From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: AF News Features - Sep '92
Date: 8 Sep 92 13:46:21 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC

subj:  air force news service features
this message contains 6 stories
features electronic bulletin board filename:  92aug28
034. Siberia or bust
035. Military people have access to AF history
036. Manage stress by using assertiveness
037. Hidden home pollutants
038. Braking the barriers of being disabled
039. Owning up -- facing the truth
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AFNEWSIIB034 Siberia or bust
By TSgt. TIMOTHY P. BARELA
     Most Americans have heard the stories. Visions of a vast frozen wasteland
and a solemn, fur-clad people may come to mind. Some call it nature's prison,
where Russians are sent when they've ticked off their government. Not long
ago, the only thing the U.S. Air Force might have sent there was a nuclear
bomb.
     That's why when two aircrews from the 60th Airlift Wing, Travis AFB,
Calif., recently delivered medical supplies to Tyumen Province, West Siberia,
Russia, it was more than just a humanitarian mission, it was history in the
making.
     "It was a great thing to be a part of," said Capt. Rusty Mueller,
aircraft commander of the first of two C-141B Starlifters to land in Siberia.
"We were a little uneasy at first because we didn't know what to expect, but
everything went well."
     "The medical conditions in Russia are so devastating, particularly for
children, that even basic items such as aspirin, disposable gloves and sterile
syringes are listed high among desperately requested supplies," said a
spokesman for the Houston Emergency Aid for Relief and Disaster, a private
non-profit organization. HEARD formed in March following a direct appeal for
aid from the governor of Tyumen Province.
    Four months later, HEARD had managed to assemble 50 tons of donated
medical supplies and equipment, which the Travis aircrews picked up at Kelly
AFB, Texas, July 31. In Frankfurt, Germany, two Russian navigators joined the
crews to help smooth the way for the rest of the trip. By Aug. 2 the C-141s
made their historical landing in Siberia.
     The airlift was part of the State Department's ongoing humanitarian
support to the Commonwealth of Independent States. A team of five physicians
from Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, and the Department of Pediatrics at
Baylor College of Medicine at Baylor University near Waco, Texas, flew to
Tyumen commercially to accompany the supplies to four children's hospitals in
the area.
     For the Air Force crewmembers, the mission turned out to be an education.
They developed a new vision of Siberia and its people -- perhaps a more
realistic one.
     "You get a cold, dark image of a closed country, but Siberia basically
looked the same as anywhere else," said co-pilot 1st Lt. Steve P. Noll. "There
was no snow, no ice -- the weather was nice enough to wear shorts."
     With the warm weather came an even warmer welcome.
     "I was expecting unfriendly people in fur coats and hats, but that wasn't
even close," Noll said. "They were all smiles, and there wasn't a fur in
sight."

     Nearly every airman was surprised, however, by the primitive conditions
of Tyumen -- the old clothes, the outdated equipment. This was no more
apparent than to the loadmasters, who unloaded more than 80,000 pounds of
cargo by hand.
     "I was surprised how behind in times they were. You expect Russia, a
world power, to be a little more modern," said Sgt. Frederick Fowler. "There
were no forklifts or stuff we were used to. What took minutes in the states
took hours there. But I have to hand it to them (the Russians), they worked
hard and were willing to sweat right along side us."
     While differences in language and lifestyle were obvious, the Russians
and Americans held a similar attitude toward the humanitarian mission.
     "I'd rather be delivering medical supplies than taking arms somewhere,"
said Capt. Rob P. Prendergast, first pilot. "It's nice that we're helping
people instead of going to shoot and kill them."
     A Russian army officer, Valeriy Pelevin, echoed those sentiments: "It is
much better to live in peace than to make war. We (the former Soviet Union and
the United States) were living in a fantasy (the cold war). It is much more
natural for us to live in peace."  (AFNS Features. Barela is a staff writer
for Airman Magazine.)  (Note to editors: Accompanying photos are in September
edition of AFNS Art & Photo Supplement.)


AFNEWSIIB035 Military people have access to AF history
By SSgt. VIRGINIA CADENA
     Air Force newspapers become "old news" to the average reader once the
publication has been reviewed. But "old news" carries within it a small piece
of history.
     That history is available to anyone.
     The State Historical Society of Wisconsin is the self-proclaimed central
depository for Air Force newspapers. Air Force public affairs offices often
keep newspaper morgues for several years; however, lack of space prohibits
military libraries from keeping newspapers for extended periods of time.
     What began as a small bookcase in the Wisconsin governor's office in 1854
now consists of collections numbering more than 2.8 million printed and
microform items on history, genealogy and related topics north of the Rio
Grande.
     The library provides reference and information services in person, over
the telephone and by mail. It lends most of its materials to users in person
and to other libraries throughout the state and the nation through
inter-library loan.
     "The library handles an inter-library loan request approximately every 10
minutes," said Michael Edmonds, director of public services for the society.
     Any member of the military community can request material via the
inter-library loan system through the base library. Requests originated
outside of Wisconsin cost $12.50 for borrowing up to six reels (each reel may
contain up to one year of the publication being requested) of microfilm of any
one title. Reels can also be purchased for a cost of $35 each.
    "Air Force libraries have the capability of ordering the microfilm;
however, the Air Force does not provide funds for these requests," said Faye
Miller, the Air Force Library and Information Systems acquisitions librarian.
     "Our libraries would be more than happy to obtain the necessary microfilm
as long as the individual making the request is willing to accept the charge,"
she said.
     The historical society also preserves papers from the Army, Navy, Marine

and Coast Guard. There are approximately 1,200 military publications,
including some that were published during the Gulf War, the Vietnam War, the
Korean War, the Cuban Crisis and the Civil War.
     The society also prides itself in its collection of Stars and Stripes
dating back to the 1880s. The Stars and Stripes is a military newspaper
published for the military overseas.
      In the basement of the majestic limestone building housing the
historical society, military newspapers are meticulously stacked on rows and
rows of 8-foot metal shelves waiting to be microfilmed for preservation.
     Military-related newspapers available at the society include newspapers
published by the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines and newsletters from
embassies throughout the world. Some of the unusual newspapers include one
published by a group of Vietnam veterans who detailed their efforts to fight
the government for recognition of the dioxin poisoning they had suffered
during their tours of duty, and one produced during World War II by prisoners
of the Japanese-American internment camp for the other prisoners.
    "We enjoy preserving publications we believe no one else has saved," said
James Danky, the society newspaper and periodical librarian.  "They then
become the only file people have access to."
    The newspaper collection dates back to Colonial days, and "is second only
to the Library of Congress in numbers of issues," said Carol Crossan, Danky's
assistant.
     The society's recent success with obtaining military newspapers is due to
Danky. Danky pursued his interest in military publications and arranged to get
copies of as many military publications as possible.
     "After not finding a central depository for military publications
throughout the nation, I felt it was imperative to military history that
someone take up the task.  So I have been working with the different services
in an effort to get the most comprehensive list of military publications,"
Danky said.
     Anyone interested in contacting the historical society via mail should
address packages to: James P. Danky, Newspapers and Periodicals, 816 State
St., Madison, WI 53706 or call (608) 264-6598. (AFNS Features. Cadena is the
NCOIC of Newspaper Services at HQ AFNEWS, Kelly AFB, Texas.)


AFNEWSIIB036 Manage stress by using assertiveness
By Maj. Steve Barrett
     Many people do not realize that practicing assertiveness is a
communication skill that helps to manage stress. In fact, many people do not
fully understand the meaning of assertiveness. I would like to address what
assertiveness is and how it can reduce our stress level.
     Have you ever noticed that when you are not understood, or you can't
communicate your views in an assertive way, stress and frustration result?
Being assertive can help you communicate your views without creating stress
for yourself or for others.
     Let's define this thing called assertiveness. Assertive communication has
three key components:
     You speak up for yourself because you respect your own needs, wants and
desires.
     You listen to others because you respect their needs, wants and desires.
     You see constructively to find solutions to differences through giving
and compromise.
     In other words, assertiveness means promoting the rights of self and

others. Assertiveness requires that we be responsible for our own behavior and
choices. By practicing assertive communication, we can increase our
self-esteem, facilitate mutual respect and achieve our personal and shared
goals.        The ultimate goal of assertion is to develop caring, honest and
accepting relationships. Assertiveness also means practicing appropriate
communication and listening skills.
     Assertiveness is the most effective style of communication. There are two
other styles of communication which are less effective. Aggression is the
second type and is frequently confused with assertion. Unlike assertion,
aggression leaves out the other person's feelings, needs and rights.
Aggressive folks tend to be demanding, rejecting of others and tend to cut off
communication.
     By being aggressive, we scare others into giving us what we want. In the
long run, this is inefficient. Aggressive people obtain their goals at the
cost of others. Eventually, aggressive communication will hurt our
relationships with others.
     Non-assertive or passive behavior is the third type of communication.
This style of communication refers to attitudes and behaviors in which we
disregard our own rights and feelings. By utilizing passive behavior, we lose
our self-respect, and our self-esteem is eroded. Non-assertion teaches other
people to take advantage of us. We may think that folks like us if we
concentrate totally on their needs while sabotaging our own wants. It's more
likely that they like the fact that we're not inconveniencing them.
     To summarize the three types of communication:  In assertiveness, we
respect others and ourselves; in aggressiveness we respect our rights and
disregard the rights of others; and in non-assertiveness, we respect others'
rights and deny our rights.
     There are many ways to practice assertiveness. One is the LADDER
technique. It's a step-by-step procedure for being more assertive.
     - Look at your needs, rights, and feelings about a situation.
     - Arrange a meeting that is convenient where you and the other person can
speak comfortably.
     - Define the problem clearly to the other person. Be specific.
     - Describe your feelings using "I" messages. "I" messages let you take
responsibility for your feelings. You are not blaming others for how you feel.
For example, "I felt hurt when you didn't acknowledge my work," rather than
"You hurt me when you ignored me."
     - Express and explain your remarks in an assertive manner using clear
sentences. Be aware of your eye contact, hand gestures, posture, voice tone,
and facial expression.
     - Reinforce your remarks by noting the positive outcome.
     One last note. No one is born assertive. It takes practice, and more
practice. So give it a try and see if professional and personal relationships
are enhanced and your stress is reduced. (AFNS Features. Barrett is chief,
behavioral medicine clinic at Spangdahlem AB, Germany.)


AFNEWSIIB037  Hidden home pollutants
     Watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, headache and fatigue are all
symptoms of an allergic reaction to something. However, what many people do
not know is that a source of allergies can be your home.
     According to the National Safety Council, biological pollutants are, or
were, living organisms that not only inhabit your home, but also schools,
offices and any place susceptible to poor indoor air quality. These pollutants

can travel through the air and are often invisible. Some common biological
pollutants are: animal dander, dust mites and cockroach parts, fungi (molds),
pollen and infectious agents (bacteria or viruses).
     "But I have a very clean house!" you exclaim. Unfortunately, even a
spotless home may permit the growth of biological pollutants. Two essential
conditions to support biological growth are nutrients and moisture. These
conditions can be found in many locations such as the bathroom, damp or
flooded basements, humidifiers, air conditioners and even some carpets and
furniture.
     Although ridding a home of biological pollutants in the home may seem
cumbersome, there are simple steps to take to clean up some of the problems.
     Controlling moisture in the home
     -- Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from outside,
your options range from waterproofing the basement to simple landscaping or
extensive excavation. It is always advisable to consult a professional in
cases of serious water seepage.
     -- Make sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated and a dirt floor is covered
with plastic.
     -- Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the
outside.
     -- Vent clothes dryers to the outside.
     -- Turn off humidifiers, kerosene heaters and other appliances if you
notice moisture on windows or other surfaces.
     -- In hot, humid climates use dehumidifiers and air conditioners to
reduce moisture in the air. Make sure these appliance are kept clean.
     Clean surfaces and dust control
     -- Keep moist surfaces such as showers, bathtubs and kitchen counters
clean.
     -- Remove mold from walls, ceilings, floors and paneling. Do not paint
over mold because it may resurface.
     -- Although you can never eliminate all dust mites, keeping their
favorite breeding grounds clean and dry helps. Always wash bedding in hot
water (at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit) to kill dust mites. Launder bedding
every seven to 10 days.
     -- Use synthetic or foam rubber mattress pads and pillows, and plastic
mattress covers if you are allergic.
     -- Dust and vacuum often. If you are allergic wear a mask or have someone
else do this chore.
     Although all biological pollutants are virtually impossible to eliminate,
following the foregoing tips can help reduce many irritants in the home that
may have been making you sick. For more detailed information contact your
local chapter of the American Lung Association and ask for a copy of Indoor
Air Pollution Fact Sheets, Air Pollution in Your Home. (AFNS Features.
Courtesy National Safety Council.)


AFNEWSIIB038 Braking the barriers of being disabled
By VICKY CERINO
     If you loathe your annual physical fitness test and need some
inspiration, just think about Lt. Col. Dick Hoyt and son, Rick.
     On July 24, the Hoyts finished biking and running 3,735 miles across
America in 47 consecutive days. They averaged 80 miles a day -- 75 miles of
biking and five miles of running.
     What makes the trip extraordinary is that the colonel runs and bikes with

Rick, who has cerebral palsy and cannot walk, talk or feed himself. Specially
designed carriages allow Rick to bike and run with his dad.
     The Hoyt Trek Across America began in Los Angeles June 8, and ended July
24 at City Hall in Boston, Mass., where about 500 people gathered in a show of
support.
     The coast-to-coast trip took them through 16 states and 13 major cities.
     The Hoyts were accompanied by a four-member support crew trailing in a
recreational vehicle and small van: Rick's mother, Judy; Rick's 25-year-old
brother, Russ; Phil Taylor, Rick's personal care attendant; and massage
therapist Linda Reichert.
     On June 29, the 21st day of their trip, they biked into Lincoln, Neb.,
where they were welcomed by members of the Nebraska Army and Air Guard and
others on the Capitol steps.
     Everywhere the Hoyts go, the media follows. They've been on all the major
news networks and shows like Hour Magazine, Hard Copy, Geraldo, West 57th
Street, NBC Nightly News and ABC Wide World of Sports.
     The two are motivated by their desire to breakdown physical and
psychological barriers that physically and mentally challenged people face
day-to-day.
     "When Rick and I ran in our first race, people would look at us but no
one would come near us... like they would catch a disease or something," Hoyt
said.
     "Now it's amazing. Like when we were biking in L.A. In the middle of
nowhere, a woman stood crying," the colonel said.
     The 52-year-old officer and his family live in Holland, Mass., about 50
miles from Boston. He enlisted in the Army National Guard 32 years ago, was
commissioned, and after eight years transferred to the Massachusetts Air
National Guard where he serves full-time as the executive support staff
officer for the 104th Fighter Group in Westfield, near Holland.
     Rick is a senior at Boston University majoring in education.
     For the last 15 years, the Hoyts have covered a lot of territory, but
none so far as the trek across America.
     The Hoyts left Los Angeles in 93-degree heat. They traveled through
Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West
Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and into their
home state of Massachusetts.
     Perhaps one the most challenging legs on their trip was the journey
through Colorado where the Hoyts, followed by television media, biked up a
12,000-foot summit.
     They met 30-degree temperatures, forcing them to stop every 12 miles so
Rick could get warm. But the weather cooperated enough that they didn't miss
one day throughout the trip.
     Hoyt said as they traveled, they never knew what was up ahead, although
they thought they'd get relief in Nebraska after they were told how easy it
would be to bike across "the flat state."
     "Forget it," he said, "We hit two-and-a-half days of hills in a
headwind."
     Besides raising awareness of the challenge in society of being disabled,
the trip's goal was to raise $200,000 for the Hoyt Fund, a non-profit fund
that will provide grants to business so they can make their businesses
accessible for everyone.
     The Hoyts support the integration, inclusion and acceptance of persons
with all types of disabilities and their families into every aspect of
society.

     "Some businesses can't afford to make their business accessible to the
disabled. They will go out of business," Hoyt said. "We want to help
everybody,"
     It was after the Hoyts' very first race in 1978 that they started their
15-year fitness trail. After the race, Rick told his dad through a
communications device, "Dad, when I am out running, I feel like I am not even
handicap."
     Ironically, the race was held to raise money for a college student who
had been paralyzed in an automobile accident. Rick had asked to run with his
dad in the five-mile race in Westfield. They were given the number "00" and
finished the race next to last.
     They've since finished 450 races and 90 triathalons.
     They finished the Boston Marathon in 2:52 and have been on the National
Guard Bureau's 50-member All-Guard Marathon Team numerous times. They've
finished three Ironman triathalons in Hawaii, (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike,
26.2-mile run) in 13 hours, 43 minutes, 37 seconds.
     During the swimming event, Hoyt wears a vest with a rope attached that is
connected to a dingy. Rick lays in a beanbag chair wearing a life jacket.
     "There were times when I'd look back at Rick and couldn't see anything
but waves," said Hoyt. He said the first priority in anything the team does is
safety.
     So, next time you need inspiration, think about the Hoyts. Donations to
the non-profit Hoty Fund to provide grants for making small businesses
accessible to the disabled may be sent to: Hoyt Fund, Westfield Savings Bank,
141 Elm St., Westfield, Mass, 01085. (AFNS Features. Cerino is assigned to the
Nebraska National Guard.) (Note to editors: Accompanying photos are in
September edition of AFNS Art & Photo Supplement.)


AFNEWSIIB039 Owning up -- facing the truth
By SCOTT B.TRACY
     I've been here (Fort Meade, Md.) for almost two and a half months. I'm
told how and when to do basically everything every day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
I have to ask to use the bathroom.
     You probably wonder why. You must also wonder why I don't just leave.
There's a good reason. This place is a prison, or, as the Marines call it, a
brig. I am a prisoner at the Marine Corps Correctional Facility, Quantico, Va.
     Let me start from the beginning. I arrived at Fort Meade in 1986, and was
assigned to the evening shift of a 24-hour operation. I had recently acquired
some extra bills, so I took a part-time day job with District Movers, a
contractor that moves furniture and delivers supplies in the building.
     Trouble began when I started stealing government property instead of
delivering it. I wish I had a good explanation for it. I didn't need the
money. I didn't even need the things I stole, many of which I can no longer
remember.
     After a year an a half, I decided this wasn't the kind of person I wanted
to be. I stopped stealing, changed my Air Force job, and for the next two
years focused on working toward my goals.
     On Dec. 12, 1990, a National Security Agency investigator phoned and
arranged to talk to me. I figured a friend had listed me as a reference for a
clearance update. Instead, the investigator handed me a piece of paper. It
advised me of my rights, and said I was charged with theft of government
property.
     To save humiliation, I'll summarize that interview and several others. I

told them everything they wanted to know, not because of any guilt, but
because I was scared to death. I'd always thought of myself as a man's man
that couldn't be intimidated. I was wrong.
     After eight months on casual separating recyclables from garbage, I went
to trial. The proceedings are a blur. I mostly remember worrying about how to
address the judge.
     The first thing I heard at the brig was a voice telling the guards,
"Stress him out." They did, for five hours. I then spent four days in a cell
measuring five-and-a-half boot lengths by seven and a half boot lengths, with
a steel bed, a combination toilet sink, a chair, and a foot locker.
Twenty-four black bars kept me from leaving.
     After that, I shared a dormitory with 16 other prisoners and worked on
the mess deck. You'd call it a chow hall. My daily two hours of free time
since then have been spent running laps, reading, writing letters, and
watching television.
     The hardest part of my ordeal has been uncertainty -- what would happen
when my friends and family found out, and what my future would be. I still
face the possibility of a discharge board.
     I've no right to preach right and wrong. If you're starting down the way
I went, though, you're headed for trouble. You will be caught, and you'll be
held responsible for your actions. If you want to continue anyway, here are
some words to learn: A wall is a bulkhead, a floor is a deck, and a door is a
hatch. Learn the Marine Corps enlisted structure, too. It'll make your first
day or two in the brig more enjoyable. (AFNS Features. Prior to his
conviction, Tracy was assigned to the 694th Intelligence Wing at Fort Meade.)

-- 
         
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    //     \\                    Air Force News Agency 
   |         |               Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA
   \\  {*}  //                   bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil  
   \  CMSgt  /      ___________________ /____________________________________
   \  Mike   /   
   \ Bergman /
     \     /