Staff Sgt. Krisell Creager-Lumpkins, Company A, Fort Carson Warrior Transition Battalion, hurls a shot put during the 2012 Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy, May 5. She finished third in the five-event Ultimate Warrior Competition.

Story and photo by Pfc. Andrew Ingram

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Staff Sgt. Krisell Creager-Lumpkins attended the 2011 Warrior Games to cheer for a friend competing in one of the Olympic-style swimming events.

Then a recent addition to the Fort Carson Warrior Transition Battalion, Creager-Lumpkins said watching her friend and the other wounded servicemembers and veterans competing against one another, pushing themselves and each other to the utmost of their physical limits, inspired her to overcome her own injuries.

“I will be in the Warrior Games next year,” she told her first sergeant during the 2011 event held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

“I knew my life would never be the same, but I still wanted it to be about something, even if that was just my own goals and overcoming my personal tribulations,” she said.

Creager-Lumpkins spent the next year in intensive training, strengthening her body and honing her fine motor skills in anticipation for the Warrior Games Qualifiers in early 2012.

“When I started, the Warrior Games were almost like a pipe dream, but it motivated me to get better, to try to get back to the person I was before,” she said.

The Army, Navy and Coast Guard, Air Force and Marine teams each fielded 50 wounded warriors to compete in the games. To earn the honor of representing their service, hopeful competitors must undergo rigorous selection clinics and extensive physical evaluations to determine their skills and capabilities.

Fifteen Fort Carson WTB Soldiers tried out for the Army team. Only Creager-Lumpkins made the cut.

“The process has been incredibly exciting,” Creager- Lumpkins said. “Just trying out, giving myself something to work toward, and seeing the small payoffs and improvements every day was the best part for me.”

Her determination to heal and improve set an example for other Soldiers recovering from injury, said 1st Sgt. Barry White, senior enlisted leader, Company A, Fort Carson WTB.

“It is nice to see a Soldier in the WTB pushing herself as hard as Staff Sgt. Creager-Lumpkins,” White said. “After an injury, many people will set limits on themselves. She is pushing past those limits and showing a lot of character.”

In addition to training for the Warrior Games, Creager-Lumpkins also serves as an assistant platoon sergeant and mentor for many of the Soldiers in her company, said Capt. Regina Stephan, commander, Company A, Fort Carson WTB.

“She is the epitome of the battalion’s slogan, ‘Can Do,’” said Stephan. “She has challenged herself and is the model for everyone around her to emulate. She can do it all.”

Creager-Lumpkins said the support and encouragement provided by her leaders and peers proved instrumental in her success.

“I’m not the kind of person that needs pats on the back most of the time, but the Soldiers in this unit know when I need that pat,” she said. “They know when to crack a joke and make me smile, and that has helped me more than they could know.”

In addition to competing in individual events, Creager-Lumpkins represented the Army in the Ultimate Warrior Competition, which ranked athletes based on their finish in the cycling, shooting, swimming and track and field events.

Throughout the week of the games, Creager-Lumpkins said she was amazed by the attitude projected by competitors from every team.

“It sounds cheesy, but I was really impressed by the camaraderie shared by all of the competitors,” she said. “Even though the competition was stiff, we really wanted everyone to do well.”

By placing third in the 100-meter dash, fourth in the air rifle marksmanship and shot put competitions, fifth in the 10-kilometer cycling event, and sixth in the 50-meter freestyle swimming event, Creager-Lumpkins clawed her way into third place in the Ultimate Warrior Competition.

Despite this achievement, she said her competitive nature refuses to allow her to be satisfied with the outcome of the 2012 Warrior Games.

“I will always wish I could have done more, but I know that given the circumstances, and how far I have come this year, this was the best I could have done,” she said. “For a lot of people, it was about medals, but it wasn’t about that for me. It was about being physically, mentally and emotionally able to compete in the Warrior Games, and represent the Army; and I am happy and proud of that.”

With the experience of one Warrior Games under her belt, Creager-Lumpkins said she is motivated to take the competition to a higher level in the 2013 Warrior Games.

“I started training yesterday,” she said, two days after her final event. “I’m better prepared now; I know where my competition lies.”

“My goal now is to get the gold medal in every one of my events,” she said. “I can’t wait until I can compete again and again and again.”

The example set by the Warrior Games athletes should inspire other wounded warriors to set goals for themselves, Creager-Lumpkins said.

“If you are hurt physically, it can make you feel mentally like you are less of a Soldier,” she said. “Adaptive sports, like those we compete in during the Warrior Games, provide a way for these individuals to see they are still good Soldiers.

“There is nothing more honorable than representing your country,” she said. “Whether you are doing it on the battlefield, or you’re doing it in the Warrior Games, the principle is still the same.”

Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, throws the ceremonial first pitch at the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Fort Carson Appreciation Night May 4 at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs

By Sgt. Khori Johnson

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

The sound of “Ivy” Division cannon fire captivated the cheering fans surrounding Security Service Field, marking the opening ceremony of the Sky Sox Fort Carson Appreciation Night, May 4.

The Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies provide free tickets to servicemembers and their Families for the annual event, said Michael Hobson, assistant general manager of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

This year, the organization provided about 15,000 ticket vouchers to Fort Carson, leading to a packed house at the ballpark, Hobson said.

“Our military is such a big part of what our city is all about and what our country is all about,” he said. “We try to give our thanks to our men and women in uniform and their Families every chance we get. We wish we could do more, but the least we could do is offer a fun night at the ballpark.”

Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., presented the nation’s colors during the national anthem, rendering a 21-gun salute in honor of the nation.

“We support many things in town,” said Anderson. “This is just one more (way) we try to show our appreciation for what the community does for us.”

Watching the game with his wife and 6-year-old son from the Sky Box Suites located behind home plate, Spc. Christopher Mayhew, motor transport operator, Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div., said the opening ceremony was the best he has seen to date.

The 3rd BCT color guard and salute battery, tasked to support the event, conducted multiple rehearsals to ensure the opening ceremony was a success.

“We’ve been preparing for this specific event for about two weeks. We even got about an hour of practice on the field before the game started,” said Staff Sgt. William McLaurin, a gunnery noncommissioned officer and color guard member with Battery A, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg. “Everybody did a really good job.”

While Soldiers, their Families and the Colorado Springs community enjoyed the beginning of the Sky Sox game, a few Soldiers of Distribution Platoon, Battery G, 3rd Bn., 29th FA Reg., continued to work diligently behind the scenes, tucked behind the outfield wall of Security Service Field, packing and loading the cannons, along with other various equipment, for transport back to Fort Carson.

“Basically, we provide support by transporting all of the ammo, the cannons and everything else for the line,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Martinez, a motor transport operator with Battery G.

While unseen by those attending the game, the platoon was glad to show its support for the event, said Martinez.

“It’s nice to give something back to the community and have them recognize us (for what we do),” he said. “It was pretty cool.”

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox fell to the Fresno Grizzlies, who after trailing 6-5, took a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, which would prove the difference in the game.

“I had my boys with me, who are 2 and 4, and it was their first baseball game. I don’t know if they were so much watching the game, but they had fun running around the stands and playing,” said Maj. Matthew Clark, division battle major with Company A, HHBN, 4th Inf. Div.

The event concluded with a fireworks show.

“My Family had a good time,” said Clark. “It’s a good feeling to know that the Sky Sox would do something like that … do something for Soldiers and show them that they care about what they do and see it as something of value and importance.”

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III and his wife, Jeanne Chandler, address Fort Carson Soldiers and Family members on the importance of professionalism and the role of the noncommissioned officer in meeting and exceeding Army standards, during a town hall meeting at McMahon Auditorium, May 2.

By Staff Sgt. Christopher Jelle

3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division

Jeanne Chandler, wife of Sgt. Maj; of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, met with unit Family readiness group leaders throughout the 4th Infantry Division, May 2-3.

During a meeting with the FRG leaders of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Army spouses discussed their unit’s Family support programs and addressed challenges to the spouse of the Army’s top senior enlisted leader.

“We appreciate what she is doing by coming down to the company level to see what we’re doing on the frontlines of FRG and how that can be taken up to higher levels, and make big changes in the Army,” said Kellie Matack, FRG leader for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT.

The topics of discussion ranged from the life of a typical military Family to child care services, housing situations, installation services and FRG programs. The spouses shared their thoughts on what they considered the best benefits and programs available to Fort Carson Soldiers and Families, and how those thoughts and ideas could be shared with other military installations.

“I think (the visit) states that they’re interested in hearing the whole Army,” said Wendy Packard, FRG leader for Company A, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT. “No matter where you are in the Army … they want to know what is going on throughout the (service) and not just at headquarters.”

Packard said it means a lot to her, as a newly-appointed FRG leader, to have the Army’s top leadership personally visit with units and their Families.

“It lets me know that we’re not just out here by ourselves, and that they’re looking out for us and want to take care of us,” said Packard.

Jeanne Chandler said she likes to meet with the FRG leaders at the company level because they are the ones who can best comment on how things are going.

“They are the ones who are in the fray; they have endured multiple deployments, and they are the conduit of information to the spouses,” she said.

Spouse participation in the FRG programs cultivates Army communities that support the needs of Soldiers and their Families, Jeanne Chandler said.

Jeanne Chandler said she wants to personally thank all of the spouses who serve as FRG leaders, calling them “true American heroes.”

(U.S. Air Force graphic, photo/Val Gempis)

By Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes

Defense Media Activity

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) — The Air Force brought home a team-record 18 medals April 30 through May 5 during the 3rd annual Warrior Games here.

The team medaled in volleyball and wheelchair basketball for the first time. Athletes representing the Air Force earned two silver and one gold medal in swimming, two silver and one bronze in cycling; and two gold, three silver and four bronze in track and field.

“I think we exceeded all expectations,” said Maj. (Dr.) James Bales, the Air Force team coach. “The goal for the team was just to come out here and perform at the best of their ability, and they did that this week. They performed well, and the results of that were a huge sense of teamwork (and) camaraderie. It equated to the best performance the Air Force has had in three years.”

The athletes, from all branches of the U.S. military and the British Armed Forces, competed in five individual sports: archery, shooting, swimming, track and field and cycling, and two team events: sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball. The majority of the events were hosted at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the open ceremony and shooting were held at the Olympic Training Center.

“Whether you won a medal or not, whether your team won the competition or not, every single one of you who competed in these games is a champion,” said Navy. Adm. James Winnefield Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Every one of you has proven there is no challenge too great, no hurdle too difficult for a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman.”

The games are designed to introduce ill, injured or wounded service members to Paralympic sports. The Air Force team comprised of active duty and Reserve Airmen from across the country who still wish to represent the Air Force. Their injuries range from post-traumatic-stress disorder to quadriplegia.

Winnefield presented The Chairman’s Cup and Ultimate Champion award during the closing ceremony May 5. The Marine Corp team won the Chairman’s Cup for the third year running. The Chairman’s Cup is presented on behalf of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to the team with the most cumulative medal points.

Marine Jonathan Disbro was named Ultimate Champion for the second year. The Ultimate Champion is the athlete who has earned the most individual medal points by competing in at least five specific individual events.

The ceremony concluded with a performance by the Army Regional Band High Altitude.

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, Colo. — As summer heats up, so do the barbecue grills. Here are some grilling and cooking safety tips to keep you safe all year long.

General barbecue grill safety

• Position the grill well away from siding, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

• Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas, and foot traffic.

• Keep children and pets away from the grill area by declaring a three-foot “kid-free zone” around the grill.

• Put out several long-handled grilling tools to give the chef plenty of clearance from heat and flames when cooking food.

• Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.

• Only use grills outdoors! If used indoors, or in any enclosed spaces, such as tents, barbecue grills pose both a fire hazard and the risk of exposing occupants to carbon monoxide.

Charcoal grills

• Purchase the proper starter fluid and store out of reach of children and away from heat sources.

• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid to get the fire going.

Propane grills

• Check the propane cylinder hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will quickly reveal escaping propane by releasing bubbles.

• If you determined your grill has a gas leak by smell or the soapy bubble test and there is no flame:

Turn off the propane tank and grill.

If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.

If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.

• If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call 911. Do not move the grill.

• All propane cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overfill protection devices, or OPD. OPDs shut off the flow of propane before capacity is reached, limiting the potential for release of propane gas if the cylinder heats up. OPDs are easily identified by their triangular-shaped hand wheel.

• Use only equipment bearing the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions on how to set up the grill and maintain it.

• Never store propane cylinders in buildings or garages. If you store a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

Kitchen tips — watch what you heat

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.

• Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won’t be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.

Keep things that can catch fire and heat sources apart

• Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

• Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean.

• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.

• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

By following these simple tips you can make sure the only thing that sizzles is your food.

(File photo) The desolate environment at Thule Air Base makes reliable communication vital. The 821st Air Base Group is implementing a new land mobile radio system to enhance communications capabilities and improve safety. The 821st ABG is one of the 21st Space Wing’s many geographically separated units.

From 821st Air Base Group

THULE AIR BASE, Greenland — Airmen at Thule Air Base are adopting a new land mobile radio system, enhancing their communications capabilities.

Known as Terrestrial-Trunked Radio, or TETRA for short, this LMR system’s employment will result in enhanced situational awareness, removal of a redundant command and control node, savings of one security forces post, and enhanced emergency services interoperability across all 821st Air Base Group agencies. The new system will enhance emergency services at the remote site.

The security forces’ base defense operations center manages a command and control structure involving numerous first responder agencies across a massive geographic area encompassing 2,400 acres of real estate. The installation resides approximately 900 miles south of the North Pole, 15 miles from the polar ice cap, on an inlet to the Arctic Ocean known as North Star Bay.

The air base’s mission requires daily travel exceeding 10 miles across rocky terrain with significant changes in elevation. Thule AB routinely experiences hurricane force winds during long and arduous storm seasons from September through May. As a result, procedures adopted for safety and mission execution mandate BDOC maintain contact with all personnel traveling across the installation during contingency storm operations. In fact, all movement is strictly controlled by the installation commander due to potential white-out storm conditions resulting from 100 mph winds and the risk to personnel should they lose situational awareness during their commute.

In all, the security forces squadron maintains communication with a host of customers, including the squadron’s posted forces, Danish police, and contractor-provided fire and medical response forces, and manages interoperability between installation senior leaders and four separate command and control centers. Prior to TETRA, BDOC managed this requirement across three disparate communications platforms.

The TETRA currently being installed at Thule AB is unique in that, unlike typical first responder systems, it is based on the UHF electromagnetic wavelength rather than the typical VHF range. As a result, it provides greater range and the ability to pierce the dense walls of Thule’s facilities, used to combat the severe environmental climate.

The TETRA system provides a suite of capabilities including GPS location designation for all users, multiple voice-call modes — person to person or full network broadcast — text capability, and duress annunciation. As a result, BDOC can maintain communications with all 821st Air Base Group and Greenland contractor senior leadership, and all non-emergency and emergency response agencies on one LMR platform.

At the same time, BDOC can visually track — via a digital mapping display — the location and travel data associated with all personnel in possession of a new handheld TETRA, and verify the employment of security forces personnel during all other contingency response incidents. Finally, the range of this system will allow the primary BDOC to control all forces across the 2,400 acre Thule defense area.

Many organizations participated in this shift to ensure the first responder community at Thule AB had a system capable of the significant geographic coverage and situational awareness necessary to ensure sound response protocols. The 821st Support Squadron Communication Flight recognized the technological capability, conducted site surveys and system testing, and communicated to the Air Force Space Command Communications and Information Directorate the need and justification that resulted in approval for a system not previously used.

The 821st Security Forces Squadron plans and programs section coordinated the re-write of an existing AFI with the AFSPC Security Forces Directorate to allow for the employment of the new technology. Finally, identification of the system and its potential occurred as a result of the communication’s expertise that resides within the Greenland contractor’s staff, who is also the primary installer of the equipment which achieved initial operational capability at the end of April.

The ability of those involved in the acquisition and employment of TETRA to break through long-held beliefs about one way to do business has resulted in a level of situational awareness never before possessed at Thule AB.

In times of shrinking budgets and reduced manpower, innovation is critical to the success of force protection initiatives. When dominating the high ground from a climatically-challenging area like Thule AB, innovation is vital.

(U.S. Air Force illustration/Craig Denton) The 21st Space Wing marks its 20th anniversary May 15.

By Lea Johnson

21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — On May 15 the 21st Space Wing will celebrate a very special milestone — its 20th birthday.

The 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing, which activated Jan. 1, 1953, is the oldest direct ancestor of the 21st Space Wing. Originating at George Air Force Base, Calif., the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing served at Chambley Air Base, France, in the role of air defense from December 1954 until inactivation in February 1958.

The 21st activated again as the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing July 1, 1958, this time in the Far East. The wing conducted the mission of air defense at Misawa Air Base, Japan, until inactivation in June 1960.

The 21st served longest at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, from 1966 to 1991. The first 13 years, July 1966 to October 1979, were carried by the 21st Composite Wing, called “composite” because of the several aircraft platforms used to conduct the wing’s three missions of air defense, airlift and search and rescue.

Then, on Oct. 1, 1979, the wing was re-designated as the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing and streamlined to once again conduct an air defense mission. The wing served in this capacity at Elmendorf until inactivation on Dec. 19, 1991.

After nearly 50 years of flying history, the 21st transformed from a flying mission to become the world’s largest and most diverse military space wing, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base May 15, 1992.

The 21st SW is the Air Force’s only organization providing missile warning, missile defense, and space control operations to unified commanders and combat forces worldwide.

The 21st SW Knights are located in eight countries, spanning 14 time zones, consisting of five groups, a director of staff, and 39 units at 31 locations.

In addition to detecting and tracking missile launches across the globe, government, contractor and allied personnel detect, track, and catalog more than 22,000 man-made objects in space from those in near-Earth orbit to objects up to 22,300 miles above the Earth’s surface.

Space surveillance is a critical element of the space control mission and will be vitally important to support future theater missile operations and assured availability of U.S. space forces.

Join Col. Chris Crawford, 21st SW commander, in celebrating the wing’s rich history and bright future as America’s most innovative and disciplined space wing with a cake cutting at 11 a.m. May 15 at the Aragon Dining Facility.

Schriever Sentinel

The U.S. Air Force takes its communications security seriously. A failure to adequately encrypt and secure communications can allow unauthorized interceptors to access its most vital information and compromise entire missions and operations.

As a space operations base, the 50th Space Wing is responsible for maintaining massive amounts of COMSEC material designed to protect its assets and classified communication networks. So it makes sense that the Air Force would inspect the wing for COMSEC compliance on a regular basis.

One such inspection occurred in April. Teams from the Air Force Network Integration Center combed through thousands of inspectable points during a two-week period, viewing everything from specific documents to entire programs.

The results proved astonishing. Inspectors inventoried more than 7,900 accountable items, discovered zero incidents, zero critical findings and zero non-critical findings.

What made this inspection so satisfying to wing leadership was the fact that the AFNIC team treated it as an Information Assurance Assessment Program inspection, the highest level assessment it conducts, according to James Wacaster, 50th Space Communications Squadron, base support element chief. During the debriefing, the inspectors said this was the best assessment they had conducted since they began inspecting installations more than two years ago.

“The threshold for failure is incredibly small,” said Hank Brinlee, 50 SCS Information Assurance/COMSEC manager. “Potentially, one user could fail the entire wing in a matter of two minutes. For example, if a COMSEC user fails to perform an inventory on COMSEC material or document a few things here or there, that’s a critical finding — and a unit like the 2nd Space Operations Squadron has something like 300 users.”

Brinlee said the AFNIC team did discover some minor findings and that the 50 SCS IA/COMSEC account team worked tirelessly to remedy those before inspectors departed, but that the overall results rose well beyond expectations.

Though the COMSEC account team members are the professionals who train units and users on proper COMSEC practices, Brinlee gave credit for the “huge inspection win” to squadron and unit commanders.

“The squadron commanders were all over this,” he said. “Our COMSEC account team members can’t be everywhere to make sure material containers are inventoried correctly and proper documentation is followed every time. All we can do is train users and COMSEC-responsible officers. From there, the commanders are responsible for maintaining their programs.”

Still, the six member IA/COMSEC account team spent more than four months preparing the wing for inspection — training, informing and scrutinizing at the unit level.

The team doesn’t have much time to exhale and celebrate as the wing’s Compliance Unit Inspection occurs later this year.

“I’m proud of the dedication, commitment and results of this COMSEC inspection, which was truly a wing-wide, team effort,” said Lt. Col. Fred Taylor, 50 SCS commander. “The wing IA team prepared and implemented a campaign, but we would not have had such great success without the support of wing and unit leadership focusing their attention on these important security programs. Additionally, I’m grateful to COMSEC responsible officers in the trenches for their diligence and attention to detail on their specific programs.”

50th Space Wing Public Affairs

In this day and age, some type of computer or equipment is needed to complete the mission. Though the six members of the 50th Space Communications Squadron Base Equipment Control Office aren’t fixing trouble tickets or on the phones with customers, they play a vital role in ensuring the Masters of Space have all the computer hardware needed to succeed.

With more than 21,000 pieces of information technology equipment in their inventory, BECO has a hand in all parts of the Schriever mission, to include mission partners. With an inventory that large, numerous base equipment custodians are needed to help keep the program running smoothly.

“Our equipment custodians are great and are really responsive to all of the requests we give them,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Dietrich, assistant NCO in charge of BECO.

The BECO staff overseas 119 equipment custodian accounts throughout the 50 SW, its tenant units and all geographically separated units. Equipment custodians are required to maintain accountability of all their IT equipment and perform periodic inspections to ensure the BECO program is in compliance.

Dietrich, one of the members of BECO who has been there the longest, can remember a time when the program wasn’t such a success.

“When I first arrived in BECO we had around 18 accounts that were non-compliant,” he said.

Dietrich and the BECO team sought to change those numbers.

“We brought the numbers down by tracking accounts really closely and staying in constant contact with equipment custodians to ensure that the base is compliant,” he said.

The perseverance of the BECO team and the equipment custodians really paid off.

“We are down to only two accounts being non-compliant and we generally are more than 97 percent compliant at all times,” he said. “It’s our equipment custodians. They are great and really make our job a whole lot easier.”

Though maintaining the base inventory of IT equipment is a large part of the BECO mission, it’s not their only responsibility.

They also oversee the equipment turn-in process. Once offices or units no longer have a need for their equipment due to a technical refresh or other reason, offices have the option to turn in the equipment to BECO to be reutilized or recycled.

During the first quarter of 2012, Schriever’s BECO turned in more than 10.2 tons of assets to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service. In the month of April alone, BECO turned in 8.4 tons of equipment.

According to the Defense Logistics Agency website, which oversees the DRMS program, once equipment is turned in it can either be reutilized by another Department of Defense base, another federal agency or donated to an authorized non-profit organization. If none of those options fit, the equipment is recycled.

For Tech. Sgt. John Austin, the BECO NCOIC, the unpredictability of each day is what really makes working at BECO exciting.

“I recently switched from client support to BECO and I’ve really enjoyed the change,” said Austin. “We are always on the move and are very rarely just sitting at a desk. We also get to use some heavy equipment we would never use while working in client support.”

Though members transition in and out of the BECO office, one thing remains the same; BECO members will continue to support the many missions of Schriever.

Schriever Sentinel

Families who were hoping to catch a break from high gas prices this summer will be disappointed to learn that fuel will likely cost even more than last year.

During the April-through-September summer driving season, regular gasoline is forecasted to average about $3.95 per gallon, peaking this month at a monthly average price of $4.01 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s a jump of more than 9 cents per gallon compared to last summer.

Higher gas prices mean families will likely end up spending more for vacation travel this summer. But, those who are thinking of canceling their summer trip should know opportunities exist for saving in other areas.

“Many families are considering what the travel industry calls ‘staycations,’” said Christina Stump, financial counselor at the Schriever Airman and Family Readiness Center. “Sure, there are activities families can do locally that can save them a lot of money compared to traveling long distances, but what many families don’t know is there are some travel resources that can help them save when they do decide to venture out farther.”

“How to Travel on a Budget,” a class Stump periodically teaches here, is offered today from noon to 1 p.m. at the A&FRC. Walk-ins are welcome and attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch. The course covers such topics as planning, budgeting, site selection and discount travel programs.

“The most important step a family can take is planning a budget for their trip,” Stump said. “They should start by figuring out exactly what they can afford to spend well in advance and even creating a travel savings account where money is set aside every month specifically for the trip.”

From that amount, Stump recommends families divide their total planned expenditure into categories like hotel, food, transportation, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses, because even with discounts and proper planning, many folks get blindsided by unexpected expenses during their trips. Everything from lost luggage to misplaced essentials, unexpected weather and unpredictable delays can prove costly.

“It’s easy to begin spending more than you have budgeted for, especially when you bring credit cards along,” Stump said. “You don’t want to replace the memory of a great vacation with the regrets that come along with debt.”

Families looking to save on destination-resort vacations should investigate the destinations they want to visit, then make plans to travel during off-peak times.

“A lot of times you need to be flexible with your dates, but planning ahead gives you the potential of saving the most,” Stump said.

Families looking for alternatives to out- of-state travel should attend the class or stop at the A&FRC for ideas. Community readiness consultants there can help families find information about some of the getaway destinations within a few hours drive of Schriever.

Farish Recreation Area sits roughly 30 miles west of Colorado Springs near the town of Woodland Park and is managed by the U.S. Air Force Academy.

“Farish is a wonderful local resort getaway for military service members and their families,” Stump said. “It’s a recreation area so folks can hike, mountain bike, fish and camp there. People can rent a room in the lodge for as little as $45 a night (room sleeps five), so for $90 you can spend a Friday and Saturday night in a mountain getaway.”

Portions of Farish will be closed to users from May to October this summer as construction crews drain a couple of lakes and rebuild their accompanying dams, so anyone interested in visiting the area should call ahead before making plans for specific dates.

For people who prefer the comforts of home while on the road, the Armed Forces Vacation Club offers resort condominiums in Summit County, Colo., on a space-available basis. By planning ahead, Department of Defense personnel can book a two-bedroom condo for a weekly rate as low as $369.

Money saving deals can also be found through the YMCA.

“A lot of the time, our military members can get vacations for half price,” Stump said. “You just need to visit www.YMCArockies.org. Often their amenities include food, lodging and use of the amenities of the grounds. They have several weekend retreat locations including Estes Park and Snow Mountain Ranch near the Winter Park area.”

Families looking to visit a destination resort can find assistance and information through the Colorado R and R Office at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

“They have discounted rates on lodging and activities for the military community in places like Disney World, Lake Tahoe and Vail,” Stump said.

On base, the Outdoor Recreation and Information Tickets and Travel office in Bldg. 300, offers discounted tickets to local and Denver area attractions, such as Eltich Gardens and Water World, as well as national attractions like Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens. Outdoor Recreation and ITT also offers special ticket deals for active-duty members and their families.

The Peterson Air Force Base Leisure Travel Office also offers assistance for military members looking to travel to destination resorts outside Colorado and can even help with the planning and booking phases.

“The last vacation I took felt like I started it early because the Pete LTO office did all of the leg work and took care of all the details before we left,” said Andrea Hernandez, A&FRC community readiness consultant. “We just told them, when, where and how much we wanted to spend and they took care of the rest.”

To reach Outdoor Rec and ITT at Schriever, call 567-6050. For more information about Farish Recreation Area, visit www.usafaservices.com/orc/farish.htm. People interested in obtaining more information about destination travel can contact The Colorado R & R Office at USAFA at www.coloradorandr.com or call 333-7367. Members can also contact the Peterson Air Force Base Leisure Travel Office at 556-2116 or www.21svs.com. To find out more about the Armed Forces Vacation Club, visit www.afvclub.com.