Truckin` On Apr 2014

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 Airman —
one man’s journey: PG 1-3
Inside this issue:
AEMP Fleet Masters
Awards
PG 3-4
AEMP Technician of the
Year Award
PG 5-6
Driving & Cell Phones
Don’t Mix
PG 7
Mobster’s Car Becomes PG 8
President’s Limo
Veterans’ Job News
PG 9
Elio is Here
PG 9
Salute and Call Me
Mister
PG 10
Hot Rods & Cool Cars
PG 11
AF Jargon Past &
Present
PG 12
Editor’s 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 you’ll
find his story interesting.
From Soldier to Airman—one man’s 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 Editor’s Note: It’s 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.
Continued on PG 2
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 Airman—one man’s journey
Continued from PG 1
1 Apr 2014
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.......
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.
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 !!
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.
Continued on PG 3
2
From Soldier to Airman—one man’s journey
1 Apr
Continued from PG 2
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)
Continued on PG 4
3
USAF Well Represented at AEMP Fleet Masters Awards
1 Apr 2014
Continued from PG 3
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.
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.
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.
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
Air Force Master Sergeant, Combat Veteran,
Named AEMP Technician of the Year
by Tom Jackson / Mar 2, 2014
1 Apr 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 Thomas’s 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 didn’t 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 AEMP’s 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
association’s 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.
Continued on PG 6
5
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 Badge—quite 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 Thomas’s and his crew’s ability to perform
hasty recoveries and contingency repairs during enemy attacks
on coalition forces.
analysis to get to the bottom of the problem. After identifying the
cause, Thomas developed a solution–buttressing 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.
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.
Editor’s 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!
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 AEMP’s 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.
6
‘Driving & Cell Phones Don’t 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.
The wreckage of one Airman’s 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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Editor’s 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
Mobster’s Car Becomes President’s Limo
1 Apr 2014
President Roosevelt Used to Ride Around in
Al Capone’s Limousine
Capone’s car was a sight to behold. It had been painted black
and green so as to look identical to Chicago’s 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 gangster’s 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 weren’t 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 wasn’t bulletproof, and Presidential limousines have flashing police lights hidden behind
the Secret Service realized this could be a major problem now their grilles).
submitted by George McElwain, CMSgt (Ret/472)
that the country was at war. FDR’s 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 Capone’s 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
today’s dollars). It was pretty obvious that they weren’t 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 JFK’s
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 car’s 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 Capone’s, which had been sitting in a Mr. Capone won’t mind.”
Treasury Department parking lot ever since it had been seized
from the infamous mobster during the IRS’ tax evasion suit
years earlier.
8
1 Apr 2014
veTerans’ job news
DMV Introduces Troops to Trucks Program
submitted by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
Air Force News
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 Editor’s 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.
from California Department of Motor Vehicles
Under the Troops to Trucks program, CDL applicants will not
have to take the road skills driving test.
Elio is Here!
Look at what’s being built at Shreveport’s
old GM plant!
submitted by Greg Morris, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)
For more information go to www.eliomotors.com
9
SALUTE AND CALL ME MISTER….
1 Apr 2014
Air Force warrant officers — an extinct breed
submitted by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
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.
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
don’t know they ever existed; they’re 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.
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).
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 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.
Air Force Warrant Officer Insignia
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.
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.
There’s 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.
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1 Apr 2014
Hot Rods & Cool Cars
Graveyard Carz
Velocity TV
submitted by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)
I’ll readily admit that I’m a late comer to this TV network. I
suspect many of you “gearheads” have already been watching
for a while. But for those who haven’t, find it on your local
listings and tune in. They feature everything from drag racing to
classic cars.
History
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 can’t let these classics
go to the junkyard. There’s 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.”
Chasing Classic Cars
Lineup
Here are just a few of the shows in the weekly lineup and a
synopsis of each one:
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 50’s and 60’s, to the infamous drag strips of the 70’s,
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”
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aF jargon….pasT & presenT
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?
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
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.
Old Terms: Salvage (informal) / DRMO
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 they’re real. Many have to do with aircraft specialties
while others cross career field boundaries. It’s fun to scan
through it.
Current Term: Logistics Readiness SQ (LRS) Note:
Transportation officially merged with Supply in 2002
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 I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface.
Note: Some of the current terms listed here have actually been
in use for years; that’s why I didn’t use the word “new” to
describe them.
Current Term: DLA Disposition (2009)
Old Term: Transportation SQ Note: Prior to Oct 1956,
Transportation SQs were known as Motor Vehicle SQs
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 Term: General Purpose—No 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
Old Terms: VIMS and Short VIMS
Current Term: Vehicle/Vehicular Equipment Maintenance
Old Term: WRAMA—Warner Robins Air Materiel Area
Old Term: Minor Maintenance — No longer a work center;
term is still used, but describes a level of maintenance
Current Term: OLVIMS (definitely not new)
Current Term: WR-ALC—Warner Robins Air Logistics
Center
Current Term: Customer Service Center (CSC)
Old Term: Serv-O-Plate
Current Term: VIL Key (Vehicle Identification Link)
Editor’s Note: As I said, this list is far from complete. If
anyone can add to it, please send me your terms/acronyms.
We’ll do a follow-up article if we receive sufficient input.
12