin Cannon, SSgt Jamison Shelton, and the countless others who cheerfully accomplished the not-so-glamorous tasks of prep, cleanup, and setup. The Air Show staff is finishing the recognition for these fine Airmen and many others as I write this, but I wanted to publicly recognize their contributions here. Well done Engineers!
Finally, our CE Booster Club has been doing great work to both earn the money to do great things for the squadron, and put on some terrific events. I enjoyed this year’s Spring Picnic immensely (maybe because I didn’t leave smelling like whipped cream J). Thanks to 2Lt Sherri Carr, A1C Melissa Williamson, SrA(s) Ryan Wilkinson, and the entire Booster Club team who put this on. A special and heart-felt “thank you” to Mr Mark Crosby and the great Americans in the HVAC Shop for once again providing top-notch Louisiana cuisine.
We had a couple of other events that deserve mention…the “Big Daddy” Fishing Tourney and the First Semi-Annual Quasi-Official Squadron Softball Championship. A1C Addison (aka “Junior”) and SSgt Dennis headed up a two tourney that netted bass, catfish, and Big Daddy (largest fish). First prize for each category was $75, and Victor earned it when he hooked the biggest catfish I’ve ever seen (13 lbs & 4” across the head from eye-eye!). In the First Semi-Annual Quasi-Official Squadron Softball Championship, we started out with two teams (HVAC vs Fire Dogs), but by the time we got started the teams had mixed a little. In a 3-inning barn-burner, the almost HVAC team beat the mostly Fire Dog team with a flurry of runs in the top of the 3rd inning. The “play of the game” went to A1C Mckenzie from HVAC when he hit not one, but TWO line drives into the same spot on yours truly’s ankle.
In June we’ll focus in the return and re-integration of our deployed Airmen even as we spin up and deploy the next set of Airmen leaving on the next deployments in July. We’re thrilled to have our deployed engineers back safely! We’ve already recovered 18 Airmen, with about 60 remaining to return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Welcome home!
As I mentioned in our last commander’s call, I am continually impressed by your great attitude and hard work to get the mission done here and deployed. You truly inspire me every day!
We went right from a Field Training Exercise (FTX) to the Air Show to preparations for the end of the fiscal year…and to top it off, we had 2 car washes and the Spring Picnic! As usual, you did it all with style, a great attitude, and excellence.
Our first-of-it’s-kind FTX worked us out hard, but we got superb training. For three days, more than one hundred 2 CES Airmen practiced beddown, expedient construction, perimeter/strongpoint defense, tactical convoy operations, and basic ground combat skills in preparation for our Conventional Operational Readiness Inspection (CORI) next March. Fifty Airmen from the 917 CES, our Air Force Reserve Command “partner unit”, joined us for Total Force operations geared toward sharpening our steel for the upcoming inspection. Not only are these skills necessary for passing the inspection, but they are vital for the missions Engineer Airmen are doing everyday in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. I’m proud to report a wholesale improvement in our performance over the last CORE; the 2 CES is ready to fight.
The 2006 Barksdale “Defenders of Liberty” Air Show 12-15 May was a resounding success. Approximately 135,000 people visited the base over the course of the show, and by all accounts, had a great time. As usual, much of the hard behind the scenes work of making the show work went to the MSG, and most of the heavy lifting the Engineers carried. I was extremely proud of the pride and outstanding work done by 1Lt Michelle Jackson, CMSgt John Milford, SSgt Justin Cannon, SSgt Jamison Shelton, and the countless others who cheerfully accomplished the not-so-glamorous tasks of prep, cleanup, and setup. The Air Show staff is finishing the recognition for these fine Airmen and many others as I write this, but I wanted to publicly recognize their contributions here. Well done Engineers!
Finally, our CE Booster Club has been doing great work to both earn the money to do great things for the squadron, and put on some terrific events. I enjoyed this year’s Spring Picnic immensely (maybe because I didn’t leave smelling like whipped cream J). Thanks to 2Lt Sherri Carr, A1C Melissa Williamson, SrA(s) Ryan Wilkinson, and the entire Booster Club team who put this on. A special and heart-felt “thank you” to Mr Mark Crosby and the great Americans in the HVAC Shop for once again providing top-notch Louisiana cuisine.
We had a couple of other events that deserve mention…the “Big Daddy” Fishing Tourney and the First Semi-Annual Quasi-Official Squadron Softball Championship. A1C Addison (aka “Junior”) and SSgt Dennis headed up a two tourney that netted bass, catfish, and Big Daddy (largest fish). First prize for each category was $75, and Victor earned it when he hooked the biggest catfish I’ve ever seen (13 lbs & 4” across the head from eye-eye!). In the First Semi-Annual Quasi-Official Squadron Softball Championship, we started out with two teams (HVAC vs Fire Dogs), but by the time we got started the teams had mixed a little. In a 3-inning barn-burner, the almost HVAC team beat the mostly Fire Dog team with a flurry of runs in the top of the 3rd inning. The “play of the game” went to A1C Mckenzie from HVAC when he hit not one, but TWO line drives into the same spot on yours truly’s ankle.
In June we’ll focus in the return and re-integration of our deployed Airmen even as we spin up and deploy the next set of Airmen leaving on the next deployments in July. We’re thrilled to have our deployed engineers back safely! We’ve already recovered 18 Airmen, with about 60 remaining to return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Welcome home!
As I mentioned in our last commander’s call, I am continually impressed by your great attitude and hard work to get the mission done here and deployed. You truly inspire me every day!
17 May 2006
THE BIG DADDY FISHING TOURNAMENT IS HERE!!!
THE BIG DADDY FISHING TOURNAMENT IS HERE!!!
We will meet at the CE Yard Pavilion @ 4:00pm on Thursday-18 May 2006 to have a short safety briefing and go over any questions anyone might have. Then we'll be released until 11:00am on Friday where we'll meet at Cullen Park on the eastside of base for the final weigh-in. Final registrations will be at the meeting on Thursday. If you have any questions please contact SSgt Dennis or SrA Addison. Guarateed to be a great time! We'll see you there!
We will meet at the CE Yard Pavilion @ 4:00pm on Thursday-18 May 2006 to have a short safety briefing and go over any questions anyone might have. Then we'll be released until 11:00am on Friday where we'll meet at Cullen Park on the eastside of base for the final weigh-in. Final registrations will be at the meeting on Thursday. If you have any questions please contact SSgt Dennis or SrA Addison. Guarateed to be a great time! We'll see you there!
New Firefighter
The fire dept. would like to announce the hiring of a brand new fire fighter;
Name: Michael I. Belfer
Born: 16 Apr 06
Weight: 6 lbs 13 oz
Parents: MSgt Michael & Adrianna
Favorite Sports Teams: Cleveland Indians, Cavaliers, and Browns. (Whether he likes it or not)
10 May 2006
News from Iraq: Kids Will Be Kids!
Greetings all from sunny (and ever warmer) Center South, Iraq. It should be clear from the photo that our favorite project sites to go visit are the schools. Here's a picture of me sitting with the kids at a small school in the town of Ridwan. As the saying goes, "kids will be kids" no matter what part of the world you're in. God Bless!
09 May 2006
Maj Shoviak In Iraq
Engineers...I received a great photo from Maj Shoviak, currently deployed to Iraq, that I thought I'd share. He's deployed to Al Asad AB as a Facility Engineer Team member in support of the Multi-National Corps operations in that AOR. He got time out from his crushing schedule to visit a site holy to members of the three great monothesistic faiths.
I'll let Maj Shoviak pick up the story from here:
I have attached a photo for your viewing enjoyment of me in front of a holy site on Al Asad AB called Abraham’s Oasis. According to local Arab legend, Abraham, the Hebrew Patriarch visited the Oasis at Al Asad on his journey from Ur to Haran. The legend says he stopped at the oasis, drank from the water, and bathed himself. He and his family camped here for a short time before moving on to Haran.
I'll let Maj Shoviak pick up the story from here:
I have attached a photo for your viewing enjoyment of me in front of a holy site on Al Asad AB called Abraham’s Oasis. According to local Arab legend, Abraham, the Hebrew Patriarch visited the Oasis at Al Asad on his journey from Ur to Haran. The legend says he stopped at the oasis, drank from the water, and bathed himself. He and his family camped here for a short time before moving on to Haran.
02 May 2006
Prime Chicks Spring-back Schedule!
Hey all you Prime Chicks!
It's time to spring-back into action and get some fun things scheduled!
Let's meet for breakfast and start things going!
Saturday, May 6
8:30 am
Shoney's Restaurant (1832 Old Minden Rd.)
Bring the kids, bring a friend, bring your calendar.....
We'll think about: end of school party for kids, squadron picnic, home-comings!!!, and whatever else comes to mind.
It's time to spring-back into action and get some fun things scheduled!
Let's meet for breakfast and start things going!
Saturday, May 6
8:30 am
Shoney's Restaurant (1832 Old Minden Rd.)
Bring the kids, bring a friend, bring your calendar.....
We'll think about: end of school party for kids, squadron picnic, home-comings!!!, and whatever else comes to mind.
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