Truckin on

Dedicated to the Men and Women of AF Vehicle Operations & Maintenance Past, Present, and Future
1 Apr 2014

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

From Soldier to Airmanone mans journey

We reported to the unit with all our gear and they loaded us on chartered buses The Army Years and hauled us off to Camp Cooke At the ripe old age of 15, I was your (north of Santa Barbara). It was later to typical California delinquent - nothing become Vandenberg AFB. really major - just the usual petty stuff Editors Note: Its interesting to note stealing hubcaps, siphoning gas from here that at this time Gen Hoyt parked cars, drinking any booze we could Vandenberg, for whom the future base get someone with a fake ID to buy for us, would be named, was the current Chief of etc. Staff of the Air Force. by Murray LaHue, Major, USAF (Ret) Camp Cooke had been used to house German POWs during "THE WAR" and when WW II ended, they were repatriated home. They just nailed up the whole base, so we spent more time making the place livable than training. We were told that we'd have to fill up all the division's vacancies with several PFC Murray LaHue Sep 1950 thousand draftees and then hit the road to Korea with a stop-over in Sendai, I was running with a crowd that I came to Japan, where we would get some new realize would end up getting me in deep tanks and more training. trouble. I thought that maybe some Well, my poor old mom decided this was regimentation in my life would help, so I not the route for her son to take, so she lied about my age. wrote to my company commander and Mom signed the papers and I enlisted in told him that I was only 16 and asked that the 223d Heavy Tank Co., 223d Infantry he send me home - - which he did. I Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, received an honorable discharge under California National Guard (El Monte) as a minority conditions in January 1951. I got "loader" on an M4 Tank. It had a 76mm credit for my couple of years of Army cannon and the shells I had to handle service. were bigger than I was. When the Korean affair popped, we were told that there was an excellent chance we would be mobilized" and go to Korea, but we didn't put much faith in that "hoo-ha." Well, on 1 Sep 1950 it happened and we became a part of the U.S. 6th Army.
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From Soldier to Airman one mans journey: PG 1-3

Inside this issue:

AEMP Fleet Masters Awards AEMP Technician of the Year Award Driving & Cell Phones Dont Mix PG 3-4 PG 5-6 PG 7

Mobsters Car Becomes PG 8 Presidents Limo Veterans Job News Elio is Here Salute and Call Me Mister Hot Rods & Cool Cars AF Jargon Past & Present PG 9 PG 9 PG 10 PG 11 PG 12

Editors Note: We occasionally feature a bio of a senior member. This month Murray LaHue, Major, USAF (Ret) has graciously agreed to share his story with us. Major LaHue enlisted with the Army in 1949 as a young private and, after a break in service, transitioned to a fledging USAF, eventually becoming a transportation officer. I think youll find his story interesting.

Disclaimer: Truckin On is an unofficial newsletter published every month in the interest of serving Air Force active duty, civilian and retired vehicle operations and maintenance personnel. Articles submitted by its contributors are not to be considered official statements by the U.S. Air Force.

From Soldier to Airmanone mans journey

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On to Westover to learn that I would be the new motor pool officer, and for a while concurrently the vehicle maintenance I went to school and messed around at menial jobs for a year; officer. My boss felt I should have a "fully qualified staff officer" then in 1952, I realized that I missed the military life so I went AFSC and got it through personnel, so there I was a 2LT with a down to the AF recruiter and "re-upped" in the Air Force. I went fully qualified staff transportation officer AFSC. BAD MOVE !! in as "prior service" so I retained my Army rank of PFC. The AF still called us that and we wore our Army uniforms - blues were We soon learned that there was a big shortage of my type in a only being issued to new recruits. I asked to go to March AFB, place nobody had ever heard of: Vietnam. So, I was one of the first bunch who went to Nam PCS rather than TDY. I ended up which was only 50 miles from my home got it!! as the commander of Det. 3, 8th Aerial Port Sq at Pleiku Airfield When I got there, they told me that the Air Force didn't have a (in the central highlands). large need for tank crewmen, but since I had a year of typing in high school, I could go in as a clerk typist. I was assigned to the Great job except for the lack of equipment and trained base personnel office as a flunky clerk until about 6 months troops. My equipment was a 1951 weapons carrier with a later, they told me there was a need for a "chief clerk" in the front-mounted winch and some wooden Johnson ("DJ") bars transportation division at HQ 15AF (just at the other end of the and nine troops only four of whom were actual "transporters". The Air Force Years base). So away I went. Great job and I worked with some really fine people. Really gained an interest in what we were doing, so after being their clerk for a bit over a year, they asked me to cross-train into the freight traffic specialty (60251). That was my initiation into the field of TRANSPORTATION....... I served there the rest of my 4-year tour, making staff sergeant. Decided once again to try the civilian world so I left the AF in Jan 56. Went to college and worked some. Again, the call of the military roared in my ears, so 5 months and 28 days after separation, I again re-upped in the AF. Kept my staff stripes and asked for an assignment in USAFE got it !! The other five were air police, cooks, supply clerks, etc., who were given a 4-week course in air freight and sent on over. But we all busted tails and did a great job. I had just pinned on my 1LT bars en route and my boss was in Saigon, so it was a real learning experience for a junior officer. After my year (1963), I went to Walker AFB, NM as the TMO but shortly after my arrival, the squadron commander had serious medical problems and was air evacuated to Lackland hospital. I was the new commander of a squadron supporting one of the largest single-wing SAC bases, plus an air division HQ and a missile WG. Talk about your lions den!!!

HOW SOME EVER - when I was finally given my assignment, it I lucked out and did a good job so instead of replacing me, they turned out to be to Wheelus AB, Tripoli, Libya. They told me kept my in the position. Along came BRAC and Walker was that Wheelus belonged to USAFE. OH WELL..... slated for closure. I can't begin to tell you of the problems Arrived in July 1956. I was told that nobody else wanted the job involved in closing a complete base, including the movement of so I would be appointed as the NCOIC of commercial all of our BUFF" and KC-l35 equipment and all of the hundreds transportation. I got loads of experience and eventually married of crew members to several other SAC bases - all within a 60 a lovely Italian girl who worked in the American Express Bank day period. on base. When the shut-down was almost complete, I received orders to Came back in 1959 and luckily was able to wangle my way back go to Andersen AFB, Guam as the motor pool officer. I held that into the transportation division at HQ 15AF. In 1961, I applied job for about 4 months and was then told that I was now the for AF OCS and got a spot in the April-September class. Tough TMO, a job I held for the remainder of my stay on Guam. program started 175 students and after 26 weeks, only 114 I went back to the states to a job at HQ 2AF at Barksdale AFB, were commissioned (including me). I asked for pilot or navigator LA. I was the head cheese of the vehicle operations and training but got turned down because of my eyes. I became maintenance branch of the transportation division. By this time I a transportation officer and was assigned to Westover AFB, MA, was a captain. A really challenging job. After a couple of years with an en route stop at Sheppard AFB, TX to attend the basic there, I applied for a teaching job at the transportation school at transportation officer course at the AF Transportation School. Sheppard AFB got it!! History Note: Air Force OTS began at Medina Annex near Lackland AFB, Texas, in 1959. The first OTS class (60-A) was composed of 89 trainees, including 11 women. Its predecessor, the Officer Candidates School, was established in 1942 in Miami Beach. OCS moved to Lackland in 1944 and closed its doors with its last graduation in June 1963 (AF fact sheet edited). Attended instructor course and then went back to work as a teacher in the officer courses, but not for long. The branch chief was transferred and as I had just pinned on major's leafs, I was the new branch boss.
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From Soldier to Airmanone mans journey

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Shortly after, we got a call from the transportation guy at HQ USAF personnel assignments and I was told that sometime within the next year I'd be getting an assignment. Sure enough, about 8 months later the call came - I was going to go to Korea as the chief of transportation for an air division - 13 month tour. My family and I kicked it around and I decided to retire with 22 years of service. I started my civilian career in real estate but received a call from Northrop Corp. They wanted a transportation manager for their Saudi Arabia program ("Peace Hawk"). Out of sight job - lots of perks. I stayed in Saudi for a few years and then went back, to work as the vehicle maintenance manager for the aircraft division in Hawthorne, CA; then the traffic manager at the stealth division in Pico Rivera, CA; then as manager of the transportation division at the Newberry Park division. I retired from Northrop on l July 1990 and moved to Oregon.

Maj (Ret) Murray & Margherita LaHue 2013

USAF Well Represented at AEMP Fleet Masters Awards

1 Apr 2014

The Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) Announces 2014 Fleet Masters Awards
submitted by Greg Morris, CMSgt (Ret/2T3) GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo., March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) announced the 2014 Fleet Masters awards. These awards are announced annually during AEMP's Annual Meeting and Conference and are awarded to fleet management teams that demonstrate exceptional skill in meeting the unique challenge of fielding cost-effective mixed equipment fleets. The fleets were chosen in three categories based on estimated replacement value (ERV). The 2014 Fleet Masters are: Sarasota County Fleet Services U.S. Air Force Europe & Africa York County, Virginia
L-R: Chief (Ret) Ron Erwin & SMSgt Mike Montano (USAFE/Africa), Chief (Ret) Greg Morris & Ms. Marsha Reisinger (Sarasota County)

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USAF Well Represented at AEMP Fleet Masters Awards

1 Apr 2014

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Under $10-million ERV - Award Winner: York County Greater than $100-million ERV - Award Winner: United Vehicle Maintenance Division States Air Forces Europe and Africa Responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, repair and disposal of a number of assets, the York County VMD, York County Virginia, recovers costs through several innovative methods such as a burdened labor rate, markup on the cost of diesel and gasoline, a percentage markup on parts and a percentage markup on vendor charges. The Command Vehicles Branch of the U.S. Air Forces Europe, based out of Ramstein Air Base in Germany handles 7,500 vehicles in 42 locations and 35 countries over two continents. Fleet value estimated at $700-million. The group faced a 37 percent cut in funding due to the government sequester last year. The CMB met this challenge with a vehicle parking plan that helped local fleet managers evaluate the risks of parking as many non-mission-critical vehicles as possible. Oil, lube and filter services were extended except when mileage warranted. The CMB also meets the federal government's energy efficiency mandates with hybrid and electrical technology and alternative fuels.

In 2013, the VMD overhauled and implemented a new fleet information management system to help keep track of nearly 1,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment. A deadline for data entry on all existing equipment was pegged at three months. The web based system helped turn the division into a paperless facility and runs detailed reports, schedules shop activities and employees. Web enabled databases allow fleet managers to monitor and The York County VMD also added telematics devices to many manage assets in far flung locations and eliminate expensive, of its assets and implemented a new vehicle location program to time-consuming telephone calls to update reports. Lifecycle monitor employee productivity, reduce fuel use and increase costs are closely tracked as is maintenance information, job safety. orders, parts and labor. $10-million to $100 million ERV - Award Winner: Sarasota Training plays a big role in the CVB, giving uniformed and civilian technicians and managers the skills they need to meet County Fleet Services Located on the Florida Gulf Coast, this fleet and it's technicians the mission at hand, increase productivity and keep costs in cover 563 square miles with 810 licensed vehicles and 708 line. Outsourcing is carefully evaluated to insure that it serves off-road assets. It saved county taxpayers some $180,000 a the best interests of the military and only when no other military year by outsourcing parts to NAPA/IBS in 2011 while means are available to do the job. maintaining an 85 percent parts availability. Each asset in the county's fleet receives at least two preventive maintenance services annually, more if meter values are exceeded. Its technicians have developed a PM checklist that has reduced repair and maintenance costs by three percent each of the last three years. Note: 2015 Fleet Masters Application Sarasota shares it's fuel contract with many other municipalities, gaining them economies of scale and providing additional revenue of $360,000 a year. The fleet's comprehensive fuel site maintenance program has eliminated environmental fines and garnered clear inspection records for the last nine years. Technicians are trained in customer service reflect on the times they have received situations where they have received good asking them to keep those lessons in mind every customer and request. by asking them to poor service and service and then when dealing with

The award was changed from one private and one public fleet this year. There is no longer one award for private and public fleets both competing for the same awards based on the following criteria.

Criteria: The Fleet Masters Award is presented to exceptional The county fleet services division employees 23 technicians, equipment professionals who excel in meeting the unique two of which have been awarded the AEMP Technician of the challenges inherent in cost-effective, efficient and effective Year. management of fleets that combine on- and off-road equipment. Two of its technicians are also ASE Masters and EVT Masters The Award is open to all construction equipment fleets. Three and the unit has maintained the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Awards will be given based on estimated fleet replacement since 2003. The team provides 24/7 support and 30 minute value (ERV): less than $10 million ERV; $10 - $100 million ERV; and more than $100 million ERV. response times for all emergencies and service calls. Additional info can be found at: http://www.aemp.org/ 4

AEMP Selects 2014 Technician of the Year

1 Apr 2014

Air Force Master Sergeant, Combat Veteran, Named AEMP Technician of the Year
by Tom Jackson / Mar 2, 2014

This on and off-road equipment was used in construction and tactical operations over two states and 52,000 square miles. During that time Thomass detailed knowledge of the equipment and quick thinking helped save the life of a lost hiker in the White Sands Missile Range area. A remotely piloted Predator drone had been sent in a search-and-rescue mission to find the injured hiker, but when the specialized refueling vehicle broke down on its way to the Predator, it looked like the hiker, by then suffering from dehydration, might not survive. Thomas realized he didnt have time to drive out into the desert and inspect the refueling vehicle himself and decided instead to walk the operators through a series of diagnostic steps over the phone. The fueling crew and Thomas were able to identify the problem (a dislodged fuel sensor), fix it and refuel in time for the Predator to get airborne again and find the hiker.

In May, Holloman AFB was faced with a critical tire shortage due to manufacturer recalls. Rather than use pressure tactics or find a new supplier, Thomas quarantined the affected vehicles and worked around mission parameters to establish a priority list with the existing vendor. By partnering with his tire vendor Thad Pirtle, of Traylor Brothers and the 2015 chairman of AEMP, with the 2014 Technician of the Year, Air Force Master Sgt. James C. Thomas III. Early in his and finessing the problem, Thomas coordinated 133 career, Pirtle was the second recipient of the Technician of the Year award replacements in only nine days in a remote area and prevented any interruptions to aviation training and coalition military It takes a lot to keep a big fleet running, even more so under research missions. enemy fire and on two continents. Mission critical readiness But Master Sgt. James C. Thomas III has proven himself adept In the second half of the year, June through December, Thomas at all these challenges and was named as the 2014 Technician was deployed to of the Year by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals. Thomas received the award today at the AEMPs Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, where he was the premier Technician of the Year luncheon, held in conjunction with the technician and leader of an elite 17-man armored vehicle repair hub for NATO quick reaction forces. By pre-stocking key parts associations annual conference in Las Vegas. and working tirelessly to expedite repairs, his team was able to It has been quite a year for the Air Force veteran. maintain a 91-percent in-commission rate, which is almost Lifesaving instincts unheard of in harsh combat conditions. In the first six months of 2013 Thomas was responsible for Thomas also led a 35-man maintenance team charged with sustaining 970 vehicles and German Air Force assets at repairing Special Operations Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Click arrow to watch... (MRAP) vehicles. His crews lightning fast battle-damage repairs and field-expedient customizations enabled Special Operations soldiers to move quickly and decisively over severe terrain challenges and capture 49 high-value Taliban targets. Maintenance at war During his Air Force career, Thomas has completed four deployments including multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.
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AEMP Selects 2014 Technician of the Year

1 Apr 2014

Embedded in a Provincial Reconstruction Team, Thomas fixed numerous vehicle problems with only rudimentary tools and These included challenging missions such as 10 long-distance used his welding skills to help repair Afghan community infrareplenishment convoys up to 13 days each that covered 10,390 structure. miles of some of the most dangerous roads in the world. For these efforts, Thomas earned the Army Commendation and Root cause analysis Achievement Medals and Army Mechanic Badgequite a feat When faced with the a series of failures on dump truck bed weld for an Air Force guy. joints in 2011, Thomas used his research skills and root cause Maintenance at war (continued) The vehicles he maintained were also able to avoid breakdowns outside the wire, thanks to his strict pre-convoy vehicle preparations. The convoys under his care were safer and more effective thanks to Thomass and his crews ability to perform hasty recoveries and contingency repairs during enemy attacks on coalition forces. Hybrid safety To keep the soldiers in his shop up to date on the latest technology and improve safety and readiness, Thomas lobbied for and was given permission to bring in the first hybrid vehicle technology and training course given on a stateside Air Force base. The course enabled him and 17 of his technicians to earn certification in this complex field. Using what he learned in the hybrid course, Thomas developed a first responder training curriculum for emergency personnel on base and helped them procure and maintain the equipment needed to extract people from hybrid vehicles after an accident. Saving fuel Thomas was instrumental in installing and maintaining 625 Master Sgt. James C. Thomas III accepts his award for AEMP 2014 Technician of FuelMaster automotive information and management modules the Year in Las Vegas at Holloman AFB, which eliminated fuel misuse, inadvertent diesel-gasoline fill ups and saved the base at least $9,000 in tax and fuel system repairs annually. Editors Note: The AEMP Technician of the Year program is On the fuel savings front he also initiated an idle-time policy for open to companies and fleets of all sizes, public and private. base fleet vehicles, going so far as to program idle limitations You do not need to be a member to apply. For more information directly into the vehicles on-board electronic control systems. visit: www.aemp.org/people/technician-of-the-year. This is expected to save the base $18,000 annually. Repair triage Congratulations to all 2014 AEMP award winners for an outstanding job! analysis to get to the bottom of the problem. After identifying the cause, Thomas developed a solutionbuttressing the forward bed joints. Repairs to 70 of these trucks world-wide averted several military construction project stoppages, which could have incurred more than $3-million in construction delays.

Put in charge of inspecting 32 MRAP vehicles ($17 million in assets) to be returned to the United States for repairs, Thomas Air Force vehicle management was well represented, including technical knowledge and field experience enabled him to the county level in Sarasota, Florida, at AEMPs Fleet Masters designate most as repairable in-country and save the awards and Technician of the Year award. Department of Defense more than $200,000 in transport charges. He repaired many of them himself.

Truckin On

In 2007 Thomas was charged with leading a multi -service repair team in some of the most remote areas of Afghanistan.

Driving & Cell Phones Dont Mix

1 Apr 2014

Distracted driving: 'I never thought it could I was very fortunate to walk away without a scratch, bump or bruise. I attribute most of this to German engineering, my happen to me'
seatbelt and a lot of luck. But I'm very aware that those three by Senior Airman Alexis Siekert, 52nd Fighter Wing Public factors didn't cancel out the fact that what I did was wrong. I Affairs / Published March 06, 2014 could have killed myself or someone else. Now a week later, I am still trying to wrap my head around those few seconds before my crash. But beyond the shattered glass and the sirens of the police and ambulatory services, I knew that I had to change the way I measured risks because I can't count on being this lucky a second time. I owed it to myself after the crash to write this story - not as a public affairs Airman merely meeting a weekly quota or as a recent survivor of an accident such as this doing community service awareness - but as a simple word of advice to my fellow Airmen. This isn't a preachy "Don't do this" message--just a hope that no one reading this ever has to go through what I went through. So, to help arm as many people as I can with a few tips so they don't repeat my mistake, here is a list of suggestions to make your car ride a safer experience: 1. Have your needed ID card or relevant papers out of your pocket and easily accessible before you start your vehicle. I've seen people struggle to fish out items from their back pocket while still operating a vehicle at top speeds. Some may even have to unbuckle their seatbelt to get something, whereas mine saved my life. Have a passenger change the radio or get the IDs from other passengers in the car. In my car, the guy riding shotgun is the navigator and copilot who deals with the GPS and changes the songs -- so long as they agree to the stations I want to listen to. I may not have been on the phone, but I think of how it only took one second of my eyes off the road to cause all this damage; accepting a phone call or reading a text could be just as dangerous.

The wreckage of one Airmans vehicle rests on the access road near the Spangdahlem Main Gate after a distracted driving accident Feb 19, 2014. Leadership from the 52nd Fighter Wing is working to eliminate the large number of distracted driving incidents here. (U.S. air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexis Siekert)

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) We all think, "That'll never happen to me." We've all read the statistics and heard the slogan, "Distracted driving is deadly driving" on the American Forces Network. But be honest, are you always as attentive as you should be? I'll admit it here, now, that I'm not.

2. Yes, I've taken my eyes off the road to change the radio station, check my hair in the mirror or rummage around my purse for my lip balm. And one of those very same everyday actions in the wrong moment changed my perspective on how I operate my vehicle. On this particular morning, it all started with the simple act of locating my ID card. Twenty seconds later, my car was on 3. an entirely different road after flipping twice over a barrier. The fact that I can type these words now is a miracle that is not lost on me. My car was totaled. The caved in roof was only part of the damage, yet I was able to walk away. 4.

If you forgot to do all of these things, at least wait until you are stopped before performing anything distracting. If you On the morning of my crash, I had plenty of time to get to work. I do get an important phone call or have to find something, wasn't speeding, and my mind wasn't on anything other than the just pull over. drive. As I got closer to the gate, I grabbed my wallet out of my pocket to get my ID. In the moment it took me to look down to Whatever it is, it is not worth your life. These tips seem very make sure I had the right card, I veered off the road. basic, but still I took a risk in skipping one or two, and part of my My tires screeched as I slammed on the breaks trying to correct morning routine included a visit to a hospital. Perhaps you're my direction. I was traveling more than 40 mph when I narrowly like me and hadn't fully thought about these potential risks, but I missed oncoming traffic, took out a deer-crossing sign and two hope none of you repeat my mistake. road markers before falling into the ditch. I don't remember the first turn, but I knew I was upside down the second time when I could feel my weight being fully supported by my seatbelt. You could hear the shattering of my windows and metal on concrete just before I finally came to a stop. Editors Note: According to NHTSA, distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2012 alone, 3,328 were killed in distracted driving crashes. See the following website for a full report: http://www.distraction.gov/ 7

Mobsters Car Becomes Presidents Limo

1 Apr 2014

President Roosevelt Used to Ride Around in Al Capones Limousine

submitted by George McElwain, CMSgt (Ret/472)

Capones car was a sight to behold. It had been painted black and green so as to look identical to Chicagos police cars at the time.

It also had a specially installed siren and flashing lights hidden behind the grille, along with a police scanner radio. To top it off, source: http://forgottenhistoryblog.com/president-roosevelt-usedthe gangsters 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan had 3,000 to-ride-around-in-al-capones-limousine/ pounds of armor and inch-thick bulletproof windows. Mechanics Hours after Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Secret are said to have cleaned and checked each feature of the Service found themselves in a bind. President Franklin D Caddy well into the night of December 7th, to make sure that it Roosevelt was to give his infamy speech to Congress the next would run properly the next day for the Commander in Chief. day, and although the trip from the White House to Capitol Hill And run properly it did. The car apparently preformed perfectly was short, agents werent sure how to transport him safely. so perfectly that Roosevelt kept using it at least until his old car The White House did already have a specially built limousine for could be fitted with identical features (and to this day, the president that he regularly used, it wasnt bulletproof, and Presidential limousines have flashing police lights hidden behind the Secret Service realized this could be a major problem now their grilles). that the country was at war. FDRs speech was to take place at noon December 8th, and time was running out. They had to procure an armored car, and fast.

Above: FDR in his limousine convertible, before and after bulletproof glass and armor was installed.

Above: Al Capones armored Cadillac There was one slight problem. US government rules at the time restricted the purchase of any vehicle that cost more than $750 ($10,455 in todays dollars). It was pretty obvious that they werent going to get an armored car that cheap, and certainly not in less than a day.

The old car was a 1939 Lincoln V12 Convertible built by Ford (and affectionately nicknamed the Sunshine Special, supposedly because FDR liked to enjoy the sun while riding around with the top down hardly safe, although the use of presidential convertibles was not eliminated until after JFKs assassination). Roosevelt was apparently so enamored with his convertible however that he had it bullet-proofed. The Lincoln was now undoubtedly worth more than $750, so the White House got around the spending cap regulation by making a special arrangement to lease it from Ford at the rate of $500 per year.

One Secret Service agent was a quick thinker. The federal When he was told his cars origin (probably on December 8th as government did already have in its possession a car that just he rode to Capitol Hill), Roosevelt reportedly quipped, I hope might fit the bill: Al Capones, which had been sitting in a Mr. Capone wont mind. Treasury Department parking lot ever since it had been seized from the infamous mobster during the IRS tax evasion suit years earlier.

1 Apr 2014

veTerans job news

DMV Introduces Troops to Trucks Program

submitted by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3) Air Force News from California Department of Motor Vehicles

Recent state and federal law changes allow the DMV to waive the road skills driving test for qualified military personnel (two or more years of military, heavy truck driving experience) applying for a California CDL.

For more details on this program or how to obtain a CDL, visit the California DMV website at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/military/ EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. The California troops_to_trucks.htm or http://www.dmv.ca.gov and search Department of Motor Vehicles is pleased to announce the keyword "troops." availability of a new program, Troops to Trucks, aimed at streamlining the commercial driver license application process by Editors Comments: A number of states now support this program. Check with your local DMV to see if your state eliminating the road skills driving test requirement. participates. A commercial driver license is required in California to operate large trucks and buses. To obtain a CDL, the applicant must be at least 18 years of age and pass a commercial medical examination, a vision examination, applicable knowledge (written) tests, and the road skills driving test. Under the Troops to Trucks program, CDL applicants will not have to take the road skills driving test.

Elio is Here!
Look at whats being built at Shreveports old GM plant!
submitted by Greg Morris, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

For more information go to www.eliomotors.com

SALUTE AND CALL ME MISTER.

1 Apr 2014

Air Force warrant officers an extinct breed

submitted by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3) This subject is a departure from what we typically write about, but I wanted to do the article for two reasons. One, the Air Force no longer has warrant officers and I suspect there are many among us, particularly younger active duty members, who dont know they ever existed; theyre lost to history. The second reason is because we transporters hold the distinction of having the last warrant officer on active duty. CWO4 James H. Long retired from the 438th Transportation Squadron at McGuire AFB, NJ in 1980, and the Air Force said good-bye to its last active duty warrant officer.

Most of the existing Air Force warrant officers entered the commissioned officer ranks during the 1960s, but tiny numbers continued to exist for the next 21 years.

CWO-4 Bobby F. Barrow

The last Air Force Reserve warrant officer, CWO4 Bobby F. Barrow, retired in 1992 from Tyndall AFB, FL after more than 40 years of active and reserve duty. CWO Barrow was assigned to what was then known as Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency (AFCESA), now the Air Force Civil Engineering Center (AFCEC). The W -5 grade was authorized by Congress for use by the Air Force along with the other armed forces, but was never used. Upon his retirement, Barrow was promoted to the honorary rank of CWO5, the only person in the Air Force ever to hold this grade. He died in April 2008. Since then, the U.S. Air Force warrant officer ranks, while still authorized by law, are not used.

General Robert E. Huyser, commander, Military Airlift Command, congratulates CHIEF Warrant Officer James H. Long upon his retirement. Long, who served more than 29 years with the armed forces, is the last warrant officer in the US Air Force, 07/31/1980 (National Archives).

Brief History The USAF inherited warrant officer ranks from the U.S. Army at its inception in 1947, but their place in the Air Force structure was never made clear.

Air Force Warrant Officer Insignia

When Congress authorized the creation of two new senior enlisted ranks in 1958, Air Force officials privately concluded WO1 CWO2 CWO3 CWO4 CWO5 that these two new "super grades" could fill all Air Force needs then performed at the warrant officer level, although this was not publicly acknowledged until years later. Theres an article that details the history of warrant officers in The Air Force stopped appointing warrant officers in 1959, the Air Force Magazine, Nov 1991, by Bruce Callander called, The same year the first promotions were made to the new top In-Betweeners. http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/ Pages/1991/November%201991/1191between.aspx enlisted grade, Chief Master Sergeant. 10

1 Apr 2014

Hot Rods & Cool Cars

Velocity TV
submitted by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3) Ill readily admit that Im a late comer to this TV network. I suspect many of you gearheads have already been watching for a while. But for those who havent, find it on your local listings and tune in. They feature everything from drag racing to classic cars. History

Graveyard Carz
Join the crew on Graveyard Carz as they take wrecked muscle cars and restore them to assembly line condition. Seriously, these cars need to be completely resurrected. They cant let these classics go to the junkyard. Theres too much beauty and a quality Detroit automobile to let them go to rust.

According to Wikipedia, The channel launched nationwide in Overhaulin the United States on June 17, 2002 as Discovery HD Theater. The channel was rebranded to HD Theater on September 22, 2007 because Discovery Communications launched HD simulcasts of some of its other channels including Animal Renowned design expert Chip Foose returns with Planet, Discovery Channel, Science and TLC. OVERHAULIN' -- featuring his most amazing and imaginative Discovery Communications announced Velocity on April 14, automotive builds yet. The restoration projects feature 2011 then, on October 4, 2011, HD Theater was taken off the deserving individuals ranging from returning veterans to those air and Velocity began broadcasting with its focus on negatively impacted by the tough economy. Each altered auto programming involving high-end automobiles, sports shows, becomes a life-changing surprise for its unknowing owner. and other male targeted programming. Lineup Here are just a few of the shows in the weekly lineup and a synopsis of each one:

Chasing Classic Cars

AmeriCarna

Hosted by renowned collector car archeologist, Wayne Carini, CHASING CLASSIC CARS welcomes viewers into the elite world of high-end car collection, as Wayne finds, buys, restores and sells some of the finest and most unique vehicles ever manufactured. Check out the website for more on these shows and others: From the inception of American racing at the turn of 20th http://www.velocity.com/ century, to the Woody wagons that defined California culture in the 50s and 60s, to the infamous drag strips of the 70s, automotive history has left an indelible imprint on the American experience. AMERICARNA lifts the hood on legendary four-wheeled treasures that continue to have a profound influence on our cultural DNA. AMERICARNA is an all-access pass into America's garage. Click on the image above for a sample of AmeriCarna 11

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1 Apr 2014

What did you say?

by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3) The military has its own unique language and each branch has its own exclusive terms, acronyms, and slang. It even trickles down to specific career fields. Familiar military terms such as barracks, latrine, fatigues, and mess/chow hall are no longer in regular use, at least not in the Air Force. I like languages and history, so I was thinking about this and tried to develop a list of these expressions as they apply to vehicle operations and maintenance. Furthermore, I wanted to focus on the ones that have evolved over the years since I enlisted in the 1960s. In other words, what terms/acronyms did we use back then that are no longer part of the everyday Air Force vernacular, and what are these terms/acronyms now? There are a couple of references that cover this subject, one is official and the other is not. The official publication is JP1 -02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. This is a joint publication and applies to all DoD components. The unofficial one is from Uncyclopedia at the following website: http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Air_Force_Slang . Some of the terms/acronyms listed here are humorous and even vulgar, but theyre real. Many have to do with aircraft specialties while others cross career field boundaries. Its fun to scan through it. A few from this website jogged my memory, but most of the terms/acronyms on my list are ones that I remember and used regularly, although Im sure Ive only scratched the surface. Note: Some of the current terms listed here have actually been in use for years; thats why I didnt use the word new to describe them. Old Term: General PurposeNo longer a work center; term still in use, but describes class of vehicle. Note: Willys claims to have coined the word jeep by slurring the initials GP Current Term: Vehicle/Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Old Term: Minor Maintenance No longer a work center; term is still used, but describes a level of maintenance Current Term: Customer Service Center (CSC) Old Term: Serv-O-Plate Current Term: VIL Key (Vehicle Identification Link)

Old Term: Motor Pool (informal) Current Term: Vehicle Operations Old Term: NORS Not Operationally Ready Supply Current Term: MICAP Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts Old Term: R & A Reports & Analysis Old Term: MC & A Maintenance Control & Analysis Current Term: VM & A Vehicle Management & Analysis Note: Name changed with merger of fleet management Old Term: Regulation Current Term: Instruction Changed in the early 90s with AF restructuring Old Term: Salvage (informal) Current Term: DRMO Defense Reutilization & Marketing Office Old Term: Transportation SQ Note: Prior to Oct 1956, Transportation SQs were known as Motor Vehicle SQs Current Term: Logistics Readiness SQ (LRS) Note: Transportation officially merged with Supply in 2002 Old Term: TWX Pronounced TWIX. Acronym for teletypewriter exchange. Current Term: Message or Email Old Terms: VDM, VDP, VOC Vehicle Deadlined for Maintenance, Parts, and Vehicle Out of Commission Current Terms: NMCM, NMCS, NMC Non Mission Capable Maintenance, Supply, and Non Mission Capable Note: Adopted aircraft terminology Old Terms: VIMS and Short VIMS Current Term: OLVIMS (definitely not new) Old Term: WRAMAWarner Robins Air Materiel Area Current Term: WR-ALCWarner Robins Air Logistics Center

Editors Note: As I said, this list is far from complete. If anyone can add to it, please send me your terms/acronyms. Well do a follow-up article if we receive sufficient input.

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